Feasibility Study Essay

1. 1 Tourism Profile Long Meadows is located in Mahabang Parang , Sta. Maria, Bulacan. Mahabang Parang is1. 0466 squared kilometer and as we saw the ranking of barangays in Sta. Maria we saw that Mahabang Parang is in the 19th place. First it was owned by Mrs. Luzviminda Aguirre. When Mrs. Luzviminda Aguirre past away, her husband Mr. Bonifacio Aguirre and their children Armine Aguirre Garcia and Jayson Adlai Aguirre manage the resort. Established in 1988, Long Meadows Country Resort started as a private Guest’s house and opened to the public as a resort. It is less than 30 minutes away from Balintawak toll Entry going to North It sits on a 3-hectare property, more than a hectare of which is properly developed. The resort features two (2) adult Pools, two (2) kiddie Pools, a private Pool with Villa, 17 air-conditioned rooms and open cottages, Bowling Center and Restaurant and Praderas Garden Pavillion The place exudes that rustic yet charming appeal of a countryside resort complete with quality service and facilities. Long Meadows Country Resort is also Affiliated with Bulacan Association of Resort Owners ( BARO ), Sta. Maria Business Association ( SMBA ) and Tourism Projects.. 1. 2 Geography Mahabang Parang is generally flat. The source of living here in Mahabang Parang are agriculture and sewing or tailoring. And also this is the best place to build a resort. CLIMATE Santa Maria has a climate â€Å"first type† which is defined as having two pronounced seasons: Dry from November to April and wet during the rest of the year. During the dry months, precipitation is less because of the prevailing easterly wind blow to produce rainfall in its leeward side. Santa Maria’s most perceptible months start from May and may have its maximum in August, which gradually decreases until December. During these most months, thunderstorms and rain showers causes precipitation in May and June while the rest is primarily due to the southeast monsoon that prevails on this particular part of the year. Others which occur in November and December are caused by tropical cyclones that pass through the area. Temperature The annual mean temperature in the area is 27. 7  °C. The warmest month is May with mean temperature of 29. 9 0 C while the coldest is January at 25. 2  °C. 1. 3Demographics Language As it is part of the Tagalog cultural sphere (katagalugan), Tagalog is the predominant language of Bulacan so in Mahabang Parang we used Tagalog. Population During the census year of 2010, there were 3,411 people residing in Mahabang Parang and grew to 3,628 in 2013. CHAPTER II: OBJECTIVE SETTING To rehabilitate Long Meadows Country Resort because we want this to be on the popular tourism spot located in Sta. Maria and to grow the economics of the town. Also to set up and develop new amenities of this resort and meet customer needs. To construct recreational resort to gain more guest. We construct new and relaxing amenities to provide relaxation and recreation to the guest. To rehabilitate recreation and leisure because we want to develop new amenities and meet customers need. Also to construct resort and gain more guest, visiting the resort. Having the marketing strategies to increase the sales of recreational activities and accommodation of the resort and to be as one of the competitors here in Bulacan. Lastly, to become â€Å"catchy† in terms of different new trending activities and known the resort through this. CHAPTER IV: FINANCIAL CONSIDERATION (Including 30% labor) Pool 2 Slide & concrete stair – 150,000 Wall Climbing 50ft. – 120,000 Bowling Center – 1,500,000 Gate 2 – 26,000 ______________ Total Amount:1,796,000 CHAPTER V: APPENDICES MAIN GATE ENTRANCE ONE OF THE COTTAGES POOL 1 PRIVATE POOL JACCUZI VACANT LOT FOR WALL CLIMBING POOL SLIDE POOL STAIR GATE 2 BOWLING CENTER INSIDE BOWLNG CENTER.

