Intra Organization and Power Bargaining Model Essay

Intra organization is a key factor to the beginning stages of how successful a bargaining unit will be in negotiations. Intra organization is when each respective in a particular bargaining unit works towards a consensus. The inability to agree within ones bargaining unit slows down the process and can create dysfunction. Negotiating starts within each bargaining unit during pre-bargaining preparation. This is where discussion and negotiations begin within each bargaining unit to decide what is most important to least importance. Once the pre-bargaining preparation process is complete, the bargaining unit is ready to negotiate against the other bargaining unit. There were many forces that impacted our Intra-organizational bargaining. First we all had our individual perception on what was most important and what was least important. This had a lot to do with our personalities, attitudes, values and beliefs. For example, depending on our personalities, those who were shy didn’t get to fully express how they felt about their issue. On the other hand those in the bargaining unit who were out spoken would make it a point to not let up and fight for their concerns. Our bargaining unit had a variety of issues we wanted to push to get into the contract. We had to decide what we considered a must haves and what can be used as a bargaining chips. Discussions continued until we all had a good idea where our stance was as a bargaining unit with each issue. The end result of our intra-organization bargaining was difficult but successful. We were able to agree on what issues were most and least important to our bargaining members. We had a few bargaining representatives who were concerned with subcontracting and their job security. Then we have other members who felt subcontracting was irrelevant but having a flexible schedule was above all else. My concern was to allow management to keep their managing power in order to continue to be strong in this competitive market. I needed innovative ideas to create progress within the company, while building opportunity for our members. We agreed that machinist would get a 6% increase and nothing less. We wanted a wage increase across the board for all employees, but our team agreed if we can give employees other benefits outside of pay increase; we would still be in good stance. We understood that we should negotiate taking subcontracting out of the contract, and use it as a bargaining chip. While understanding that our bottom line in regards to subcontracting was the language; we wanted to make sure management doesn’t have full reigns. We would allow management the option to subcontract but at the same time put limitations to subcontracting with the language used in the contract. As a bargaining unit we knew that changing and adding into the contract different aspects such as, flexible schedules, use of vacation, adding health and safety and an apprentice program would help our overall contract negotiation process. Bargaining Power Model Bargaining Power Model a is held by both parties during negotiation process. Its Another important concept is the Bargaining Power Model. Both Union and Management have agreement and disagreement costs. Unions lower managements bargaining power when they receive financial supplements. On the other hand managements disagreements cost can decrease with the lack of need when it comes to employees. Unions and managements bargaining power can change from one day to the next. Incidents such as inventory, supply and demand, wage-price controls, economic changes along with social changes have major influences in the bargaining power model. Under the power bargaining model there are two major assumptions. The first being that â€Å"union and mangament negotiators cost issues in a similar manner and are rational individuals, and if it cost more for a party to disagree than to agree with the other, then the party will agree to the other party’s proposal. (labor relations process) As the union bargaining unit we have decieded to negotiate a win win bargaining strategy or also refered to Mutual gain bargaining. This strategy is used whern both partys negotiate in away where both needs are displayed and honesty takes the leading roll in negotiations. This strategy seemed to work well with our negotiation process considering we were able to pin point wehre we saw a common ground and dominate those areas. On the other hand we understood what was important to management and see what we can use to lower the cost of agreeing with management on specified issues. e understood that we have a lot of bargaining power considering 95% of employees are in the Union. We put that into consideration as we decided what it was we were going to negotiate and what type of resilience we were going to set for each issue. My Union bargaining member profile was Union International Representative. I had to be sure to negotiate a win-win contract. I wanted to make sure management kept their administrative rights, while implementing new programs to keep union bargaining members happy. My main objective was to make sure it was clear that a great contract is when both parties bargain in good faith. Showing to the members of the union that management is working with the and both parties want to make positive changes within the company for all employees. Implementing new programs such as apprenticeship along with health and safety article will bring positive reinforcement to union members and all members. This helped us come up with strategies to bargain an all-around good contract.

Statistics: Variance and Vanguard Total Stock

Statistics Midterm paper 1. : Identify the implied population in the information here. Government agencies carefully monitor water quality and its effect on wetlands (Reference: Environment Protection Agency Wetland Report EPA 832-R-93-005). Of particular concern is the concentration of nitrogen in water draining from fertilized lands. Too much nitrogen can kill fish and wildlife. Twenty-eight samples of water were taken at random from a lake. The nitrogen concentration (milligrams of nitrogen per liter of water) was determined for each sample. The variable in this information is nitrogen concentration (mg nitrogen/l water). a. number of fish b. samples of water taken at random c. the wetlands d. nitrogen concentration (mg nitrogen/l water) in the entire lake e. government agencies 2. Find the technique for gathering data in the study below. A study of all league football scores attained through touchdowns and field goals was conducted by the National Football League to determine whether field goals account for more scoring events than touchdowns (USA Today). a. sampling b. census c. experiment d. simulation . observational study 3. It's not an easy life, but it's a good life. Suppose you decide to take the summer off and sign on as a deck hand for a commercial fishing boat in Alaska that specializes in deep-water fishing for ground fish. What kind of fish can you expect to catch? One way to answer this question is to examine the reports on ground fish caught in the Gulf of Alaska. The following list indicates the types of fish caught annually in thousands of metric tons: flatfish, 36. 3; Pacific cod, 68. 6; sablefish, 16. 0; Walleye Pollock, 71. 2; rockfish, 18. 9. Make a Pareto chart showing the annual harvest for commercial fishing in the Gulf of Alaska. 4. How hot does it get in Death Valley? Assume that the following data are taken from a study conducted by the National Park System, of which Death Valley is a unit. The ground temperatures were taken from May to November near Furnace Creek. Compute the mode for these ground temperatures. 147 153 167 174 182 178 179 182 178 178 167 0 153 144 a. 144 b. 182 c. 167 d. 153 e. 178 5. Find the sample variance s2 for the following sample data. Round your answer to the nearest hundredth. x: 23 17 12 35 29 . 84. 20 b. 67. 36 c. 101. 00 d. 88. 84 e. 126. 25 6. Do bonds reduce the overall risk of an investment portfolio? Let x be a random variable representing annual percent return for the Vanguard Total Stock Index (all Stocks). Let y be a random variable representing annual return for the Vanguard Balanced Index (60% stock and 40% bond). For the past several years, assume the following data. Compute . x: 14 0 36 23 33 25 26 14 14 23 y: 6 5 26 17 24 17 17 5 6 6 a. 4607 b. 4803 c. 5332 d. 4243 e. 4940 Answers: Queston 1: The population is d. – the nitrogen population in the entire lake. Question 2: The technique is a census since all events are to be measured. Question 3. The Pareto Chart is below:[pic] Question 4: The mode is the most frequently occurring value in a set of data so here the mode is 178 so the answer is e. Question 5. The samplle variance is 84. 20 so the answer is a. Question 6. The mean return for the Vanguard Total Stock Index is 20. 8 while the mean return for the Vanguard Balanced Index is 12. 9 (with bonds). Based on this data you would conclude that bonds do not reduce the overall risk of an investment portfolio since the mean return was actually less when the porfolio has bonds in it.

