Europe and Its Foreign Policy Essay Example

Europe and Its Foreign Policy Essay Mariaclara Ingrid Ludovici EU relations with the world Nowadays, the EU has adopted a foreign policy that has been modified and improved over time thanks to a series of treaties. It has been introduced to maintain EU values, interests, independence, and integrity of the Union. EU foreign and security policy has the aim of strengthening the Union’s security by keeping peace and promoting cooperation, democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human rights. It is connected with four main aspects: trade, foreign direct investment, development, and monetary policy. Other fundamental factors related to it are the increasing process of enlargement and cooperation, and international relations. Those elements have been introduced to built relations not only with countries close to the EU, but also with those far away. A great tool of European? Foreign Policy is also its system of justice and home affairs established to bring peace, and create economic interdependence among European countries. Between the main goals of the European Union, one of those could be to extend frameworks between all the partner states regardless of their diversity. Moreover, the EU has the purpose of improving relationships with other countries, such as Turkey, Russia and China with whom it has an ambivalent rapport. Therefore, this paper is going to explain and discuss the basics, tendencies, approaches and possible future roles of EU foreign policy. EU foreign and security policy has been created together with its growing economic and political policy. The first forms of regular meetings aimed at coordinating the European foreign policy arose during the 1970s between EU ministers of foreign affairs. We will write a custom essay sample on Europe and Its Foreign Policy specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Europe and Its Foreign Policy specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Europe and Its Foreign Policy specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Later, due to an increasing threat of international terrorism and regional conflicts in Europe during the 1990s, EU leaders decided to create a formal method for diplomacy and intervention. As a result, in 1993 they established the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). It has been designed to allow Member States to coordinate and assert the EU’s identity, and to preserve values, interests, independence, international security and integrity of the Union. Furthermore, it has been created to consolidate international cooperation, develop the rule of law and democracy, and to promote respect for human rights. All of the EU’s major institutions are essential for EU foreign policy, and CFSP decision-making procedures are intergovernmental. The European Council is in charge for foreign policy, defining policy principles, activities, strategies, and general guidelines (A Guide for Americans, 26-27). In addition, in 1999, European leaders decided to establish a EU Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) considered as a part of the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy. It occurred because there was the need to improve and strengthen security and operations related to it, such as peacekeeping, monitoring, and conflict prevention. Under the ESDP structure, EU member states has been able to organize and send civilian and/or military operations in many countries, for example in Southeast Europe, the Middle East, Africa, South Asia, Georgia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (A Guide for Americans, 26-27). In order to reach a great success and expansion of the ESDP, in 2009, substantial innovations thanks to the Treaty of Lisbon were introduced: the ESDP became the Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP). The Treaty of Lisbon was organized to introduce the concept of solidarity and mutual assistance between all EU Member States if another Member State was attacked. In addition, other two measures were introduced within the Lisbon Treaty: â€Å"enhanced cooperation,† and â€Å"permanent structured cooperation† (A Guide for Americans, 26). The first one was addressed to deepen military cooperation of at least nine member states. The second one, controlled by the European Defense Agency, was aimed at providing a strong defense system, which every country could carry out. Eventually, the treaty updated targets of CSDP: humanitarian works, peacekeeping, stabilization, crisis management, assistance in other countries, disarmament operations, and antiterrorist actions (A Guide for Americans, 26). Another important tool of EU foreign policy is its external economic policies where its trade power is seen as a method for negotiations, promising benefits, assistance, and so on. It is a way to present conditions to other countries if they are willing to access the EU market (Hay and Menon, 403). In fact, European foreign policy has really strong forces that are connected with its global economic policies. It presents four main aspects: trade, foreign direct investment, development, and monetary policy. External economic relations are built especially for trade with other countries. Except for the agriculture regime that is pretty protectionist, the EU’s trade is moved by liberal system. Also the monetary policy became really important since the advent of euro. Nowadays, this currency encompasses 12 out of 27 EU’s member states (Hay and Menon, 391-395). The EU’s approach is also bound to the promotion of its values and models abroad. However, EU foreign policy is made stronger and more effective when there is unity among its member states (Bindi). Finally, another central role in EU foreign policy is played by the strategic partnership between the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in order to keep regional stability and peace. In particular, this cooperation has been planned for crisis management, anti-terrorism, nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and so on. An example showing the relationship between these two institutions can be descripted by the EU’s assumption on March 31, 2003, of NATO’s mission, called Operation Concordia, in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. There, EU Member States and other nations sent around 400 troops. That was the first time in which the EU led a military mission (A Guide for Americans, 26). However, in order to better understand and explain how Europe approaches foreign policies, it is appropriate to consider some diplomats’ thoughts exanimating international relations in the twenty-first century, such as Cooper with his liberal vision. He thinks that there are three types of states in the world, and the way in which they are classified depends on how they deal with each other. In the world there are countries without fully functioning states that are called â€Å"pre-modern,† nation states dealing with territorial sovereignty and national interest, known as â€Å"modern† states, and then countries whose foreign and domestic policy are deeply connected, governance means are shared, and the control of territory and of power is not the only method to keep security. This last kind of state is called â€Å"post-modern. Through this distinction, Cooper also confronts the United States and Europe’s different approaches. The U. S. is more hegemonic, and seeking for control, also military if necessary. Europe, instead, has a more defensive attitude, and more compatible with human rights and cosmopolitan values. These characteristics make America a â€Å"modern† entity, while Europe a â€Å"post -modern. † It is still not really clear the situation of the U. S. It sometimes acts as a â€Å"post-modern† entity as well, even though it owns really strong military forces, and it is not cared to use them (Cooper). In fact, Cooper says, â€Å"Americas aim, like everyone else, is to preserve its national security. Sometimes commentators refer, slightly incredulously, to Americas wish to be invulnerable† (Cooper, 45). However, post-modernism influences the nature of European foreign policy: its political and economic environment of interdependence and cooperation make Europe a post-modernist world. Its foreign policy is based on compromises and negotiations controlled by a multinational hegemony. Europe is ruled by international and regional law (Cooper). In contrast to the modern state system based on national political sovereignty, there is no longer the distinction between domestic and foreign affairs in post-modern countries. Everything is done for the good of all, not just for domestic interest. In contrast to America, which has adopted a realistic view in acting for its own national interest regardless of moral values, Europe is acting as a liberal force fostering democracy and free-market capitalism. In fact, another interesting point is the fact that Europe has become really strong in its democratization strategy. The EU has been able to promote human rights, democracy and integration in various countries, also in some formerly communist countries. The EU community has never had fear to share its sovereignty with different countries, or to be subjected to international institutions’ activities. On the other hand, even though in the US documents and in its ambitions human rights and democracy are two fundamental points, the US still remains reluctant in front of human rights treaties, such as that in favor of the International Criminal Court. US contemporary international relations are hindering American interests. The US has a realistic attitude, and it is the sole superpower in the world. This condition shows that every restriction of US’ sovereignty can have a negative effect on the country. For example, just the idea of an international court controlling American citizens could not be seen positively for US judicial process because the court could limit the US power (Hay and Menon, 418-419). The EU is â€Å"essentially post-modern and highly moralistic, values-based stance† (Hay and Menon, 419). Although the US could stand the introduction of international human rights system, these values could not be compatible anymore, especially talking about gun control, death penalty, abortion and the part of religion in public life (Hay and Menon, 419). The diversity between the liberal EU and the realist US is clarified by Kagan’s realist ideology also to better explain the EU foreign policy. According to him, Europe has its own method to deal with the others. That method is completely different from those of the other countries, such as the U. S. In fact, he affirms that â€Å"Americans are from Mars and Europeans are from Venus: they agree on little and understand one another less and less. † Europe is moving toward a world of laws, rules, transnational negotiation and cooperation. On the other hand, the United States continue exercising power depending on the possession and use of military forces. According to Kagan, the transatlantic division is deep. The United States and Europe work separately, especially in setting national priorities, determining threats, defining challenges and establishing foreign and defense policies (Kagan). The U. S. , less willing to work cooperatively, is less patient with diplomacy than Europe. The U. S. easily introduces punitive sanctions, and favors policies of coercion and punitive sanctions. Europeans, on the contrary, have more nuance and sophistication. They are more tolerant of failure and prefer peaceful solutions, negotiation, and diplomacy. â€Å"They often emphasize process over result, believing that ultimately process can become substance† (Kagan). However, there is a scholar called Wendt who has another ideology. He thinks that foreign policies depend on the concepts of interest and identity. According to him, governments should treat these elements as dependent variables, because states’ identity and interests are easily affected by anarchy. Wendt critiques realist and liberalist viewpoints by saying that â€Å"they change behavior but not identities and interest† (Wendt, 392). Realism is only concentrated on power of the state. Moreover, they think â€Å"states are the dominant actors in the system, and define security in self-interested terms† (Wendt, 392). Liberalism, in stead, is only the expression of collective good focusing on process, but this is not sufficient. These two ways of thinking are unable to make a state functional. According to Wendt who has a constructivist approach, constructivism is the fundamental way to study how the system affects state identities and interests. If governments know how this system works, they can â€Å"construct,† change, and improve people’s minds. So, America and Europe should adopt this ideology instead of approaching in a realistic or a liberal way in foreign policy. Wendt argues that, if ideas change all times, international institutions can also change state identities and interests. It is a great method to make a state effective and functional, because it is connected with the concept of self-help. The concept is based on interactions between states, and, according to Wendt, it can be improved by norms-based constructivism, the only ideology that can account for changes in the system (Wendt). EU tools are not just those related to the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), but also the EU’s past successful enlargements and relations with the neighborhood. With the passing of time, the EU has obtained more