The Epic of Gilgamesh in Comparison to the Enuma Elish Essays

The epic of Gilgamesh makes reference to the Enuma Elish, because both stories include gods and heroes. With expressing all details in a clear and obvious way, leaving no doubt as to the true intended meaning one can easily identify an explicit view in the Epic of Gilgamesh, when the main character, Gilagamesh tries to defeat a giant, similar to how Marduk tried to defeat Tiamat in the Enuma Elish. Both wanted to show that they have power, but more so Gilgamesh wanted show that he deserves to be immortal and that he should live with no limits. Gilgamesh was created by several gods in their likeliness with only one problem, he was not immortal. He continued to live his life to the fullest just like Marduk. The Sumerians viewed some gods†¦show more content†¦The only difference was that the deaths that happened, the death in the Enuma Elish is a death upon evil and in the Epic of Gilgamesh the death was between the giant and the destruction of nature. The epic of Gilgamesh extolled the virtues of being the first civilization is based on how Gilgamesh was created and based on how their city was built along with the writing system and religion. Different gods and goddesses created Gilgamesh, but they created him in their likeness. Nintu, the great Mother Goddess who had fashioned the first human beings out of clay, had also created Gilgamesh. Shamash, god of the sun, had given him great beauty. Adad, god of the storms, had given him great courage. Ea, god of wisdom, had given him the capacity to learn from his experiences and to become the wisest of men. All of his creators represent something that was first made in the world. It is obvious that the people of Uruk take much pride in their city walls because in the Epic of Gilgamesh it stated â€Å"Notice the strong walls of our city of Uruk†, the people wanted others to see foundation of their city and what they have as compared to what other civilizations have. Another statement is â€Å"Examine the fine brickwork. These walls, too, surpass all others! No human being, not even a king, will ever be able to construct more impressive walls than Gilgamesh built around our city of Uruk!† Again this brags about the arrogant way of Gilgamesh and howShow MoreRelatedGENESIS AND ANCIENT MYTHS OF THE NEAR EAST930 Words   |  4 Pagesmyths were initiated. Comparison to writings contemporary to the people of Israel, can offer a deeper understanding of the meaning of their stories of origin as they give a point of reference from similar cultures. There are a number of ways that one could view the writings of the ancient Near East for the purpose of interpreting each culture. Because there are many parallels among the creation and flood stories of the ancient Near East, this will be the focus of comparison. While the similaritiesRead MoreComparisons of Creation Myths Essay2092 Words   |  9 Pagesimportant social and psychological force in the near East, specifically Akkad, in the period of the first Semetic Kings, c. 2500 B.C.,† showing another similar trait – a god or set of gods exists to create in each story (626). Joseph Campbell makes a comparison of how both Genesis and the Book of the Dead of Egypt share the same idea of their bodies belonging to their god in some way, or being reabsorbed into them at death (630-631). Others, like the Japanese and Iroquois creation myths, claim the EarthRead MoreEssay about The Flood of Noah and Gilgamesh1616 Words   |  7 PagesThe Flood of Noah and Gilgamesh   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  With the discovery of texts from ancient civilizations, many people have come to believe that various texts are common to one another. Examples of these texts are the creation stories from the Hebrews found in the Bible, The Hymn of Ra from the Egyptians, and the Enuma Elish stories from the Babylonians. In addition to these stories are the flood stories. These stories have caused many discussions among scholars involved with ancient civilizations.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  TheRead MoreHow Does Comparative Material From The Ancient Near East Help Us Understand Genesis 1-22?2785 Words   |  12 Pagespatriarchal narratives ? Ugarit and Ebla.[footnoteRef:1] Many scholars have argued on the implication of the similarities in the Genesis flood story with Noah and the flood epic that was told in Mesopotamia ? Gilgamesh.[footnoteRef:2] Alexander Heidel has made several comparisons between the flood narrative in Genesis and the epic of ?Gilgamesh?. He discusses the problem with their similarities and makes several possibilities relating to this problem namely, that the people of Babylon borrowed the Hebrew narrativeRead MoreComparitive Flood Stories Essay3018 Words   |  13 PagesComparitive Flood Stories Most comparisons between Genesis and ancient Creation or Flood stories can be classified as comparative religious studies. They generally involve one text isolated from its original historical context (e.g., the Babylonian creation myth Enuma Elish or the Flood tablet of the Gilgamesh Epic) and one related biblical narrative. On the basis of currently available evidence, their earliest-known written form can be dated only to the first half of the first milleniumRead MoreWhat Did I Learn About The Nature And Activity Of God? Essay2336 Words   |  10 Pagesthat the two creation accounts we have in Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 may have been rewritten several times until all connections to Ancient Near East pagan terminology was removed. Rutledge concludes that the other creation accounts such Enuma Elish and the Epic of Gilgamesh display religion that is polytheistic and ritualistic in contrast to the Old Testament, which depicts only one God who exist independently of the world and who ca used it into being (page 132 Routledge). Routledge statement connects

Alzheimer s Disease A Degenerative Brain Disorder

Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative brain disorder that is found in older adults. One of the most famous American painters, Norman Rockwell, yielded to Alzheimer’s after a long and illustrious career. Interestingly enough, Rockwell’s (cited) paintings are now used sometimes in dementia therapy because of the memories and nostalgia they elicit. Can you imagine that one day the very thing you loved to do, would be helping others remember their lost memories and that you succumbed to that very same disease. This disease is characterized by the destruction of nerve cells and neural connections in the cerebral cortex of the brain and by a large loss of brain mass. When an autopsy is performed on an Alzheimer s patient, it is the neurotic†¦show more content†¦The affected person may not speak grammatically correct and talk in a child-like manner. They may substitute forgotten words for vague descriptions or make up new words. There is no cure for Alzheimer s disease. So far there are only a few drugs that can slow down the effects of it. Donepezil (Aricept) is the main drug for the treatment of the disease for all stages, which is a cholinesterase inhibitor. This drug is an Acetylcholine booster, helps the memory neurons. Unfortunately this drug does not reverse or cure the disease. Donepezil is a cholinesterase inhibitor and it affects the memory neurons in the brain, preventing them from breaking down. My father has been on this drug for almost ten years now and has done very well. With women being at a greater risk for contacting Alzheimer’s disease, the use of estrogen after menopause has lowered the risk. Estrogen boosts the production of acetylcholine, a key chemical neurotransmitter involved in the transmission of nerve impulses across the tiny gaps between nerve cells (synapses). In addition, estrogen improves blood flow through the brain and enhances verbal abilities of postmenopausal wom en who take hormone replacement therapy. According to the Center for Disease Control, there are over five million Americans with Alzheimer’s disease. The life expectancy for each person is different. Some may live with the disease for more than ten years and some only last three. There