Balanced Scorecard IKEA Essay

About the company IKEA is a Swedish company registered in the Netherlands that designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture, appliances and home accessories. As of January 2008, the company is the world’s largest furniture retailer. Founded in Sweden in 1943 by 17-year-old Ingvar Kamprad, who was listed as one of the world’s richest people in 2013, the company’s name is an acronym that consists of the initials of, Ingvar Kamprad, Elmtaryd (the farm where he grew up), and Agunnaryd (his hometown in Smà ¥land, south Sweden). The company is known for its modern architectural designs for various types of appliances and furniture, and its interior design work is often associated with eco-friendly simplicity. In addition, the firm is known for its attention to cost control, operational details, and continuous product development, corporate attributes that allowed IKEA to lower its prices by an average of two to three percent over the decade to 2010 during a period of global expansion. IKEA is about much more than just products. It is about offering inspiration, home furnishing knowledge, new products and solutions people can relate to. Always at low prices. IKEA home furnishing gives people access to affordable solutions that solve their needs and improve everyday life at home. Simply put, IKEA home furnishing makes it possible to turn dreams into reality and create homes to love living in. A culture of hearts The IKEA culture is hard to describe but easy to embrace. It’s a culture of enthusiasm, togetherness and willpower, born from our roots in southern Sweden and inspired by the IKEA founder, Ingvar Kamprad. The IKEA culture humbly unites us in our work to create a better everyday life for the many people. It’s not an easy task – and maybe that’s why we and all other IKEA co-workers are so dedicated and so stubborn. We all share the same conviction that many, not few, shall be able to create the home they want  and dream of. And when you put your heart into your work, it’s then you really can make a difference. Over 150,000 people are involved in the creation of a better everyday life for the many people. Business plans †Maintaining a strong IKEA and expansion ideas are great motivators to work hard. But there is no culture is one of the most crucial substitute for the feeling of actually contributing to something bigger. factors behind the continued success of the IKEA Concept† Ingvar Kamprad IKEA founder The IKEA values Values cannot be invented – they can only emerge from one place: the heart. IKEA values are very much a product of our origin. Hard work, tough challenges, common sense, Swedish roots and limited resources have formed IKEA values. To keep the IKEA Concept successful, we work to keep our values close to our heart. The IKEA values convey the essence of the entire IKEA culture. Over the years we’ve learned that acting according to IKEA values not only brings us together – no matter what age, race or part of the world we live in – it helps us do business successfully. The IKEA product range Developing IKEA products can take place almost anywhere around the world – on a factory floor in Asia or on the drawing board in Älmhult, Sweden. And everybody involved works together to create a product range that is simple, easy to live with and affordable. Good design should be available for the many, not the few. That’s why all IKEA designers design every IKEA product starting with a functional need and a price. Then they use their creativity and knowledge and use low-cost raw materials and manufacturing processes to create functional products. Then large volumes are purchased to push prices down even further. Most IKEA products are also designed to be transported in flat packs and  assembled at the customer’s home. This also lowers the price by minimizing transportation and storage costs. By doing all this, the IKEA Concept uses design to make sure that IKEA products can be bought and enjoyed by as many people as possible. IKEA designers constantly seek new ways to improve people’s lives – without emptying their wallets. But how can good design and function be combined with good quality, all at a low price? It starts with focusing on what’s important. Will an expensive finish on the back of a shelf or under a table-top improve the function? Of course not. So IKEA designers do not do it, because a product is of no use to the many people if it is not affordable. Low prices with meaning Low prices are only valuable if they offer good function, quality and design. IKEA product development teams constantly ask themselves – does this product contribute to a better everyday life? Does it have a good, sustainable design? Is the function and quality suited for everyday life? And most crucial – is the price low enough to make this product accessible to many, not just the few? Touch. Try. Explore. Dream! The IKEA store is our meeting place. It is where the IKEA product range comes to life. Visitors can compare styles and prices and get inspired by realistic room settings. They are welcome to sit, lie down, open and close drawers and cabinets, and pretend to cook, sleep or watch TV. The IKEA store is designed to meet many people looking for something for their homes. It’s also a place where you actually can go from inspiration to involvement by getting inspiration from solutions in the store, searching, finding and choosing the products needed, picking them up, buying them, bringing them home, putting them together and enjoying them the same day. All the IKEA products in the store are supported by price and product information that makes it easy for visitors to serve themselves. Customer involvement contributes to low prices. An invitation for the whole year With hundreds of pages of ideas, inspiration, solutions and products, the IKEA catalogue shows how the IKEA product range contributes to a better  everyday life. It is filled with solutions that answer people’s dreams and needs, it is also complemented with digital content that gives users a richer experience and provides more in-depth home furnishing knowledge. Still, it shows only part of what is offered in IKEA stores. Improve and develop the IKEA Concept The IKEA Concept is a living concept. We develop and improve it together with IKEA retailers and other contributors. Together we work to stay in the forefront of global trends and changes in retailing. We listen to the needs based on real-life shop floor experience to get better insight into what the many people need in order to improve their life at home. All this helps us to ensure that the IKEA Concept remains successful in an ever-changing world. We constantly monitor how the IKEA Concept is implemented in every market to ensure it is creating the maximum impact. Monitoring helps us to understand the different challenges facing IKEA. This could range from market conditions to cultural factors affecting shopping behavior. Through monitoring we can find ways to improve the IKEA Concept and how it meets the many people. IKEA retailers share their experiences, knowledge, innovation and ideas. This helps the IKEA Concept to be a living and dynamic concept that continuously develops and expands. The key is working together. Online know-how, Publications, Training programmes We offer an online resource for IKEA know-how that includes solutions, news, training programmes, publications and much more. We provide manuals and guidelines for all parts of the business and specific know-how areas. We also publish a magazine for IKEA retailers filled with tips, tools and proven solutions from all over the IKEA world. We offer a range of training programmes for many aspects of the business. Market research We conduct regular market research and provide IKEA retailers with reports and tools that help them improve their business. For example, we measure how well IKEA retailers have positioned the IKEA Brand in each market and how satisfied customers are with their latest store visit. We also conduct  research that helps find ways to improve the IKEA product range, the IKEA catalogue and the IKEA website. And we gather and analyze insight into macro-economic factors and the competitive situation. The IKEA Concept Center We believe in learning by doing. We operate the IKEA Concept Center in Delft, the Netherlands, where shopping, learning, testing and supporting all come together. The idea is to give IKEA retailers the chance to learn about the IKEA Concept and its recent updates and benefit from all the competence of specialists in a hands-on environment. For most visitors, the main attraction of the IKEA Concept Center is the IKEA store. Like all IKEA stores in the world it offers inspiring solutions, low prices, tasty food and shopping that is fun and enjoyable. The IKEA Concept Center is also home to specialists who, in co-operation with the IKEA retailers, find and identify good ideas and solutions. New solutions are developed, documented and analyzed from a conceptual viewpoint. We provide systematic transfer of IKEA know-how. And communicate proven solutions to all IKEA retailers, so that each and every one can benefit from these in their business. Together, we work to keep the IKEA Concept successful. We offer more than 50 different training programmes and workshops to IKEA managers and specialists at the IKEA College. In addition, many training programmes are offered locally or as elearning programs. Every year thousands of students are educated on how to use proven systems, methods and solutions to maximize the possibilities of the IKEA Concept. Testing Just as all IKEA products are tested to ensure quality and to find ways to improve, we are always interested in improving the living IKEA Concept. We test lots of new and innovative ideas at the IKEA Concept Center. These could be ideas suggested by IKEA retailers or ones that we come up with ourselves. When we find solutions that work well we make the part of the IKEA Concept and document and describe them so that all IKEA retailers benefit. 2013 was exciting for IKEA retailing In a tough climate IKEA retailing continued to grow and expand. Retail sales ended at EUR 29.2 billion for the full year. The business climate in Europe continued to be challenging for IKEA retailers, while we see improvements in North America, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. As many developed economies strive to balance economics and social well being, we see that uncertainties will continue to dictate the business climate for some time. This affects people’s lives and living conditions and therefore we believe that the IKEA Concept is more needed than ever. The IKEA Concept gives everyone the possibility to improve their life at home IKEA products are becoming more accessible. This is about offering a wide range of good home furnishing products at low prices. It is about providing more and better services. And it is about creating a positive shopping experience in IKEA stores and online. Nine new IKEA stores opened, two of which are in new markets: Lithuania and Qatar. The re are also continued You do your part. We do our part. Together we, save money. improvements in sustainability efforts in various aspects of the IKEA Concept. One example is that by 2016, all the lighting sold at IKEA stores will be LED. The IKEA product range aims to help the many people live a more sustainable life at home, with solutions to help save energy, water and reduce waste. Most things remain to be done The first IKEA business was founded in 1943 and the IKEA Brand celebrated 70 years during 2013. Today more than 150,000 co-workers are working through-out the IKEA world. We saw more than 770 million visits to the IKEA stores and 1.2 billion visits to IKEA websites in the past year. Still we are just at the beginning. IKEA retailing is small in most markets and does not exist in others. People’s needs for good home furnishing products at low prices are bigger than ever and the IKEA Concept will continue to contribute  to a better life at home for the many people. A July 2013 media report speculated that IKEA is the world’s largest consumer of wood after a finding that the company uses 1% of the Earth’s wood supply. As of January 2014, IKEA owns and operates 349 stores in 43 countries. The Balanced Scorecard Value proposition IKEA’s value proposition is operational excellence because all IKEA designers design every IKEA product starting with a functional need and a price. Then they use their creativity and knowledge and use low-cost raw materials and manufacturing processes to create functional products. Then large volumes are purchased to push prices down even further. Mission Statement IKEA’s mission is to create a better everyday life for the many people, by offering a wide range of well-designed, functional home furnishing products at prices so low that as many people as possible will be able to afford them. It’s about creating homes to love. Critical success factors Financial -grow and expand -increase sales -enhance customer value -improve cost structure Customer -brand positioning -low cost product solutions -real life experience stores -rich content catalogs Internal Business Processes -minimizing storage and transportation costs -quality testing -product development -market research reports Learning and Growth -culture of hearts – e-learning programmes, training programmes and workshops -sharing experience, ideas, innovations, knowledge and know-how -market research reports -IKEA college

Close analysis to the film Fight club Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Close analysis to the film Fight club - Essay Example As in most cases, the ending of a film plays a key role in affirming the running theme of the film to the intended audience. Fight Club does not disappoint and lives up to the expectation of the audience who are thrilled through the entire film. Scholars have identified Fight Club as a good example of conformity which is a concept that is determined by those around your circles (Wartenberg, 2012). The film seeks to analyze the extremes of conformity and the society’s approach towards real human connections that are pivotal to the emotional well being of an individual. On the contrary, non-conformity is speculated to lead to alienation and rejection of an individual by the society. In extreme cases, it might lead to isolation. Being isolated in the society is the worst thing that can happen to an individual who values associated with others, but conformity denies them the chance of socialization hence isolation. The film justifies the attempts of characters to move out of the violence that ensues during each and every encounter of the Fight Club because of the urge to break out of their roles that they have in the community to unleash their anger. The pain just like anger demands to be felt in different ways among these is violence. Therefore, this paper will provide an analysis of visuals, sound, themes and motifs. Also, it will seek to provide a clear and concise analysis of the film’s significance as it further interprets the film’s meaning to the reader. Fight Club falls under the romantic comedy because it relates to the characters attitudes and it strives to achieve a healthy relationship. In most instances, a lot of behavior which seems unhealthy and harsh to each other is prevalent, but this does not work for them because both characters are out on the extreme end of their characters. The narrator is out for intimacy, but avoids it with by using