popularity, in particular for its promise of democratic incentives and change in the region (Bindi). In fact, democracy is one of the three primary themes of the EU foreign policy. The other two are rule of law and respect for human rights. Cooperation between states is not systematic, and, if a state wants to join the EU, it should handle a deep and radical change in its government’s foundation. Another tool of European? Foreign Policy can its system of justice and home affairs. The EU was established to bring peace, and create economic interdependence among European countries. For this reason, military cooperation was not really considered given that NATO and the United States were in charge for providing military defense in Western European countries. However, the EU made some changes. With the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP), and then, the Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP), Europe integrated the innovative element of the EU’s military capability. The ESDP/CSDP represents a significant transformation: â€Å"In 1999 the European Council of Cologne decided to provide the EU with the capacity for autonomous military action, backed by military forces, as well as the means to decide to use them in responding to international crises† (Bindi, 73). However, it was with the establishment of the Area of Freedom, Security, and Justice (AFSJ) that there was the first attempt of the EU to pass from a more â€Å"civilian power approach† to a â€Å"multidimensional power,† more capable of managing actual threats. The AFSJ, in fact, is a â€Å"security strategy based on the project of developing regional stability abroad, and the issues covered by the AFSJ are respect for human rights, respect for the rule of law, guarantees of personal freedom, the right of defense, and freedom of movement† (Bindi, 77). Moreover, an interesting key point of EU is the relationship with its neighbor countries. The European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) has been an interesting change for the EU by creating stability across its borders beyond the member states. European foreign policy has been able to extend frameworks between all the partner states regardless of their diversity. However, European Union’s outcomes and dealing skills with its eastern and southern neighbors could be capable of determining the success or failure of the ENP (Bindi). Nevertheless, not all relations have been easy to establish for the EU. For example, the relation between the EU and Russia is made by an alternation of attraction and rejection. The eurozone crisis is having a negative impact in the EU neighborhood, especially in Russia. Furthermore, EU member states adopted different positions on Russia, and this is not bringing unity in the EU’s foreign policy. Because Russia has a great geopolitical importance, EU has the aim of improving its relations with this country. This situation could have important consequences for international relations. (Bindi). In the past few years, other developments occurred in the relations between the EU and other two countries: Ukraine and Belarus. Under the presidency of Viktor Yanukovich, Ukraine is becoming to be less western-oriented. On the other hand, the EU has isolated Belarus with sanctions imposed some year ago. The only way to improve the relation with these countries could be: engaging of Russia and making this country less aggressive. The European Union could â€Å"try to create regional conditions for a win-win situation and to avoid any initiative that insults Moscow’s sensibilities† (Bindi, 145). The Western Balkans is another important region in which the European Commission, the EU Council, and individual member states play a fundamental role. Because in the Lisbon Treaty it has not been established the way in which to deal with these countries, the EU’s policy in Western Balkans is a mixture of enlargement, and common foreign and security policy. However, the future enlargement of the EU will probably concern those countries, but this will occur only by strengthening membership negotiations in the Western Balkans and with Turkey (Bindi). In fact, the membership of Turkey is one of the main goals of the EU with whom Turkey still continues to be ambivalent in negotiating (Bindi). The European Neighborhood Policy (ENP), however, refers to Mediterranean non-member states as well. For example, the EU should be careful to Arab countries due to the rise of China and India. The Arab region could become more dependent on the Mediterranean region in order to import its products. Therefore, the EU should always be tolerant and compromising with this region, such as in protectionism in agriculture or limited mobility. This attitude would be really advantageous for the EU that could attain beneficial relations with its neighbor states (Bindi). Also the relation with the Middle East should not be underestimated, and the European member states should enhance their presence in the region. So far, the EU has not really had positive interactions with the Middle East. The EU was concerned not about Middle East foreign policy, but about instability or illegal immigration (Bindi). Regarding the relations between the EU and the other continents, it can be said that the Lisbon Treaty has been relevant for transatlantic relations. However, the EU’s and the U. S. ’s really complicated institutional structure and arrangements in decision-making have not been resolved with this Treaty. The Lisbon Treaty, in fact, changed the â€Å"domestic politics,† namely those politics referring to cooperation and antiterrorism efforts. So, it did not resolve the fact that transatlantic relations did not develop at the same level with those changes in the EU. Because of from both sides lack the effort to keep and enhance these relations, the two regions could drift apart (Bindi). Nowadays, the relationship between The U. S. and the EU is based on tropes and lead lines. The way in which these two entities handle the issue between Palestine and Israel could be a good example to show their diversity. USA is working with Israel and considers Palestine untreatable. On the other hand, Europe is treating those countries more equally. On the contrary, Canada is relatively more interested in developing trade and cooperation with the EU, although recent trade relations have been deteriorated due to some problems with the EU’s common agricultural policy (CAP). Europe should pay attention to this situation to avoid that Canada shifts its attention toward other parts of the world, like East Asia (Bindi). The EU’s relations with Latin America and the Caribbean increased soon after Spain and Portugal joined the EU, and it is principally a trade relationship. The relationship is very beneficial especially because of the Hispanic banks. In addition, the EU is not only a model for integration, but also one of the biggest donors in this area (Bindi). With regard to the relationship between the EU and Africa, this latter has always played an important role in European foreign relations since the Treaty of Rome. Three major agreements between the EU and Africa have been introduced: the Yaounde Convention, the Lome Convention, and the Cotonou Agreement. The EU is hyperactive in Africa, in particular for European interests, such as for security and migration issues, but also for better aid in the African countries and improvement of trade deals (Bindi). The EU’s relation with East Asia is increasing in trade, investment, development, market access, and other aspects of foreign policy. Nevertheless, the EU is not really seen as a united community. The euro crisis, for example, is undermining the idea of a possible adoption of the EU model in East Asia (Bindi). For example, China’s relationship with the EU became really strong, in particular between 2003 and 2005. However, for a shift in the EU’s strategy toward China, and the euro crisis causing Europe’s industrial decline, Europe started to consider China more as a competitor and a threat for European development and production. Another negative factor for China-EU relations was the election of more assertive politicians in Europe who made some European countries, such as France and Germany, pretty aggressive toward China. In addition, because of the lack of unity in Europe, China is forced to deal with each European country individually, and reaching agreements became more difficult and slower (Zhiqin). Finally, while the United States is strengthening its presence at military bases in South Korea, Japan, and the Philippines, Europe is losing its influence there, because the EU is not integrated in the territory (Zhiqin). The U. S. is always present in East Asia. In fact, Caira writes, â€Å"China has become more aware of the weight of transatlantic relations, of the connections between the China-EU relationship and the EU-U. S. relationship. It has become aware that the relationship is in fact triangular† (Bindi, 268). As a consequence, the future role of Europe in world affair may be related to making stronger relations with other countries, not only with the neighbors, but also with the others more far away. For example, the EU could think to improve the Sino-European relations. The best solution to do this is trying to better understand each other’s ideals, interests, and culture. This could lead to a great approach and cooperation (Zhiqin). Its external economic policies could be a powerful aspect for negotiations, promising benefits, assistance, and so on. It could be a way to set conditions to other countries if they are willing to access the EU market. Moreover, because there is a bipolar currency dividing the world in US dollars and EU euros, there could also be stronger competitiveness and pressure between the two currencies. It is crucial to manage these conditions in order to avoid instability in the international financial system. The monetary policy also affects the process of enlargement, in particular about the costs of enlargement for those countries being willing to, or waiting for being members of the EU (Hay and Menon, 285-289). Democracy promotion is at the center of both U. S. and EU strategies in their foreign policies. Democracy could be a fundamental instrument for achieving their primary foreign policy goals, such as security, economic prosperity and peace (Bindi, 303). So far, for six decades, the European Union obtained Nobel Peace Prize for peace in Europe. The EU has been able to transform Europe from a continent of war to a continent of peace† (Nobel Peace Prize Awarded to European Union). Because of recession, financial problems, and social unrest in many member states, the EU faced the biggest crisis of its history. However, the EU has been capable of maintaining the principle of peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights (Nobel Peace Prize Awarded to European Union). The way, in which all these forces will affect the future outlook for European foreign policy-making, could also depend on the process of enlargement. It could be a possible tool to spread European influence not only close to its boundaries, but also throughout the world. The benefits of becoming a member of the EU would be so appealing and astonishing that even more countries would join the European Union. This situation could be a great inducement for political and economic reforms in states wishing to satisfy the EUs accession criteria. Finally, another important EU force for the future could be its approach with human rights. The EU is patient with diplomacy and willing to work cooperatively instead of favoring policies of coercion and punitive sanctions. For the fact that Europeans have more nuance and sophistication, in the future they would always opt for peaceful solutions, negotiation, and diplomacy. In conclusion, member states have reached great accomplishments over time in EU foreign policy. Anyhow, it can be made stronger and more effective if there is unity among its member states. It promotes humanitarian works, peacekeeping, stabilization, crisis management, assistance in other countries, disarmament operations, and antiterrorist actions. The EU’s approach also consists in promoting its values and models abroad by creating relationships throughout the globe. In he future, in fact, a further process of enlargement and competitiveness between EU member states and the other countries could affect the European Union’s foreign policy. Peaceful solutions, negotiation, and diplomacy will be the key of its power. Works cited: * A Guide For Americans: The European Union. Delegation of the European Commission to the U nited States. Mar. 2011. 26-35. Print. * Nobel Peace Prize Awarded to European Union. BBC News. BBC, 10 Dec. 2012. Web. 20 Oct. 2012. * Bindi, F. M. The foreign policy of the European Union, assessing Europes role in the world. Washington, D. C. : Brookings Inst Pr, 2010. 1-348. Print. * Cooper, Robert. The Breaking of Nations: Order and Chaos in the Twenty-First Century . Grove/Atlantic , 2004. 1-55. Web. * Hay, Colin, and, Menon, Anand. European politics. Oxford University Press, USA, 2007. 274-290 and 386-424. Print. * Kagan, Robert. Power and Weakness. Power and Weakness | Hoover Institution. Hoover Institution, 1 June 2002. Web. 21 Oct. 2012. * Wendt, Alexander. Anarchy Is What States Make of It: The Social Construction of Power Politics. Ic. ucsc. edu. Spring 1992. p. 391-425. Web. * Zhiqin, Shi. Understanding China-EU Relations. Carnegieeurope. eu. Carnegieeurope, 15 Oct. 2012. Web. 21 Oct. 2012.