Lake Nakuru Free Essays

string(62) " an education which would be good for the economy as a whole\." Lake Nakuru is located in central Kenya, 140km north-west of Nairobi in Nakuru of the rift valley Province. It covers an area of 188 km2 Lake Nakuru’s climate ranges from cold, hot and humid, to hot and dry. The annual rainfall is 965mm. We will write a custom essay sample on Lake Nakuru or any similar topic only for you Order Now Lake Nakuru is a very shallow strongly alkaline lake 62 km2 in extent. It is surrounded by woodland and grassland next to Nakuru town. The landscape includes areas of marsh and grassland alternating with rocky cliffs and outcrops, stretches of acacia woodland and rocky hillsides covered with Euphorbia forest on the eastern perimeter. Lake Nakuru was first known as a bird sanctuary in 1960 and upgraded to National Park status in 1968. A northern extension was added to the park in 1974 and the lake was designated as a Ramsar site in 1990. The foundation of the parks food chains is the cyanophyte spirulina platensis which can support huge numbers of lesser flamingo. Kenya is also home to all of the Big five Animals which are Lion, Rhinoceros, Leopard, Water Buffalo and the Elephant these animals are a major tourist attraction and are one of the reasons why many tourists go to Kenya. Desertification in General It has been said that forests came before human beings and deserts followed them. Desertification is becoming a major problem as more and more of the world’s land surface is turned into desert. The new deserts which are being created are not necessarily hot, dry sandy places, but are instead any areas where the soil has been so mistreated by humans that it is now useless for growing crops. You may think that this doesn’t affect us here in Britain; after all, it’s too wet and cold for a desert to be formed here, that may be true, but that doesn’t mean that desertification won’t affect us. Think about it, if our soil is not conserved, then our food supply and all our lives are threatened. Soils can be ruined easily in areas where seasonal rainfall is unreliable. Cutting down forests and trees, over-cultivation of the soil and over-grazing can all contribute to desertification. In poorer countries, farmers often know what needs to be done, but they and their families live so near to starvation that they cannot even afford to buy what they need to keep their families healthy, let alone attempt to solve their problems. Tourism in Kenya Tourism is very important to Kenya because it keeps the economy stable, the local people get to interact with people from other countries, the ideal situation is that poor rural people get a fair share of their money from the produce they make and a reasonable share of the revenues are enjoyed by the local communities in Kenya. The Government link up with poor people in the rural areas so that poverty is reduced and poor people are able to participate more effectively in tourism development while earning an adequate income. I don’t feel that this always happens as seventy percent of people employed by park lodges are not local’s (Maasia), this shows that the locals are not getting the jobs needed for the survival of them and there families therefore they are not getting are fair share of the jobs. Local people are not consulted before new tourist developments are built making unfair as they do not get a say on what goes on in their towns. Tourism does produce a lot of money for Kenya, in 2004 they made 39.2 billion KSh (Kenyan shillings – the local currency) and in 2005 they made 48.9 billion KSh that’s an increase of 9.7 KSh in just one year, so we can see that their tourist industry is growing quite quickly. There are several factors that cause social, environmental and economic problems in Kenya, such as: Problems Concerning Tourists The climate in Kenya has very low precipitation this means that they have extremely low rainfall throughout the year. Tourists expect a certain environment when on holiday like clean drinking water, swimming pools, ice in their drinks and showers on demand to keep them cool. This puts pressure on a country with low rainfall as they can not provide these luxuries on a regular basis. A possible solution to this problem would be to attract tourists to the ‘Real Kenya’ by offering a true Safari Holidays camping out, using less water and experiencing local cuisine. Due to high pollution levels in the water, one of Nakuru’s main attractions, the flamingos are leaving. The flamingo come to lake to breed but as the lake is becoming more and more polluted by sediment and near by factories they have decided to flee. This is bad for Nakuru’s income and tourism as many tourists come to see the large amounts of flamingos that breed here but now they have gone a lot of tourists may not bother coming to Kenya. This problem could be solved by moving the factories as far away possible from the national park and lake so that flamingos don’t feel the need to leave Due to the low precipitation levels in Kenya the farmers find it hard to grow their crops, which means they can not provide food for their families and cannot make a steady income. If the tourists were to use less water there would be enough for the farmers to grow their crops and feed their animals. Tourist industries feel that locals are not qualified enough to have well paid jobs. One solution to this problem is that the tourist industries could employ some local people and as part of the job the tourist industries could give them training so that they would be able to work the higher paid jobs. This would mean that the locals with the higher paid jobs would be able to supply their families with food, clean drinking water and clean clothes and ensure that their own children receive an education which would be good for the economy as a whole. You read "Lake Nakuru" in category "Papers" Tourists often travel around on safari in land rovers for their comfort and safety, this breaks up the soil causing deforestation and sediment in the lake, the more sediment in the lake the cooler it gets, killing fish. The Hamming and other birds feed by looking into the water and seeing the fish they want to eat, this will not be possible soon as the sediment makes the water cloudy. A possible solution to this is that the tourists could take hot air balloon flights whilst on safari instead of driving Land Rovers this would prevent the soil from breaking up, therefore creating less sediment in the lake and disruption to the environment. Problems Concerning Locals and Animals Wild animals often escape from the National Park, the animals are not used to human contact. The wild animals can then spread diseases to local domestic animals, many small farms that depend on their animals for money or food are located next to the National Park. A potential solution to this is to put up thorn fences in the national park that look more natural and will not harm the animals too much, but will stop them from escaping. The Government could also provide vaccines for the domestic animals to stop them from catching the wild animal’s diseases. As the population of Nakuru town increases more mouths need to be fed which means more crops need to be grown, but the soil needs to be rested to avoid soil erosion. A possible answer to this problem is to provide better education on contraception for the farmers and local people. Nakuru town has no sewage systems and the amount of waste being produced is increasing as the population is increasing, this means that they will get an overflow of sewage, very nasty smells and the sewage also carries diseases and attracts vermin into the town. The solution to this problem is the same as the last, to provide contraception and education on how to use it for the local people to help the locals reduce the amount of children they have. The Kenyan government needs to invest/raise money for the local infrastructure. Kenya is an LEDC (Lower Economically Developed Country) and needs to expand its manufacturing industry (such as factories) to become richer. Local people need jobs and the manufacturing industry needs to expand, it is also an economical problem as the manufacturing industry needs to become richer too compete with other countries. A potential answer to this problem would be to build more factories and employ local people. The Manufacturing Industry need investment from foreign companies which would provide more jobs for locals and this would enable them to provide for themselves. After all my investigations I feel that there are a few problems that are drastic and need taking care of immediately: * Over population – If this is not taken care of then the town of Nakuru will overpopulate making it hard for farmers to grow enough crops, there won’t be enough drinking water and there probably won’t be enough houses. A possible solution for this is to educate the town about contraception or to introduce a law where people are only allowed to have one child and if they have more then they have to pay tax on that child. * No sewage Systems – This means that due to the over population there will be an overflow of raw sewage in the town which will bring in vermin that will bring in disease to the local people. A possible solution to this is for The Kenyan government to invest/raise money for the local infrastructure. * Wild animals with diseases often escape from the National park – This need to be taken care of immediately because if all domestic animals are infected with disease by the wild animals, then all of the local’s meat will deplete and the farmers won’t be able to make as much money, therefore not being able to support their families. A possible solution to this is to put up thorn fences that will be cheap and practical, but will also look very natural. Conclusion From all of my research my opinion on Safari Holidays and the problems they cause is that they are disturbing the animals for example, there is a lot of sediment in the lake causing the temperature to go down which kills the fish, also the wading birds cannot see there food in the lake. This is caused by extensive use of land rovers that should be replaced with more friendly things like hot air balloons. They also disturb the animals by doing safari early in the morning when the animals are most likely mating or hunting. Although the Safari holidays do cause problems for the animals they bring in a lot of money for the government and the locals. The money goes towards things like housing, but could also be used to build new sewage systems as the waste that is produced will start to overflow into the town of Nakuru causing disease and vermin to come into the town. If I had a chance to go to Lake Nakuru on a field trip I would look for problems such as how sturdy fences were to see if animals could escape easily or not, I would see if I could find the amount of sediment in the lake. I would like to speak to the manger of the national park and ask for their annual profit from particular areas such as safari and food and drink sales, this would show an estimate of how much is made by tourism in one year. If I were to go to Nakuru in 20 years time I would expect there to be many of these problems solved, if they are not I believe that their profit will start to fall and they will not be able to stay a national park anymore. How to cite Lake Nakuru, Papers

Report Controversial Facts About The Test â€Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Report Controversial Facts About The Test? Answer: Introduction: The personality test is the process of assessing the personality of a person and in terms of the social engagement. The personality tests help the person to analyze the traits of his/her personality. One can understand his strengths and weakness and can improve the drawbacks accordingly. A personality test also helps one determining the career opportunity suitable for him. The following section presents the personality test business result and the assessment of the same. Personality Test Result: The above picture presents the personality test result of mine. The result shows that the personality type is of the mine are ISFP, which denotes Introverted Sensing Feeling Perceiving (Leverage Your Personality Type, 2017). This type of personality entails the internal feeling rather than focusing on the external factors, which mean that I am more focused on my internal feeling and deal various situations and things according to my personal feeling about them or how those things or situations fit into my value system. The impulses in me yearn for freedom and are loosed often when other people least expect. The impulses thus for me play a vital part for assessing the personality of mine. The personality test implies that the competitive nature is prominent in me for some specific situations. I can be attached and integrated with certain situations on first acquaintance. Again, it is possible that I can be detached or aloof from other occasions when I do not value the situations as per my impulses. The personality test states that the aesthetic sense in me is apparent and prominent and that I have a strong affinity for beauty and aesthetics. The most suitable career opportunity for me is to be an artist. The personality test also states that I am original and independent in assessing a situation or process and experimental (Portrait of an ISFP, 2017). It goes on stating that the people can misunderstand or mistake my personality and can have a conception of mine being arrogant or light-hearted and carefree. Whereas, the actual fact shows that I take life seriously and continuously work for collecting specific information and incorporating the same with my own value system. Another aspect of the ISFP personality, as the personality test result presents that I have a very strong and particular set of values of my own and that I consistently and constantly strive to meet those in my life. The strong values of the ISFP type people like me are intensely and extremely perfectionist and this lead the people to judge themselves with extreme and unnecessary harshness. This is the reason why this type of people does not give adequate credit to themselves for their own extremely well deeds (Jankowski, 2016). The result says that the presence of strong values in me makes me think out of the box and not commonly as others. It further says that I cannot align my thought with other in a conventional way and that I always find an abstract and different way to develop ideas and decision-making process in an unconventional, personal and non-traditional ways. However, I affirm that some of the facts said in the result of the Myers-Briggs marketing Indicator test are true. This is true that I emphasize more on the personal value system than on the logic. In addition, I have a strong intuition for perfect outcome of anything. Moreover, the result about the presence of the competitive nature in specific situations is true. I also strongly agree about the prominence aesthetic beauty and artistic nature in me. However, the result about judging people and I with unusual harshness for the perfection is something that I cannot wholly agree. Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Test: The Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) test is one of the assessment processes which is believed to measure the psychological condition and preferences of one person in terms of his tendency for perceiving the world and making decisions. In accordance to the MBTI test, there are sixteen different types of personalities, which indicate diverse psychological patterns of the people (Wang, 2015). All this types determine different qualities and traits of their own, which is applicable to the person having the type in terms of communication, career choice and others. However, the MBTI test is not reliable by many scholars. Some people relies on the test as it helps them to understand their potentiality and that they can chose their career option accordingly, but is acknowledged by most of the scholars as unreliable. The primary reason for not relying on the MBTI test is that the test does not follow different sources for assessing different people. In addition, the test only presents the surface data of ones personality (Menekse, agiltay Ozcelik, 2015). The results for each type are same and assessed from the same sources. Similar results are found by most of the people in spite of having different traits and preferences for things. Despite the test being controversial one, the test is widely used for the quick assessment of the personality of the test. economics of the test are mostly from America. Over two and half million Americans take the test in each year. There are also many companies who make use of the test to assess the personality of the employees. The experts present controversial thoughts about the MBTI test. The test is controversial because of the reliability and the genuineness of the test. The experts argues about the truthfulness of the facts. The facts are common and general for all people having the test. Also the expert present their concerns about the types of the test result as because there definitely can be other types beyond the stated ones. However, the test is recognized by the experts as usable for the general assessment of ones personality. Some other tests similar to the MBTI test are Big Five, Predictive Index and Traitify amongst the popular ones (Top 5 alternatives to the Myers-Briggs test, 2017). These tests are more similar to the MBTI test with some minor differences. Hence, management of the organizations or some people use uses these personally. Conclusion: Thus, it can be concluded from the above discourse that MBTI test is one of the major and most used personality test that leads to a general result of the peoples personalities. The reliability of the test is still controversial, despite the wide use of the same. However, there are similar tests used by people for the personality assessment. Reference: Leverage Your Personality Type. (2017). management.com. Retrieved 13 September 2017, from https://www.humanmetrics.com/personality/isfp-type?EI=-6SN=1TF=-3JP=-12 Menekse, G. G., agiltay, N. E., Ozcelik, E. (2015, June). Personality type indicator models in serious games: A case study in a surgical navigation game. InInformation Technology Based Higher Education and Training (ITHET), 2015 International Conference on(pp. 1-4). IEEE. Portrait of an ISFP. (2017).The Personality Page. Retrieved 13 September 2017, from https://www.personalitypage.com/ISFP.html Top 5 alternatives to the Myers-Briggs test -. (2017).Imeetcentral.com. Retrieved 13 September 2017, from https://imeetcentral.com/top-5-alternatives-to-the-myers-briggs-test Wang, C. Y. (2015). Preference measures of rectangle ratio on MBTI psychology types.Art and Design Review,3(03), 69. Jankowski, J. (2016).The Artist: Your Guide to the ISFP Personality Type. LOGOS MEDIA.