In what ways do language and the use of language influence news Use an Essay

In what ways do language and the use of language influence news Use an example of a contemporary controversial topic to illustrate your argument - Essay Example This implies that the language employed by the journalists must enhance the understanding of the news. Among the basic objectives of journalists is to inform the public. The communication technique journalists adopt in this context is direct and simple as they use direct quotes and simple grammatical structures. Journalists deliberately minimize the use of jargons in a bid to enhance the public’s understanding of the news. As explained, language helps define the target audience, the level of technicality in language siphons particular individuals from the public who comprehend the type of language used by a media. This helps siphon the public thereby influencing the audience for each media. Different newspapers have audiences most of who identify with the type of language that the media uses in preparing its news. The combination of words that journalists use in presenting their news influences the consumption of the news contents by the audience. Among the key journalistic principles is objectivity a feature that commands that journalists provide a factual presentation of the events they cover. The selection and combination of words influences the level of objectivity in news presentation a feature that dictates that journalists consider various factors before using a word. Some words are sensational thereby portraying the either the journalist or particular media institutions as biased. Journalists strive to minimize sensationalism in news coverage as they strive to remain both objective and detailed as they present their news articles. Journalists must desist from taking sides while covering events. Language can easily portray one as biased despite the absence of such motives especially when covering such vital topics as terrorism. Currently, the missing Malaysian plane is a major international news with different groups of

Ethic's - The concept of truth telling in cancer patients receiving Essay

Ethic's - The concept of truth telling in cancer patients receiving palliative chemotherapy and the impact on nurse-patient relationships - Essay Example ned by the performance of nursing functions with outmost care and diligence but that it moves toward the moral perception and awareness of nursing care. With this shift in the appreciation of nursing care – from performance of duties to moral perception of nursing care - the centrality of the nurse –patient relationship becomes more poignant and pivotal in the understanding of nursing (Gastmans et al, 1998; ; Covington 2005). In the context of nursing care perceived not just as a performance of duty but as a moral awareness, nurses rise up to the demands of care, respect and achieving the goal of holistic well-being for the patient. Thus, nurse-patient relationship opens a â€Å"comportment of the self towards others, which has the inherent goal of enhancing the existence of those others† (van Hooft 1999, p 190). However, the nurse-patient relationship is often plagued with quandaries that time and again challenges nursing care. One of these dilemmas that nurses have to contend with as they practise the profession day in and day out is truth telling in the context of patients undergoing palliative chemotherapy. Recognising the importance of truth telling in the nurse-patient relationship and the dilemma that nurses frequently encounter with it, this paper will look into the concept of truth telling in relation with patients undergoing palliative chemotherapy. In lieu of the significance of truth telling in nurse-patient relationship, this paper aims to understand the intricacies of truth telling vis-a- vis nurse-patient relationship. It intends to gain deeper comprehension of utilitarianism, deontology and the four basic ethical principles of justice, autonomy, non-malfeasance and beneficence. Finally, to attain a clearer comprehension of the impact of truth telling in the nurse-patient relationship in the cancer setting (palliative chemotherapy). As this paper will look into the concept of truth telling vis-a-vis nurse-patient relationship in the context

Company Law methods Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Company Law methods - Essay Example A company will also be governed by its own Memorandum and Articles of Association. Now we'll have brief discussion about these two concepts which are considered to be the life of a company. This is the most important document in the company as it set out the constitution of a company and it is the foundation on which the structure of the company is based. In other words it may say that the identity of the company is based on this. It prescribes the name of the company, its registered office, objects and capital. It also defines the extent of its powers concerning to the matters relating to its function or otherwise. The memorandum is in fact a charter of the company. A company can exercise only such powers which are either expressly stated in the memorandum or as may be implied there from including matters incidental to the powers so conferred. A company must act within and not outside the scope of its memorandum. Any transaction which is outside the ambit of the powers of the company shall be ultra virus and void. The articles of association of a company are the internal regulations which govern the management of the internal affairs of the company. As it meant for internal affairs, the members have full control and may by resolution alter them as they think fit so long as they do not exceed the limits defined by the memorandum. In other words Articles of Association form the basis of a covenant /contract that regulates the company's internal procedure and set out the rights of the shareholders as conferred by their ownership. Contractual effect of Memorandum and Articles of Association Memorandum and Articles of the company when registered, have binding forces as they bind the company and its members to the same extent as if they have been signed by the company and its each member. In other words, the memorandum and Articles of the company when registered, bind the members to the company and the company to its members, but onin the capacity of members of the company and not in any other capacity such as directors etc. This clause is incorporated in Sec.14 (1) of the3 Company Law 1985. i.e. Sec.14 (1) of the Company law 1985 says that "Subject to the provisions of this Act, the memorandum and articles, when registered, bind the company and its members to the same extent as if they respectively had been signed and sealed by each member, and contained covenants on the part of each member to observe all the provisions of

Please see the order instructions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Please see the order instructions - Essay Example helmets, ensuring ventilation, timing of work and machinery etc. forms of engineering controls include design and modification of machinery, providing ventilation systems etc. (Goetsch 120-250). There are majorly four modes of contaminants entry into a body: the first is ingestion where an individual ingests (eats or drinks) a chemical by accident. The second is inhalation where airborne contaminant e.g. fumes and vapors can be inhaled directly into the lungs. The third mode is absorption where a contaminant E.g. chemical powder, enters the body through skin openings and lastly injection where an individual may accidentally cut or step directly onto contaminated object thus injecting himself with a contaminant, for example a knife cut (Goetsch, 120-250). Threshold Limit value-Time-Weighted Average (TLV-TWA) means the average concentration of a chemical to which it is acceptable to expose a worker over a certain period of time usually 8 hours. Threshold Limit Value-Short Term Exposure Limit (TLV-STEL) means the maximum concentration that is recommended for a continuous 15-minute exposure time. Threshold Limit Value-Ceiling exposure value (TLV-C) means the limit exposure that should not be exceeded under any circumstances. Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) is a value approved by law that spells out the maximum time exposure allowed to a hazardous chemical (Oxford University). There are four classifications of environmental stressors and these include physical hazards caused by loud noise and vibrations, chemical hazards resulting from chemical burns and sprays, fumes and explosions, biological hazards caused by viruses, bacteria, vermin etc. and ergonomic hazards caused by tools and work conditions such lighting, ventilation etc. (Reese, 150-175). First, Employers are expected to train and provide information to employees of the classes of chemicals that

International Law Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

International Law - Case Study Example In the give case, a totalitarian president, Barmy has invaded the adjacent sovereign state Whiteland using muscle power. Neither the people of Whiteland nor the political regime of the Whiteland, has not done anything wrong to provoke Barmy or the Redland. Moreover, the Redland president Barmy has not cited any reasons for his action and the annexation of the Whiteland. The above case has lot of similarities with the Saddam Husain's seizure of Kuwait. Kuwaiti people never liked the intrusion of Saddam into the Kuwait territories. Saddam's claim over Kuwait was unjustifiable and it was just an excuse Saddam put forward for attacking the neighboring state. By capturing Kuwait, Saddam has violated all the international laws regarding the sovereignty of a country or state. Sovereignty is one of the fundamental rights of each country. It is the claim of having supreme, independent authority over a territory which is recognized by the United Nations. All the nations irrespective of what political ideologies they follow should respect the sovereignty of other independent states. Muscle power and forces should never be exercised upon a sovereign state without proper reasons. Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter states that the use of force is justified under only two circumstances: in individual or collective self-defence, as outlined in Article 51, or pursuant to a Security Council resolution, as outlined in Article 42" (The War on Iraq: Legal Issues, 2003)1. In the given case, Barmy or the Redland was not at all under any threats from the Whiteland and Barmy's action cannot be justified. Nobody wants to be ruled by an autocratic or totalitarian administration. Such administration will use iron fist for suppressing the interests of the people. Freedom of expression or any other basic human requirements will definitely be denied by a totalitarian ruler. When Saddam captured Kuwait, the international community and the Kuwaitis shouted against Saddam because of their fear against such totalitarian approach from Saddam Husain. Barmy was a totalitarian ruler and under his administration the Whiteland people will become slaves having their freedom cut down to a big zero. Whiteland public has every right to decide about their administration and a civilized country will never wish to be under the administration of a totalitarian ruler at present. International law is an arcane subject for those at all levels of opinion, ranging from the general public to top opinion leaders (Perry, 1998). It is not possible for countries to progress by violating international laws. In a civilized society like the present one, integration of the interests of the people on a global basis is required. Globalization and Liberalization are policies aimed at the integration of the global public and the collective economic growth. Invading other countries for expanding the territories is a barbarian act which was prevalent in the ancient societies. But the advancements in science and technology and the earlier lessons learned from international conflicts like the world wars have drastically changed the social views about the expansion of territories. In short, capturing Whiteland, Barmy has violated all the international laws regarding the sovereignty, freedom, and legal rights of a country to select their administra

Economic crisis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Economic crisis - Essay Example Eventually, the crash of the entire world's economy was at stake. How did this happen What were the events that led up to it Will it ever end Is the debt bigger than the size of the economy Who is to determine who losses money and who can get his investments back Is this crisis only for the poor or will it make the rich poor According to Day, the main cause of the economic crisis is the "excess credit creation" over a long time period. As mentioned earlier the interest rate was really low and there was creation of 'artificial' money in the economy, which eventually led to "speculation and mal-investment." He also says that this is not one of the "normal cyclical" crisis. A normal cyclical crisis is when an economy faces recession after witnessing economic boom, but this one is much more than that it is not involving only one economy but the world economy. Also it is not something which happened suddenly rather it has been fueled over many years, it is referred to as a "secular de-leveraging contraction" (Day, p.1). The inefficient "Federal Reserve monetary policy" during the first few years of this decade might have been the reason for this financial crisis. It is sometimes thought by financial experts and economists that this crisis could have occurred in 2001 due to the flaws in the policies. The world economy, especially the United States economy suffered many losses due to the bursting of the dot com bubble. Other social acts such as the attack on world trade center and the war against terrorism also contributed towards the slow growth of the economy. Carefully and cleverly the financial experts avoided the crisis to happen in 2001 and prolonged its occurrence by ""keeping interest rates at abnormally low levels." Instead of addressing the problem the Fed authorities and policies kept advancing the high levels of liquidity in financial system they also "discouraged aversion to risk" not only in US but also among the "international investors" (Olivia, p. 5-6). Yet another issue was the "low interest rates," as the idea of "private consumption" was widely accepted in the US, and the government was acting as a natural right activist and fighting for the rights of the people of the world. Thus the amount of expenditure amounted to be really large. In order to maintain all forms of spending the levels of "debt" increased to a phenomenal level. This is usually knows as "global imbalances." The biggest problem however was the inefficiency of the entire financial system. This inefficiency was seen throughout the world and not only in the United States; the financial institutions were not following any strict regime or regulation before granting people access to use money (Olivia, p. 6). In November of 2007, the NASDAQ went down by 1,500 levels and Dow Jones touched because of fall in the retail sales. The same effect was seen in "Japan, Germany and Canada." Even companies in Asia, specifically India, started announcing decline in sales. Still there was no decline seen in the lending activities, however the falling rates of consumption