Isolated By the Internet Essay Example

Isolated By the Internet Essay Example Isolated By the Internet Essay Isolated By the Internet Essay Becoming one of few highly regarded people having great contribution to the establishment of the Internet, Clifford Stool an astronomer and computer expert, became highly skeptical of the internet and its beneficial or perilous effect on its consumer. He clearly states throughout the passage his views on internet use becoming hazardous to its users, making his argument by displaying multiple examples of social disconnection of obsessive internet users. Renowned psychologists Robert Karat and Vicki Landmark performed several extensive experiments on various people, measuring deep psychological effects of ever Internet use. From the collected data, on average they found that relationships do have the potential to cultivate online, but to a certain extent. According to Karat and Landmark. Bonds were easily broken friendships with occasional communication, bonds on the other hand were strong relationships with common daily communication. Most of the connections made online, remained as connections and rarely became connections. They also found out that the more time spent on the Internet, the number of relationships were more likely to increase and in return social relationships were bound o decline. A major reason as to why the internet became so popular was that it provided much people with the ability to create another identity of themselves. It offered an alter-ego, a personality that a certain person could have never achieved in real life. This provided a sense of self-esteem for these people. Although they can become this confident person online, they are still the same person they always were in real life. To become confident or to obtain a new identity, the only way is to have real life social interactions. Most obsessive internet users, are found to lack ajar social interaction skills and are very shy around other people. Online interactions are not in the same category as social Interactions, many online users see the difference and consider the Internet as their reality. Nowadays we still see visibly negative effects of Internet use and the overall effect it has on social life. According to Time Magazine as of September 2007 around 200 million people in the U. S. Have a Namespace. Population-302. 2 million) Of those people more than 70% check it daily and spend at least 2 hours online. From my viewpoint not only is this harmful to users physically UT mentally as well. I personally know many people that are able to stay online for hours, within a short amount of time you clearly see a change In their personality. Online everything seems fine, but the more you hang out with these obsessive computer users, you sense a certain distance and eventually you just rather not hang out with them. Eventually these people start to lose their friends and eventually their entire social life. At this point they find the internet most intriguing, being that it is the only place where they can actually have a social life they take advantage of it. They create these that they accept as a substitute for reality. I malt I myself nave a Namespace, Ana I can see now Intentions tons wedding can become. Fortunately for me my mom has restrictions on the hours I can be on the computer. My cousin on the other hand never leaves her room only for going to school and dinner. She has entirely disconnected herself from society. I believe this all started after her minute weight gain and her break up with her boyfriend. She was really depressed and I remember her telling me she found solitude, and other people that understood her online. She has relied completely on the internet to make her happy. It started as Just something to console her, but it turned out to be something that would damage her even more so. I strongly agree with Judgment stating that the internet does have a negative effect on its users. Once someone has relied so much on something its hard to have your life readjusted without it. All these obsessive computer users are trapped in a fantasy, and the deeper the fantasy that you are in, the farther from reality you become.

Gibbs Reflection Model Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Gibbs Reflection Model - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that reflection is an introspective study not only about ourselves but also about the decisions and actions we pursue. Reflection is crucially important in various areas of study or in the workplace to help us to reflect on our thoughts and actions which would, in turn, facilitate improvement through assessment. Reflection can be defined in many different ways – For example, Boud aptly defines reflection as ‘an important human activity in which people recapture their experience, think about it, mull it over and evaluate’. In the context of learning, reflection is viewed as a term in which people can assess their experiences.In the opinion of Margaret, it is suggested that reflection allows the interconnections between observations, previous experiences, and judgment to come to the fore in clinical decision-making. Reflection serves to bring insightful meaning to our experiences and promotes a deeper understanding and bet ter approach to learning because it encourages trainees to reframe problems, questions their own assumptions, and look at situations from multiple perspectives as they analyze their lived experiences. Reflection fosters lifelong learning because it encourages trainees to recognize gaps in their own knowledge and attend to their own learning needs by searching for possible solutions. From a learning point of view, we understand that reflection enables learners to reflect and develop critical thinking skills which are not only important but essential to clinical decision-making and practice. It also encourages learners to take control of their own learning needs, facilitating their professional development, problem-solving, and lifelong learning. The use of journal writing as a means of promoting reflection and learning in educational settings has been widely advocated