Key Provisions of Contemporary Social Policy

â€Å"Social Policy is the way that governments attempt to ensure that all citizens can lead a fulfilling and responsible life. † (Mullard, 1995) So what is Social Policy? – When asked this question I find it quite difficult to explain in terms that are easy enough for everyone to understand, therefore I have done research in order to find a simple explanation. I particularly like Hartley Dean’s definition, ‘Social Policy is the study of human wellbeing’ he also states that ‘Social Policy, involves the study of human wellbeing, the social relations necessary for wellbeing and the systems by which wellbeing may be promoted. In my opinion this explanation is clear, concise and makes it easy to understand. (Dean, 2005). Our thoughts and ideas of childhood as a social construction have altered noticeably over the last ten years. The development of constructions of childhood has steadily become more intricate as the numbers of theories rise. Through research of early examples of childhood this essay sets out to describe how contemporary thinking of childhood has developed through complex patterns of sociological deliberation and political, cultural and historical pressures. (Kehily, p. 2-12). During the past 10 years, the changing attitudes and arising problems within the state-parent-child relationship has stirred a vast amount of concern leading to the need for further research; which in turn has lead to new policy proposals. It is widely believed that the lack of support given to families, due to the collapse of communities working together in harmony, is impacting on the current, wider spread, social problems within our families. It has become more predominant that state-parent-child relationships play an important role in the wellbeing of today’s children. Barnes et al. 2006). Having an understanding of Social Policy offers us guidelines which in turn promotes our abilities to ensure the well-being, needs and rights of children are being met. Working towards these guidelines set by the government we are able to help change and reduce the power disparity between children and adults; allowing children to have a say on decisions that will impact on their future l ives through listening to the individuals thoughts and opinions whilst considering that children have rights too. It is of upmost importance, that those working with children use this approach, continually keeping up-to-date with current laws and legislation within this area. Having an understanding of how social policy has changed over the years is also an important factor to consider; giving us a clear understanding of how policies and legislation have changed in order to improve outcomes for children in relation to available resources, shared responsibilities and managing risk. Yet social policy, unlike law, has the potential to be proactive – to set in place a series of principles that define a just and inclusive society and practical but flexile ways of implementing them†. (Hendrick, 2008, p. 336) In the UK, Parliament is responsible for making changes to law. Parliament is made up of the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the Queen, they must all agree to any new law before it can be passed and become an Act of Parliament. There is not just a single law in place to prote ct children but a multitude of laws, legislation and guidance which cover all aspects of children’s care in the UK. (Alcock et al. 008, p. 19-25). Past information about social policy offers us a view of the past and how it has changed, as Harold Perkin said â€Å"We want to know not only what laws were made or battles fought or even how men [sic] got their living, but what it felt like to be alive, how men [sic] in history – not merely kings and popes, statesmen and tycoons – lived and worked and thought and behaved towards each other. † (Perkin, 1981, p. 24) In 1945 the Welfare State was created, this offered a new focal point towards the children’s physical health to coincide with earlier worries about the mind and mental health of children’s development. At this time a rising importance on preventive care became prominent, looking at the family and its relationship with the State. These ideas developed slowly during the 1960’s – 70’s and it was recognised that a child should be dealt with â€Å"as a whole and continuously developing person† (Hendrick, 1994, p. 263). At this point in time the child became more permitted to have individual rights, giving them responsibilities and freedom from â€Å"traditionally passive and often repressive protection† (Hendrick, 1994, p. 57). Worries cropped up with regard to the â€Å"balance between too much and too little intervention† and particularly between â€Å"competing claims of parents, children, social workers and local authority social services departments† (Hendrick, 1994, p. 273). The Prevention of Cruelty to and Protection of Children Act 1889 was the first law to enforce criminal penalties in the hope to discourage abuse and neglect of children. This legislation is contained within the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 which was introduced to protect children from ‘cruelty and exposure to moral and physical danger’ (p. ), some parts of this act are still used today but more current guidance can be found in the newer Children’s Act 1989. (Youth Justice Board, 2006). This act was set up to help improve and simplify the overabundance of laws concerning children. Lord Chancellor Lord Mackay of Clashfern had said it was â€Å"the most comprehensive and far-reaching reform o f child law which has come before Parliament in living memory†. The Children’s Act 1989 set out to help keep children safe and well, within their environment and to provide the necessary provisions where possible, to allow the child to live within their own family structure. Today’s child protection system has been developed from the Children’s Act 1989. The Children’s Act 1989 requires local councils to make available a variety of services to all children especially those with disabilities, health and development issues; these services are intended to help keep children safe and well. Following the Children Act 1989 many new laws have been passed to improve the ways in which children are protected. (NSPCC, 2010) In September 1989 the United Nation Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) was introduced – as the first legally binding treaty that was to be used internationally. This treaty gave children and young people under 18 years, throughout the world, human rights (civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights) equal to those over 18 years; giving them the extra care and protection which was much needed. The UNCRC set out what rights children have, along with how the government should safeguard those rights. This allows children and young people around the world to have an authoritative way to preserve their human rights, allowing them to act in accordance with the law if their rights within this act are not met. The UK Government did not agree to follow the UNCRC until 1991. Below are just a few of the rights of children under the Convention on the Rights of the Child which can be found at http://www. unicef. org/crc/files/Rights_overview. pdf. (Fact Sheet) Article 3. The best interests of children must be the primary concern in making decisions that may affect them. All adults should do what is best for children. When adults make decisions, they should think about how their decisions will affect children. This particularly applies to budget, policy and law makers. Article 6. Children have the right to live. Governments should ensure that children survive and develop healthily. Article 27. Children have the right to a standard of living that is good enough o meet their physical and mental needs. Governments should help families and guardians who cannot afford to provide this, particularly with regard to food, clothing and housing. Article 36. Children should be protected from any activity that takes advantage of them or could harm their welfare and development. There are a total of 54 articles contained within the UNCRC, all of which are equally important and linked with each other, therefore working well together and easy to understand. Every child should be made aware of their rights (article 42), as it is our duty to safeguard their rights and ensure they have opportunities to live in a safe environment with all of their needs being met. In my opinion if a child is aware of their rights they are less likely to be exploited, giving them an understanding of how they can expect to be treated and hopefully have a voice that can be heard. A child friendly poster has been produced with the articles set out in laymen’s terms allowing children to understand their rights more easily. (UNICEF). Children around the world are subject to neglect and abuse and all because adults are failing to protect them. Throughout the UK during the past years progressions in human rights and civil rights have improved alongside those rights of the child. The eradication of physical punishment in schools and attempts to ban the smacking of children by parents shows us that the rights of the child are being listened too. It has been argued by Kay that until recently children didn’t really have individual rights; she believed that their rights were ‘conferred via their parents’ (2001, p. 14). This is where children’s rights were ignored, not allowing the child to have a say or be listened to. Social work has been critiqued by Smith for ‘lagging behind legal expectations of consultation with children’. (1996, pg 55). Some of the criticisms have been focused around the lack of taking into account the needs of each child as an individual and not fully listening to the child’s own wishes during proceedings. Social services have regularly been criticised for failing some children through lack of support and services to the families when they were needed. Even turning a blind eye in some cases, thus having a detrimental effect on children, predominantly ‘looked after’ children and those in need, unfortunately some cases have resulted in devastating circumstances for some children. Victoria Climbie is one of those unfortunate children; she died at the age of 8 years in February 2000 while living with her carers. She was subjected to physical and mental abuse but no-one noticed. Her death led to an independent inquiry which helped shape and change safeguarding polices for children in England. The inquiry was chaired by Lord Laming in April 2001 (alongside 4 other professional assessors). Laming carried out his research by contacting all that were involved in the care of Victoria before her death, this involved 277 witness statements and 158 witnesses. Through these inquiries it was established that her bereavement was avertable on 12 individual instances. Through Laming’s inquiry it came to light that services involved in the care of children were not working together or sharing information, some difficulties had arisen due to low staffing levels and available resources. Lord Laming gave a speech about his inquiries on 25th January 2003 saying â€Å"I well recognise that the frontline services charged with the protection of children have a difficult and demanding task. Adults who deliberately harm, neglect or exploit the vulnerability of children often go to great lengths to conceal their behaviour. (Laming, 2003). Laming found that if services had intervened just a little in the case of Victoria her death could have been avoided. As a result of the inquiry, 108 recommendations were made to change to local services; these recommendations had to be acted on swiftly. Following Lord Laming’s report on Victoria Climbie’s death the government responded by writing two reports, the Keeping Children Safe report (DFE, 200 3) and the Every Child Matters green paper (DFE, 2003) which resulted in the Children Act 2004. This act introduced further laws and legislation in respect of protecting children from harm and neglect, particular emphasis was put onto safeguarding children requiring local authorities to implement Local Safeguarding Children Boards. The Children Act 2004 did not substitute or modify much of the Children Act 1989, but improved and expanded it, offering guidance on how services could work together to improve outcomes for children. (Barker, 2008) The Every Child Matters green paper was intended to look at how to prevent incidents like that of Victoria’s instead of picking up the pieces nd was built around four key issues. (Cleaver & Walker, 2004, p. 7) * Strengthen the support available to those around the child, families and carers. * Make sure intervention takes place before it’s too late for the child, protecting them from harm and slipping through the net. * Looking at the problems acknowledged and failings for Victoria within Lord Laming’s report. * Making sure that those working with children are valued, rewarded, trained and kept up-to-date with current policy. It also identified five outcomes for children; this set out guidelines to enable every child to reach the Every Child Matters outcomes: to be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution and achieve economic well-being. The themes and outcomes set out within the Every Child Matters were put in place to ensure that no child/young person should fall through the net again and so all children have opportunities to achieve their full potential no matter what their circumstances. This has been done by looking at failures in education, reducing health problems, addressing substance/drug abuse and tackling anti-social behaviour amongst young people and adults. Research shows that early involvement and support is vital in improving the well-being of children. Proposals set out to offer much needed support for parents and carers so that children can receive the protection and assistance from the onset of difficulties no matter what their background. Services were improved by setting up Children’s trusts with multi-agencies working closely together with other services, offering better services to families in local areas. Through the closer network of services (multi-agency) working together information can be closely monitored and shared between all professionals connected to the child, giving a clearer picture of the child’s story. (Barker, 2008). Hopefully as services are now working closer together, the case of Victoria will not be repeated, Lord Laming’s report highlighted so many poor judgment calls that could have been avoided. â€Å"On each occasion that Victoria was admitted to hospital vitally important information went unrecorded and staff failed to act on their suspicions and observations. Telling marks on Victoria were seen and then all but ignored†. (Laming, 2001) To make certain the Every Child Matters targets are met, the government established a new set of regulatory plans and forms of inspection using the Care Standards Act 2000. This act created the National Care Standards Commission, setting out national minimum standards which were to be used in children’s homes, fostering services, boarding schools and residential special schools. Regulatory frameworks were also created, e. g. National Service Frameworks to be used for children in health care settings. (DFE, 2003). The Warner Report set out new guidelines for recruiting staff to work within child care homes at the end of 1992. This report set out to lessen the risk of abuse to children who were in care and was produced due to a string of high profile court cases. It was hoped that by introducing a Criminal Record Check on possible staff would help to find the ‘right’ kind of person to work with children in care. CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) checks are used to verify details of the individual, establishing whether a perspective employee has any convictions that prohibit them from working with children or other vulnerable members of society. Anyone that works regularly with children or is in contact with children (including foster care, adoption or childminders) must have a CRB check to ensure there suitability in order to protect the child. In 1999 the Protection of Children Act was approved and offered a legal foundation for lists to be produced of unsuitable people who had in the past been registered on an informal basis. The Department of Health was satisfied that all councils had produced policies and procedures in 2002 which met the requirements of the Warner Report but not all were consistent in their implementation of these requirements. Wilson & James, 2007, p. 186-8). The Children and Young Persons Act 2008 arose from the Government’s White Paper, Care Matters: Time for change, (DFE, 2007), the purpose of the act was to offer higher quality care, outcomes and services for those children in care. The intention of this Act was to modify the legislative framework for the care system in England and Wales, it formed part of the Government’s programme to guarantee children and young people are always able to access high quality care and support. It also included the requirements set out so that children and young people’s well-being needs were met in all forms of care. It requires public officials to notify the Local Safeguarding Children Board of all child deaths so they can be fully investigated to ensure there has been no wrong doing, allowing the Secretary of State to carry out research and requests for the release of Emergency Protection Orders. (The National Archives, 2008) The Equality Act 2010 was brought in to replace all previous equality legislation, providing some of the changes that schools should be aware of. The majority of the new laws and legislation are the same as previously, for example, schools must not ‘unlawfully discriminate against pupils because of their sex, race, disability, religion or belief and sexual orientation’. Some changes include; it is now unlawful to discriminate against a transgender pupil, it is now ‘unlawful to discriminate against a pupil who is pregnant or has recently had a baby’. Further details can be found through the Department of Education. (DFE, 2011). In June 2010 Professor Eileen Munro was commissioned to write a review report on the current issues surrounding Child Protection the completed report, named the Munro Report, was published in May 2011. The completed report set out radical changes to improve the current systems in place for the protection of children. It was recommended that local areas should be given more freedom to build up their own effective child protection services, instead of having to concentrate on meeting central government targets. The report also outlines her concerns that â€Å"a one-size-fits-all approach to child protection is preventing local areas from focusing on the child†, highlighting the need for agencies involved in the protection of children to have a more open mind, dealing with cases individually and using past incidents for learning and development, ensuring future training is compliant with the new regulations making it easily accessible to all involved. It has come to light through the Munro Report that the needs of the child should come first, the amount of paperwork previously involved has been getting in the way of important children’s outcomes. (Munro, 2011) As Professor Eileen Munro said â€Å"A one-size-fits-all approach is not the right way for child protection services to operate. Top down government targets and too many forms and procedures are preventing professionals from being able to give children the help they need and assess whether that help has made a difference. (2011) Gordon Brown described child poverty as a ‘scar on the soul of Britain’ (2000). The lives of children and families living in poverty throughout the the UK are subjected to social exclusion. ‘In Britain and other English-speaking countries, the general public and its political representatives expect the child protection system to anticipate and prevent child abuse. Yet a major factor in many cases of child maltreatment is so mething that, except in marginal ways, child protection professionals can do very little about: poverty and social exclusion. ’ (Beckett, 2007, p. 69). Unfortunately professionals working in the child protection circle have their hands tied when it comes to dealing with ‘poverty and structural inequalities’ and are unable to do much about it, saying this it is of upmost importance that child protection workers do have an understanding of the implications poverty brings so that they can be supportive and considerate to the families they come into contact with. ‘Poverty is a source of stress – and stress, we know, can push people who otherwise would have coped quite adequately into abusive or neglectful parenting’. Beckett, 2007, p169). As we look at the social systems in place, it is more often than not impractical to expect to discover a prime cause of why neglect, abuse or poverty has emerged. It is an understandably known fact that poverty i s responsible for high levels of stress within the family and it is often found that stress is definitely a major cause of child abuse and neglect, leading us to possibly believe that children who are abused and neglected often do come from poor families. Children that do come from socially deprived backgrounds appear to suffer with considerably inferior mental and physical health issues, poverty is experienced in so many areas but do we really know how to deal with it? It is thought that the UK is a rich country with a high level of wealth compared to many international standards but many people in the UK are still tormented by economic and social deprivation. Child poverty levels within Britain are a particular cause for concern, with varying issues such as single parent families, unemployment and the cost of child care all of which play an important role, contributing to the ever increasing risks of poverty. Poverty has a detrimental effect on many aspects of people’s lives, from unemployment, leading to lack of money, poor housing, low or no self-esteem etc. , it doesn’t just affect the adults but children feel the knock on effect often suffering in silence. How can child protection workers protect the children of poor people without contributing to the stress that may be one of the major causes of child maltreatment in the first place? ’ (Beckett, 2007, p. 180). Understandably parents / carers often find the intervention of social workers too much to take, making them feel inadequate in caring for their own children, thus having a detrimental effect on the work social workers do to try and make family life more man ageable, giving children the pportunities to thrive within their family circle. Although the Convention on the Rights of the Child was introduced over ten years ago there are still areas in the UK which are still struggling to put into practice all of the guidelines. It is clear to see there have been vast changes for the better surrounding the protection of children over the years. Laws and legislation have improved dramatically placing a clearer awareness of children's rights since the Children Act was first put into practice. Typically, authors write from their own national perspective, with an historical overview of policy developments being presented along with a more detailed treatment of the most recent policy developments’. (Hudson, Kuhner ; Lowe, 2010, p. 7) It is interesting to see that some of the original ideas and guidelines are still in place today but it is equally important to remember there will always be room for further improvements. So therefore it is of u pmost importance to continually reflect on and act upon new laws and legislation as they arise. I particularly like the wise words of Sir Francis Bacon ‘knowledge is power’ and acting upon the knowledge we are given gives us the opportunities to help and improve the lives of children in our care. As Lord Laming said at the end of his report into the Victoria Climbie inquiry â€Å"I hope it will be used in the training of staff not least as a stark warning of the damage that can be done to children as a result of bad practice. Too many inquires have had to be held following terrible harm to a child. I and my colleagues hope that this will be the last†. (2001)