Individual Analytical Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Individual Analytical Report - Essay Example The internet pluralizes and expands the public sphere in various manners. The paper then moves on forward to the dimension of interaction in the public sphere, with emphasis on how public sphere internet deliberation proceeds in the political communication’s contemporary environment. Deliberative democracy is then examined in the analytic category. Civic cultures offer an alternative to the comprehension of online discussion of politics significance. The internet continues to have an enormous informational role in political communications. Public sphere is a constellation of a society’s communicative spaces, which allow the circulation of ideas, information, and debates, which are delivered in an unfettered manner. It also allows for the formation of political will and public opinion. These spaces, in which both the more recent interactive media and the mass media are prominently figured, serve as communicative links facilitators between the societal power holders and t he citizens (Alasuutari, 1999 p98). The term is utilized in singular form, although the plural form is pointed at by sociological realism. In differentiated large-scale societies, in the late modern era, especially in societies penetrated by globalization, the public sphere is understood as constituted of numerous different spaces. It constitutes of three main dimensions; representation, structures, and interaction. Structural dimension consists of formal institutional features (Anderson, 2003 p134). These include media organizations and their ownership, political economy, control, legal frameworks, regulations, and issues affecting financing. The dimension of representation is referent to the media’s output including that of the mass media and â€Å"minimedia† that have small groups as their target, especially promotional material and newsletters. All the familiar criteria and questions can be raised here concerning media output for political communication (Asen, 2001 p 109). These include fairness, completeness, accuracy, setting of agenda, pluralism of views and ideological tendencies. For the interaction dimension, there exist two aspects (Asen, 2001 p109). First is the encounter of the media with the citizens, and the process of communication that makes sense, interprets and uses the output. The second part has to do with the interaction between the citizens. This could include large meetings or two-way conversation. Contemporary democracies have been facing difficulty, with the evidence showing that issues regarding public sphere’s representations, structures and interaction modes (Baker, 2002 p 78). Democracy’s poor health came into sharp focus at the same time as the internet’s rapid leadership of media revolution. These two phenomena were connected optimistically. Traditional political communication systems were destabilised by late modern societal changes. This was attributed to an increase in socio-cultural heterog eneity, massive increase in channels and media outlets, an increase in political mediators and political advocates like consultants and experts, growing disengagement and cynicism among citizens, and the emergence of cacophony due to media abundance (Beck, 1997 p178). Citizens belonging to more than one culture or group must find spaces for meaningful participation (Bennett, 2003a p199). This is due to the current trend for pluralism and the

Paradise Now and Then Essay Example for Free

Paradise Now and Then Essay Understanding who the characters were and the reasoning for their actions was missing. Learning on how and why they started fighting was a challenge faced while watching this film. The lack of seeing relationships form and how the fighting started was a major difference compared to Paradise Now and then. During this ninety-minute production it was very clear on the relationships the characters held with one another. The roles each character played were easily connected back to the plot and helped unfold later scenes because of the apparent character attitude due to the time span of the film. The tactical plans behind the film’s attacks are showcased in very different ways. In The Battle of Algiers that attacks don’t show any planning before the actual attacks. The attacks on the street all just occur without planning. The attack upon the Palestinians is all of a car ride over to their community and a bomb explodes the building. The third attack from the Palestinians is all of three women changing their appearance to cross the border and the man creating the bomb. All that is left is the execution. Within Paradise Now and then the planning initially started nearly ten minutes into the film and wasn’t executed until eighty minutes later at the end. Since this plot takes so long to actually play out, it shows the emotions of the characters as to how they feel about their assignment. This also helps grasp an emotional level with Said and Khaled. Watching them go through the process and make decisions contributes to understanding of their different personalities. The Battle of Algiers, is a continuous strike to one side, then a counterattack from the other side. An in depth reason as to how the battle was started, the tactics behind the different attacks, and why specific person(s) were responsible for performing the attack was unclear because of the short time span. The music in The Battle of Algiers helped lead the viewer to certain feelings in various scenes. During the first attack scene from the Palestinians the music was dark and evil. This music type didn’t support the attacks of the Palestinians and seemed to take the other side. But when the Palestinians were attacked, the music was sad and remorseful suggesting feeling bad for the victims and their loss. The same music type took place while the French colonists bombed the Palestinian building. The music was dark and evil but when the French were bombed, the music was depressing and gloomy. Within the twenty-six minutes the film never chose protagonists and antagonists. The setting of the films played a big role on what the sides were actually fighting for. In the beginning of Paradise Now and then, while Said and Khaled are smoking they are sitting upon a hill. The camera is set from behind them looking down over their town suggestion they have power and control. This is showing whom they would be fighting for and the mass number of people who would be affected. Said crosses the border and walks along a highway of huge open land. Also Said and Khaled walk downtown together through towering buildings. The two scenes suggest the size of the opponent. In The Battle of Algiers, all of the scenes occur in the small streets of France and it appears as if the battle is being fought within one community. The camera is taking the view of a character on the street during the battles suggestion that neither side has power over the other. While one story crosses the street to fight for their people, the other crosses the border. Film making decisions can very easily pull in a viewer to the themes and motives of a plot. In The Battle of Algiers, the viewer does not get pulled into the battle. The film lacks the interest of one side over another and without this choosing of a protagonist verse an antagonist, the viewer cannot feel emotionally tied into the battle. Also without being introduced to any characters, the viewer in unclear to who is really being put at risk with each attack, who is gaining or losing what from the attacks, and what is actually being gained or lost. The only influence on the attacks that the viewer is aware of is that one side attacked another, so they must strike back. The filmmaking decisions do not shape the viewers attitude toward any character in this film. In Paradise Now and then, the viewer follows Said and Khaled through their journey to supposedly the end of their lives. The viewer is able to feel why the characters choose to go along with their mission, what is at stake if the mission is attempted, and what will be gained and lost if the mission is successful. Religion is a big factor that influences Said and Khaled to become suicide bombers. Khaled asks, â€Å"What happens after death? † He gets an answer of â€Å"Two angels will pick you up. † This is very satisfying for Khaled and Said to hear. Remarks are often made throughout the film regarding God. That they are doing their people and God a favor. Also â€Å"We do what we have to, God decides the rest. † At first they know what they will do will affect their people and help solve this fight, but then when Khaled talks to Suha, she talks him out of the bombing telling him that maybe if they don’t strike back that Israel will back off. The viewer is drawn to the fact that Khaled and Said are not fighting for violence or to kill, they are fighting for their people and God. The camera work while Said is talking about his father helps the viewer feel sympathetic for his loss of his father. The camera slowly zooms in on Said as he describes his father and this captures the viewer’s attention and pulls the viewer in as if Said is talking directly to the viewer. The viewer is also influenced to want Said and Suha together. Suha is only around when she is with Said. After the first scene Khaled tells Said that he thinks Suha likes him. After that the viewer is drawn to believe there is a connection between the two. This affects the later scene when Suha tries to influence Said not to fight because now the viewer is torn between having Said sacrifice himself for his people and God, or wanting Suha and Said to be together. Suha’s last appearance is while she is siting down at her table gazing at a picture of Said. The films do not showcase the political issues at stake in the historical situations. In the stories, all that is at stake within the plots are peoples’ lives. Whether it is a shooting on the street or a suicide bombing across the boarder, which kills the bomber and the victim. No other issue takes a bigger role in these two plots that the loss of peoples’ lives. It does seem correct as Suha said; if the opposing side doesn’t have a reason to strike back, the fighting will stop. The two films are stories of bombings between two different sides but are introduced through different means of filmmaking decisions. These different tactics shape the viewer’ attitude towards the bombing itself and the characters within the plot. In The Battle of Algiers, the viewer is influenced to oppose fighting due to one strategy, which is music choice. In Paradise Now and then, the viewer is influenced by the will to fight, which is an example of setting. Both films are stories about bombing but draw the audience into the plot with different tactics and strategies.