The Crucible by Arthur Miller and the Salem Witch Trials Essay

The Crucible by Arthur Miller and the Salem Witch Trials - Essay Example The play was written in 1953 and presented a dramatized version of the events to such an extent that experts do not certify it as an authentic work on the trials that shook the theocratic society. This paper is an attempt to explore the differences and similarities shared by the real-life Salem witch trials and the literary version of that incident The Crucible. The paper will also advocate that the repressive environment of early modern period was the main cause behind such an event. Salem Witch Trials- A brief Overview: Salem Witch Trials are often regarded as the most high-profile case of mass hysteria in history. From 13th century onwards, religion and moral values took an obsessive form specifically in New England and the concept of evil also became deeply embedded, which was symbolized by witches who supposedly possessed demonic powers and pleased the devil by hurting innocent beings1. Gradually every abnormal behavior was associated with witchcraft. In the fall of 1692 two you ng girls, from the same household in Salem Village, Betty Parris (aged 9) and Abigail Williams (aged 11) started having strange fits and displayed behaviors that were â€Å"impossibly human† and beyond the understanding of doctors and ministers2. They crawled and hid under the furniture, felt that they were being poked or pricked, shouted and threw things on others, and twisted themselves into odd positions. Within no time many a lot of females including Ann Putnam Jr. and Elizabeth Hubbard started displaying similar signs and this generated chaos all over Salem. The girls accused Tituba, Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne for casting spells on them and slowly every afflicted individual nominated and accused someone for witchcraft paving the way for a witch-hunt spree and the Salem Witch Trials. The trials were held against hundreds of Salem village residents and nineteen residents (mostly females) were hanged at Gallows Hill whereas one person named Giles Corey was stoned to death , and probably dozens languished in prisons without undergoing any trial.3 Historical Inaccuracies in The Crucible: Arthur Miller’s historical accuracy regarding the events and facts of these trials has been a topic of great debate lately. It is, indeed, true that Miller did fictionalize certain facts to suit the needs and demands of a literary play. However, it cannot be termed as an out-and-out inaccurate depiction of the proceedings of Salem Witch trials. As Miller himself explained in the preface of his text â€Å"this play is not history in the sense in which the word is used by the academic historian. However, I believe that the reader will discover here the essential nature of one of the strangest and most awful chapters in human history†4. If the actual facts are to be considered, then Miller’s version shares some phenomenal contradictions. For instance, in The Crucible, the writer invented a ritual of wild dance in the forest followed by recitation of c harms for depicting the activities that were mistaken as witch-craft. 5 This probably was done to ensure maximum interest and engrossment from the audience. However, in reality, Tituba was accused for telling stories from Heinrich Kramer’s 1687 publication Malleus Maleficarum, which contained concepts like Voodoo, fortune

Global business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Global business - Essay Example Along with this, the level of sustainability of the organization also gets enhanced to a significant extent in the market among other rival players. Moreover, as sustainability is the most essential criterion of any organization, in this age of extreme rivalry, most of the organizations desire to recruit, experienced and talented leaders or managers. This is because; these leaders or managers of the organizations act as the catalyst in developing extremely creative and inventive products or services that might satisfy the needs and requirements of the customers. Along with this, the competitive position of the organization or the entrepreneur also gets improved in the entire market thereby amplifying its brand value and equity among others. As a result, the threat of the contenders also gets reduced thereby amplifying the level of dominancy and equity in the market in long run. Thus, it might be depicted that the generation of idea to develop inventive products or services is entirel y dependent over the mental capability and intelligence power of the leaders or managers. ... Other than this, a leader is an individual, who steps up in challenging situations so as to mitigate it in an effective way. Not only this, he is also responsible for presenting varied types of information and facts to all other employees and staffs so as to analyse their desires and wishes, prior implementing any policy or regulation (Von Stamm, 2008, pp. 389-490). Apart from this, leadership is also described as an ability to maintain a good interpersonal relationship among the employees of the organization thereby reducing the conflicts and clashes. Therefore, leadership might be described as an inherent quality that may not be taught or learned but might be enhanced through various situational changes and conditions. Hence, leadership style or leaders might be stated as one of the most essential requirements of the organizations operating in recent age, in order to tackle risky situations or challenging threats. Role of leadership in corporate organization In order to cope up wit h the changing needs and demands of the market, innovation is the most essential requirement. This is because; invention of varied types of products or services might prove effective for a corporate organization to enhance its dominance and reputation in the market among others. Along with this, the level of profit margin and equity of the organization might also get amplified thereby reducing the threat of substitute products. However, it might be possible, only if the organization or the corporate comprises of an enthusiastic and confident leader. This is because; presence of such type of a leader or leadership qualities might motivate and stimulate the employees or the followers of the organization to develop varied types of value-added products or services in order to cope up