Asistir Conjugation in Spanish, Translations and Examples

Asistir Conjugation in Spanish, Translations and Examples Asistir is a Spanish verb that can mean- you guessed it- to assist or to help. But it is used more often for to attend or to go, as to an event, a school, or a class. It can also mean to attend to, such as in working to resolve a problem or in taking care of a medical patient. Asistir is conjugated regularly, so you can use  the charts here for  conjugating most other -ir verbs as well. Youll find listings here for all the simple tenses in both the indicative and subjunctive moods, such as the present, both types of the past (imperfect and preterite), the future, and the conditional. And of course, also included are the past participle, gerund, and periphrastic future as well as the commands or imperative mood. When talking about attending something, asistir is typically followed by the preposition a or the contraction al. As a verb for to help, asistir is somewhat formal. In informal situations, such as everyday speech, a more common verb is ayudar. In the conjugation charts below, the conjugation itself is the same for any of the meanings of  asistir, but the examples provided  apply to the most common use, to attend to. Present Indicative Tense of Asistir Yo asisto I attend Yo asisto al concierto de rock. T asistes You attend T asistes a la escuela. Usted/l/ella asiste You/he/she attends Ella asiste al gimnasio. Nosotros asistimos We attend Nosotros asistimos al juego. Vosotros asists You attend Vosotros asists a la universidad. Ustedes/ellos/ellas asisten You/they attend Ellos asisten a la reunin. Asistir Preterite The preterite is one of the two simple past tenses and is used with actions that came to a clear end. Yo asist I attended Yo asist al concierto de rock. T asististe You attended T asististe a la escuela. Usted/l/ella asisti You/he/she attended Ella asisti al gimnasio. Nosotros asistimos We attended Nosotros asistimos al juego. Vosotros asististeis You attended Vosotros asististeis a la universidad. Ustedes/ellos/ellas asistieron You/they attended Ellos asistieron a la reunin. Imperfect Indicative Form of Asistir The  imperfect  is the second simple past tense. One common use of the imperfect is to establish the background for another event. You normally would use the preterite to translate I attended the concert, but you could use the imperfect to indicate that as I was attending the concert, something else happened. Yo asista I was attending Yo asista al concierto de rock. T asistas You were attending T asistas a la escuela. Usted/l/ella asista You/he/she was attending Ella asista al gimnasio. Nosotros asistamos We were attending Nosotros asistamos al juego. Vosotros asistais You were attending Vosotros asistais a la universidad. Ustedes/ellos/ellas asistan You/they were attending Ellos asistan a la reunin. Asistir Future Tense Yo asistir I will attend Yo asistir al concierto de rock. T asistirs You will attend T asistirs a la escuela. Usted/l/ella asistir You/he/she will attend Ella asistir al gimnasio. Nosotros asistiremos We will attend Nosotros asistiremos al juego. Vosotros asistiris You will attend Vosotros asistiris a la universidad. Ustedes/ellos/ellas asistirn You/they will attend Ellos asistirn a la reunin. Periphrastic Future of Asistir Periphrastic is simply a way of saying something has more than one word. So this tense is simply ir a as the equivalent of Englishs going to. Yo voy a asistir I am going to attend Yo voy a asistir al concierto de rock. T vas a asistir You are going to attend T vas a asistir a la escuela. Usted/l/ella va a asistir You/he/she are/is going to attend Ella va a asistir al gimnasio. Nosotros vamos a asistir We are going to attend Nosotros vamos a asistir al juego. Vosotros vais a asistir You are going to attend Vosotros vais a asistir a la universidad. Ustedes/ellos/ellas van a asistir You/they are going to attend Ellos van a asistir a la reunin. Present Progressive/Gerund Form of Asistir Gerund of asistir asistiendo assisting/attending Yo estoy asistiendo a los conciertos de rock. Past Participle of Asistir Past participles are combined with forms of haber. They indicate that the verbs action has been or will be completed. Participle of asistir asistido have attended Yo he asistido al  concierto de rock. Conditional  Indicative Form of Asistir Yo asistira I would attend Yo asistira al concierto de rock si tuviera dinero. T asistiras You would attend T asistiras a la escuela si tuvieras la edad. Usted/l/ella asistira You/he/she would attend Ella asistira al gimnasio si tuviera compaera. Nosotros asistiramos We would attend Nosotros asistiramos al juego si pudiramos comprar boletos. Vosotros asistirais You would attend Vosotros asistirais a la universidad si quisierais. Ustedes/ellos/ellas asistiran You/they would attend Ellos asistiran a la reunin si tuvieran tiempo. Present Subjunctive of Asistir Que yo asista That I attend Pedro quiere que yo asista al concierto de rock. Que t asistas That you attend Andrea quiere que t asistas a la escuela. Que usted/l/ella asista That you/he/she attend Ana quiere que ella asista al gimnasio. Que nosotros asistamos That we attend Ral quiere que asistamos al juego. Que vosotros asistis That you attend Selena quiere que vosotros asistis a la universidad. Que ustedes/ellos/ellas asistan That you/they attend Roberto quiere que ellos asistan a la reunin. Imperfect Subjunctive Form of Asistir Most of the time, you can use either one of the conjugations given below for the imperfect subjunctive. The first one is used more often. Option 1 Que yo asistiera That I attended Pedro quera que yo asistiera al concierto de rock. Que t asistieras That you attended Andrea quera que t asistieras a la escuela. Que usted/l/ella asistiera That you/he/she attended Ana quera que ella asistiera al gimnasio. Que nosotros asistiramos That we attended Ral quera que nosotros asistiramos al juego. Que vosotros asistierais That you attended Selena quera que vosotros asistierais a la universidad. Que ustedes/ellos/ellas asistieran That you/they attended Roberto quera que ellos asistieran a la reunin. Option 2 Que yo asistiese That I attended Pedro quera que yo asistiese al concierto de rock. Que t asistieses That you attended Andrea quera que t asistieses a la escuela. Que usted/l/ella asistiese That you/he/she attended Ana quera que ella asistiese a la escuela. Que nosotros asistisemos That we attended Ral quera que nosotros asistisemos al juego. Que vosotros asistieseis That you attended Selena quera que vosotros asistieseis a la universidad. Que ustedes/ellos/ellas asistiesen That you/they attended Roberto quera que ellos asistiesen a la reunin. Imperative Forms of Asistir Imperative (Positive Command) Yo T asiste Attend! Asiste al concierto! Usted asista Attend! Asista a la escuela! Nosotros asistamos Lets attend! Asistamos al juego! Vosotros asistid Attend! Asistid a la universidad! Ustedes asistan Attend! Asistan a la reunin! Imperative (Negative Command) Yo T no asistas Dont attend! No asistas al concierto! Usted no asista Dont attend! No asista a la escuela! Nosotros no asistamos Lets not attend! No asistamos al juego! Vosotros no asistis Dont attend! No asistis a la universidad! Ustedes no asistan Dont attend! No asistan a la reunin!

Affirmative Action in Education essays

Affirmative Action in Education essays The policy of affirmative action in education will no longer be needed in the near future. In the past, however, legislators determined that in order to prevent racial discrimination affirmative action would be needed. Recent demographic studies indicate that the Caucasian race will steadily decrease as the present populations of minorities increase. Factors such as fewer white births, an influx of immigrants, and an increase in interracial marriage will play a major role in contributing to this change. Affirmative action programs are operated by the federal, state, and local governments specifically intended to increase the number of opportunities for various groups, including women, racial, and ethnic minorities. (Http://www.vote96.ss.ca.gov) For example, affirmative action promotes the hiring of less skilled workers, giving the employer no choice other than to choose the best of the minority workers they can find, regardless of job skill requirements. (Http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/feed1.html.) According to Ernest Pasour, "the phrase affirmative action was first used in a racial discrimination context," which was issued by President John F. Kennedy in 1961. (Http://www.self-gov.org/freeman/8901paso.htm) He said, "It indicated that federal contractors should take affirmative action to ensure that applicants and employees are treated without regard to their race, creed, color, or national origin". (Http://www.self-gov.org/freeman/8901paso.htm) The growing United States population of minorities in the 21st century will eventually surpass the population of the Caucasian race for the first time in history, a change that will become evident in politics, education, industry, values, and culture, according to William A. Henry III (Beyond the Melting Pot 28). One authority says as of now one in every four Americans defines himself/herself as either non-white or Hispanic (Beyond the Melting Pot 28). According t...

Explain the key features of post Communist ,Trasformation' since Essay

Explain the key features of post Communist ,Trasformation' since 1989.Compare and contrast the experience of two or more countries as examples - Essay Example 5) as â€Å"the prison of nations†. With their new found independence, the former communist countries have become free to change the course of their own development, highly expectant of the promised prosperity by the West which confidently proclaimed this event as the triumph of capitalism over socialism. However, this unusual landmark in world history has likewise proven difficult to handle, much more to define its development. As McFaul and Stoner-Weiss (2004, p. 3) described: â€Å"the post-Soviet world has gone through the twist and turns of tumultuous political, economic, and social change.† As â€Å"one of the defining features of the second half of the twentieth century† (Edwards 1999, p. vii), understanding this crucial event becomes imperative not only in terms of socio-economic historical development but even in terms of human resource management, especially so that the fallen communist bloc had hundreds of millions of subjects (Rose 2009). Perhaps, characterising this historical period is a good start. As such, this essay seeks to explore the key features of post-communist transformation since 1989, understanding these by comparing and contrasting Poland and Bulgaria’s transformations. This will be achieved through a review of relevant literatures and studies. Ultimately, it is also hoped that this study will provide lessons useful for human resource management. Rose (2009) correctly stated: â€Å"The collapse of the Berlin Wall was an event, while transformation and its aftermath is a process of learning.† Similarly, understanding the key features of post-communist transformation since 1989 is a learning process. The collapse of communism has triggered widespread debate, speculations, assumptions and the like, bringing forth various studies, write-ups and researches. The high interest in understanding this unexpected event