Ornithine Transcarbamylase Deficiency

Ornithine Transcarbamylase Deficiency Ornithine Transcarbamylase Deficiency:  An Inborn Error of Metabolism Marisa Houser The body’s metabolism is responsible for all the physical and chemical processes that convert or use energy. One of these processes is breaking down and digesting food. (National Institutes of Health , 2014) Food that is not broken down properly can lead to a buildup within the body and can be toxic or interfere with the body’s normal function. This build up can present with many different symptoms. Some of these symptoms can lead to developmental delays especially if left untreated or not controlled.(National Institutes of Health , 2013) The disorders that will not allow the body to properly turn food into energy are known as, inborn errors of metabolism. Though these are considered rare genetic disorders, there are many. Here, however, we will focus on just one, Ornithine Transcarbamylase Deficiency. Ornithine Transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency is the most common urea cycle disorder affecting 1 in every 30,000 people. The urea cycle is the body’s way to dispose of excess nitrogen causing a buildup of ammonia within the body. 34% of patients will present within the first 30 days of life. (Sloas, 2013) These patients appear normal with no symptoms at birth but by day 2 to 3 they are extremely ill when they suffer from the first substantial buildup of ammonia in the body (˃150 µmol/L), also known as a hyperammonemic episode. (Jones, 2013) These patients may present with vomiting, poor feeding, irritability, fever and limpness. Prompt action needs to be taken to avoid critical long term affects. Some long term effects from hyperammonia can include seizures, swelling of the brain, developmental delays and liver failure. Many will not survive their first hyperammonemic episode and those that do will become hyperammonemic again. (Lichter-Konecki U, 2013) Late onset and partial disease of OTC deficiency disorder can also occur. Both late onset and partial disease are rare in both males and females. In either situation most will suffer a hyperammonemic episode at some point in their life. They may show mild presentation or not present at all until they suffer from severe illness, fasting, pregnancy or a new medication. These patients may present with anorexia, fever, irritability, rapid breathing, low muscle tone, vomiting, diarrhea/constipation, altered mental status, sleepiness, combativeness, psychosis, tremor, seizures and coma. (Sloas, 2013) All will also suffer from some type of neurological disorder such as developmental delays, learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).(Lichter-Konecki U, 2013) When we eat, enzymes help break the food down so that our bodies can absorb the nutrients from the food. If the enzyme needed to break down the nutrients is nonexistent or deficient it halts one of the steps in the breakdown of our food for energy, and causes disease. When we eat protein it is broken down into essential and non-essential amino acids. The amino acids are converted to pyruvate then to oxaloacetic acid at which point they are introduced to the Krebs cycle. The Krebs cycle is where the majority of the energy from the food we eat is made. (ONeill, 2013) The Urea cycle is made up of five steps. The first step is the conversion of bicarbonate and ammonia to carbamyl phosphate. Next is the formation of citrulline from ornithine and carbamyl phosphate. The third step is the conversion of citrulline and aspartate to argininosuccinate. The fourth step is the cleavage of argininosuccinate to form arginine. The final step is the degradation of arginine to form urea and ornithine. (Figure 1) At this point the urea can be disposed of through the body in urine. This process is catalyzed by the enzymes that exist in the liver. One of these enzymes is Ornithine Transcarbamylase. (Shambaugh III, 1977) Ornithine Transcarbamylase is an enzyme of the liver and intestinal mucosa that catalyzes the breakdown of citrulline from ornithine and carbamyl-phosphate. In OTC deficiency this process is halted. Now the body cannot detoxify ammonia to make urea, a substance that is disposed of through urination and the ammonia builds up within the system. (Herin glake, Boker, Manns, 1997) The 3rd step, the conversion of citrulline and aspartate to argininosuccinate, is the link between the Krebs cycle and the Urea cycle. Figure 1. Urea Biosynthesis (Shambaugh III, 1977) Figure 2 Urea Cycle â€Å"The urea cycle functions primarily in the liver, and is a metabolic pathway that detoxifies ammonia by converting it into urea. Ammonia is generated from the conversion of proteins and nucleic acids in our diet as well as due to normal cellular turnover. Defects of the urea cycle result in hyperammonemia which can progress to brain edema and result in cognitive impairment or death.† (Childrens National Medical Center, 2007) OTC deficiency is a disorder involving the mutation of the ornithine transcarbamylase gene, located on the short arm of the X chromosome at position 21.1. (Sloas, 2013) (Figure 3) OTC deficiency is an X linked disorder and therefore will mostly affect males, especially early onset as a baby. More than 300 mutations have been identified in patients that have OTC deficiency. Most are single base alterations that alter the amino acid code. Most families have mutations that only occur within their own genome usually found at the CpG dinucleotides. CpG dinucleotides are where the cytosine nucleotide and guanine nucleotide are next to each other on the DNA. According to the Children’s National Medical Center, these are â€Å"mutation hotspots†. (Childrens National Medical Center, 2007) Figure 3. Cytogenetic Location: Xp21.1. Molecular Location on the X chromosome: base pairs 38,352,482 to 38,421,449 (U.S National Library of Medicine, 2015) There are no measures that prevent OTC deficiency all together, however there are preventative measures that can be used to help reduce or avoid hyperammonemic episodes. Families can provide doctors with their family health history and undergo genetic testing to help the family make informed medical and personal decisions. If either parent is a carrier, testing can be done to diagnose OTC deficiency prenatally. This can help the healthcare team avoid the initial and often critical first hyperammonemic episode. For patients that are not diagnosed prenatally but within the first few days of life, reducing the concentration of ammonia in their system rapidly is critical. This can be done by hemodialysis. Hemodialysis is a process used to clean your blood by pumping it through a special machine. The faster the ammonia level is lowered the greater the chance of avoiding severe brain damage from the buildup of ammonia in the bloodstream. In addition protein intake should be restricted, especially animal proteins as these are high in nitrogen and lead to hyperammonemic episodes. Many partial and late onset OTC deficiency patients practice a vegetarian diet to avoid the risk of elevated ammonia levels. Another course of treatment is finding an alternate pathway for nitrogen excretion. (Lichter-Konecki U, 2013) Phenylbutyrate and oral sodium benzoate are nitrogen scavengers. They provide an alternate way for the body to dispose of nitrogen and safely take in more protein. Liver transplants are a common course of treatment as well. The transplant can prevent reoccurring hyperammonemic episodes and long term neurological effects. These are typically performed by age sixth months. Those diagnosed with partial OTC deficiency or late onset may also be liver transplant candidates if they suffer from frequent hyperammonemic episodes. (Lichter-Konecki U, 2013) Researchers are investigating some new therapies to manage OTC deficiency. Hypothermia for neuroprotection, cooling to body down has been shown to reduce ammonia production by lowering the body’s metabolism overall. Liver cell transplant is being studied to see if I can temporarily stabilize critically patients while they are waiting for a liver transplant. Human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are being considered. This therapy would use the patient’s cells to generate stem cells that can then be induced to become liver cells. Gene therapy could possibly be used to correct the disorder in the new cells and then used to for liver regeneration in the patient. (Lichter-Konecki U, 2013) These promising new approaches continue to give hope to patients and their families. Works Cited Childrens National Medical Center. (2007). Welcome to the Ornithine Transcarbamylase website . Retrieved from Ornithine Transcarbamylase Deficiency Website: http://ureacycle.cnmcresearch.org/otc/ Heringlake, S., Boker, K., Manns, M. (1997). Fatal clinical course of ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency in an adult heterozygous female patient. Digestion 58.1, 83-6. Jones, P. M. (2013). Altered Mental State in a Teenager. Clinical Chemistry 59.10, 1442-4. Lichter-Konecki U, C. L. (2013, August 29). Ornithine Transcarbamylase Deficiency. Retrieved from GeneReviews: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK154378/ National Institutes of Health . (2013, June 9). Inborn errors of metabolism. Retrieved from MedLine Plus: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002438.htm National Institutes of Health . (2014, August 7). Metabolism . Retrieved from MedLine Plus: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002257.htm ONeill, M. (2013, January 4). Metabolic Pathways of Proteins, Carbohydrates and Fats in Humans. Retrieved from Ketopia wonderful low card science: http://ketopia.com/metabolic-pathways/ Shambaugh III, G. E. (1977). Urea biosynthesis I.The urea cycle and relationships to the citric acid cycle. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2083-87. Sloas, H. A. (2013). At the intersection of toxicology, psychiatry, and genetics: a diagnosis of ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency. The American Journal of Emergency Medicine 31.9, 1420.e5.