Approach to Contempory Chinese studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Approach to Contempory Chinese studies - Essay Example However, there have been skeptics from certain quarters, questioning the sustainability of China’s growth and her ability to surpass the United States of America as a superpower by the year 2050. Some have indicated that the economy of China s set to decline and falter given the fact that the country is marred with much corruption. These critics have pointed to the fact the China is governed by one party, lacks checks and balances and that the freedom of the media is not observed. In this aspect, it has been noted that such a country is not poised to prosper and flourish in the modern world. Also, China continues to position herself as a country to reckon with, and one that is set to topple the other super powers and reach the top. This aspect has been exhibits in the nation’s capture of top prizes and accolades. Among these accolades include America’s prominent intellectuals and receipt of six Nobel prizes awarded to the country (Central Intelligence Agency, 199 3). China’s journey to becoming a super power is coined mainly in its economic muscles. The production of China has increased thanks to three years of Communism in the country by 1970s. This increase has, however, not been a smooth one as the country had to grapple with the death of about 35 million people dying of hunger during the devastating famine that hit the country in the years 1958 and 1978. This famine was as a result of forced industrialization by the Mao reign. China saw its population grow rapidly during this era, and there was a slight improvement in the standard of life in the country. Chinas threat to America has further been characterized by the steady growth of its economy and a reduction in population. This rapid growth was achieved three decades to 2010. China’s economic achievements were rated to be among the most amazing ones in the history of human species (Economist Intelligence Unit, 1995). The economy grew to over 40- fold between the years

Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 5

Research - Essay Example The position of the WTO is rather, to provide information and dissemination of case studies toward affirmation of private trade relationships, and their voluntary response to ethical practices and law abiding transactions. To this end, the ratification of various treaties since the Uruguay Accord have been subject to furtherance of those legislative interests, and amendment to existing signatory protocol with some volitional agreement to liability and oversight by member states. The perspective of the WTO is predictably one of competitive market assessment. The mere query to into the fairness of anti-dumping is addressed through the stipulations of ratified legislative policy, and in particular the articulation of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). The foregoing essay examines the changes in the GATT’s articles on anti-dumping, and the aggregated response by national markets in regard to those constraints. In interest of furthering the discussion into the sphere of after-market trade of hazardous waste products, the discussion also contributes to the otherwise standard consideration of the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) as ‘goods’ are defined within international trade protocol. In 2009, the WTO Secretariat reported a marked 17% increase from 2007 in the number of anti-dumping investigations between July, 1 and December 31, 2008. According to the WTO, the Members whom reported the highest number of new investigations during the period, were India, reporting 42, followed by Brazil, reporting 16, China (11), Turkey (10), Argentina and the European Communities (9 each), Indonesia (6), Ukraine (4), Pakistan and the United States (3), Australia and Colombia (2 each), and Canada, Korea and Mexico (1 each). China was the most frequent subject of the new investigations. The most frequent products in the investigations

Nutrition and Global Health Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Nutrition and Global Health - Essay Example â€Å"More than 30% of children† around the globe are â€Å"underweight† or are not attaining their ideal growth rates (128). It is estimated that around 5.5 million children die every year because of malnutrition (128). In addition, millions of women, who bear and take care of children, also suffer from malnutrition and particularly, many poor women are â€Å"underweight† (135). At present, women and children are suffering from different illnesses, such as anemia and infections, with many also dying from these diseases, because of lack of proper nutrition. Lack of access to the right food, vitamins, and minerals at the entire development stages of women and children is a main problem for poor countries. The main nutritional issues for women and children are malnutrition and high morbidity, due to poor nutrition. Women also suffer from maternal morbidity and mortality. For instance, there are 530,000 maternal deaths per year (152). These women often lack the proper nutrition needed for their bodies, as well as their fetuses. As also mentioned, millions of children are underweight and die from malnutrition, especially in Asia and Africa. Some of the nutrition challenges are proving to people that they can improve their nutrition by enhancing their knowledge about what they eat, how they cook their food, and how they should eat them (142). Vitamin and mineral supplementation should also be widely applied, because it can be a cost-efficient way of dealing with malnutrition (142). Food fortification, such as iodizing salt, will also be crucial. Supplementation and food fortification, however, are not always easy to achieve. The governments should be dedicated to small and large measures that can enhance their nations nutritional status. They need help from non-profit organizations to achieve the necessary nutritional levels for their women and children. Without

Effective leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Effective leadership - Essay Example Discussion Lincoln’s Presidency is remembered for the American Civil War and the abolition of slavery, a goal for which he himself unfortunately had to pay the ultimate price of losing his life at the hands of John Wilkes Booth, a Confederate supporter. Yet Lincoln’s commonsense and well thought out approach to leadership makes us look at his life and principles again and again. He was a man who truly practiced what he preached. His undying and concerted efforts not only won the war for the Union but he also led from the front, marshalling and advising his forces and generals, while raising support and winning over the common man to the cause of freedom and equality for all, one of the principal features of our constitution and the American way of life, where each is free to do as he likes in the pursuit of happiness for the collective good of all. The author has very cleverly structured the book into four sections: People, Character, Endeavour and Communication. Abraha m Lincoln’s way of dealing with people was rather unique, and as the author puts it, he may have been one of the earliest leaders to advocate and follow the principle of Management by Wandering Around, as later defined by Peters and Waterman in their bestseller ‘In Search of Excellence’. Lincoln believed in getting out of his office and circulating among the troops (Phillips, 14). Of course, where he could not do it in person, his messages of encouragement and comfort were instrumental in raising the troops’ morale and winning over many a man to his cause. During the four year Civil War, Lincoln spent a lot of time with the War Office, the Army and the Navy, inspecting troops and weaponry and noting their capabilities. He wanted the latest information at all times and is even known to be one of the only Presidents that came under enemy fire in a war situation. Lincoln walked across to his Secretary of State Edwin M. Stanton’s office every day to get the latest on the war situation. Besides having his weekly meetings at the set times and locations, Lincoln was often known to call extempore sessions of his cabinet and advisors as the need arose. Rather than lock himself away in an ivory tower, Lincoln loved to roam among the people. He would make himself accessible to most people almost 75% of the time, and believed that these ‘public opinion baths’ were necessary to gain the support of people as well as make himself a visible leader while garnering the thoughts and opinions of the populace. He favored as little security and protocol as possible, believing that a true and righteous leader had nothing to fear. Lincoln was also known to be an approachable leader with an efficacious, amicable style. He had an open door policy with all men reporting to him and wished to be visible and available to them. In the chapter Build Strong Alliances, the author wants to show us how the President used his wit, charm, communicatio n and oratory skills to win not only Court arguments while in his practice at Springfield but also to opponents and people on the sidelines regarding the slavery issue. Lincoln was full of wisecracks, anecdotes and stories that would help in winning men over to the cause of emancipation. Another of Lincoln’s erudite principles of leadership was Persuade Rather than Coerce (Phillips, 39). Lincoln