Models of Health for Obesity Intervention

Models of Health for Obesity Intervention Introduction Public health has been a topic of government debates. It is an increasing issue that is provoking a lot of publicity. Strategies are being implemented as well as policies in order to tackle the ever increasing problem of obesity which is clearly a public health issue. A case study from the Nuffield Council on Bioethics (2007) showed that the United Kingdom has the highest prevalence of obesity in Europe. Due to the NMC confidentiality clause in accordance with The Nursing and Midwifery Council (2008) Code of Conduct, nurses must respect peoples right to confidentiality. Therefore for the purpose of this essay the patient’s name has been changed and any personal or identifiable information has also been altered so as to protect his privacy and dignity.This essay aims to discuss and explore policies, biopsychosocial model and contribution of therapies to health and wellbeing with reference to Troy (see appendix 1) Public health Public health refers to the methods of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through organised efforts and informed choices of society, organisations, public and private, communities and individuals (WHO, 2013). It is concerned with threats to health based on population health analysis. The population in question can be as small as a handful of people, or as large as all the inhabitants of the United Kingdom. The dimensions of health can encompass a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity (WHO, 2013). Sim McKee (2011) suggest that Public health incorporates the interdisciplinary approaches of epidemiology, biostatistics and health services. The focus of public health intervention is to improve health and quality of life through prevention and treatment of disease and other physical and mental health conditions. This is done through surveillance of cases and health indicators, and through promotion of healthy behaviors. The range of public health interventions in order to reduce food related ill health is potentially considerable and this includes; presenting on an individual basis, health education and promotion, composition regulation in food, accurate food information labels and product traceability just to name a few. From 2004, the United Kingdom has put together a number of initiatives that are aimed at tacking obesity with recognition of the need for policy change as well as individual behavior change and personal attitude towards food. Policy Due to the alarming statistics on obesity in the United Kingdom, the government has a policy to try and tackle the rising problem. According to the Policy, figures show that 61.9% of adults and 28% of children aged between 2 and 15 are overweight or obese. People who are overweight have a higher risk of getting type 2 diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers (Department Of Health, 2013). Excess weight can also make it more difficult for people to find and keep work, and it can affect self-esteem and mental health. This being the case of Troy as he suffers from type 2 diabetes due to his weight, has mental health and has never found work. It is costing the Government 5million pounds to obesity related illnesses. The policy has an action plan to reduce these statistics by 2020. The government want people to eat and drink more healthily while being more active. It is giving people advice on a healthy diet and physical activity through the change4Life programme. The programme promotes healthy life styles. The moto is ‘Eat Well, Move More and Live Longer’. Change4Life is a society-wide movement that aims to prevent people from becoming overweight by encouraging them to eat better and move more. It is the marketing component of the Governments response to the rise in obesity (Nhs, 2013). Improving labelling on food and drink will help people make healthy choices. The policy states that a system for labelling on the packages that makes it clear what is in food and drink, is important. The consistent system combines red, amber, green colour-coding and nutritional information to show how much fat, saturated fat, salt and sugar, and calories are in food products. Also encouraging businesses on the high street to include calorie information on their menus so that people can make healthy choices. By giving people guidance on how much physical activity they should be doing, the policy seeks to help individuals as well as professional to understand how to reduce the risk of ill health associated with inactivity and sedentary behaviors. As much as it is an individual’s choice on when and what they eat, the government want businesses to take responsibilities of the products that they are selling by making it easier for everyone make healthier choices for both staff and customers. The ‘Responsibility Deal has 4 networks’ include; alcohol, food, health at work and physical activity which all have collective pledges that businesses are encouraged to sign up to. The actions to help people eat more healthily include; reducing ingredients like salt, sugar and fat that can be harmful if people eat too much of them. Also encourage people to eat more fruit and vegetable to help reach their ‘5 A DAY’. Lastly putting calorie information on menus and helping people to eat fewer calories by changing the portion size or the recipe of a product (Department Of Health, 2013). The policy asks the local councils to get involved in combating obesity and encourage healthier lives by making sure that the r ight services are in place. An example of this is recreational areas in the neighborhoods have outdoor gym facilities. Biopsychosocial model Biopsychosocial model, traditionally considered appropriate with regards to obesity, as all elements of the model are relevant. This model shows disease arising from the overlap of components. In applying this model to obesity research, biologic systems are viewed in isolation, not taking into account their interaction with the environment and behaviours until one is obese. There are several factors that could lead one to be overweight or obese and the biopsychosocial model can be used to understand these factors. One of them is biological factors which include genetic susceptibility, increased number of adipose cells formed during childhood, hormonal imbalance such thyroxine produced be the thyroid gland, and several more (Marieb Hoehn, 2010).Although strides have been made exploring the pathophysiology of obesity, treatment and prevention have focused mainly on two components, the psychological and the social. The psychological aspects include eating behaviours, activity habits an d health awareness or knowledge. Troy suffers from depression this could be a factor to consider as a reason why he is obese. Taylor (2012) recognises that people that eat while depressed or stressed are more likely to consume sweet and high-fat foods. Troy has accustomed himself to bad eating behaviour. Most take away food have high volumes of sugar, fat and salt, which are triggers of weight gain. He may not be aware of the implications of his weight increase. As a student nurse, I feel talking to Troy and making him aware of his weight problems may be ideal. Giving him healthier options when he asks me order him a take away and advising him to eat more of the reduced sugar, fat and salt food. Troy has a high craving for sweet fizzy drinks, telling him of the alternative drinks such as sugar free or sweeteners would be ideal thus empowering him to make a choice. The social aspect of the model include socioeconomic, neighbourhood, schools and food policy. When it comes to obesity there are a great variety of social variables that contribute to one being overweight and obese. For instant today we are bombarded with advertisements for fast food restaurants and high calorie pre-packaged foods or microwave food. The media plays a big role in changing our attitude and behaviour toward food by using persuasive messages and images. A study by Taylor (2012) shows that socioeconomic factors contribute to one’s attitude towards food. The study revealed that that people of low socioeconomic status tend to be more overweight than people with high socioeconomic status. An explanation for this could be the fact that food that contain high-fat and processed foods are cheaper than nutritious and fresh foods such as vegetables and fish. Troy lives in poor estate and relies on the benefit system for his income. This in not much so he tend to buy the che aper and faster foods. Also social and family interaction could affect one to become obese as eating habits can be influence by others around the house. Other social factors could be educational level, employment and cultural influences. Advising Troy tocook his own meals when his at home and educating him on the difference between fresh cooked meals that contain low fat, sugar and salt versus Fast food would be in his best interest. He lives alone so giving himself more time outdoors and engaging in activities, like going out for walks or even light exercise as a starting point. Understanding the reasons for obesity is important but more important is to find ways to stop and prevent it. Health promotion is any effort that encourages people to engage in healthy behaviour’s such having a healthy diet and maintaining a healthy weight (Schneider, Gruman Coutts, 2005). Behavioral treatment Behavioral treatment is an approach used to help individuals develop a set of skills to achieve a healthier weight. This treatment is used in people who suffer from eating disorders and those who are overweight or obese. It does more than helping people to decide what to change but also helps them identify how to change. The behavior change process is facilitated through the use of self-monitoring, goal setting, and problem solving. Studies suggest that behavioral treatment produces weight loss of 8–10% during the first 6 months of treatment. Structured approaches such as meal replacements and food provision have been shown to increase the magnitude of weight loss (Foster, 2002). Stuart (1967) suggests that behavioral treatment of obesity developed from the belief that obesity is the result of maladaptive eating and exercise habits, which could be corrected by the application of learning principles. Behavioral treatment is based primarily on principles of classical conditioning, which suggest that eating is often prompted by antecedent events, for example cues, that become strongly linked to food intake. According to Brownell (2000) Behavioral treatment helps patients identify cues that trigger inappropriate eating behaviors and help them learn new responses to these cues. Treatment also seeks to reinforce the adoption of positive eating behaviors. This treatment also incorporates cognitive therapy due to the fact that, in cognitive therapy ones thoughts or cognitions directly affect feelings and behaviors (Beck, 1976). Negative thoughts are predominantly associated with negative outcomes. When one over indulges in food and they are dieting, they tend to think they have messed up their dieting schedule therefore proceed to eat even more secondary to feelings of failure and hopelessness. Beck (1976) in his book on Cognitive Behavior therapy mentions that cognitive therapy patient s learn to set realistic goals for weight and behavior change, enabling them to realistically evaluate their progress in modifying eating and activity habits, and to correct negative thoughts that occur when they do not meet their goals. Fairburn, C.G, Wilson G.T. (1993) agree with Beck (1967) that Cognitive interventions for weight management are based on those developed for the treatments of depression, anxiety, and bulimia nervosa. Programmes such as Weight Watchers can be incorporated in Behavioral Therapy as Weight Watchers meetings promotes goal setting and advices on low calorie food intake. Conclusion Arguably, although the policy set by Department of Health on obesity seeks to promote programmes like change4 life which supports eating five vegetable or fruit a day, it does not completely tackle the issue of affordability. Fresh vegetable, fruit and fish is expense meaning those who have low income cannot afford these foods. It then means it comes back to the fact of them not affording the healthier food so they opt for cheaper processed food. A lot of literature that has been written on the subject matter, obesity, is from the United States of America because they are a nation who are also trying to tackle obesity. They have much a bigger issue of obesity and I believe as a nation we can learn a lot from them. In the case of Troy, Behavioral therapy would be ideal as it involves cognitive therapy, so he can talk about his problem and set realistic goals for himself helping and improving his quality of life. The best interventions have been in the fields of dietary management and behavioural change. APA Reference Allen, N. B., Lewinsohn, P., and Seeley J.R. (1998). Prenatal and perinatal influences on risk for psychopathology in childhood and adolescence. Developmental Psychopathology. New York, United States of America: Guilford Press Beck, A.T. (1976). Cognitive therapy and the emotional disorders. New York, United States of America: International Universities Press. Brownell, K.D. (2000). The LEARN program for weight management 2000. Dallas, United States of America: American Health Publishers Co. Department of Health. (2013). Policies. Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/reducing-obesity-and-improving-diet Dilts, S. L. (2012). Models of mind: A framework for Biopsychosocial Psychiatry. East Sussex, United Kingdom: Routledge. Donatelle, R.J. (2008).Access to health(10the.d.).San Francisco,Canada: Pearson Benjamin Cummings. Fairburn, C.G, Wilson G.T. (1993). Binge eating: nature, assessment and treatment. New York, United States of America: Guilford Press. Foster, G.D. (2002). Goals and strategies to improve behavior-change effectiveness. Philadelphia, United States Of America: Hanley Belfus. Health Promotion Strategic Framework. (2014). Health promotion. Retrieved from http://www.healthpromotion.ie/hp-files/docs/HPSF_HSE.pdf Heim, C., Newporr, J., Heit, S., Graham, Y. P., Wucox, M., Bonsall, R., Miller, A. H., and Nemeroff, C. B. (2000). Pituitary-adrenal and autonomic responses to stress in women after sexual and physical abuse in childhood. Journal of American Medical Association, 284, 592-97 Marieb, E.N. Hoehn K. (2010).Human anatomy physiology(8th e.d.).San Francisco,America: Pearson Benjamin Cummings. Nhs. (2013). Change for life. Retrieved from http://www.nhs.uk/change4life/Pages/change-for- life.aspx Nuffield council on Bioethics. (2007). Public Health, Ethical Issues. Retrieved from http://www.nuffieldbioethics.org/public-health Schneider, F. W., Gruman, J. A., Coutts, L. M. (Eds.). (2005).Applied social psychology: Understanding and addressing social and practical problems.Thousand Oaks,Canada:Sage Publications Stuart, R.B. (1967). Behavioral control of overeating. Basel, Switazland: Reinhardt Druck. Taylor, S.E. (2012).Health Psychology(8th ed.).New York,United States of America: McGraw-Hill World Health Organisation. (2013). Obesity. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/trade/glossary/story076/en/ Appendix 1 During one of my placements in a hospital situated in the North of England, a young Troy man aged 24 was admitted to Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) presenting with Psychotic episode and hallucinations. He lives alone in a one bed council flat, has never worked and receives Benefits. He has a long history of drug and alcohol misuse, although he has been drug free for over 6 months. Troy weighs 26 stone and has been known to the service for self-harming and depression from the age of 14. As his treatment has progressed, it has become clear to me that he has other issues like bad eating habits. His mother from a very young age, feed Troy with a lot of fast food as she herself suffered from Clinical depression. They lived in a poor estate up the age of 8 when he was put into care because his mother was unable to cope and neglected him and his siblings. He has very little contact with his family except his grandparents who regularly visit him. Now at his later stage in life, Troy likes to eat take away and drinks a lot of sugary fizzy drinks. His weight has become an issue on the ward as he has found the single beds too small and he complained of the blankets being too small. The consultant had been concerned about his weight and suggested that some of the psychotic medication he is taking may be contributing to his weight gain as they tend to trigger a lot of cravings. He has diagnosed with type 2 diabetes while admitted on the ward. http://psychrights.org/research/Digest/NLPs/Seroquel/SeroquelMedicalStudies/Gen.%20Cause%20Resp.%20Ex%2010.pdf