Sex Education As Intervention Against Teenage Pregnancy Social Work Essay

Sex Education As Intervention Against Teenage Pregnancy Social Work Essay Promotion of sexual health, and all Adolescence, the second decade of life, is increasingly recognized as a critical phase in the life course, especially from the health and social perspectives. The most challenging aspect of adolescence is sexual and reproductive health, as it is aspect of adolescence is sexual and reproductive health, the area that poses the greatest difficulty in maintaining adolescents health and implementing appropriate and effective interventions. For a start, there is a paucity of information and, if there is information, it is often uncoordinated and fragmented and not very useful for policy-making and programme interventions (WHO, 2005) Understanding human sexuality is a prerequisite to the promotion of sexual health, and all over the world sexuality remains one of the most problematic and dangerous aspects of person-hood (Wilson and Mcandrew, S, 2000). Professor Catherine Ingram of the school of Nursing at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has defined sexuality perhaps more succinctly than most authors in this field. She describes sexuality as an important dimension of the human personality and sees it as being inextricably woven into the fabric of human existence (Catherine Ingram, 1990) The belief prevalent in the early part of the twentieth century, that sexual education of the intelligent adolescent was best served by one short, sharp talk- in the fifth if the school was enlightened, in the sixth if it was felt to be an unpleasant but unavoidable duty-was perhaps typical of attitudes to education in many other disciplines. Facts were enough, and sex was put over in a way similar to that used when dealing with the maps of the coalfields. The only difference was the special atmosphere which surrounded the short, sharp talk. It must often convey to its victim that these matters were unspeakable and no well-bred pupil would either need or investigate them further. This method had at least one advantage- it did not attract unfavourable critic from parents or education committees large because all concerned were much too embarrassed to mention it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After the first World- war, pragmatic objectives in sex education become more apparent and by early 1930s several of our national agencies with the prevention the prevention of illegitimacy, the spread of knowledge about contraceptives and marriages guidance had begun. There was a small but interesting upsurge of intellectuals who nobly hid their embarrassments they discussed sexual matters with their children and solemnly left the bathroom door unlocked so that nudity could be rationally displayed. There were, however, even in those days, teachers in schools effectively relieving adolescent anxiety and ignorance about sex often under the name of human biology, wit equivocally worded syllabuses, and without a word to the head. Such strategies are still in use today.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The ironic evidence from research on the effects of fear-arousing information in connection with types of preventive health behaviour is that people tend to reject the information rather than change their behaviour (Radelfinger, 1965; Young, 1967) In 1936, Wilhelm Reich commented that sex education of his time was a work of deception, focusing on biology while concealing excitement arousal, which is what a pubescent individual, is mostly interested in. Reich added that this emphasis obscures what he believed to be a basic psychological principle: that all worries and difficulties originate from unsatisfied sexual impulse (Reich W, 1936) The existence of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has given a new sense of urgency to the topic of sex education. In many African nations, where AIDS is at epidemic level, sex education is seen by most scientists as a vital public health strategy. Some international organizations such as Planned Parenthood consider that broad sex education has global benefits, such as controlling the risk of overpopulation and the advancement of womens rights. According to the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS), 93% of adults they surveyed support sexuality education in high school and 845 support it in junior high school (SIECUS,1984). In fact, 885 of parents of junior high school students and 80% of parents of high students believe that sex education in school makes it easier for them to talk to their adolescents about sex. Also, 92% of adolescents report that they want both to talk to their parents about sex and to have comprehensive in-school examination. When sex education is contentiously debated, the chief controversial points are whether covering child sexuality is valuable or detrimental: the use of birth control such as condoms and hormonal contraception: and the impact of such use on pregnancy outside marriage, teenage pregnancy and the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STIs.) Increasing support for abstinence-only sex education by conservative groups has been one of the primary causes of this controversy. Countries with conservative attitudes towards sex education (including the United Kingdom and the United states ) have a higher incidence of STIs and teenage pregnancy (Monbiot, 2004) The proportion of women aged 20-24, who had a child before age 20 is a useful summary indicator that reflects the differences in teenage birth rates by country. This proportion is lowest in Sweden (4%), slightly higher in France (6%), much greater in Canada and Great Britain (11% and 15%, respectively) and highest in the United States (22%). Differences in the proportion giving birth by age 15 and by age 18 are also much higher in the United States than in the other four countries (Jacqueline et al, 2001) Teenage pregnancy is times is a factor of early sexual exposure. Immaturity, inexperience or risky sexual experience often results in the unplanned pregnancy. In the study carried, between 1980 and 1998, among men and women to determine the age of first sexual experience, women were found to be exposed earlier than men (figure 1). Figure 1.  Proportion of participants younger than 16 years at first intercourse, by year of first intercourse. Teenage pregnancy in Europe : The incidence of teenage pregnancy across Europe varies considerably. The United Kingdom has the highest rate in Western Europe and is lower only than Bulgaria , Russia , and Ukraine in Europe as a whole. Throughout most of Western Europe, teenage birth rates fell during the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, but in the United Kingdom , rates have remained high-at or above the level of the early 80s. http://www.bmj.com/content/330/7491/590.full Figure 2: showing teenage pregnancy in 6 European countries over a 25 year period. The graph shows the trend over a twenty-five year period (1973-1995) There is a sharp decline in the United Kingdom figures and then a near steady value in the late 70s and early 80s, before gradually reaching a crescendo in 1991 and then a sharp drop towards the end of the survey. The Netherland has the least and was fairly constant throughout the study period. Germany , France , Ireland ad Italy had fluctuating values, but generally, there was a decline towards the end of the study.   UNITED KINGDOM: In England and Wales , sex education is not compulsory in schools as parents can refuse their children take parting the lessons. The curriculum focuses on the reproductive system, foetal development and the physical and emotional changes of adolescence, while information about contraception and safe sex is discretionary and discussion about relationships is often neglected. Britain has one of the highest teenage pregnancy rate s in Europe and sex education is a heated issues I government and media reports. In 2000 study by the University of Brighton , many 14 to 15 year olds reported disappointment with the content of sex education lessons and felt that confidentiality prevents teenagers from asking teachers about contraception. In a 2008 study conducted by YouGov for channel 4 it was revealed that almost three in ten teenagers said they need more sex and relationships education. In Scotland , the main sex education programme is Healthy respect, which focuses not only on the biological aspects of reproduction but also on relationships and emotions.  Ã‚  Education about contraception and sexually transmitted diseases are included in the programme as a way of encouraging good sexual health. In response to a refusal bythe catholic school to commit to the programme, however, a separate sex education programme has been developed for use in those schools. Funded by the Scottish Government, the programme Called to Love focuses on encourage children to delay sex until marriage and does not cover contraception and as such is a form of  Ã‚  Abstinence-only sex education. It is important to recognise that for some young women, particularly from certain ethnic or social groups, teenage pregnancy can be a positive life choice. Rates of teenage pregnancy within marriage are high, for example, in some South Asian ethnic groups in the United Kingdom . However, for many other young women, the costs of teenage pregnancy can be very high, particularly when linked with poverty. These risks include poorer outcomes for the children of teenage mothers as well as for the mothers themselves.   Ã‚  http://www.bmj.com/content/330/7491/590.full Figure 3: showing the rate of teenage pregnancy in 17 European countries. A sex survey by the World Health Organization concerning the habits of European teenagers in 2006 revealed that the birth rate among 15-19-year-olds in the UK was 27.8 births per 1,000 populations. The graph shows, the United States with the highest rate of teenage pregnancy and Switzerland with the least. The United Kingdom has the highest rate in Europe, which is clearly above the average value in Europe   FRANCE: In France , sex education has been part of school curricula since 1973. Schools are expected to provide 30 to 40 hours of sexual education and pass out condoms to students in grades eight and nine. In January,2000, the French government launched an information campaign on contraception with television and radio spots and the distribution of five million leaflets on contraception to high school students GERMANY: In Germany , sex education has been part of school curricula since 1970. Since 1992 sex education is by law a government duty. It normally covers all subjects concerning the growing-up process, body change during puberty, emotions the biological process of reproduction, sexual activity, partnership, homosexuality, unwanted pregnancies and complications of abortion, the dangers of sexual violence, child abuse and sex-transmitted diseases, but sometimes also things like sex positions. Most schools offer courses on the correct usage of contraception. A survey by the World Health Organization concerning the habits of European teenagers in 2006 revealed German teenagers about contraception. The birth rate among under 15- to 19-year-olds was very low- only 11.7 per 1000 population, compared to the UKs 27.8 births per 1,000 population and in first place -Bulgarias 39.0 per 1,000. FINLAND: Sexual education is usually incorporated into various obligatory courses, mainly as part of biology lessons (in lower grades) and later in a course related to general health issues. The Population and Family Welfare Federation provide all 15-year-olds on introductory sexual package that includes an information brochure, a condom and to be most effective when a multifaceted approach is used, as the problem is multiple determined and multidimensional. The interventions cartoon love story should not only focus on sexual factors and related on sequences, rather Interventions that are designed to reduce teen pregnancy appears they should include non sexual factors such as skills training, and personal development as well. Further, stakeholders including pregnant teens, parents, health sector, schools and churches should work together to devise programs that are practical, evidence based, culturally appropriated and acceptable to the target population. Boostma writing on Sex Education: Preparing Instead of Prevention, surmise that the teenage pregnancy rates has been (one of) the Netherlands for years now. Asking the question if Netherlands are hardly sexual active or if the Dutch promote abstinence from sexual intercourse? He asserts that in the Netherlands , there is not one specific governmental programme for teenage sex education or contraception. There is however, a lot of information about sexuality and contraception that is coming from all directions. Boostma believes that the Dutch approach attitude towards sexuality is one of tolerance, open mindedness and pragmatism and that studies from many countries that giving the message to young people not to have sex are having the opposite effects. The same account for countries where the subject sex is more or less a taboo to talk about. The Dutch concluded that many young people will have sex anyway, so they should be prepared for sexuality than to be prevented from it. This preparing attitude is coming from different levels of the society: The government through the National Health insurance pay for the contraception. Parents talk about sexuality and its consequence. The Mass-media (Television, newspaper, magazines, radio) addresses sexuality and sexual health. Schools give sexuality talk/sex education.  There many accessible services for sexuality and contraception. These and other factors result in a tolerant and pragmatic attitude  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  towards sex make information and contraception accessible and explains the low rate teenage abortion or pregnancy. Sexual heath in the Netherlands means preparation instead of prevention. This preparation means that young people are stimulated to become sexually autonomous and can make their own sensible discussions. Up till now, the Dutch method has proven its effectiveness over and over again.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ian Sutherland, who was director in the Health department of Britain in the early 80s co-authored a book, Health Education, perspective and Choices which dwells on the several choices available to people and the choices they make based on the information they have. The book analyses the different areas where choice is inevitable and the ideological basis for which certain choices should be made. Various authors contributed various topics on the theme Health education. The book first published in 1979 is invaluable as it coincide with the transition period of balancing health needs in Britain . The increased rate in teenage pregnancies and the consequence rise in abortion rates. It was also a period Britain was trying to establish formal curriculum on sex education. In an effort to include as much as possible, the authors referred extensively to a literature which begins with Plato. The authors tried to draw  Ã‚  the readers attention to as many authorities as possible, and so made attempt at bringing together in  Ã‚  one book the extensive libraries of health, education, and health education.