Isadora Duncan Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Isadora Duncan - Research Paper Example Even St. Denis and Shawn were under the influence of Isadora in the use of Greek themes and symphonic music. They recognized that they tried to synchronize orchestra and chorus because Isadora did not try to do that. If she was not born on May 26, 1878, in San- Francisco, but somewhere in ancient Hellas, the priests would probably perceive her gift as an earthly incarnation of the muse Terpsichore. Live she not in agitated Europe at the beginning of the bloody XX century, today’s feminists would probably make her their tribune and role model. She was a real enigma. All her biographers were perplexed by a huge amount of mystical details, concentration of which in a life of a fictional literary protagonist could be the cause for critics to accuse a writer of propaganda of fatalism and artificiality of the plot. Are you the empty vessel or a fire flickering in the vessel? It was not said about her, but once a bright spark of divine fire illuminated her way in art, making famous A merican Isadora Duncan from a beginning ballerina. The fire that lit her way consumed her one day. On that day in May, when Isadora Angela Duncan was born, the mother of the future European star suffered two disappointments: the first sounds she heard recovering from childbirth were vehement cries of depositors of her husband’ bank. Joseph ran away with their savings God knows where. The first thing that the unhappy woman saw was her newborn daughter threshing air almost convulsively. â€Å"I knew that a monster is born, - she said to a midwife. The child can not be normal, she jumped and hopped in my womb and all this is the punishment for the sins of her villain father Joseph ...† She did not see dancing future and destiny in the first movements of the baby. However, despite the complete absence of the gift of foresight, she was able to bring up her daughter and three older children without any help of their phony dad and even gave them good education. Those efforts were not appreciated by little Isadora: being 13 years old, she left school and got addicted to music and dancing. Her first attempt to conquer Chicago ended with a complete failure, except for the first whirlwind romance with a fiery redhead seducer - Ivan Miroski, who burned her soul to such an extent that Isadora preferred to run away from the bitter happiness to Europe in a hold for transportation of livestock. Her perspective was uncertain. On the other side of the Channel her main rival, Mata Hari, was at the zenith of fame at that time. She has already found her creed in dance, undressing in front of the audience, mesmerizing it with Eastern pa. She was lucky enough to find a patroness in the person of the famous actress Campbell. Isadora spread her passion defending the idea that a dance should be a symbol of freedom, progress of natural grace, language of emotion, not a set of rehearsed gestures. Campbell, the queen of London salons, arranged her protege’s debut at a private reception, where presented her as an â€Å"exotic hors-d'oeuvre.† And that was the right decision - bold Isadora, dancing barefoot in a tunic, instead of a pack, copying much of ancient Greek plastic, saw delight in spectators’

Is a woman's earning potential equal to that of a man Research Paper

Is a woman's earning potential equal to that of a man - Research Paper Example Variations in levels of income have been an inspiration for much empirical research and debate ever since the mid nineteenth century. In addition, statistics and figures for analyzing variations in income levels have since increased in availability. Many factors affect the earnings that individuals make, including level of education, gender, race, social backgrounds, and occupational differences. In studies to disentangle discrepancies in annual incomes between men and women, a significant portion of the difference remains unexplainable and highly controversial. Many researchers attribute the unexplained variation to gender discrimination in the workplace, although numerous research efforts try to explicate the particular elements that contribute to the unexplained variation. This report focuses on determining whether women and men have any significant differences in their annual incomes for determinate years of education. Introduction The advances feminist movements have made a sign ificant contribution to the income parity for men and women over the last few decades. The income gap for women and men started to decrease or significantly in the 70s. For 1980 to 1990, income disparity stood at 60.2% and 71.6%, a 3.4% increase.From 1990 to 2000, the change was from 71.6% and 73.7%, a change of 2.1%. From 2000 to 2010, the ratio of women to men’s income rose from 73.7% to 77%, a 3.3% upsurge.However, significant differences still abound in the income levels between men and women, especially for high paying jobs. ... Up to bachelors level, the years of education are more determinable, but for masters and PhD degree programs. According to a research by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, analyzing the income anomalies between women and men, the comparisons were against level of education or years of learning. Income levels and years of learning for women (US Census Bureau, 1) Educational Level Years of Education Women’s Income High School 12 21,117 Some College 14 25,185 Bachelor's 16 36,532 Masters 18 45,730 Doctorate 20 54,666 Income levels and years of education for men (US Census Bureau, 1) Educational Level Years of Education Men’s Income High School 12 32,085 Some College 14 39,150 Bachelor's 16 52,265 Masters 18 67,123 Doctorate 20 78,324 A comparison in income levels for men and women (US Census Bureau, 14) Educational Level Years of Education Men’s Income Women’s Income Average Income Women as a % of Men's 1 High School 12 32,085 21,117 26,601 65.8% 2 Some College 14 39,150 25,185 32,168 64.3% 3 Bachelor's 16 52,265 36,532 44,399 69.9% 4 Masters 18 67,123 45,730 56,427 68.1% 5 Doctorate 20 78,324 54,666 66,495 69.8% Background on the number of years of education and annual income The number of years of learning a person has considerably affects a person’s annual income level. As the number of years of education increases, the income also increases, although inherent differences still exist within these differences. For instance, persons with a bachelor’s degree tend to earn almost double the incomes of high school graduates. According to a 2005 study on income and gender by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (US Bureau of Labor Statistics 2), women of similar educational levels with men earned significantly less in comparison to their male

Risk Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Risk Management - Essay Example 14,040. b) Total indirect (uninsured) lost time accident costs = 36*650 => ? 23,400. c) The indirect (uninsured) cost of non lost time accidents =12*630 => ? 7,560. d) The total costs of injury accidents = 7,560 + ? 23,400 => ? 30,960. e) The cost of injury accidents per employee = 30.960/633 => ? 49. f) The total cost of damage accidents = 2500*85 => ? 212,500. g) The total accident costs for XYZ factory = 7560 + 212,500 + 23,400 =>? 243,460. h) The average accident cost = 243,460/3 => ? 81,153. i) The average accident cost per employee = 243,460/633 =>? 385. 2. Probability distribution of damage for an airplane Notes: It can be observed from the diagram above that the probability of occurrence of damage increases up to a certain maximum value and then falls drastically to zero. The probability of damage can be determined at different damage levels. The mean, median and the 90th percentile level of damage can be obtained. The 90th percentile represents the highest possible damage ex pected. 3. Principles of portfolio theory Positive correlation principle- this principle applies when the investment takes a positive move. For instance, in foreign exchange the upward or downward movement of two or more assets classes indicates a positive correlation. Investing in class of items that has high positive correlation helps in reduction of risk. ... To manage risk negative correlation implies that part of your investments may retain their value or improve while the rest deteriorates in value. The risk is manageable since one investment loses and the other gains. 4. Main elements of insurance premiums The amount of money paid in an insurance policy (premium) depends on the following elements. 1) Intended use- the amount of premium paid will vary depending on the use of the commodity insured. For instance, a private car and a public car require different premiums. 2) Mortality charges- Charges used to cover the eventuality on an individual. Many companies, belief that young men cause a large number of accidents; hence, they charge them high premiums. 3) Saving component- Some of the premium paid is used for reinvestment in order to generate returns which the policy holder receives in terms of bonuses or maturity amount. 4) Geographical location- People who live in densely populated areas; that have high traffic density tend to pay higher premiums. In these areas, the incidences of losses are more pronounced. 5. Influences of the following factors on elements of premiums A. The insured expected losses: When the level of loss expected is high, then the amount of premium to be paid is also high. Mortality charges will increase with the age of the insured since the expectation of death is high in old age. B. Potential variation around the insured’s expected loss: Changes in geographical location and age are associated with increased vulnerability to loss. These changes may imply an increase in premium to the insured. C. Risk sharing arrangement between the insured and the insurer. Sharing of risks between the insured and the insurer implies payment

Consumer Behaviour Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Consumer Behaviour - Essay Example While the youth and children are the primary decision makers on certain categories of products, among the adults the decision rests with the one who contributes the maximum towards household expenses. Based on these factors Starbucks is advised to cater to the discerning consumers products and service that would make them feel distinguished. Table of Contents 1. Introduction 1 2. Motivation & Benefit 2.1 Theory of Planned Behavior 1 2.2 Self-identity 1 2.3 Uniqueness Theory 2 2.4 Scarcity and attractiveness 3 2.5 Organic coffee and its impact 3 2.5 Customer preferences 4 2.6 Physical environment 4 2.7 Recommendations for Starbucks 5 3. Family Life Cycle and Family Decision-Making 5 3.1 Family Life Cycle 5 3.2 Stages in FLC and choices 7 3.3 Family decision-making 8 References 10 1. Introduction Starbucks is an upscale, recognized coffee brand enjoying competitive advantage. They have 17,000 stores in 49 countries and their greatest strength is their strong brand image and a considera ble market share. The UK coffee market, according to a study by Mintel in 2010, is expected to grow and is forecast to be worth GBP976 Million by 2015 (PR Newswire, 2010). On an average adults consume about two cups of coffee per day and Starbucks has less than 1% of the global market share (Kotha & Glassman 2003). Competition being intense, Starbucks needs to understand the motivation and benefits that consumers seek. 2. Motivation & Benefit 2.1 Theory of Planned Behavior Consumer behavior is associated with idealized people and communicates information about consumers (Smith, Terry, Manstead, Louis, Kotterman & Wolfs, 2008). It communicates their personal values and their self-identity. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) suggests that behavioral decisions are not spontaneous but the result of a reasoned process in which behavior is influenced, even if indirectly, by attitudes, norms and perceptions of control over the behavior (Smith et al. 2008). The attitudes, norms and the pe rception of control over behavior influence behavior through their impact on behavioral intention. Food choices including the intention of consuming environmentally friendly products are all influenced by the TPB. 2.2 Self-identity People buy a product for the value they can deliver. The purpose, the product and the person interact to shape consumer behavior and any changes on any of these could impact consumer behavior (Ratneshwar, Shocker, Cotte and Srivastava (1999). How the product or service contributes to their self-identity and well being influences consumer behavior. The teenagers, for instance, like to be seen at trendy places. To them the social experience and the perceived brand value hold importance (Lockyer 2009). Self-identity is the extent to which the individual sees him- or herself as a typical consumer of a product, and may play a role in the context of the consumer (Smith et al. 2008). Self-identity, an important determinant of behavior, reflects the label people use to describe themselves. To boost their self identity consumers can consume food and also consume food at places that would help distinguish them. Self-identity predicts intentions to consume fair trade products and unique products. 2.3 Uniqueness Theory Food can either be consumed publicly or privately. Consumers like to experience goods and services that will distinguish them from others. Hence advertising should be unique in its appeal to the coffee consumers.