The Economic Quest for the Development of Cuba Essay -- Essays Papers

The Economic Quest for the Development of Cuba Introduction: To state lightly, Americans generally frown upon communist countries. Though there are the obvious grievances of political and ideological differences that will not be discussed in this paper, the opinions with respect to the economy have also sparked heated discourse. Those that are capitalists feel that without a free market and the power of the invisible hand, the economy will not be efficient and eventually crumble. And in most cases, this assumption was true in the twentieth century. But with Cuba, a red country, communism may not be the major factor to blame at the present. Some feel Cuba has not focused enough on industrial growth, while others say it is the lack of physical capital combined with Cuba ´s inability to attract foreign direct investment. Yet most agree that as a small third world country in today ´s global economy, Cuba is facing many challenges to keep up with the pace of the world. In spite of its current condition, this country still has significan t economic potential. In reality, it is quite astounding to look upon Cuba and what this small country has had to encounter in the past fifteen years. At the start of the 1990 ´s, an economic crisis struck Cuba. When the Soviet Union collapsed and the socialist bloc disappeared, Cuba, being heavily reliant on this alliance, suffered immense economic consequences. The Soviet Union was Cuba ´s trading partner and vital contributor through investments, provision of resources and technology. Because of their socialist relationship, eighty-five percent of Cuba ´s trade[,...] including sugar and citrus fruit [was with the Soviet Union, while at the same time] eighty-eight percent of Cuba ´s i... ...d the Development Prospects of Cuba. Developing Prospects in Cuba: An Agenda in the Making. London: Institute of Latin American Studies, 2002. Monreal, Pedro. Export Substituition Reindustrialisation in Cuba: Development Strategies Revisited. Developing Prospects in Cuba: An Agenda in the Making. London: Institute of Latin American Studies, 2002. Oficina Nacional de Estadisticas (ONE) (1999), Anuario estadistico de Cuba 1998 (Havana). Oficina Nacional de Estadisticas (ONE) (1999a), Anuario estadistico de Cuba 1998 (Havana). Saney. Isaac. Cuba: A Revolution in Motion. Ed. Brenda Conroy. London: Fernwood, 2004. Snow, Anita. Cuba ´s economic growth slows. Associated Press. 21 December 2002. Academic Universe. 22 Jan. 2005 . Taylor, John. Economics: Fourth Edition. Ed. Jean L. Woy. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2004.