To what extent are class, racial and gender inequalities inter-related Essay

To what extent are class, racial and gender inequalities inter-related (in the UK) - Essay Example Researching wealth enables us to move beyond the snapshot picture of short-term gendered economic inequality that we obtain when we analyze wages and onto exploring the longer term buildup of gendered economic inequities. In this way, the intensity of the economic disadvantage women face can be better revealed and its implications better analyzed. Gender is a key variable in the analysis of inequalities in wealth and is the focus of this article. Yet the sociological and economic literatures on womens and mens economic positions reveal an increasing focus on other, non-gendered, social differences. Paying more attention to these other social divisions’ means that we are able to develop a fuller understanding of the picture of economic advantage and disadvantage in contemporary society. In the 2002 special issue of Feminist Economics devoted to theorizing gender, caste, race, and class, Rose M. Brewer, Cecilia A. Conrad, and Mary C. King (2002, 6) lamented the fact that much of the research published in the journal has centered purely on gender and, in so doing, has neglected the ways in which gender is shaped by other divisions. Examining only what unites women and separates them from men passes over major, significant divisions such as race and class that have ramifications for understanding the experiences of different groups of women and men in society. Put simply, as bell hooks (2000: 19) asked in her well-known critique of the feminist call for equality with men: [S]ince men are not equal in a white, supremacist, patriarchal class structure, which men do women want to be equal to? The attention that is now being paid to class, race, and other divisions, alongside gender, reflects the impact of an increasingly sophisticated theorizing of social divisions that has raised two pertinent issues for our understanding of inequalities in society. First, one of the core characteristics of a

Process Centred Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Process Centred Management - Essay Example Reengineering changes production from a skill specific departmental process to a product centred approach that looks at the end product and the team effort required to create it. 2. The Building Blocks. The organizational structure may need to change or adjust to cross-departmental communications to support the process centred management approach. The change will require organization around outcomes rather than organization by tasks. In some cases customers may be able to complete part of the process thus eliminating a cost of or required personnel (not too popular among staff because it could cause lay-offs). This could take the form of automated ordering processes via the internet verses a call centre based ordering system. The organization must be prepared for flexibility and change and can do this by devising a strategy to support the change while supporting the workforce who will implement the change. 3. Impact on the organization. Change rarely comes easy and change to a process centred management system is no exception. Change impacts production, employees, management, and the organizational structure. Change is most often designed to cut costs and to increase profits. Employees are the ones that seem to be affected the most by change in management systems. Change from a skills or department approach to a process centred outcome approach may not come easily if it means a reduction in force (lay offs). Ownership of the change makes the change a whole lot easier. The employees will need to adjust to working toward an outcome (process) instead of a single task. This requires adopting a team approach and requires the employees to learn a whole process rather than a step in the process. Job design, job enlargement, and job enrichment all impact the worker. In short, the job gets harder and the employee needs to know and learn more. The employee transitions from worker to professional. Information sharing is a very important part of process centred management. Information can be shared by different team members instead of one department gathering information to pass on to another department for processing. Jobs and job descriptions will need to be reengineered to support the process centred approach. The decision point may need to shift in the organization from higher management down to where the decisions are implemented. Performance measurement is vital to successful process centred management because "measurement is the foundation of improvement2". Quality Assurance (QA) provides the opportunity to correct or confirm product quality and marketability. "What isn't measured doesn't happen because there is no incentive, knowledge, or ownership"(PPT06, Provided with Course). Quality assurance makes sure that the end product meets or exceeds customer satisfaction (demand). "QA in a process centred organization is measure by results, growth, and performance"3. A QA method that organizations can use is Plan, Do, Check, Act (PDCA)4 to ensure that organizational activities support the process centred management approach and thus support production and marketing activities. 4. Changes required in organizational structure. Of all the changes necessary when a switch to process centred management is adopted the change in organization structure will effect the organization the most. The "whose in charge" idea needs to change. Decision making power