Bletchley Park GCSE Coursework Essay Example for Free

Bletchley Park GCSE Coursework Essay Bletchley Park was unique in many different was. Located just outside Bletchley, in southern England in some ways it could have been said to be detached from the rest of Britain during World War 2, lost in a secret world. The organization at Bletchley Park was unique. The method of operations, the dedication, the secrets hidden away behind the walls and even the people working there. All were completely different to what had ever been seen before in terms of code cracking. Secrecy was a big part of life in Bletchley, and even in the beginning when the initial government representatives went to check it out for possible use during wartime, they acted as privately as possible and gave reason for their stay as a hunting trip. The private aspect of station X continued throughout the war with guards patrolling the perimeters of Bletchley day and night. The secrecy kept up after the war as well, with those who had worked at Bletchley Park not being officially allowed to talk about it publicly until 1976. This was likely to be due to Churchills mistake after World War 1; of letting the Germans know that the British had cracked their code. Station X was another method of keeping the enigma secret. It was code-name used, meaning the key station where all the messages were sent. There where several other station Ys, all of which recorded any messages the intercepted and passed them straight on to the larger workstation at Bletchley (station X). This was to keep Bletchley Park looking relatively normal and aerial-free, thus aiding with the bid for secrecy. The people working at station X came from a variety of different backgrounds and were often chosen explicitly for their social records and information, rather than any skills with code breaking they had. Whilst this did only apply to the minority at Bletchley, (many working there during the war had come straight out of universities such as Oxford or Cambridge with a Maths degree) it is still a key aspect of the organization. Some were recruited on their ability to see outside of the box meaning that they were hired to see gaps (or flaws) in what others could not. This resulted in many people with more eccentric personalities residing in Bletchley during the war. Such people included the marvelous Alan Turing, who came up with the idea for the Bombe, one of the first computers in the world. He was certainly one of the abnormal people at Bletchley Park, but also an example of an extremely intelligent one. The actual organization at Bletchley was divided into certain huts. It was within these huts that the duties revolving around code cracking were divided up. For example, hut 8 may have been cracking the naval codes of the enigma, whilst hut 4 was deciding if they were to be of any use. This not only increased efficiency, but as a side effect, seemed to raise morale as well. Rather than working as a larger body were small triumphs went completely unnoticed, through these huts a sense of recognition of others efforts was able to be established. Many of the people with Bletchley were incredibly dedicated and in some cases worked solidly for 24 hours just to make sure that one particular aspect of the code was broken. This of course accelerated to process in which the enigma was eventually broken. Originally, those working at Bletchley Park were not respected or given the appropriate amount of attention by the SIS. (The secret intelligence service) However, this changed after Bletchley accurately predicted the location of a German warship that was just about the attack the British. The SIS ignored the warning, and two British ships were sunk and 1,500 men died. This was a wake up call for the SIS, who then proceeded to give any messages received from Bletchley top priority. 2. Why was Bletchley Park able to break the German enigma? Those working at Bletchley Park were able to break the enigma for several different reasons. Most importantly, it was due to their great skills at code cracking, their powerful intellect and the amazing perseverance that many had to try and achieve the goal. Other reasons must be taken into account though. Such as the clumsy mistakes by the German operators and the help that was given to the British by other countries such as the extraordinary work done by Poland before the war. The British received a great deal of intelligence from other countries during the war. The poles had secretly been working on the enigma before and during the start of the war. Three mathematicians had been trying to decode messages and solve the random jumble of letters. As Germany invaded, polish officials met up with the British and gave them all they knew about the enigma. This not only opened the gates for the British as to what the Nazis were using to scramble to letters, but also gave them a solid head start in order to go about decoding them. Later on, a German who was willing to sell information about the enigma contacted the French. French intelligence later passed this information on to the rest of the allies, including the British. Both of these two events greatly helped Bletchley Park crack the code of the enigma initially, and throughout the rest of the war. Another factor that continued to help the people working at station X were the mistakes of the German operators. It is likely that if the Germans had used the enigma exactly as directed, it would have been a lot harder to crack, thus taking up much more time. Common mistakes were not replacing or changing the order in which the cog wheels were arranged, not arranging the two plugs in the correct formation and other more minor errors that were normally results from laziness. Another fault that was used to its maximum effect was that of the double helix. In many cases, the enigma was not anywhere near as random as the Germans had first hoped, and in a few cases the British were able to see clear patterns were letters were exactly the same within the code. Whilst this was not necessarily the Germans fault, it was still as mistake that they did not know about and failed to consider. These mistakes were exploited and picked apart by the British, giving them a further chance in forming patterns out the mess. Bletchley used certain methods to ease the task of finding the right combination out of 150,000,000,000,000,000 possibilities. Techniques such as laying out perforated sheets to see if any letters matched were popular and helped the efficiency of code cracking as a whole. Also, machines that were invented during the war (including one of the first computers in the world) were a great asset to those at Bletchley as well. The machines invented during the time in Bletchley were all upgraded versions of the same basic idea. The human operator would feed in a code that had usually been worked on previously by other people or was a calculated (likely to be true) estimate (nicknamed a crib by those a Bletchley). The operator would enter the code into the machine and then it would cycle through all the possible combinations, stopping when it reached the correct one. The final version, invented by Turing, could decipher the code, possible wheel locations and possible plug locations thousands of times faster than a human. This greatly helped the British with the speed of cracking codes and sending them off to those who needed them. However it did not decrease the difficulty of knowing what formulas to use within the machine in the first place, or even decoding the initial and forming calculated guesses to feed into the machine to start off with. Those working at Bletchley had to solve several things in order to gather the information needed to have a chance at cracking the code. These included: * The Cog order and wiring * The text settings * The Cross plugging * And language (including German military slang terms) This required great patience and dedication all skills that those working at Bletchley either had already, or managed to acquire. Cracking a code can be an incredibly frustrating experience said one worker, but in most cases the results are uplifting, rewarding [and] very satisfying. Through intertwining many different people into a close knit community, along with their skills, personalities and unique ideas, Bletchley Park managed to effectively the ultimate code-cracking machine. Finally, breakthroughs were also a key factor when it came to breaking the code. Strokes of luck such as recovering German navy code books off small weather vessels that were easily captured, or getting other such Nazi secrets of sinking U-boats or crashed vehicles greatly helped advance the enigma effort. Overall, there was no key reason why the British were able to crack the code of the enigma. No huge mistake was made by the Germans that completely gave the secrets away, no massive breakthrough was made by the British to unlock all the enigma codes in one go, the end result came from many different factors that when put together, gave Bletchley Park the key to the enigma code.

Analyzing the Flesh and the Spirit by Anne Bradstreet

Analyzing the Flesh and the Spirit by Anne Bradstreet Five Literary Criticisms Throughout history, there have been many religious faiths and practices that aim the same goal in different ways. One of them was Puritanism and the Puritan believed that the best way to gain admission to heaven was to focus on how sinful they were. Anne Bradstreet was the first Puritan figure in American Literature and in her poem titled The Flesh and the Spirit, she discussed Puritan practices. This essay will analyses the poem with 5 literary criticisms, including Marxist Criticism, Feminist Criticism, New Criticism, Reader-response Criticism, and Psychoanalytic Criticism. Starting with the Marxist Criticism, we need to look at the eras economic conditions first. Anne Bradstreet lived in the Massachusetts Bay Colony and the colony was highly dependent on the import of staples from England. The Puritan dislike of ostentation led the colony to also regulate expenditures on what it perceived as luxury items. Items of personal adornment were frowned upon. In the poem, we see two characters discussing what kind of life people should have. The sister named Flesh tries to explain to her sister named Spirit that the World has everything that could keep them happy and content. Fleshs this kind of approach to the earthly goods is totally against Puritan believes. As the colony Bradstreet lived in already frowned upon luxury items, the sister Spirit says, My Crown not Diamonds, Pearls, and gold, / But such as Angels heads infold. Here, she means that she doesnt have a materialist personality. The poet, Bradstreet, reflects her colonys world-view for the economic matters in those lines. When we try to analyze this poem using the Feminist Criticism, we simply need to ask some questions regarding to poets sex, education, and then look at the characters. The poet was a woman. And when we read her biography, we see that she didnt attend any school but was educated by his father. This informs us that she lived in a male-dominant society because girls didnt attend school even if her father was a steward. The characters in the poem are also girls and they discuss religious matters. Here, the author breaks the male-dominant society and makes her female characters question the religious matters, especially the Puritanism. When the subject is religion, one shouldnt even question the most unimportant thing. But the sister Flesh questions it and all she says is totally against the Puritanism seen in the poets colony. Since the poet herself is a woman, we can assume that a woman discusses a religious practice in a male-dominant society. Analyzing a poem with New Criticism requires a person not to take background information of the poet, poets other works or the story in the poem into consideration. When we read what Spirit says about earthly goods and how she criticizes what Flesh claims that people need to enjoy them, we can understand that this poem reflects the Puritan beliefs. Words used in the poem belong to the English spoken at least 350 years ago. Metaphors were also used in the poem. The character Flesh is a metaphor for earthly items, such as diamonds, pearls, and gold. The poem is not also in a stanza form. It looks like a wall of text. This means that the poet didnt want to separate what is wanted to mean. It means that the poem is all about the same thing. Rhymes used in the poem also makes it sound better and that way it attracts readers attention. When I try to analyze this poem as a reader with the Reader-response Criticism, I can directly say that this poem is about Puritanism; therefore, religion. Since Spirit seems to be more dominant in the poem, the poets environment is a Puritan society. Id say this poem is not different than other religious poems because they all aim one goal: Heaven. It is the way they discuss what to do in order to go to Heaven. Flesh seems to be a sinner character whom readers should avoid. I dont know whether its okay to blame a character to praise a religion or religious practice, but this kind of behavior would make me more uninterested in that religion or practice. As the verses say, No Candle there, nor yet Torch light, / For there shall be no darksome night. they just sound to be impressive sentences that attract people to that religion no different than that of all religions have. To analyze this poem with the Psychoanalytic Criticism, we need to analyze the characters thoughts, their fears, and what they do to suppress their fears.   When we look at what Spirit says in the poem, we can understand that her core issue is fear of God; thus, she adopted the Puritan beliefs in order to go to Heaven. On the other hand, Flesh is just opposite of Spirit. She displays everything that is against fear of God. This can also be interpreted to be an avoidance as her defense mechanism, since she tries to avoid any religious thoughts and want to enjoy all earthly pleasures. To sum up, this essay tried to analyze the poem titled The Flesh and the Spirit by Anne Bradstreet with 5 literary criticisms. With the Marxist Criticism, we looked at the eras economic conditions and tried to reflect Bradstreets colonys world-view for the economic matters in her poems verses. Using the Feminist Criticism, we tried to explain how Bradstreet broke the man-dominated society and used her female characters to discuss religious matters. With New Criticism, we tried to show figures of speech and what the poems form means. Reader-response Criticism was used to explain what the author of this paper understood from the poem. And finally, with the Psychoanalytic Criticism, we tried to identify characters core issues and their defense mechanisms.