Events That Made an Impact: United States in the 1950s to 1990s Essay

After the World War II fizzled out, people around the world had no choice but to pick up the pieces of what has been left of the unrelenting devastation that the global was has brought to them. However, the lofty triumphs achieved during the war were pointless because numerous challenges had sprouted because countries realized the inevitability of the Nuclear Age, which triggered fear amongst the people as they realized a grim scenario that a single bomb could decimate cities in seconds. What have transpired beyond the events between the World War II to the 1990s are essential elements that made up what society has become in our present. Naturally, it paved the way for a future society that could learn from all the mistakes made and use it to settle all inequities that could mold conflict among nations and people. In the United States, the time from 1950s to the 1990s has been crucial in shaping democracy, equality and technology that all Americans enjoy today. From the economic boom that sparked the rise of new markets in the 1950s, to the rise of civil rights movement in the 1960s, to the concern about the Vietnam War in 1970s, to the end of the Cold War in the 1980s and the emergence of globalization in 1990s, all of these major events have etched their mark in each decade that brandished the saga of what modern American civilization has become. And despite all challenges that abound, what is important is that Americans have become more tolerant and the government has understood from heeding the call of times during these unforgettable events. The events from the 1950s to the 1990s honed a society that put the people at the forefront of all priorities, as defense policies were institutionalized to protect them from the harsh realities of war while humanitarian causes are still considered appropriately to bring benefit to the greater good of Americans and to other people from the rest of the world. Clearly, the fast-changing times at present can be daunting, but the events that happened in the 1950s to the 1990s had prepared us to be stronger in facing all the odds that lie beneath. Through breaking barriers among nations around the world, people can make things possible and could definitely make our lives better in the future ahead. 1950s – The Emergence of a Post-industrial Society   After the white flags has been raised during the conclusion of World War II, nations around the world dusted off the embers of war and began working on to build nations that would benefit people (Gaddis, 1997). Despite the unwarranted fears that the Cold War between the United States (US) and the Union of Soviet Socialists Republic (USSR) could trigger another war in the future, it is believed that what brought the greatest impact during this decade is the renaissance of the post-industrial economy that led to the emergence of the suburban culture Davidson et al. (2002) observed that during this period, suburban growth accelerated sharply and the suburbs grew 40 times faster than cities, so that by 1960 half of the American people lived in them. The return of prosperity brought a â€Å"baby boom† and a need for new housing. Davidson et al. (2002) indicated that birth rates in the United States in 1952 had spiked to 25 per thousand to reach one of the highest fertility rates in the world. New brides were also younger, which translated into unusual fertility. Americans chose to have larger families, as the number with three children tripled and those with four or more quadrupled. Because of the economic growth, automobiles made the suburbs accessible. But the spurt in suburban growth took its toll on the cities, which suffered as the middle class fled urban areas. Famous sociologist Daniel Bell indicated that the rise of the so-called â€Å"post-industrial† economy can benefit American people. For Bell, this never meant the complete annihilation of American manufacturing, but it did mean that white-collar work within the sectors of finance and banking, leisure and tourism, corporate research and development in technologies, in federal and local government bureaucracies and in retail would supersede manufacturing industry as the major structural bases of the American economy (Waters 1996, p. 112). Furthermore, the development of improved computing and communications technologies facilitated suburbanization by making it easy for companies to decentralize as the managements were able to control their operations more efficiently. American culture also changed in the 1950s. American families began to take the form of the sitcom families popular during the era. Hayden (2003) indicated that American streets and families became â€Å"similar in age, race, and income to†¦ the nationally popular sitcoms of the 1950s†¦ including Leave It to Beaver, Ozzie and Harriet, and Father Knows Best† (p. 128). Also, many corporations advertised in the 1950s became a cultural consensus just as much as the products they sold. They praised prosperity as a reflection of an American way of life. However, not all Americans were persuaded of the virtues of consensus and business leadership. Intellectuals and artists found in corporate culture a stifling conformity that crushed individual creativity. On the fringes of society, artists flaunted traditional behavior and values. Closer to the mainstream, a new generation of musicians created rock and roll, which became the sound of youthful rebellion that sparked in the decades ahead. 1960s – Seeking Equality and the Emergence of the Civil Rights Movement As the United States enjoyed quite an improvement in economy during the 1950s, turmoil began to spread in its social arena in the 1960s. Fact is that the civil rights movement was triggered by the Montgomery bus incident in 1955. Mrs. Rosa Parks, a black seamstress, refused to give up her seat on a city bus to a white man. Mrs. Parks was arrested and subsequently, she was bailed out of jail by E. D. Nixon, the Montgomery representative of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters and a local leader of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Later that evening, Nixon was struck with the idea of having Montgomery’s black citizens boycott the city’s segregated bus system. According to Loevy (1990), the major accomplishment of the Montgomery bus boycott was that it turned a non-violent demonstration for racial integration into a national news story. Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., was elected to lead the bus boycott. Montgomery’s forty thousand blacks stayed off the city buses for more than a year, vowing not to return until the buses were totally desegregated (p. 22). The emergence of Martin Luther King, Jr., in the mid-1950s was a key event in the escalating fight for civil rights. Through the experience gained during the Montgomery bus boycott, King learned that the northern and western United States were most likely to press for civil rights reform when a dramatic instance of racial segregation was presented on the news media, particularly television (Branch, 1988). Two of the massive racial protests in the 1960s brought about by the Montgomery bus incident in produced major civil rights bills. The impetus for Congress to enact the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (which banned racial discrimination in public places) occurred following brutal white suppression of racial demonstrations led by Dr. King in Birmingham, Alabama, in the spring of 1963. An equally brutal reaction to a voting rights march led by King in Selma, Alabama, in 1965 produced the Voting Rights Act of 1965, in which gave the U.S. Government the power to register blacks to vote in southern states (Loevy,1990). It was President Lyndon Johnson had worked assiduously for the passage of the Civil Rights Act. Only months after its adoption he added muscle to the demand for nondiscrimination by issuing Executive Order 11246. The racism that had infected federal employment (and also the work forces of private firms with which the federal government did business) was no longer to be tolerated. The words of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 gave specificity and concreteness to the constitutional guarantee of â€Å"the equal protection of the laws.† In employment, in education, in all spheres of public accommodation, there was to be from that time forward no official favoritism for one race or ethnic group at the expense of others. The intentions of the members of the Congress in adopting this law were clearly and emphatically expressed (Cohen & Sterba, 2003, p. 10). This is why, to this very day, that American society learned to frown upon all sorts of racial preference and discrimination. 1970s – Iniquities of the Vietnam War When more than half a million American troops were sent to intervene in Vietnam’s civil war, there was a widespread dissent in United States. Campaigns were outright to denounce the US government’s military conquests in Southeast Asia, particularly in Vietnam.   Though war is a decision that is entered into by governments, public opinion plays a significant role in its execution. By 1971, the number of U.S. soldiers killed in Vietnam had surpassed 50,000, and antiwar sentiment became very strong. As war was occurring in Vietnam, bloody protests sparked also sparked in the United States. Vietnam War was a relatively young man’s war, with the average age of soldiers serving in Vietnam was 19 (Davidson et al., 2002). The wages of death and survival of these soldiers are also complicated. In Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried (1990), he featured his experiences in the Vietnam War and how he struggled to fight the feeling of isolation after returning home from the war. Instead of forgetting the occurrences during the Vietnam War, O’Brien faced to confront the ghosts of his terrible experiences during the war. His life is caught up in the web of his past experiences as he seeks solace to get rid of his unfavorable traumas that haunt him after the extreme experiences he encountered in Vietnam. He still feels the chaos even it is thirty years later. He wanted to get rid of denial, but his memory of the terrible experiences still traumatizes him greatly. Because of the war, US also suffered poverty because war’s annual cost soared to more than $50 billion a year as it fueled a rising inflation. This is why in 1973, the Congress passed the War Powers Act, which required the president to consult with Congress about military action and prohibited spending in Southeast Asia for more U.S. military action. Coupled with congressional cuts in aid to South Vietnam, the president’s war powers were severely limited (Walsh, 2007). Many people felt that the involvement of Americans in the Vietnam War was a losing battle both in the battleground and at home. In the 11 years of the US involvement in Vietnam, it did not only bring humiliation to the US as it failed to gain control of a small nation but also it brought a tremendous detriment in social and economic costs in its very homeland. 1980s – Closure of the Cold War Fears The silent conflict of United States and Soviet Union finally ceased in the 1980s. With the democratic reform that swept across Eastern Europe, this ended the four decades of communist rule and Soviet domination of the region. Germans, divided since World War II, dismantled the Berlin Wall, which long had been the symbol of Soviet-American confrontation and reunified their country. Nationalist groups within the Soviet Union demanded greater autonomy and Premier Mikhail Gorbachev desperately worked to reform a disintegrating economy and to hold the Soviet state together. With the Soviet Union no longer a threat, Americans felt less a sense of triumph than an uncertainty about the role of the United States in a less predictable and perhaps less stable world (Hess 2001, p. 153). The United States and Russia initiated to end the Cold War and agreed to reduce their stockpiles of nuclear weapons. In 1991, the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) concluded and surpassed the limits negotiated in earlier SALT talks. By June 1992 US President Bush and Russia’s Boris Yeltsin had agreed to even sharper cuts. However, American foreign policy had been defined by the Cold War with the Soviet Union and its communist allies. Not just America’s relations with the rest of the world, but also its domestic political and social life were shaped by the overriding national imperative of containing the expansion of communism. But the end of the Cold War made it more difficult to articulate what exactly constituted the American national interest. With the terrorist attacks of September 2001, Singh (2003) argued that a new era was ushered into being, although most of the contours of US policy were in fact unchanged by the tragedy. Not least, the fundamental predicament for America since 1945 – whether to accept a role as global policeman while being castigated abroad as a global bully remained inescapable (p. 263). 1990s – Breaking the Barriers Through Globalization The trend of globalization has become one of the most critical factors that determine the path for changes that occur in many economies worldwide in the 1990s. It had triggered enormous changes in various sectors in society and had pressured everyone to ride the waves of change that globalization has brought about. As a concept, McGrew (1992) captured the complexity of the current view of globalization in a concise and balanced way. He defined globalization as â€Å"the multiplicity of linkages and interconnections between the states and societies which make up the modern world system†¦ it describes the process by which events, decisions, and activities in one part of the world can come to have significant consequences for individuals and communities in quite distant parts of the globe† (p. 23). United States entered into several trade agreements to ease out doing business around the world, like the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). Also, US became more intertwined to a global community via the Internet. The rise of the Internet also built new economies and opportunities. The revolution in microchip technologies contributed substantially to the economic expansion of the 1990s. In 1998, e-commerce alone generated some 482,000 jobs (Davidson et al., 2002). However, globalization is not without criticism. Lobeda (2006) argued that the growth theory in globalization failed to take into account distribution of wealth and income. For instance, economists point to a 22.2 percent growth in average household worth in the United States from 1983 to 1998. Yet the number of homeless people increased, more and more people were unable to obtain healthcare, and many citizens experienced severe economic insecurity and job loss. The growth indicators don’t spell out that the wealthiest one percent experienced skyrocketing increases in income, while middle- and lower-income families saw their incomes shrink. So while the average household wealth increased, the median household net worth decreased by 10 percent in the same period. Conclusion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   What we could deem from the era of post World War II to the 1990s are essential events that shaped our history. These are events are very colored with numerous triumphs and some failures in different aspects. Triumphs because of all the achievements gained within this period that led to improve American society as a whole. Failures, on the other hand, will serve as lessons where we can earn our credit from learning the past mistakes so that these will be never repeated again in the future. It can, indeed be daunting that lies ahead might trigger newer challenges, like the rise of technology, terrorism and other new innovations that might have a serious impact to our future. But, with a renewed thought as one nation of multicultural origins, American people can surely take a stand in working as one nation and take advantage of what the future holds for them. References Branch, T. (1988). Parting the Waters: America in the King Years, 1954-1963, New York: Simon and Schuster. Cohen, C., & Sterba, J. P. (2003). Affirmative Action and Racial Preference: A Debate. New York: Oxford University Press.   Davidson, W.F., West, J., Gienapp, C.L., Heyrman, M.L., and Stoff, M.B. (2002). Nation of Nations: A Concise Narrative of the American Republic – Vol. 2, 3rd ed. NY: The McGraw-Hill Companies. Gaddis, J.L. (1997). We Now Know: Rethinking Cold War History. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Hayden, D. (2003). Building Suburbia: Green Fields and Urban Growth, 1820-2000.   Westminster, MD: Knopf Publishing Group. Lobeda, C.M. (2006). Globalization Is Harmful to Society. In L.I. Gerdes (ed.), Globalization. San Diego: Greenhaven Press. Loevy, R.D. (1990). To End All Segregation: The Politics of the Passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Lanham, Md.: University Press of America. McGrew, A.G. (1992). Conceptualizing Global Politics. In A.G. McGrew, and P.G. Lewis (eds), Global Politics: Globalization and the Nation-State. Cambridge: Polity Press, p. 1-28. O’Brien, T. (1990). The Things They Carried. New York: Broadway Books. Singh, R. (2003). American Government and Politics : A Concise Introduction.London: Sage Publications, Incorporated, 2003. Walsh, K.T. (2007, May 14). Echoes From an Earlier Conflict.   U.S. News & World Report. 142(17): 47-49. Waters, M. (1996). Daniel Bell, London: Routledge.