The Global Issue Of Food Shortage Environmental Sciences Essay

The Global Issue Of Food Shortage Environmental Sciences Essay If you have never experienced the pangs of starvation you are luckier than 1.02 billion people that suffer daily. In fact, if you have food in your fridge, clothes on you back, a roof over your head, and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of the world. The idea of food shortages is sometimes hard to grasp for people who have never experienced this before. Evidently, the gap between the rich and the poor has caused a great inequality in life standards. This gap is magnified greatly when looking at the food shortages and general food distributions around the world. Food shortage occurs when food supplies within a region do not provide the energy and nutrients needed for that regions population. The amount of people suffering from huger today is devastating. Especially due to the fact that our Earth is rich with natural resources; in reality, there is more than enough to provide for every single person in every country across the globe. So we ask ourselves, why are so many people starving? With todays technology and advancements in agriculture and food production, what is our excuse? Why can we not provide an African child with more than one tenth of the amount of food that richer countries take for granted? In the 21st century it is a shame to see that young children are still forced to abandon their education so they can have food on the table. It is a shame to see diseases like malaria and rabies still causing deaths. Why are entire countries still left to live on basic staple foods such as bread and rice? Do we have an excuse? Is it greed, war, lack of stability, lack of international unity? Is that the reason that 1 out 6 people are starving everyday? This report will discuss the terrifying statistics of food shortages around the world. It will explain the causes and the effects of food shortage and explore solutions. Even though food shortage has a long rooted history, it is our job to come together to raise awareness, give support, and find solutions that may give at least one person a better future. Statistics: The United Nations reported that the main cause of mortality is hunger, being responsible for the death of 25,000 people every day. Regrettably, the percentage of children suffering is greater than that of the adults. Altogether, 1.02 billion people do not have enough to eat, this number is more than the populations of USA, Canada and the European Union. 907 million people in developing countries alone are hungry. In fact a whopping 65 percent  of the worlds hungry live in only seven countries: India, China, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan and Ethiopia.   The amount of people suffering from malnourishment increased by 75 million in 2007 and 40 million in 2008 mostly due to rising food prices.(Source:  FAO news release,  2006-2008), (Source: The State of Food Insecurity in the World, FAO, 2006-2008). The following charts demonstrate these facts: A study taken in 2005 observes the combined income of the worlds richest individuals and compares it to that of 416 million of the worlds poorest. This study brings to light the following shocking statistics. 982 million people out 4.8 billion living in developing countries live on $1 a day. An additional 2.5 billion live on below $2 a day. The income of 40% of the worlds poorest totaled up to a mere 5% of the worlds income; whereas 20% of the richest population made up 75% of global income. Food shortages in a population are caused either by a lack of food or by difficulties in food distribution. This huge gap in between the rich and the poor contribute greatly to the unfortunate distribution of food. A Timeline of Food Shortage in developing countries: As reported by Oxfam the current food shortages in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique and Zimbabwe are proof that this problem has not been solved and it is indeed still a major world crisis. The past years we have seen prices rising mostly due to the failing economy, before prices increased there were over 850 million people classified as undernourished. Now, that number has nearly reached one billion. This increase is directly influenced by rising prices, alongside other factors such as political conflicts and instability. The Causes of food Shortage: Another major cause for food shortage is natural causes. Water supply in terms of both heavy rainfall and drought are popular culprits. Hurricanes and tornadoes are also common. Along with tsunamis that can easily wipe out entire populations. The causes of food shortage can be categorized into two major factors: physical and biological, political and economical. Physical and Biological Effects on Food Shortage: To determine the food shortage in any country we look at the production level. The production level is mostly determined by the climate and soil type. Across the globe we see a range of various patterns regarding climates. The difference in temperatures and amounts of ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­ rainfall are indicators of which organisms are allowed to survive and grow in a certain area. Temperature and rainfall directly influence the type, quantity and the quality of the crops. Alongside these climatic factors is the richness of the lands soil. The production of food varies according to soil structure and fertility but these factors can be modified more easily than factors related to temperature or rainfall. For instance, some tropical soils contain fewer amounts of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, which decrease the capacity to absorb fertilizers. One the other hand, other tropical soils contain different amount of nutrients that change its level of absorption or other characteristics. When the agricultural methods and inputs vary, the productivity of the soil differs. Many countries facing the challenge of climate changes overcome this by using techniques that help the soil keep its productivity as required. Some of these techniques are changing the fertilizing rate and monitoring the use of irrigation. When the natural resources in an area are naturally capable of carrying agricultural demands the cost of production is cheaper. None the less, agricultural advancements have made a significantly large difference in the past. In countries where rainfall is rare, such as the deserts of United Arab Emirates, it would still be possible to grow crops that naturally grow elsewhere; however this comes with a high price, including a constant supply of water. In less fortunate countries water would be considered a critical resource and agricultural success would be left to depend greatly on the richness of its soil and the climate. Biological factors are ones which are related to the organisms in an environment. Bacteria, insects, and animals have a significant effect on crops and are often cause yield reductions. Many countries try to make a huge effort to overcome the bacterial and fungal diseases by addressing them through many different procedures and some chemical applications. Also animals are taken care of by blocking inoculations and restorative methods. To avoid insects or pests, many countries breed resistant varieties. This involves strategies revolving around mixing and planting in a certain way that will create a shield for particular species from their characteristic pests. Target populations are commonly killed using insecticidal chemicals. Other animals that negatively effect crops are: rodents, birds, or livestock. These animals are usually scared away due to their damaging effect on food productivity. Political and Economical Effects on Food Shortage: Production levels are not solely determined by physical and biological factors. Political and economical factors also play a significant role. Political and economical factors involve international trade, and government policies for modernizing agriculture as well as the rate of food exchange. This is closely intertwined with cultural factors which include the organization of land and labor use, as well as dietary preferences. Under this umbrella are many inadequate reasons for production levels, trade and import restrictions, structural adjustments, and food aid. Food Distribution: The richest 20% of people in the world consume nearly half the meat and fish in the world, but the poorest 20% consume just 5% (FAO, 2000). Looking within the borders of a certain country, or even a certain city, we often find rich areas and poor areas. In many countries the rich are a small percentage of the population, however they account for large amounts of property and possessions. While, the poor will be left to share the little amount of land that is left and struggle in the intense and rather unfair world of trade. Many small farmers in developing countries will make a significantly low profit compared to the rich when producing the exact same product. In the end, the old saying the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer, proves to be the harsh truth. Insufficient incentives for food production: This occurs when the government activity works in a way that alters consumption patterns only for their benefit, and not the benefit of the community at large. Cash-crop promotions: Governments seeking to increase export earnings, this policy has a negative effect on the production of food crops for local consumption. Opportunity costs and food production: The income that is gained from crops must be high enough to meet opportunity costs of producing the crops. Unfortunately, the government may eliminate these calculations so the cost of production is higher than the benefits. Food aid: Sometimes importing food aid is limited because of the availability of humanitarian aid. Some scientists look at the problem of food shortage from another dimension. In their opinion, there is no global food shortage, but there is disordered political agendas. These political agendas are prioritizing the service of aid for reasons other than strictly humanitarian ends; thus not enough aid reaches the people suffering the most.  ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­ A Closer Look: Africa The hunger problem in Africa today cannot be changed unless Africa itself decided to change. The root of Africas problems is the agriculture crisis its facing. According to the International Food Policy Research Institute, this has left 200 million people malnourished. (news.bbc.co.uk). Africa is an area with consisting of desert and low amounts of rainfall. The growth of its population is incredibly high. Unfortunately, Things are moving in the wrong direction, if we look at Sub-Saharan Africa as a whole, all the projections area that poverty and hunger are ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­ going to get worse. (Mar Cohen, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in Washington). There are several conditions that occurred in Africa that lead to hunger and poverty, which are: marginalization of women food farmers, poor leadership, too little investment in building peoples capacity in rural areas, AIDS, and the gender inequality that fuels the epidemic. (Clinton Global Initiative, Sep 2005) Africa is facing political pressure, which only adds overwhelming stress to its already vulnerable population. Poor governance is a major issue in many African countries, and that has serious repercussion for long-term food security, says a statement by the International Food Policy Research Institute. (news.bbc.co.uk) While donors continue to generously donate to the Africans in need, the government (Sub-Saharan) is not helping ease the process. Due to the governments lack of action the Africans will continue struggling to rise above the problem of hunger. We cannot expect to see positive changes unless the government starts supporting zits people in the name of stopping the hunger. A Closer Look: Ethiopia Ethiopia has been ranked 171 out of 182 on the list of poorest countries in the Human Development Index (UNDP HDI 2009). About 50 % of its GDP relies on its agriculture as the single source of food. Unfortunately, its agriculture is very unreliable due to poor cultivation tools, unpredictable rainfall and climate changes in the past two years. Alongside these agricultural struggles, the increase in food and fuel prices that struck hard on Ethiopia, during the 2008 global financial crisis, made it even more difficult for people to get food. A whopping 50% of Ethiopias total 74.7 million are bearing the burden of poverty and 80% live on bread sources. 47% of males and 31% of females are literate. The infant mortality rate (per 1000 live birth) is 109 (2005 UNDP). Some parts of Ethiopia are overwhelmed with diseases. People are highly vulnerable to hepatitis A, hepatitis E, typhoid fever, malaria, and rabies. These fatal diseases are mainly due to malnutrition. The same can be said abou t many countries such as: Niger, The Central African Republic, Bissau, The Republic of Liberia, Somalia and others. I think that the African communities should adopt new methods in policy, education, industry and agricultural activities. Food Shortage here has reached extreme levels. However, if proper action is taken this tragedy can be eased and eventually solved. Some areas have sufficient natural resources and rich soil that are not nearly meeting their productive potentials. The Sadomo region of the Ethiopia is known for producing the best coffee second to Hararà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.Make Trade Fair! mcandrea The Outcomes of Food Shortage: The effects that food shortage has on societies as well as individuals can be very damaging. Children that are malnourished wont grow properly, including their brains. This will make them incapable of receiving a proper education and instead of growing into capable adults that will serve the community they become a burden on society. Adults and children alike may even turn to crime out of desperation. They will not be able to afford a proper marriage, thus they may turn to unlawful and sexual relations. They will produce illegitimate children and then very likely abandon those children; and the negative cycle goes on and on. Malnutrition Poor Health: The countries that suffer from food shortage face many health problems and they have low health standards. One out of 4 children in developing countries are underweight. This puts them a higher risk to a number of diseases and lowers their bodys natural immunity. Malnutrition commonly leads to not only Hunger, but also: AIDS , Malaria , Diarrhoea, Pneumonia, and Measles. In addition there is one more health problem closely associated with food shortage which is Malnutrition. We can define it as an imbalance in the consumption of nutrients. It causes a disorder which affects the overall heath and the functions in the human body. If the body is in this state for too long it stresses the heart, and other organs such as the kidneys, liver, and damages the esophagus. Eventually, malnutrition leads to death from either organ failure, or other diseases that the body could not fight off due to a weak and failing immune system. Thus, we see higher rates of mortality in areas suffering from fo od shortage. UNICEF reported that: Malnutrition and hunger-related diseases cause 60 percent of the deaths. (Source:  The State of the Worlds Children, UNICEF, 2007) Education: In poor countries children have a great deal less healthcare and this ultimately results in many absences from the academic education. They may even prefer working and gaining money than studying. The countries which suffer from food shortage have a population that lacks the motivation to achieve any educational progress. They believe that there are no benefits from education because of the poverty and lacking food. This shifts their direction from education to working. Possible Solutions: What can be done to stop this cycle? Who is responsible for this imbalance in the world? Nobody likes to see others suffer, yet so many are suffering daily. The true solution will take great organization and uniting on a personal level as well as an International and Governmental level. As individuals however, we need to remind ourselves to buy only what is enough for our families and never waste food or throw it away. We need to make conscious efforts to give extra to any needy individuals in our own communities. However, outside of our little community circles, we need to work on an International and Governmental level. Food banks need to be set up. Governments need to help other countries to not only be able to draw out their natural resources, but even to teach them how to maintain and farm their own land. This takes water, man power, and knowledge. Water may even have to be imported as either loans (which are usually impossible to pay back for these impoverished countries) or just as charity. Also countries need to work together to produce a long term program that will assure progression throughout the coming years. They need to ease the immediate problem and take some of the stress off their citizens. If the government can provide a positive atmosphere for its people that will in turn play a large role in advancing the economy. The people will be able to go out and serve their communities by advancing in various fields (education, medicine, technology, agriculture, etc.). Hopefully, once these countries get organized internally and are supported internationally, they can become more independent. In countries that dont have many natural resources, they should be receiving international support. The ratio of rich to poor could all balance if governments would just take it seriously. There is no need for all the suffering and it does affect all mankind. It is our job as citizens of the Earth to take part in finding solutions to the problems we face. Hunger is not a problem limited to the people in developing countries, but it is in fact a problem that we are all facing together. The toll starvation is taking on our human population is a shockingly large number. It is making our fellow neighbors vulnerable to diseases; this will sooner or later catch up to us anywhere in the world. If we all come together, there is much that can be done to assure that needs are met, its called Globalization!

The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case - The Film :: Film Movie Essays

The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case - The Film [1] It was August 26, 1974, when the first man to fly solo and nonstop across the Atlantic died of cancer in his home in Maui. He was 72 years old and had lived long enough to be worshipped and reviled by the American public. During the 18 months between the death of Lindbergh and the 1976 television production of The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case, the U.S. had endured some culture crises that were certain to challenge the self-image of â€Å"The American." Early in 1974 Patricia Hearst, publishing heiress, was abducted by the Symbionese Liberation Army only to resurface as Tanya, a gun-toting member of the gang of thugs. The public acknowledged the United State’s involvement in Vietnam at large as a debacle of unparalleled proportion. Following close on the heels of Vice-President Spiro Agnew’s ignoble encounter with the law, President Richard Milhouse Nixon was forced to resign from office. Even the unconquerable Babe Ruth suffered a defeat as his home run record fell to Hank Aaron. The fact that Aaron was one of the good guys is unprotested, but it still marked the passing of an era. It seemed that none of the titans were left standing. The nation was in a maelstrom of change, which left many with a sense of loss of direction and purpose. So perhaps it comes as no surprise that a cropped and bloodless version of Charles Lindbergh should appear on television, a medium that was swiftly becoming a changeling for reality. America had had enough of real people. She was casting about for an icon, an inspiration, and a hero. It was a time for artifice and selective historical memory. [2] So precisely where does the film enlighten and where does it mislead? The very opening segment gives us a glimpse of the excitement and unmitigated adulation heaped upon Charles Lindbergh with the completion of his successful transatlantic flight. That Lindbergh’s success was as much a matter of luck and favorable winds as it was planning and talent is well known among historians. While the crowds roared their approval, experienced navigators were astounded that the daring young man had crossed the Atlantic with little more than a compass and a favorable wind. The few-filmed moments of crowds and tickertape parades only suggest the magnitude of the celebrity that was incurred by Lindbergh and the enduring quality of hero worship that he experienced.