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels The 1998 film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels was directed and written by Guy Ritchie who would eventually create the reboot of the solid blockbuster series, Sherlock Holmes. His earlier movie is about four criminal friends who are roped into three dramatic events in their life that are going on at the same time. This film is very unique because of the simultaneous structure of the plot tied together with parallel editing. It has so many things to enjoy about it: the atmospheric East London locations, the lush visuals, and the distinctive camera angles employed by Ritchie. Everything in this film catches the eye. Ritchie’s movie is a thrill to watch because he keeps you constantly on edge. The theme of the film is about karma and the way fate plays its fickle finger on the characters’ lives. If the characters in the film have a certain set of moral standards, then their future fates are left to decide whether or not they live or die. If a person is of an â€Å"honorable† background (at least within the code of thieves) or has moral beliefs in loyalty to his friends, in the end they will triumph over the darker elements of the criminal underworld. As you watch the film, you start to understand that some of the characters in this film aren’t exactly great people but they are decent enough to do the right thing for themselves and for their friends in the end. The film starts off with four close friends: Eddy (Nick Moran), Tom (Jason Flemyng), Bacon (Jason Stathom), and Soap (Dexter Fletcher). They are getting 100,000 euro notes so that Eddy can get into one of the many sleazy card games put on by porn mogul Harry â€Å"the Hatchet† Lonsdale (played by P. H. Moriarty.) Harry botches the game so that Eddy losses the 100,000 that he handed them to enter. Now he has to pay an additional amount of 400,000 euros. Harry tells Eddy that he wants the money to be given to him at the end of a full week or else he’ll have to deal with his East End enforcers. This is the inciting action that triggers the entire plot. How are these friends going to raise that huge amount of money? This inspires a great mix of dark comedy and violence for the rest of the film. After several days with no luck acquiring the funds, Eddy comes home and overhears his neighbors, a gang of crooks led by a man named Dog played by Frank Harper. The gang is planning a robbery on some pot growers who may be loaded not only with drugs but the needed money to solve the debt problem. Eddy sends this information to his long-time pals. He is intending for them to rob the shady neighbors as they come back from the theft of the marijuana dealers. The gang of four installs taping equipment to monitor the neighbors. Tom obtains a pair of antique shotguns from a black market dealer, known as Nick the Greek (Steven Marcus) who also strikes a deal with Rory Breaker (Vas Blackwood), a sociopathic gangster, to buy the stolen drugs. Nick had purchased the guns from a pair of foolish small time criminals, Gary and Dean, who in turn had stolen them from a bankrupt British lord as part of a job for Harry â€Å"the Hatchet.† None of the characters realize that, of the entire stolen firearms collection, Harry’s only desire was those two extremely valuable antique shotguns now in the hands of Tom. After learning the guns had been sold, an enraged Barry â€Å"the Baptist,† Harry’s personal bodyguard, threatens the two idiots into getting them back. The plot thickens, pointing towards future mayhem. As a sad trivia aside, the film was dedicated to Lenny McLean who performed Barry â€Å"the Baptist.† Mr. McLean had died of cancer only one month before the film’s premie re. The neighbors robbery gets underway according to schedule. Despite the death of a gang member stupidly by his own gun and a shaky chance encounter with a traffic cop, the job against the pot dealers is a success. Thinking they’re finally safe when the crooks arrive back at their London apartment, that neighbor gang is ambushed by our four friends. They take the neighbor’s looted money and return later that night to stash the goods next door. It is now time for a crazy night of celebratory drinking. Socio Rory discovers that the drugs he was going to buy were actually stolen from him. The marijuana growers were in his employees. Rory interrogates/tortures Nick into telling where the four friends live. Meanwhile, furious about their loss, Dog throws one of his men through the wall of their apartment. They discover the taping equipment on the other side and eventually all the stolen money and drugs. As Dog counts the money, the crooked neighbors prepare an ambush. Meanwhile Gary and Dean, trying to recover the antique shotguns, call on a traumatized Nick, who directs them to the same apartment address. Big Chris, Harrys debt collector, leaves with his son to the same destination as the four friends drive home from their bar crawl. Fate has played all the cards on the fortunes of all the characters. This will be the climax of the plot. Rory and his gang assault the apartment and have a shootout with the neighbors, resulting in the deaths of all but Dog and Winston, Rory’s chemist. Winston makes off with the marijuana. Dog is robbed by Big Chris of the shotguns and money during his escape. Gary and Dean spot Big Chris with the guns and hastily follow him, while the four friends return to find their loot missing. Big Chris gives the guns and cash to Harry, but on his return to the car he finds Dog threatening to kill his son if he doesnt retrieve the money. Desperate to get the guns, Gary and Dean attack Harry and Barry at their office, not knowing what Harry looks like and not noticing Barry until after he retaliates. Within seconds all four men are dead. The four friends are arrested, but confirmed to be innocent after the traffic cop identified Dogs dead gang as the primary suspects. When they retreat back to the bar, they discover Tom is out on a mission to throw the priceless shotguns off a bridge into the River Thames. In looking at a catalog of antiques, the friends learn the guns are worth thousands of dollars. As they try to call, Tom puts the phone in his mouth and the film ends with him trying to throw the shotguns off the bridge that he failed throwing the first time. Now, with the guns are on a ledge and the phone is in Tom’s mouth, the film concludes with Tom not knowing what to do next. The movie fades to black in a hilarious cliffhanger making for a perfect ending The emotional tone of the film is that of fear, remorsefulness, and giddy happiness. Another emotional quality felt is ironic surprise. The irony that the characters have to face in nearly every scene is hilarious. The film has a delightfully quirky dark comedic quality. It always puts these characters that you sometimes feel sorry and sympathize, in uneasy situations that they have to pry their way out some manner. Similar and comparable films that share this unique gallows humor include Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs. The structure of the film is fairly straightforward following a chronological development of the plot. There was one scene where Ritchie uses flash-forward in his story telling. The sequence involves a car crash. Then the next scene was about the same car crash only it details how it happened and who it happened too. It is a clever use of time manipulation. The musical soundtrack is mostly previously released music that wasn’t originally orchestrated for the film. The score contains a wide variety of music from rock to reggae with songs including â€Å"The Boss† and â€Å"The Payback† by James Brown, â€Å"Spooky† by Dusty Springfield, â€Å"Liar, Liar† by The Castaways, â€Å"I Wanna Be Your Dog† by The Stooges, and â€Å"Walk This Land (Remix)† by Ez Rollers. The use of these musical hits from the 1960s and 1970s is diverse and brilliant. The cinematography by director of photography, Tim Maurice-Jones, is excellent. The most memorable parts include the POV (point of view) camera sequence on Eddie when he is in disarray having just lost all of the money. When Harry dramatically dies, the production team slows things down. You can see the brutal action unfold while time is now going at a much slower intense pace using Slo Mo, a signature Ritchie technique later used in his successful Sherlock Holmes series. Also there is a sequence where a chunk of one of the robber’s hair is completely blown off. The way Maurice-Jones and Ritchie used smoke and lighting in that â€Å"hair-raising† moment was pretty charming. It was reminiscent of those old slap stick cartoons where something ungodly happens to a character. You think the cartoon character is badly damaged but they just have a slight burn or minor scratch. This film has to be one of the best films I’ve seen recently. It is an exciting take on the crime world and how most criminals get the barrel in the end. The film is stunningly balanced between being humorous and serious at the same time. Its use as a â€Å"hyperlink cinema† piece is one for the books. Ritchie does an excellent job in connecting all the different stories, playing with time, and interweaving surprising plot twists. He makes you feel joy when you like a certain character from a different part of the story. Then you see them interact with a dangerous character, you had no idea would ever see him or her again. He creates a feeling of immense tension. The film is a tightly constructed masterpiece. Ritchie’s movie just does not stop for a second. It is full of refreshingly dark humor and filmed with real style and flair. Like a great book, I didn’t want it to end. That is how much I enjoyed this film. You feel such a connection with the story and with the characters. In the paltry 107 minutes this movie is played, you want to watch these characters lives played out even more. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels has a certain message or moral: to never be too greedy and always try to stick to an ethical path otherwise you might get the heat of life in the end. There are not moral choices being made in this movie. But nevertheless, there are moral people in this story. Even though they do bad things and sometimes pay dearly for it, their hearts are in the right place. Sometimes. Let’s just pray they won’t get into any trouble next time.