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Crosby et al (2008) in a study titled, The Protective Value of Parental Sex Education: A clinical-based exploratory study of adolescent females compared the impact of sex education provided by parents to female adolescents against the same education provided by formal settings to female adolescent. They sampled females aged 16-24 years, attending an adolescent medical clinic in urban area of the south were recruited prior to examination. Each patient completed an anonymous self administered questionnaire. Data from 110 respondents were analysed to compare those who indicating they had learned about each of 4 topics from parents to those not indicating learning about all 4 topics from a parent. The same process was repeated relative to learning about all 4 topics in a formal education setting. The result showed that in controlled, multivariate analyses, adolescent not communicating with parent on all 4 topics were nearly 5 times more likely to report having sex partners in the past 3 months. Further, adolescents were 3.5 times more likely to have low self efficacy for condom use, 2.7 times more likely to ever using alcohol or drugs or sex and about 70% less likely to have ever talked about HIV prevention with a partner before engaging in sex. Differences relative to learning about all 4 topics in formal settings were not found out. Looking at works done recently in the United Kingdom, (SHARE: Sexual Health And Relationships; Safe, Happy and Responsible) included 8400 pupils aged 13-15years in 25 secondary schools in east of Scotland (Wight et al,2002) Questionnaires was completed at base line and follow up done 2 years later. The intervention was a new 5-day teacher training programme plus a 20-session pack: 10sessions were delivered in the third year (at 13-14 years) of secondary school and 10 in the fourth year (at 14-15years). The primary outcome for the study was use of condoms at first intercourse. Similar proportions of both intervention and control groups used condom at first intercourse with less than 105 of pupils reporting first intercourse without condom. For all other behavioural outcomes (condom use after first intercourse, oral contraceptive use and unplanned pregnancy) there were no differences with the groups. However, as with Martiniuks study in Belize, published in this issue of the internatio nal journal of epidemiology, pupils in the intervention group were more knowledgeable than those in the control group.(Martiniuk,2003). The Belize study was well designed in allowing for the clustered nature of samples both when calculating and the sample size and analyzing the data. Publishing the intra-cluster correlation will be good for planning future research. However, there are a number of weaknesses with the randomized procedures discussed by the authors in their paper. The imbalance between groups in the number of classrooms could have been overcome by a block method rather than the simple coin toss employed here. (Schulz and Grimmes, 2002)  Ã‚  There were considerable differences between groups at baseline in terms of gender and sexual experience. These data were not available to the researchers prior to the study starting. It may have been appropriate to allocate classes to intervention and control groups when the results from pre-test questionnaires were available. At this time an alternative randomization procedure such as stratification or minimization may have reduced the chances of imbalance between groups in the study (Pocock, 1984) Anna Graham noted that the factor with the strongest influence preventing teenage pregnancy is educational opportunity. It is well-educated women who tend to delay childbearing. For women aged 20-24 years the longer a woman remains in school the less likely she is to have a child before the age of 20. Adolescents with little schooling are often twice as likely as those with more education to have baby before their 20th  birthday. For example, 46% of young Columbian women with less than 7 years schooling have their first child by the age of 20, compared with 19% of those with more education. The contrast is even greater in Egyptian, where 51% of less educated women have their first birth before the age of 20 compared with 9% of better educated women. She noted that the link between lack of education and early childbearing is also strong among adolescents in the US . Some 58% of young American women who receive less than a high school education give birth by their 20th  birthday, c ompared with 13% of young women who complete at least 12 years of schooling. The report from the Alan Guttmacher Institute, from which these data came, suggested that low level of education is not necessary a direct cause of early child bearing, however, the two characteristic of living in impoverished and rural environments. She further argued that when school is the main source of information about sexual matters, like the cross-sectional surveys in the UK , early and unprotected sexual intercourse is less likely, compared with when other sources such as friends and the media dominate. She surmised that, the greatest impact to be made in reducing unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections is to increase the time spent in education by young women worldwide. She believes this form of intervention is likely to change the role of women in society empowering them to avoid the adverse consequences of sexual activity.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     The author in her work tried to justify the need for a comprehensive education over and above the micro aspect of education-sex education. Believing that with increased time spent acquiring education, a women is more likely to avoid the bad aspect of sexual activity. She had looked into certain aspects of form of sex education and did not really weigh each on its own merit. She probably relied on her experience to draw a far reaching conclusion.   Boostma writing on Sex Education: Preparing Instead of Prevention, surmise that the teenage pregnancy rates has been (one of) the Netherlands for years now. Asking the question if Netherlands are hardly sexual active or if the Dutch promote abstinence from sexual intercourse? He asserts that in the Netherlands , there is not one specific governmental programme for teenage sex education or contraception. There is however, a lot of information about sexuality and contraception that is coming from all directions. He believes that the Dutch approach attitude towards sexuality is one of tolerance, open mindedness and pragmatism and that studies from many countries that giving the message to young people not to have sex are having the opposite effects. The same account for countries where the subject sex is more or less a taboo to talk about. The Dutch concluded that many young people will have sex anyway, so they should be prepared for sexuality than to be prevented from it. This preparing attitude is coming from different levels of the society. He noted that the government through the National Health insurance pay for the contraception. Also parents talk about sexuality and its consequence. The Mass-media (Television, newspaper, magazines, radio) addresses sexuality and sexual health. Schools give sexuality talk/sex education.There many accessible services for sexuality and contraception. These and other factors result in a tolerant and pragmatic attitude  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  towards sex make inform ation and contraception accessible and explain the low rate teenage abortion or pregnancy. Sexual heath in the Netherlands means preparation instead of prevention. This preparation means that young people are stimulated to become sexually autonomous and can make their own sensible discussions. Up till now, the Dutch method has proven its effectiveness over and over again.  Ã‚  Perspective and choices which dwells on the several choices available to people and the choices they make based on the information they have is important in tackling the issue of teenage pregnancy. The different areas where choice is inevitable and the ideological basis for which certain choices should be made should essentially be based on informed choices. Health authorities have proposed several methods of addressing Health education. This was very significant, particularly during the transition period of balancing health needs in Britain . The increased rate in teenage pregnancies and the consequence rise in abortion rates is significant, particularly going back to the period Britain was trying to establish formal curriculum on sex education. Abortion seems to be on the increase in the United Kingdom , according to the office of national statistics in the United Kingdom , the proportion of conceptions terminated by abortion among under 20-year-olds increased slightly from 36 per cent in 1990 to 39 per cent in 2000. Over half (51 per cent) of all conceptions among under 16-year-olds resulted in a termination in 1990 and this increased slightly to 54 per cent in 2000. Legal abortion rates were highest in London and the West Midlands in 2000 and 2001. Similarly, the data collected by the agency noted a corresponding decrease in conception rate, it noted that, In 2000, the conception rate among females under 20 years was 63 per 1,000 females aged 15 to 19 years. This marks a decrease in conception rates over the last decade that mirrors a general decrease among females of all ages. The exception however has been among females aged 13 to 15 years. Rates of conceptions in this group have remained consistent at between 8 to 10 p er 1,000 females from 1990 to 2000.  Ã‚  A likely consequence of abortion is decreased fertility and sexual infections, the agency equally noted a rise in sexual related infection within this time period, Genital infection with chlamydia trachomatis if untreated, is associated with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women and infertility. The diagnostic rate of genital chlamydia infection in females aged under 20 years old has increased since the mid-1990s. In 2001, the highest rates of diagnosed chlamydia seen in GUM clinics, were among 16- to 19-year-olds (1,035 per 100,000 females). Genital warts are the most commonly diagnosed viral STI. In 2001, 29 per cent of females diagnosed with genital warts were under 20 years of age, compared with only 10 per cent of males in the same age group. Rates of diagnosis among females aged 16 to 19 years increased by more than 15 per cent during the last decade and reached 680 per 100,000 females in 2001. Intervention in teenage pregnancy, need to among other things focus on improving contraceptive use, and initiate attitudinal changes and life style  Ã‚  likely to prevent pregnancy and sexual transmission infection transmission. This should involve long-term services and interventions, which are tailored to addressing the major causes of teenage pregnancy. This should be spelt in information, which are clear and unambiguous and may involve ideas which the youths relate with. It should also be home grown, in that it should relate with the culture or practices inherent in the society. This will start with identifying the risk group. There are certain categories among this age, which appear to be vulnerable. Vulnerability may be by choice or imposed due to social economic reasons or accessibility to health care, such as contraception use. Interpersonal skills development is vital in achieving this objective. Programmes and other educational facilities, which allow interpersonal development, should be explored, this will allow productive engagement. Clinic service for education and information, will also serve a vital role in checkmating the trend. As teenage will not only benefit, but the society will be better for it as well. Information dissemination is vital and there is the possibility of teenagers accessing this on their own, if encouraged to talk to health personnel or attend clinics for advice and education. Education in this sense should be all encompassing and structured to the need at hand. Constructive engagement and participation of all and sundry are v ital. Periodic review of methods is important in our ever changing world. Therefore, interventions should not just be in theory, but clear goals which are practicable should be outlined to follow the strategies mapped out. Outcomes envisaged, need to be weighed in relation to the input. The delicate age, adolescence confers on teenage, makes it imperative, to address peer pressure and to make leaders of peer groups participatory in addressing the problems identified. All this need be done in an atmosphere of trust and confidentiality. It is often difficult to identify sexually active individuals, therefore, the scope of the intervention need be broad-based to cater for all and sundry. This can be achieved by recruiting experts or people trained in working with youths, who have enough experience to deal with the challenges teenage present. Catherine et al 2003, working on reviews which looked at teenage pregnancy and interventional means of check in the scourge, surmised the intervention on socio-demographics, which addressed the various health, education and psycho-social needs of teenagers and their environment in tackling the problem. They found out that, there is mixed evidence for the effectiveness of school-based and/or teacher-delivered sex education. They are of the opinion that, the best chance of interventions being successful in this setting is when they are multifactor and address a broad range of issues, including self esteem, vocational development, and access to services. In the area of Clinic/primary care as an interventional means, they equally believe that, there is mixed evidence for the effectiveness of interventions that take place in a clinic/primary care setting alone, and that it will be beat, based on the literature search, that they are linked widely to other community and school services, and evaluated as part of a broader programme. They are of the view that, confidentiality is of utmost importance considering the age group. They also surmised that in the UK context, particularly on UK-specific services and settings, such as doctors who may be the first to see these individuals. On Education and information dissemination, there is mixed evidence for the effectiveness of educational approaches. It was found out that, the more positive outcomes, have been found for education based approaches which link directly to services offered. This also includes a broad range of skills to help improve confidence and relationships among teenagers Vocational development may also be useful. It is said that, programmes should be long term, sustained across school years, and be in place before teenagers become sexually active. It is also suggested that, there is the need to support young parents to continue their education to enhance educational and employment opportunity for parents, mother/child interaction, and social outcomes for children. Early educational interventions for disadvantaged children can improve long-term. The family is foremost in checking the trend and this is dependent on teenagers getting support from parents and families. Neglect has always been attributed as a cause of teenage pregnancy. This could be deliberate or due to pressure from social responsibilities from parents to support the family, often leading to children not getting enough or desired attention from their parents. They further found out that, community interventions should be developed with regard to local needs and existing services. There is some evidence that multi-factor interventions involving a degree of community activity or service may be effective at improving contraceptive use. On  Ã‚  school-based clinics., it is noted that, although, more research is needed on these as the evidence covered by reviews here was methodologically weak, They may be effective as part of multi-factor programmes, but clinic-based healthcare programmes for teenage mothers and their children can improve their health outcomes, if taken as a priority at all stages.  The media and the Internet are often seen as social agents which are often not properly utilised, either as a child educator and form of entertainment, but also as a means of redeeming the problem. The study noted that much work has not been done in the United Kingdom , but again, further work is needed here for the UK . Skills, meant to give self-esteem are vital.  Ã‚  Ã‚  There is encouraging result for approaches that focus on these factors, particularly when they are part of a broad-ranging intervention. Peer education, is also important in addressing the core issues right from the onset. Abstinence, as an interventional means has actually, not been fully found to be effective, as there are little or no evidence for the e