Toxicity essays

Toxicity essays Our environment has been bombarded with toxins since the Industrial Revolution. Everything from cigarette smoke to the plastic factory down the road contaminates the air, water, and land causing harm to all living organisms. Monitoring and controlling toxins is the first step to removing them. After more than a century of irresponsible pollution its time that the public takes a look at the truth concerning toxins and the environment. Toxins cause harm to every living organism on the Earth. Toxins can come from things typically considered harmful to the environment such as pesticides to things that one would never consider, like nail polish remover or the insulation used in an attic. The truth is we live in a world full of toxins. A simple concept of toxicology today is that everything is toxic in certain amounts. Therefore, anything in a certain excess can harm you; the trick is to know what that level is. The solubility and mobility of a toxin determine how rapidly and effectively it moves through the environment. The solubility of toxins is typically divided into two groups, those that dissolve readily in water and those that dissolve easier in oil. Water soluble toxins move through the environment and into the body because water is so prevalent. Oil soluble toxins can also be of harm because of the damage that can be done to cell walls and muscle tissue. They also tend to stay in the body longer by being sto red in lipids in the body. The effects of toxins upon humans and animals are astounding. Two environmental issues affecting organisms is bioaccumulation and biomagnification. Bioaccumulation occurs when cells store toxins that are originally dilute but become more concentrated when accumulated. The result is a higher level of toxins within an organism. The problem with bioaccumulation is apparent when carnivores enter the picture. For example, if a fish eats a large amount of plankton but each plankton only has a sm...

World Hunger Essay

World Hunger Essay World Hunger Essay World hunger essay An estimated 24000 people die from hunger so a world hunger essay should start by pointing out that hunger is an important issue in third world countries. A global problem A good way to start a world hunger essay is to give a birds eye view on the issue of hunger by referring to hunger statistics the world over. It makes sense to start a world hunger essay with statistics from countries that are most vulnerable to food shortages. One of the greatest anti-hunger advocates - Sir John Boyar examined how hunger is a thorn in the side of all Third World counties and tried to offer solutions as the director-general of the UNs Food and Agriculture Organization. One of the first things we have to do he said is to stop viewing food as any other commodity and to see it as an essential to life. Move over Im famished! A world hunger essay can also examine some of the worlds most devastating famines and how they could have been avoided. Develop the topic After giving the statistics the next thing your world hunger essay should do is to examine the causes for hunger and starvation. These can be as diverse as:Large population Free trade Viewing food as a means to earn money rather than to sustain life Ending on a hopeful note How can the problem of world hunger be solved? End by offering possible solutions to the problem. What active steps have been taken by the government of various nations to fight world hunger? What is the United Nations doing to get food for the needy? These are some of the points a thought provoking world hunger essay should touch upon. Lastly a world hunger essay would do well to analyze some sociological theories on dependency that can change the face of world hunger and make it smile. Farmers from the third world should be discouraged from sending all their produce to other countries for profit. The world would fare better if everyone realized that feeding the hungry is more important than money in the bank. Since a starving nation cannot be a productive one. These are some of the points to be covered in a good world hunger essay.

Intuition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Intuition - Essay Example It is much easier to apply intuition if you know already some peculiarities of a person or situation you should deal with. For instance, you may have to tell something unpleasant to your younger sister or brother, but this are the news that may affect him/her negatively. What to do in this case? As a rule, you think over the best moment that will be the most suitable for sharing the information you need. You may select a quite place to do that. How can you know that this very time and place will be the best ones in this situation? No doubts, it is your intuition that helps you to make the right decision. However, it is necessary to remember that your brother or sister may have another intuition, as in Dan Ariely’s examples about nurses. That is why you should learn more about his/her intuition in order not to make a mistake. It should be noted that the situation about bandages experienced by Dan Ariely explains a lot of things concerning intuition and its importance. It turns out that it is necessary to test and practice intuition. Moreover, if one’s profession is closely connected with communication, one should take into account other people’ intuitions as well. This will help to understand their feelings and improve the process of working with people. It is known that Dan Ariely has very poor attitude towards the nurses from the hospital he was treated at. If they just tried to understand his feelings and use his intuition, the process of recovery would not last so long and there would be only positive feedbacks from Dan Ariely. Unfortunately, people working with people seldom resort to the use of their intuition. In the majority of cases they just do not have enough time for that. For example, those nurses were expected to spend only an hour to change the bandages. This action caused much pain to their patients. The nurses had problems with their intuition without even knowing this fact. This example demonstrates the consequences when pe ople do not want to test and improve their own intuition. However, this would help to understand others and their needs. It is necessary to stress that, of course, the patient with burned body knows better how to take of the bandages with less pain. There are several possible ways to distinguish intuition. For example, this word is translated as ‘to look at’ from Latin. So, intuition means looking at some situation or problem in detail with the help of one’s inner feelings. It is necessary to stress that intuition really helps people to live an easier life. Our inner man knows better what we need to do in certain situations. Thus, in the majority of cases it is not conscience but intuition that makes us apologize for some words or actions. Our inner man feels that the person you respect may be offended by the above-mentioned things. You feel that if you do not apologize, this will be the end of friendship or love. It means that if people listened to their intuiti ons more often, there would be fewer divorces in families and misunderstanding among people. Resorting to the use of intuition will help people to economize much time and effort on doing a lot of things. If one uses intuition in order to handle some problem, he/she does not need to spend sleepless nights in order to select the best way to solve the problem. Intuition gives an opportunity to make fast decisions and not to

Global Sluggishness Will Slow US Recovery Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Global Sluggishness Will Slow US Recovery - Essay Example When I was layoff like many other American workers who have been victims of massive layoffs all across the nation I felt very nervous about the financial well being of me and my family. In the past, I felt the government was never there for me, but the new democratic regime seems to really care about my needs. The fiscal policies of the government are including the proactive measure to help alleviate our problems. For example, as I was receiving unemployment benefits I received a letter from the government that my benefits had been extended by an extra 20 weeks which raised the overall total potential timeline to 59 weeks. Those extra weeks sure provided me with much needed financial relief. A friend told me that I am going to be receiving some extra cash reimbursement from the government after I file my tax returns which were an initiative approved by Obama as part of the stimulus economic package. The money the government spent to help the economy were very large figures which altogether surpassed the trillion dollar mark. It was sure a lot of money, but the catastrophic economic situation justified the decision. First of the banking industry was given over $700 billion dollars. I first I thought that the banks that many times deny you a loan now wants us to give them some free money, but when my brother called me to inform me that his second mortgage loan had been denied I knew that the government needs to do something. My brother always pays his bills on time and he has a good steady job. I was actually going to be the beneficiary of a part-time job from that mortgage loan transaction since his plans were to renovate the home. The CEO of Unity Bank, James A. Hughes said â€Å"The capital raised under the Treasury program".