The First Time Essay -- essays research papers

The First Time Slush, Slush, Slush, "Ahhhhhhhhhh!" "Well, there goes another graceful one," I looked admirably down the slope, "How do they do that?" "With lots of practice?!" Veronica replied sarcastically. "No kidding!" I gave her a look. Then with a unsure voice I said, "I'm going to try it myself, wish me luck." "Break a leg?!" "Ha, Ha, very funny." Slowly, I crabbed walked up the slope. Shaking all over, I was afraid to look down. Yet, I still had the courage to stagger myself to the top. Feeling a little dizzy by the high altitude, I took a deep breath of the cold frost bitten air. Then without a second thought, I lowered my knees and gave it a quick push. "Ahhhhhhhh!" Oh my God, what have I put myself through. Is this what I really came here for? Why do I feel like I'm flying, like a 747, heavy but still floating in the air. Have I died and left my body? No, No, I'm to young to die. Give me another chance to live. Please, let me go. Suddenly, I felt myself swaggering. The air pressure pushing harder below me. No, No, I take it back, don't let me go. Thoughts that were racing through my mind were blown away by a sudden "Thud!" like all those times I've dived off a diving board with my belly down. "Where am I?" I whispered to myself, " Why is it so cold?" "Hey Jo! Get up!" "Uh?" "Hurry, before someone accidentally skis over y...

Use of DNA in Criminal Investigations Essay examples -- DNA Forensics

Before the 1980s, courts relied on testimony and eyewitness accounts as a main source of evidence. Notoriously unreliable, these techniques have since faded away to the stunning reliability of DNA forensics. In 1984, British geneticist Alec Jeffreys of the University of Leicester discovered an interesting new marker in the human genome. Most DNA information is the same in every human, but the junk code between genes is unique to every person. Junk DNA used for investigative purposes can be found in blood, saliva, perspiration, sexual fluid, skin tissue, bone marrow, dental pulp, and hair follicles (Butler, 2011). By analyzing this junk code, Jeffreys found certain sequences of 10 to 100 base pairs repeated multiple times. These tandem repeats are also the same for all people, but the number of repetitions is highly variable. Before this discovery, a drop of blood at a crime scene could only reveal a person’s blood type, plus a few proteins unique to certain people. Now DNA for ensics can expose a person’s gender, race, susceptibility to diseases, and even propensity for high aggression or drug abuse (Butler, 2011). More importantly, the certainty of DNA evidence is extremely powerful in court. Astounded at this technology’s almost perfect accuracy, the FBI changed the name of its Serology Unit to the DNA Analysis Unit in 1988 when they began accepting requests for DNA comparisons (Using DNA to Solve Crimes, 2014). There are thirteen standard tandem repeats used in modern forensics, and together these sequences create a DNA profile. Except in the case of identical twins, the probability that two people have the same genetic code at all thirteen core loci is less than one in one trillion (Jones, 2004). Investigators compare these... ...d Beyond." Forensic Magazine. Web. 29 May 2015. http://www.forensicmag.com/article/dna-forensics-rflp-pcr-str-and-beyond (Fall 2004). "Using DNA to Solve Crimes." U.S. Department of Justice: National Institute of Justice. (September 9, 2014). Web. 29 May 2015. http://www.justice.gov/ag/advancing-justice-through-dna-technology-using-dna-solve-crimes Sachs, Jessica Snyder. DNA AND A NEW KIND OF RACIAL PROFILING. 2004 http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2004-06/dna-and-new-kind-racial-profiling H.M. Wallace, A.R. Jacksona, J. Gruberb, A.D. Thibedeaub. Forensic DNA databases–Ethical and legal standards, ScienceDirec, 2014. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2090536X14000239 Westphal, Sylvia Pagà ¡n. DNA profiles link dope to its source. Daily News, 2003 https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn3919-dna-profiles-link-dope-to-its-source/

My Writing is My Voice :: Teaching Writing Education Essays

My Writing is My Voice For the longest time, I really did not know who I was. Not that I was confused about who I saw in the mirror, but I had know idea why I thought the way I did about things. Science had always interested me. Animals have such a unique character created out of the need for survival. They are not influenced by outside pressures to conform. I made the decision to study them for the rest of my life. But I really did not know what separated me, as a human, from my cat. The school systems and church tried to give me explanations. They encompassed the fact that I think logically, have problem solving skills, emotions, and make decisions based on these emotions. Animals did not have these abilities and this separated them form us. But the education started to contradict itself. After being exposed to a vast majority of animals, I saw abilities that humans cannot posses. Some can fly, breath underwater, and exist in climates where humans cannot without artificial devices. Humans cannot survive winters without clothes or travel the oceans without boats. The system was lying to me. Animals could adapt and think quite well. We were not better, just different. This made me lose faith in the system and I began to take up independent thought. Because I thought I should be a truly independent thinker, I believed that everything I knew was a product of my own discovery. Within my own mind, everything was the way it was because I thought it. The rest of the information in my head was only a bunch of stuff set up by society for me to learn. When I left my small town of Big Lake after graduation, I was in search of a higher education. Where? A university of course! I rushed into the world of undergraduates with hopes and dreams of someday being able to explain a reason for everything. But I did not want to do it in the same fashion the system was requiring it. They made the rules and I was supposed to follow them. I did not like what they had to say. I questioned most everything. There were disciplines though that I did not question. Physics, biology, and chemistry existed long before humans. I have already seen them in nature. Nature itself was proof enough to believe in their validity.

A disaster recovery plan (DRP) and a business continuity plan (BCP) Essay

1. What is the difference between a risk analysis (RA) and a business impact analysis (BIA)? Risk analysis is often identifying the potential threats and the associated vulnerabilities to the organizations. Risk analysis doesn’t view the organization from the mission critical Business Process point of view. More over BIA perceives the organization from the impact that is going to occur for an organization if the critical business processes are interrupted or tampered. 2. What is the difference between a disaster recovery plan (DRP) and a business continuity plan (BCP)? Disaster recovery planning is an essential part of business planning that – too often – gets neglected. Part of this has to do with the fact that making a Disaster Recovery plan requires a lot of time and attention from busy managers and executives from every functional department within the company. Business continuity is a newer term which was first popularized as a response to the Y2K bug. In order to stop your company from bleeding money in these situations, you need a plan that will allow the organization to continue generating revenue and providing services – although possibly with lower quality – on a temporary basis until the company has regained its bearings. 3. Typically, a business continuity plan is also a compilation or collection of other plans. What other plans might a BCP and all supporting documents include? Technical backup Plan, Communications Plan 4. Why is it important to have detailed backup and recovery steps within your disaster recovery plan (DRP)? When the plans work together no data is lost in the transition in the process. 5. What is the purpose of a risk analysis? What is the purpose of a business impact analysis? Why are these an important first step in defining a BCP and DRP? The purpose of risk analysis is to allow organizations to decide which risks require more attention than other do. The purpose of business impact analysis is to identify those business functions that are crucial to the organization and classify them as critical or noncritical. BIA section for each critical function receives additional information, including a description of recovery goals and requirements for each function. These are important first step because they are the building blocks for the organization. 6. How does risk analysis (RA) relate to a business impact analysis for an organization? Each element in an organization has a limited budget, the risk analysis help managers and CEOs decide how much they are willing to risk and using the business impact analysis which and how much will be spent on certain elements. 7. Given the list of identified mission critical business functions and processes, what kind of company would you say this organization is, and what do you think are its most important business processes and functions? I would think this company is an automotive company. I think it’s most important business process and functions are quality control mechanisms, research and development activities, and Manufacturing and production line. 8. Given the prioritization list provided for the organization’s identified business functions and processes, write an assessment of how this prioritization will impact the need for IT systems, applications, and data access. 9. For the top five identified business functions and processes, what recovery time objective (RTO) would you recommend for this organization and why? Priority 1 would need RTO of 5 minutes, without the server you have no website or e-commerce for payroll. Priority 2 RTO of 15 minutes because the domains can be down for a little while which will hamper communications but they would still be able to be productive. Priority 3 RTO is 5 minutes because it shouldn’t take long to get the phone lines back on line. Priority 4 RTO is 5 minutes because if the organization can’t help their customers then nobody would buy their product. Priority 5 RTO is 5 minutes because you need to send email and communication with other to make the organization’s product. 10. Why is payroll for employees and human resources also listed as a No. 1 business priority? If your employees don’t get paid then they won’t work and then the business loses money and also the company can violate laws and agreements.