Shylock as Helpless Victim in The Merchant of Venice :: Merchant of Venice Essays

Shylock as Helpless Victim in The Merchant of Venice      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In 1594 the Earl of Essex, an English Nobleman who lived during the Elizabethan period in England, was actively involved in the persecution and trials of Roderigo Lopez.   Lopez was a Jew of Portuguese descent, who was wrongly accused of attempting to poison the Queen of England.   Lopez, being the Queen's royal physician, was in no position to defend himself once he was accused.   Essex, who provided the evidence also presided over the trial of Lopez, leaving Lopez little chance of survival.   The innocent Jew was hanged, drawn, and quartered in Tyburn, England for all to witness.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The story of Roderigo Lopez is similar to the story of Shylock, although, Palmer tells us "It is not suggested that Shakespeare in portraying Shylock, had any political or social intentions" ( 112-13).   Both Jews were placed in time where "anti-Semitism was in fashion" (Palmer 113), and both thrown into court where they would be tried unjustly.   The story of Roderigo Lopez sets the tone for The Merchant of Venice.   Lopez' incident occurred in 1594, The Merchant of Venice was written only two years later.   Anti-Semitism was prevalent during Shakespeares' time, and therefore we must understand that it was as easy for him to make a Jewish man the villain as it would be for us to make a Nazi the villain.      According to Sylvan Barnet "The Merchant of Venice [shows] the broad outline of a comedy (not merely a play with jests, but a play that ends happily). . . the villain in the comedy must be entirely villainous, or, rather, comically villainous; he cannot for a moment gain the audience's sympathy" (1). Shylock has often been portrayed as the villain in The Merchant of Venice.   From being more concerned with his ducats rather than his daughter, to demanding his pound of flesh, Shylock fits perfectly into the mold of the villain.   However, with   reference to Barnet's comment "he cannot for a moment gain the audience's sympathy" (1), Shylock oversteps the boundaries of his villainous character. The audience cannot and would not have rooted for Shylock during Shakespeare's lifetime, yet, now we do.   Shylock is merely a victim of anti-Semitism.

The Ballad Essay -- Literature History

This essay is about the Ballad, contrasting how the ballad went from an oral tradition to the ballad form known today. The Ballad can be any narrative song, but in technical terms a ballad is a specific literary form. The word ballad comes from the Latin and Italian word â€Å"ballare,† meaning â€Å"to dance†. Collins, (1985). The second word translation of â€Å"ballade† comes from the French language and means "dancing song". Oxford, (1995). Therefore a ballad is a song that tells a story, and was originally a musical accompaniment to a dance. Ballads are very old and were handed down orally through generation to generation before they began to be written down. Because of this, most of the surviving ballads have been greatly adapted as they were passed around. However, traditional ballads do share some features. The ballad is a narrative poem of popular origin usually very long, epic in style. The language is simple and is not sentimental. The poem can be about a relationship or an experience, good, bad, triumphant, or tragic, set to music. Hubbell (1923). Ch 235. Furthermore the structure and tone is made up of verses of four lines, with a rhyming pattern, repartition is often found in the ballad, entire stanzas can be repeated, like a chorus, or a repeated with certain words changed. The verse form, sometimes called the "ballad metre†. A question and answer can be built into the stanza and there is a lot of dialogue, with the action often described in the first person. Two characters can talk to one another in alternating lines or stanzas. Hubbell, (1923).ch,235. The core structure for a ballad is a quatrain, written with either a-b-c-b, or a-b-a-b rhyme scheme. "a" stands for one line ending, "b" for another, and "c" for another s... .... 3rd Ed. The Norton Anthology of Poetry. W.W. Norton & company Ltd. London. Bell, R. Ed. (1996). Ancient Poems, Ballads and Songs of the Peasantry of England 1550-1867. http://WWW.Gutenberg.org/ebooks/649. Accessed on 26/12/10 Eddy, S. Ed. (2009). Lyrical Ballads York advanced notes. York Press London. Hubbell, J.B. (1923). An introduction to poetry. The Macmillan company Ltd, London Attained on the kindle HTTP://www.amazon.co.uk/an introduction to poetry. Accessed on the 19/12/10. Mcleod, T. P. Hanks. Eds (1985). Collins Concise English Dictionary. Guild Publishing, London. Palmer, R. (1979). A Ballad History of England from 1588 to present day. The Anchor Press Ltd, Tiptree. Phythian, B.A. (1978). Considering Poetry An Approach to Criticism. Hodder & Stoughton Educational. Sevenoaks. Randall, D. Ed. (1971). The Black Poets. Bantam Books. New York.

Last Day at School

The last days of one’s long stay anywhere are usually as sad as memorable. The place oneloves to stay in cannot be left for good (forever) without thoughts that bring tears to theeyes and grief to the hearts. Who will not accept that the college is a place which astudent will never like to leave happily? It was perhaps my saddest experience that Iunderwent on my last day in college, just before the preparatory holidays before the present examination. I got lip early in the morning thinking that I should go to college early and stay there latefinally to say farewell to the mother of knowledge, that is, my college.When I reachedthere on the sunny April morning, the flowers were smiling and the trees were welcomingme by stretching out their branches far into the air. Passing by the flowerbeds along thelong road covered with the most attractive trees of the area, 1 reached the main buildingwhere I was to attend my first class of the day. It was the English language class and thete acher, Mr. Tayyab Siddique, was standing before us smiling in his usual frank andhomely way. He shook his head at us, laughed a little and then kept quiet. †What day is itmy students? he asked us. †Sir, it is Tuesday. † †No,† he replied,† It is the last day for allof us together. † Our teacher taught us a short poem by Wordsworth in a most movingway, and then engaged us in conversation. He recalled some incidents in our class of some minor quarrels and his own anger at them. Then he asked us to forget all past bitterness and be friends again. He brought to our minds some pleasant happenings,especially our outings together into the countryside and our cricket and football matchesin the college grounds.The classes on the last day following the English class were full of interest and funr There was teaching, but there were jokes and discussions too leading to some hearty promises between teachers and students not to forget each other. After the classes, someof us decided to go round the most favourite spots on the campus. The first place we went to was the college cafeteria, the usual centre of refreshments, jokes, gossips and petty quarrels. Mir Sahib sitting at the counter welcomed us feelingour passionate moods.We had some cold drinks and snacks together and exchange^ our addresses and discussed our future plans. As 1 stood up with my class-fellows to leavethe cafeteria, I felt the burden of thoughts and feelings crushing me heavily as we werestepping out amidst the loud talk and clamour (loud confused noise) of other studentseating and drinking and making merry. Inen we started for the college hostel, and passing over the green lawns and throughsymmetrical hedges, reached the New Hostel. There I found several of our juniors,ra year students, perhaps waiting for us anxiously T’^v were clapping and waving a ! envelope directed at us. I went close to them, took the envelope, and at once pened it upto find a beauti fully written invitation to a variety show in the evening. About half an hour later, I returned home from the hostel after a familiar chat with the junior students and other friends. In the evening, I returned to college to watch the variety show in the hostel which was, infact, a farewell show for the departing fourth year students. The singers and actorssurprisingly included our English and science teachers and junior and senior students.Afew guest singers from other colleges also took part in the variety i -†¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ -aj-. ime. ThePrincipal and Vice-Principal at the end spoke over the microphone narrating some fine jokes and reproducing some experiences of their stay in the college concerning especiallythe performance of the outgoing fourth year class in studies and sports. And, with the endof the speeches, ended all our formal connections with our beloved college. The teachersand students bade farewell to us with the best of wishes, and we bade farewell to themwith respect and love.From the noises and laughter of the grand gathering in the spreading lawns of the collegewe came out into the stillness of darkness and night. Weighed down with a heavy heartand moving along the lonely road on my bicycle late at night, I was feeling the greatestloss of my life-the loss of college life, for my parents were already planning to send me toa university for post-graduate studies-and the maturity of university life was perhaps nocomparison with the simplicity and innocence of college life