Issues in Uganda’s human rights Essay

Assignment – Research Paper Research Topic: Issues in Uganda’s human rights As a female-born Canadian, living in one of the better countries of the world, take solace in the fact that as a person, have consciously been able to exercise my â€Å"rights and freedoms† through working, schooling or voting. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (Constitution Act, 1985.) safeguards our basic human rights. As Canadians, we feel protected in this way, exercising our rights without much thought, passing through our day and night without griping fear for our lives, or of the police. Imagine for a moment waking up and the army has moved in, soldiers, police, trucks, tanks control the streets. All â€Å"left-handed† people, regardless of age are being taken away, and secretly relocated for re-education?! As a society or an individual within, we would be helpless and vulnerable, should some form of organized brutality be thrust upon us. The western countries of the world place human rights, in high esteem. In stark contrast, woefully many countries, U ganda in particular, are continually in a desperate struggle for the advancement of human rights. (Ewins, 2011) The country still faces heavy criticism regarding the treatment and growth, or lack thereof in the area of human rights. In particular, the specific malfeasance shown toward women, children, homosexuals, and the disabled. Officially known as the Republic of Uganda, is a sovereign nation located in the continent of Africa, bordered by Kenya, Sudan, the Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Rwanda. Even though this republic is only forty-six years old, since gaining independence from Great Britain, methods of torture and child labour still exist. Continually, there are seemingly insurmountable struggles (i.e. arrests, enslavement, poor laws, etc) (Middleton & Miller, 2008). Additionally, the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) and the mentally/physically ill in Uganda have virtually no protection at all, and both male and female homosexual activity or interaction is illegal. (Ewins, 2011) The Uganda Human Rights Commission, an agency established in 1995, still continues to struggle trying to put an end to the cruelty concerning the treatment of women, children, homosexuals, and the mentally ill. This same  agency is responsible for crimes against children, which is an underlying problem that only exacerbates the situation for the advancement of human rights in Uganda. The practice of child abuse is considered exploitative, extremely unethical, and inhumane. Commonly, children are laboured for days on end, performing chores for superiors. Ugandan children are trafficked within the country, as well as to other countries as Canada, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia for forced labour and commercial sexual exploitation. (Clark-Kazak, 2010) Karamojong women and children, an ethnic group of herders living mainly in the northeast of Uganda, are sold in cattle markets or by intermediaries and forced into situations of domestic servitude, sexual exploitation, herding, and begging. Many Ugandan security and government agencies, including Uganda’s Rapid Response Unit, the police force, law-enforcement officials and the military, have been accused of torture. (Clark-Kazak, 2010) These agencies persecute opponents of the government, carry out abductions, disappearances, extrajudicial killings and torture and act both independently, as well as interdependently with each other, and in cooperation with the Ugandan Police. Some of these inhumane acts of torture include kicking and beating, which is described as â€Å"kandoya† – a tying of the victim’s hands and feet behind the body and strung from the ceiling, and even electric shock by attaching wires to the male genitalia. Because these agencies operate through the Ugandan Police, not much stance has been taken by the government. (Clark-Kazak, 2010) Over the past twenty years, the rebel group LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army) has abducted more than 30,000 boys and girls as soldiers. Attacks against Uganda’s Acholi people have resulted in severe trauma to civilians from extreme violence and abduction. Girls are often forced to become sex slaves, and the UPDF (Uganda People’s Defence Force) has recruited small numbers of children into its forces, some as young as thirteen. (Mujuzi, 2011) Not only are children being treated as property with no rights protecting them, women also receive similar treatment. For many decades, the Ugandan culture has made it clear that women should treat men as higher class citizens, and respect their commands, as they are higher in value than women. Despite the substantial economic and social responsibilities of women in Uganda’s many traditional societies, women were taught to accede to the wishes of their fathers, brothers, husbands, and sometimes other men as well, and to  demonstrate their subordination to men in most areas of public life. Customary law also prevails in the event of divorce in that child custody is typically awarded to the father. (Mujuzi, 2011) The physical integrity of Ugandan women is poorly protected. Violence against women is widespread: some estimates say that more than half of the women in the country have suffered domestic violence at the hands of their partners. Domestic violence has wide social acceptance, even by women. Rape is very common in Uganda. In nearly half of sexual violence cases, the victim’s husband or partner is the perpetrator reflecting a widely held belief that spousal rape is a husband’s prerogative. (Ehiri, 2009) Many women were raped by rebel soldiers during the conflict in northern Uganda. Women of the Sabiny tribe are subjected to female genital mutilation. There are no laws prohibiting the practice, but the local authorities have issued a decree denouncing the custom. (Kafumbe, 2010) In addition, in 2006, The World Health Organization (WHO) published results of a study on countrywide domestic violence and women’s health in Uganda. In the study, they found that 22% of adult women in the country experienced sexual violence, with 76% of men transmitting the HIV virus with 82% chance of the women becoming pregnant. 70% of women and 60% of men agreed that wife beating was justifiable under certain circ umstances. Ethically speaking, this makes the situation extremely uncomfortable. (Ehiri, 2009) An example one of which can be seen as a step in the right direction is with regards towards marriage and divorce laws in Uganda. The proposed legislation, the Marriage and Divorce Bill, which was passed in March of 2011, recognizes cohabitation in terms of property rights, abolishes forced marriage, prohibits same sex marriage and allows women to divorce their husbands on grounds of cruelty. Ultimately, the Bill still condemns same sex marriage, however, gives women in marriage more freedom. While polygamy has been quite popular in Uganda, it has been decreasing every decade, with only 27% of men having more than one wife, as opposed to 43% of males with more than one wife in 1988. (Kafumbe, 2010) The situation compared to decades ago, where polygamy was on the rise, is much less in existence. Granted, the government still has a vast array of issues to fix. For example, the period following the collapse of Idi Amin’s regime (which lasted from 1979–1986), was characterized by continued turmoil, violations of human rights, including the killing of innocent people, mismanagement of  the economy, a nd guerrilla warfare, which is civilians attacking members of the military. The army, led by General Tito Okello, overthrew President Obote in 1985. This gave the rebels of Yoweri Museveni, a former guerrilla leader, an advantage to take over government from Okello on January 26th, 1986. From 1986, however, with a new government headed by Museveni, Uganda started on the path to reconstruction and rehabilitation with new promise of security, peace, and development. (Middleton & Miller, 2008) One issue that it is not showing any signs of improvement, applies to the gay citizens in Uganda. Homosexuality in all its forms is illegal. This includes sexual acts, and just being gay. The consequence for homosexuality can put a Ugandan in prison for life. Prior to 2000, only male homosexuality was criminalized, then in 2000 under the Penal Code Amendment (Gender References) Act 2000, all references to â€Å"any male† was changed to â€Å"any person† so that lesbianism was criminalized as well. A new bill has been introduced into parliament, providing for harsher penalties for homosexuals, including the death penalty for â€Å"repeat offenders.† Ugandan citizens would be required to report any homosexual activity within twenty-four hours or face a maximum penalty of three years imprisonment, and Uganda would request extradition if Ugandan citizens were having same-sex relationships outside the country. Gays and lesbians face discrimination and harassment at the hands of the media, police, teachers, and other groups. According to Jessica Stern of Human Rights Watch, â€Å"For years, President Yoweri Museveni’s government routinely threatens and vilifies lesbians and gays, and subjects sexual rights activists to harassment.† (Clark-Kazak, 2010) There appear to be two types of harassment of the Ugandan LGBT community: human rights violations against this community, as well as failure to provide governmental and non-governmental services to this community. First, in Uganda, there is a strong cultural abhorrence and complete lack of understanding of LGBT individuals. This is reflected in everyday actions throughout the country, from minor forms of harassment in clubs, restaurants, and on the streets, to more pernicious forms of discrimination in terms of jobs and service distribution. Interviews with members of the LGBT community suggest that an openly gay individual will likely be excommunicated by his or her church, will be neglected by his or her family and community, may be kicked o ut of school, will have difficulty finding and  holding a job, and will be otherwise persecuted in everyday life. Stories of people being maimed or killed because they are thought to be gay are a persistent, minute to minute reminder to the LGBT community to maintain strong secrecy, often forcing people to engage in heterosexual relationships to give the impression of being straight to the outside world. Much of this type of cultural bias and discrimination cannot be attacked using current laws; it can only be attacked through new laws creating positive rights enabling LGBT individuals to be free from this type of harassment and discrimination. (Hollander, 2009-10) Condemned by world leaders, some western governments threatened to withhold financial aid. In the United States, Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon has argued that, should the legislation become law, Uganda would be ineligible for trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The global backlash to this bill has been significant. President Barack Obama recently denounced it as â€Å"odious† and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton communicated her â€Å"strongest concerns† over the proposed legislation directly to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. Resolutions have been introduced in the U.S. Congress condemning the proposed bill, calling on the Ugandan Parliament to reject it, and urging all governments to reject and repeal similar laws criminalizing homosexuality. Some countries have gone even further; with Sweden has threatening to cut off all aid to Uganda should the bill become law. (Ewins, 2011) As well, the U.K. partnered up with BBC to film a documentary on Uganda’s treatment of homosexuals. It was filmed in Kampala and its surrounding slums, where they interviewed leaders in the anti-homosexual movement, as well as homosexuals who are out and living in fear. Radio DJ Scott Mills travels to Kampala where the death penalty could soon be introduced for being gay. This was aired in the U.K. on February 2011 before the Bill was killed. Mills, who is openly gay, finds out that the living situation in Kampala and around Uganda is incredibly frightening and horrific. Those who are openly gay are disowned by their family and friends, and are forced to live in slums and outside the city so they can be somewhat protected. An effective way that the Ugandan people â€Å"capture† homosexuals is through their newspapers. The newspaper â€Å"The Rolling Stone† publishes photos of openly gay Ugandans living in and around Kampala, asking citizens to call them or the police if they know where they are located. (Mills, 2011) If a  person gets caught, they are persecuted and thrown in jail for adultery. In the documentary, we meet a lesbian named Stosh. When she was a teenager she was raped by a man to try and â€Å"cure† her of her lesbianism and as a result was infected with HIV. To make matters worse, Pastor Male is part of the self styled National Coalition against Homosexuality and Sexual Abuse in Uganda and claims he was the first person in the country to come out openly against gays. Male believes that no one is born gay and that through counseling they can be cured of this â€Å"affliction†. (Mills, 2011) Exercising tolerance of ignorance can be quite a bitter pill to swallow Although the focus of most research in the media on Uganda has been surrounding women, children, and the LGBT community, often overlooked is the mistreatment of the ill, specifically those with mental disorders. A survey of the existing mental health system in Uganda was conducted using the WHO Assessment Instrument for Mental Health Systems. (Fisher, 2010) In addition, 62 interviews and six focus groups were conducted with a broad range of mental health stakeholders at the national and district levels. Despite possessing a â€Å"draft† on mental health policy that is in line with many international human rights standards, Uganda’s mental health system inadequately promotes and protects, and frequently violates the human rights of people with mental disorders; through physical and emotional abuse. Qualitative interviews with a range of stakeholders revealed that patients had experienced various forms of direct human rights abuses within the mental health facilities and units in the country, particularly in psychiatric units in general hospitals. (Fisher, 2010) In discussions with the mental health service facilities, many stakeholders from different groups spoke about how it is fairly common for mental health professionals to infringe on the rights of patients. Numerous respondents, particularly mental health care service users themselves, spoke about the stigma and verbal abuse patients experience from mental health professionals. As one service user lamented: â€Å"Sorry to comment on psychiatrists, but when you are in hospital, instead of calling you by name, they call you ‘case’, ‘this case here’, ‘this mental case’ That is not a proper way to address people. Why do you call me case? I have a name. I am not a case and I have a right to be called my name. But because they have an attitude of labeling. You are  being turned into an object by them.