In The Heart of Darkness Essay

In The Heart of Darkness, Marlow learns firsthand the consequences, cruelty, commerce, and corruption of color consciousness in European colonialism. The mercantilism and capitalism which were gaining currency in Europe officially spread throughout the world by the colonialism. This focus on wealth acquisition drives the Europeans to loot African territories of the precious ivory, ignites the vicious cycle of violence and cruelty, dehumanizes the Natives of Africa, and takes modern racism to a whole new level under the pretext of civilizing and pacifying the African peoples. Marlow, who is the protagonist in this book along with Kurtz, bears testimony of his voyage to Africa that: â€Å"I have seen the devil of violence, and the devil of greed, and the devil of hot desire† (Conrad 34). These explanation sums up what Marlow encounters in Africa and gives a hint as to crimes of colonialism which existed in the name of trade and conquest. The Heart of Darkness explores the darkest motivations of colonialism and highlights its pillaging agenda by commercialization of a culture, the denuding and exploitation of great wealth. In the Scramble for Africa, European countries unanimously agreed on sacking and claiming portions of it. The agreement legitimized the groups of pirates posed as traders to exchange with and enslave the native peoples in a second round of Neo-Slavery. The significance of the title, Heart of Darkness, flows in tandem with the love of money which is the root of all evil. This imperialist greed is what exposes â€Å"the criminality of inefficiency and pure selfishness when tackling the civilizing work of Africa† (Hawkins 286). The heart is wholly given over to the selfish pursuit of wealth and encumbers the masses by enslavement and deception. Kurtz is the embodiment of European colonialism â€Å"for mostly his expeditions had been for ivory† (Conrad 92). The price of ivory is invaluable. As testament to the presence of the extraction of Ivory in colonial times, we have the Ivory Coast. The natives would hunt the elephant for the ivory and then would trade it for shells, strings, rum etc with the European ‘explorers.’ Just as Kurtz’ life revolves around the hunt and gain for ivory (wealth), the central purpose of the Scramble for Africa which instigated the European colonialism is commerce, which was only exploitation of an ignorant people. Kurtz is introduced to Marlow as a man â€Å"grubbing for ivory† (Conrad 72). Marlow/Conrad uses a skilful literary technique in dehumanizing the Europeans for only animals grub for food. Ivory becomes not only the food which feeds their insatiable desires for self-aggrandizement, but also holds an enshrined position as a god, to whom their veneration ascends. As a newcomer on the expedition, Marlow heard â€Å"the word ivory rang in the air, was whispered and sighed. You would think they were praying to it. A taint of imbecile rapacity blew through it all† (Conrad 44). These men sell their souls for a natural resource in the name of commercialization and prosperity. Under the aegis of a company, plans were made to undermine the rights of the people and to acquire more territory. Marlow frequently alludes to â€Å"the Company† for whom he works. It is the East Indian Company which established trading posts and for whom Marlow, Kurtz, and several other British men render service. Conrad states that â€Å"the Company had the right to every bit of information about its territories† (Conrad175). Here is a bold statement which demonstrates the company authorizing decrees, setting up surveillance, annexing territory, and claiming rights to ownership and governance. The embryonic signs are already being made manifest that Neo-colonialism is going to rear its head to prominence. As if to emphasize the financial nature of their purpose and intercourse with the people, Conrad underlines that the team of the Company were like those of El Dorado, â€Å"hunters for gold or pursuers of fame† (Conrad 17). Conrad makes a pertinent connection with the conquistadores and Spanish explorers of the ‘New World’ who searched and hunted for gold due to the mythological tale of hidden treasures in the jungles. The motives and the techniques have not changed. The goal of the men to Africa is specifically to conduct trade although there is full-blown cartography going on along the book similar to the early Spanish explorers. Describing the manager of one of the Company’s stations, Marlow describes him as one whose â€Å"eyes glittered like mica discs† (Conrad 45). This comparison of his eyes to mica tells of his mercenary vision and objective. Mica is a silvery precious stone which gleams like diamond-like crystals which a hexagonal shape. It was considered a jewel since it was rarefied in Europe thus highly costly. The cruelty of European colonialism is plain to the sight in Heart of Darkness, and is a by-product of a darkened heart. The presence of rifles, guns, and bayonets of the Europeans versus the spears, bows, arrows, and clubs of the Native makes this novel very bloody, dehumanizing, violent, and brutal. The paragon of cruelty is of course, Kurtz who embodies the Machiavellian ethic of colonizers who do whatever is necessary to achieve their own ends. As Marlow enters Kurtz’ dwelling, Marlow is greeted by the heads which stand on stakes and adorn his home like medals (Conrad 94). What barbarous man would have dead cadavers of beheaded victims constantly surrounding him! The reeking of death in Heart of Darkness is â€Å"the scent of the lies’ taint as it emanates from the symbolic corpses and metaphoric decay that litters the course of the story† (Steward 319). Moral decay and decadence are what corrupts Kurtz and which becomes materialized in the cadavers around which he surrounds himself. Whatever the colonizers could not obtain by deception, they take by force. Cruelty comes naturally to Kurtz to the point that it overtakes him. Even Kurtz threatens to kill Marlow on one occasion in demand for some of the latter’s ivory. Often intertribal war would erupt because of hunting conflict and robberies-it was a bloody, cruel affair. Marlow depicts the hunting as â€Å"just robbery with violence, aggravated murder on a great scale† (Conrad 69). In one instance Marlow witness to the merciless beating of an African by one of the European traders as punishment (Conrad 23). Cruelty is a tactic employed to subject and to intimidate people. A startling case of this is the beating of the African which Marlow records earlier in the book. The castigation occurs in front of several of his own people who stand around doing nothing to help the beaten victim. Marlow sees the strong Africans around him and knows that they can overpower the white men, however, the mind is already enslaved and terrorized therefore the Europeans have free rein over Africa. Whipping is a punitive method which recalls the times of slavery where slaves had to be lashed as incentive to toil harder or as an example of warning to others. Sometimes cruelty is the means and sometimes it is the end. Violence breeds violence. As the Europeans continue to assume rights and invade territory, the people of Africa rise up in rebellion. A few men of their team are killed by the African artillery. Marlow attests to the ammunition where he observes â€Å"a heavy rifle, and a light revolver carbine – the thunderbolts of that pitiable Jupiter† (Conrad 98). Moreover, Africans negotiated the ivory trade provided that they could acquire the high caliber weapons of the Europeans so that in their local wars, they could have a greater advantage. The proliferation of arms serves the Europeans’ purpose to divide and rule so that cruelty against the Africans advances the ruin of the Africans when they kill one another. The consequences of colonialism are too many to be enumerated; however the primary ones are dehumanization, exploitation, poverty, and the death of a culture. The European colonizers place a negative construction on Africans which Marlow himself has done. Although he only narrates the story based on his Eurocentric perspective, it is still colored with bias, prejudice, dehumanization, and condescension toward the Africans. Viewing a people as inferior justifies their slaughtering and the plundering of their goods. Marlow says that he sees â€Å"twenty cannibals splashing around and pushing† (Conrad 61) in a river. This epithet ‘cannibal’ represents the less than flattering aspect of the African upon which the European fixates thus debasing them and their culture as subhuman. Cannibalism existed in some areas of Africa; however, for all the time that Marlow remains in Africa he is not eaten. Calling Africans cannibals was a normal act however which was in vogue among the Europeans. The Africans are never considered human in the novel. They are named â€Å"black figures† (Conrad 48), â€Å"savages† (Conrad 98), barbarian â€Å"naked human beings† (Conrad 97), â€Å"nigger† (Conrad 23), â€Å"shadows† (Conrad 100). Matched up against animals, Marlow compares their sounds to â€Å"a violent babble of uncouth sounds† (Conrad 38). No African speaks intelligibly in the novel seeing that their foreign tongue has a cacophonous, guttural, and animalistic note. As a result the power of discourse solely belongs the white man. â€Å"Edward Said suggests that colonial power and discourse is possessed entirely by the colonizer† (JanMohamed 59). The dehumanization of the African serves to yoke them with The White Man’s Burden masterfully expounded by Rudyard Kipling. â€Å"Marlow feels that colonialism can be redeemed by embracing an idea unselfishly. That idea can be compared to Rudyard Kipling’s The White Man’s Burden† (Farn 16). Broaching more in depth the theme of European colonialism, Marlow comments that â€Å"all Europe contributed to the making of Kurtz†¦the International Society for the Suppression of the Savage† (Conrad 83). Here he admits Kurtz’ collusion with Britain and other members of Europe in oppressing African peoples. The beating of the Africans like little children or animals also contributes to the debasement of this people from whose lands they were benefitting. A savage is semi-human if he is at all, and since to the colonizers he has nothing to say, nor are they interested in deciphering his tongue, they take greater liberty at enchaining him in a web of incomprehensible deceit. Dehumanization is crucial in the process of colonialism for enslavement of the mind comes first and then the enslavement of the body and person. The colonized individual’s will must be broken, set at nought value and then the colonial is at liberty to dominate, exploit and commodify the human being. â€Å"The colonial legacy in Africanist ethnography can never be negated, but must be acknowledged under the sign of its erasure† (Apter 577). Commodification converts the ‘sacred into the profane’ (Marx 1848). The English explorers were the colonists of their day and once they constructed the Africans as inferior, or below their culture, dehumanization becomes easy and an almost natural step. The bitterest servitude was imposed and cruel aggressions executed and perpetrated against the Africans. Brutality, demonization and savagery are justified for the indigenous peoples are not fully human; consequently the Indians are wholly in their power through gratuitous cruelty and carnage. European colonizers profited from servility and subjugation. Through force, coercion and duress the European colonizers manipulate for ivory or exact ivory, while treating the natives like excrement. The role of color in European colonialism is easy to fathom in The Heart of Darkness. The depth of the color of darkness has several connotations which Marlow picks up along the way. First of all, the association of black has both positive and negative meanings. Blackness exemplifies richness, depth, and unity; on the other hand, black also is equated with evil, corruption, colonialism, and the devil. By the book’s name, one can see that there is a colored system which Marlow has to see for himself to believe. Views about the human nature and the human heart are also studied as one sees its enormous capacity to perform beastly, monstrous acts and these are the traits which color and taint his heart. Heart of Darkness conveys the â€Å"timeless myth about the exploration of the human soul and the metaphysical power of evil† (Raskin 113).Colonialism is all about color and thrives on, the color line, the division of the races. The European whites are distinguished about the African blacks; the color on the maps is a legendary key indicating the colonized areas of Africa. Marlow realizes that Kurtz’ heart is black as hell toward the end of the novel. The ignorance and primitiveness of the Africans are contrasted with men who lived in the light of civilization. Hence, the reader gains a broad and deep insight in understanding the color codes as Marlow himself comes to grasp, as he represents the vicarious witness through whose eyes, the reader observes the process of colonization in Africa. In sum, Conrad effectively critiques colonialism and places before the reader the darkened heart: the commerce, cruelty, corruption, and color consciousness in European colonialism in Heart of Darkness. These elements plunge both the colonist and the colonizer in an abyss of ruin where both become dehumanized, financially or morally bankrupt, and violent. The period of Neo-colonialism in Africa accomplishes great havoc in the name of progress, commercialization, and prosperity.