† (Fisher, 2010) Many respondents also spoke about the ‘poor food supply in the mental health units’, which is ‘never enough for everyone’, and is often ‘old’ or ‘so bad you would not wish it upon anyone’. Poor dietary supplies were seen as impacting especially badly those patients who are also physically ill (i.e. as HIV-positive patients). The patients are continuously secluded, sometimes they are beaten up, or starved as punishment, and sometimes they are left alone for hours with no one attending to them. This study was done in every mental institution in the country except for Butabika, which is known as the best mental establishment and is known for its good conditions. Although that does say there can be good and bad institutions, knowing there is only one with a positive rating in the whole country is beyond troublesome. (Bernstein & Okello, 2007) Briefly, a final problem, which falls under the umbrella of human rights, is that of refugee status. In Uganda, refugee policy and programming is focused almost exclusively on providing protection and assistance to refugees residing in rural settlements. While international law allows refugees the right to freedom of movement and choice of residence, Ugandan legislation restricts refugees’ residency to rural settlements, subjecting those who wish to live outside of settlements and in urban centers to severe restrictions. This study sheds light on the reasons refugees choose to reside in Kampala as opposed to rural settlements and the challenges they endure while attempting to sustain and support themselves. Research findings indicate that at all stages of exile, refugees in Uganda are put under pressure, either implicitly or explicitly, to relocate to settlements. The lack of progressive thinking and hence over-reliance on settlements as the mainstay of refugee protection and assistance has hampered reforms of refugee policy and hindered the broader involvement of municipal authorities in responding to protection and assistance needs of refugees in urban areas. Research findings suggest that many refugees have talents, skills, and abilities, which would enable self-sufficiency in Kampala and other urban areas. However, these capabilities are currently undermined by a refugee regime which only promotes self-reliance in rural settlements. In an effort to enhance refugees’ overall human security and to support their own efforts to become independent and self-reliant, this paper asserts that refugee policy in  Uganda should be reformed to support refugees’ decisions to choose their own places of residence, instead of restricting them to rural settlements. (Bernstein & Okello, 2007) When first beginning my research on Uganda, I wanted to focus specifically on the lack of rights for the LGBT community, yet there is a glaring human rights problem all throughout the country, especially including women, children and those with mental/physical ailments. While researching through my references, it is positive to note that â€Å"human rights† is a hot button topic in Uganda, there is some progress; albeit small. (Ewins, 2011) There is focus on the topic of â€Å"human rights† in Uganda and how it effects women, children, the mentally ill, and homosexuals. As a Canadian, I recognize and exercise my rights because I have all of them as a woman and a Canadian citizen. Often times, people seem to forget how fortunate they are to live in a first world country where they do not have to be afraid everywhere they look because of who they are. Dismally, many Ugandans have to exist that way with no escape in sight., as a significant amount of the population are poor and unable to flee to a safer place. Having always been interested in human rights in all countries and how they differ from Canada’s laws, researching the human conditions in Uganda has been a huge eye opener concerning the depth of despair. Although I am not gay myself, rights for LGBT members is one of things that I am very passionate about changing around the world. My research will show what they have to go through on a daily basis as Ugandans and changes that have been made throughout the decades to improve on these rights, or make them harsher. With my research, I have developed the following research questions: Creating the Anti-Homosexual Bill has received negative attention from countries around the world including the United States and Sweden. How has the Ugandan government dealt with this image the rest of the world has about their country? In Uganda, if someone is homosexual, they will most likely be discriminated against. What acts of discrimination by the rest of the Ugandan population will put homosexuals in danger? Some forms of data that will be presented are primarily from observation and  documentaries. Ideally, it would be more advantageous to travel to Uganda and experience life there first hand, therefore many researchers document their work by recording it, so others can see exactly what they saw. Most of my references are in text form and come from either observation from the writers’ own perspective or research from other writers, which can be also known as unobtrusive research (Trochim, 2006), or more specifically, content analysis. (Chapter 10, textbook) All my research has been through the Concordia Database in the Sociology section. From that database, the oldest document used is from 2006, with an exception to the New Encyclopedia of Africa†. (Middleton & Miller, 2008) which described various significant years in Uganda’s fight for human rights in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Additionally, this specific topic is not one that I can do myself or ask people about whil e I am in Montreal. These observations are helpful for my research, as it is the easiest and most precise type of research. The work will be even more helpful if anyone can see it first hand rather than just reading text. The documentary will show you more of an in-depth, depressing look at the lack of human rights in Uganda. The ethical issues I will be facing are my own, since being aware of these issues, I feel obligated to help in some manner. I do not know anyone from Uganda that faced the brutality or human rights violations themselves, or someone who has studied human rights in Uganda. While not doing interviews myself, several of my references have taken certain documentaries when it comes to citing their research. One in particular, which I happened to find on YouTube, is a documentary done by BBC3 in the U.K titled â€Å"The World’s Worst Place to Be Gay?†. It is hosted by a British radio DJ and openly gay Scott Mills, who traveled to Uganda where the death penalty is the huge is sue for homosexuals. He finds out what it is like to live in a society which persecutes people such as himself, and meets those who are leading the hate campaign. In its favour, is that it is a recent documentary, originally aired in February of 2011 on BBC. I have also located two other documentaries under my own independent online research, one entitled â€Å"A World of Conflict† in which reporter Kevin Sites covers every major war zone in the world in one year, and another called â€Å"Hope for Uganda†, a documentary created by World Vision, a non-governmental organization. While these highlight how poorly a condition Uganda is in, there are definitely  ethical issues that occur during filming. Ethical issues include threats of violence open discrimination and hate. While I seemingly cannot do anything to prevent it, it still remains extremely horrific and unethical. One has to come into contact with this venue of research to appreciate this line of study in a proper context. I have not required any approvals, as all of the research I have is not mine. The documentaries were approved by World Vision and BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation). With regards to the rights of the Ugandans shown in the documentaries, they were given approval to show themselves on camera beforehand. If they were not comfortable being on television, their faces would be blurred out. While filming â€Å"The World’s Worst Place to be Gay?† in Kampala, the city was warned beforehand that there would be camera crews around. Given that all the stories in the documents and in the films are quite painful, the risks were ever present. Some quotes remained anonymous, some were given with names. It took a great deal of courage for Ugandans to come forward with their hardships and their pain, however it sheds light on the primitive condition of human rights in their country. In conclusion, this topic was something I chose to study, due to the fact that this is a subject that greatly interests me, and that one day, might want to help to fight for this cause, or be involved with as a career. While I might not ever travel to Uganda or work in Africa, I can pursue those fights in Canada. It is certainly an area in which I desperately want to see change in the world; equal rights at every level for everyone, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. Despite having some background knowledge on this issue, I have many more things to learn, and that is also again in support of my selection. Something I know a lot about is not as challenging or interesting to research. I somehow feel consciously and morally obliged to learn more about the violated and disenfranchised of this country. Lastly, there will be an examination of the â€Å"human rights† issues in Uganda, focusing on how children, women, and homosexuals are treated. The research covered many kingdoms and cities all over the country. I am hoping that because of this paper, the readers will learn more about the situation in Uganda and are motivated to get involved in a project such as this, and possibly compel them to do something to help. At the beginning of the course, deciding which subject I would focus this research paper on, and focusing it on something I want to see change and would want to make a  difference in that situation. In the future, it is my hope that Uganda’s human rights will be improving in the years and decades to come, with the determination, aid, and influence of other countries, apolitical outside agencies, as well as Ugandans learning to help each other. By doing so, people can make the world a better place, not just for today, but rather for the future, and proactively forever. In my future, there will always be a watchful, hopeful eye on Uganda. References: 1.) Cooper, S., Ssebunnya, J., Kigozi, F., Lund, C., & Flisher, A. (2010). Viewing Uganda’s mental health system through a human rights lens. International Review Of Psychiatry, 22(6), 578-588. 2.) Kafumbe, A. (2010). Women’s Rights to Property in Marriage, Divorce, and Widowhood in Uganda: The Problematic Aspects. Human Rights Review, 11(2), 199-221. 3.) Miller C. J., John, M. Ed. (2008). â€Å"Uganda.† New Encyclopedia of Africa. Detroit: Charles Scribner’s Sons. 119-127. 4.) Bernstein, J., & Okello, M. (2007). To Be or Not To Be: Urban Refugees in Kampala. Refuge, 24(1), 46-56. 5.) Ewins, L. (2011). â€Å"Gross Violation†: Why Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act threatens its trade benefits with the United States. Boston College International & Comparative Law Review, 34(1), 147-171. 6.) Hollander, M. (2009). Gay Rights in Uganda: Seeking to Overturn Uganda’s Anti-Sodomy Laws. Virginia Journal Of International Law, 50(1), 219-266. 7.) M ujuzi, J. (2011). Protecting Children From Those Who Are Supposed To Protect Them! The Uganda Human Rights Commission And Children’s Right To Freedom From Torture. Journal Of Third World Studies, 28(1), 155-168. 8.) Clark-Kazak, C. R. (2010). The politics of protection: aid, human rights discourse, and power relations in Kyaka II settlement, Uganda. Disasters, 34(1), 55-70 9.) Emusu, D., Ivankova, N., Jolly, P., Kirby, R., Foushee, H., Wabwire-Mangen, F., & †¦ Ehiri, J. (2009). Experience of sexual violence among women in HIV discordant unions after voluntary HIV counselling and testing: a qualitative critical incident study in Uganda. AIDS Care, 21(11), 1363-1370 10.) Mills, S. (Producer) (2011). The world’s worst place to be gay? [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=168gaNmaIFo 11.) Allyson, S. (Producer) (2007). Hope for Uganda [Web] Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IGKnQRPF-I 12.) Trochim, William. â€Å"Unobstrusive Measures.† Research Methods: Knowledgable Base. (2006): 1. Web. 4 Apr. 2012. . 13.) Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, section 15. (Constitution Act, April 17th 1985.)

Overview of the Oligocene Epoch

Overview of the Oligocene Epoch The Oligocene epoch wasnt an especially innovative period of time with regard to its prehistoric animals, which continued along the evolutionary paths that had been pretty much locked in during the preceding Eocene (and continued on in turn during the ensuing Miocene). The Oligocene was the last major geologic subdivision of the Paleogene period (65-23 million years ago), following the Paleocene (85-56 million years ago) and Eocene (56-34 million years ago) epochs; all of these periods and epochs were themselves part of the Cenozoic Era (65 million years ago to the present). Climate and geography While the Oligocene epoch was still fairly temperate by modern standards, this 10-million-year stretch of geologic time saw a decrease in both average global temperatures and sea levels. All of the worlds continents were well on their way toward moving into their present positions; the most striking change occurred in Antarctica, which drifted slowly south, became more isolated from South America and Australia, and developed the polar ice cap that it retains today. Giant mountain ranges continued to form, most prominently in western North America and southern Europe. Terrestrial Life During the Oligocene Epoch Mammals. There were two major trends in mammalian evolution during the Oligocene epoch. First, the spread of newly evolved grasses across the plains of the northern and southern hemispheres opened a new ecological niche for grazing mammals. Early horses (such as Miohippus), distant rhinoceros ancestors (such as Hyracodon), and proto-camels (such as Poebrotherium) were all common sights on grasslands, often in locations you might not expect (camels, for instance, were especially thick on the ground in Oligocene North America, where they first evolved). The other trend was mostly confined to South America, which was isolated from North America during the Oligocene epoch (the Central American land bridge would not form for another 20 million years) and hosted a bizarre array of megafauna mammals, including the elephant-like Pyrotherium and the meat-eating marsupial Borhyaena (the marsupials of Oligocene South America were every match for the contemporary Australian variety). Asia, meanwhile, was home to the largest terrestrial mammal that ever lived, the 20-ton Indricotherium, which bore an uncanny resemblance to a sauropod dinosaur! Birds As with the preceding Eocene epoch, the most common fossil birds of the Oligocene epoch were predatory South American terror birds (such as the unusually pint-sized Psilopterus), which mimicked the behavior of their two-legged dinosaur ancestors,  and giant penguins that lived in temperate, rather than polar, climatesKairuku of New Zealand is a good example. Other types of birds also undoubtedly lived during the Oligocene epoch; we just havent identified many of their fossils yet! Reptiles To judge by the limited fossil remains, the Oligocene epoch wasnt an especially notable time for lizards, snakes, turtles or crocodiles. However, the plenitude of these reptiles both before and after the Oligocene provides at least circumstantial evidence that they must have prospered during this epoch as well; a lack of fossils doesnt always correspond to a lack of wildlife. Marine Life During the Oligocene Epoch The Oligocene epoch was a golden age for whales, rich in transitional species like Aetiocetus, Janjucetus, and Mammalodon (which possessed both teeth and plankton-filtering baleen plates). Prehistoric sharks continued to be the apex predators of the high seas; it was toward the end of the Oligocene, 25 million years ago, that the gigantic Megalodon, ten times bigger than the Great White Shark, first appeared on the scene. The latter part of the Oligocene epoch also witnessed the evolution of the first pinnipeds (the family of mammals that includes seals and walruses), the basal Puijila being a good example. Plant Life During the Oligocene Epoch As remarked above, the major innovation in plant life during the Oligocene epoch was the worldwide spread of newly evolved grasses, which carpeted the plains of North and South America, Eurasia and Africaand spurred the evolution of horses, deer, and various ruminants, as well as the meat-eating mammals that preyed on them. The process that had begun during the preceding Eocene epoch, the gradual appearance of deciduous forests in place of jungles over the earths spreading non-tropical regions, also continued unabated.

Parents Play a Critical Role in Education

Parents Play a Critical Role in Education While parents have always had a role in their children’s education, there is a growing body of research today that confirms their critical role in helping both teachers and students succeed academically. Parental Engagement Starts Early The parent-school relationship is one that should begin early, a fact recognized by both the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Education (ED). In May 2016,  these departments issued a joint  Policy Statement on Family Engagement from the Early Years to the Early Grades  to recognize the critical role of parents in promoting children’s success starting in early childhood systems and programs: Strong family engagement in early childhood systems and programs is central- not supplemental- to promoting children’s healthy intellectual, physical, and social-emotional development; preparing children for school; and supporting academic achievement in elementary school and beyond. The policy statement reiterated the findings in an earlier report,  A New Wave of Evidence,  from the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory (2002). This report remains the most comprehensive meta-analysis using 51 studies on parent engagement and student academic success. The report released the statement: â€Å"When schools, families, and community groups work together to support learning, children tend to do better in school, stay in school longer, and like school more.† The  reviewers  considered backgrounds and income and included studies covering all grades, all regions of the country,  diverse populations along with a variety of methods, both quantitative and qualitative. The conclusion reached was that that parent engagement led to: Higher grades and test scores, and enroll in higher-level programsIncrease in earned credits and promotions.Improved attendanceImproved behavior and social skillsIncrease in enrollment in postsecondary education Increasing parent engagement in order to achieve these outcomes means schools are seeking ways to connect parents to school communities. What Parents Think A report commissioned by Learning Heroes and supported by the Carnegie Corporation called  Unleashing Their Power Potential  details why communication can help. The data for the report came from a survey that focused on the â€Å"perceptions of schools and the state and national assessment data.† More than 1,400 K–8 public school parents across the nation took part. The survey co-collaborators included Univision Communications, National PTA, National Urban League, and the United Negro College Fund. The findings from  Unleashing Their Power Potential  may hold one big surprise for educators; elementary school parents place more emphasis on their child’s happiness than academics. Putting happiness first, however, shifts in the middle school years as parents develop doubts about their children’s preparedness for postsecondary schools. One primary area  for  concern in the survey found parents are confused on how to understand the different ways students are accessed: â€Å"[M]ost of the communications parents receive- report cards, annual state test score reports, and curriculum summaries to name a few- are indecipherable and incomprehensible for most parents. About a quarter of parents are not aware of their childs annual state test scores.† The authors of the report suggest  there is a need for improved communications â€Å"that are responsive to parents needs, interests, and concerns.† They note, â€Å"Most parents rely on report card grades, quizzes, and communications with teachers to determine whether their child is achieving their grade level.† They promote helping parents to understand the connection between these forms of assessment. That sentiment was echoed by Claudia Barwell, Director of Learning, Suklaa, with her essay,  How Parents Can Change the Global Landscape of Education  in which she discusses the challenges in finding the right balance in communicating with parents. Her essay, written from a parent’s point of view, suggests that there are three fundamental areas for balance: the teacher’s relationship with parents, parents’ relationship with formal assessment, and the latent power of parents in co-designing schooling. She suggests that schools survey parents and ask these key questions: What values do you believe are essential for a developing child?What part of the current curriculum is essential?What should we be teaching that we are not?What skills will they need for the future?What role would you like to play in the education of your children? Such questions can begin a dialogue and improve the conversations between parents and teachers and administrators. Barwell would also see value in seeing â€Å"links to brief teaching methods and a glossary of terms so that parents can support learning at home without being told we are ‘doing it wrong’ by our children.† Barwell’s request for links illustrates an audience willing to use a growing number of technology tools designed for parents to understand how a school operates. There are also technology tools designed to help parents interact with the teachers and administrators. How Parents Interact With Schools If parents are looking for an explanation with details of what their child is expected to learn over the course of  a week, month or year, there are multiple options schools may be using, from software platforms to mobile apps.   For example, SeeSaw or  ClassDojo, used in preschool and elementary grades, are software programs that can document and share information about student learning in real time. For the upper elementary grades, middle and high school, the platform  Edmodo  allows parents to see assignments and class resources, while Google Classroom provides teachers a means to send out parent/guardian updates. All of this software offer mobile apps as well. Because evaluation programs for teachers, support staff, and administrators include  a parent communication/engagement goal, a need exists to measure communication and engagement, and these technology tools collect that data. For this reason,  many schools districts encourage parents to sign up for the mobile app  Remind. This app can be used by a teacher to send homework updates or by a school district to send general school updates through text messages. Finally, most public schools now post student grades online through student-management software such as  PowerSchool, Blackboard,  Engrade,  LearnBoost, or  ThinkWave.  Teachers can post student performance ratings (grades) which let parents keep a watchful on student academic progress. Of course, the amount of information available through these kinds of technology can be a little overwhelming. Technology tools designed to increase parent engagement are only effective if they are used by the parents. School districts need to consider how they will educate parents to use different technology tools to guide their decisions.  But it is not only in the area of technology that parents need training.   Research findings report that most parents do not understand educational policy at the local, state or federal level. To correct these gaps, the  Every Students Succeed Act (ESSA), an educational reform plan that replaced the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) in 2015, places an  emphasis on the importance of stakeholder engagement. There are mandates for community input; states  must  solicit and evaluate input from parents when developing strategic plans for schools. Finally, while teachers need to keep parents â€Å"in the loop† they also need to respect the limited time today’s parents find themselves, stretched for time, energy, and resources. Home and School Connection Technology and legislation aside, the are other ways parents can be supportive of education in general, and they have been around almost as long as the institution of public education. As early as 1910, a book on education by Chauncey P. Colegrove titled The Teacher and the School placed an emphasis on engaging parents. He advised teachers to â€Å"enlist the interest of parents and secure their co-operation by making them acquainted with what the schools are striving to accomplish.† In his book, Colegrove asked, â€Å"Where there is no knowledge of each other, how can there be close sympathy and cooperation between parents and teacher?† He responded to this question  by stating, â€Å"The surest way to win a parents heart is to show an intelligent and sympathetic interest in the welfare of his children.† Over 100 years after Colegrove published  The Teacher and the School,  Secretary of Education (2009-2015)  Arne Duncan  adds, â€Å"We often talk about parents being partners in education. When we say that, were usually talking about the healthy and productive relationships that can develop between the adults in a childs life at home and the adults who work with that child at school. I cant overstate how important this partnership is.† Whether it is a handwritten note or a  text message, the communication between teachers and parents with parents is what develops the relationships described by Duncan. While a student’s education may take place within the walls of a building, the school’s connection to parents can extend those walls far into the student’s home.