Essay on A Personal Experience with Positive Psychology

Positive psychology can definitely help change ones perspective on many situations and teach them how to make the best out of negative circumstances in their life. Having a positive outlook on life is great for someone’s wellbeing because it helps reduce stress and it can also improve your health. Before taking this course, it was somewhat difficult for me to see the positive in many problems that I faced. Now that I have completed this course, I can now look back at situations in my life and manage them more appropriately. I remember lacking mindfulness as a child and I would always like to do things my way and never take another persons feelings into consideration. For example, if I wanted a new game or any materialistic item, I would†¦show more content†¦Going through this situation was very difficult for me because I was very close to my grandmother. It was also very hard for me to see my mother grieve and go through the process of losing a parent. My mother was always a very strong woman so to see her cry almost everyday after my grandmother’s death was a very heartbreaking experience. Till this day my family and I still miss her dearly but positive thinking is helping us deal with the situation. Some people can’t image their life without their sight but my grandmother became adjusted to this limitation fairly quickly and tried not to let it have a huge effect on her. She was always very positive and always in a cheerful mood. One thing that made this possible was religion. My grandmother was a very religious person and this is what helped her get through each day. According to the textbook, research has been relatively consistent in finding that greater religiousness is significantly related to better mental health and a higher subjective well being. People who are more religious in their behavior show better emotional well being and lower rates of delinquency, drug abuse, alcoholism, and other social problems (Donahue Be nson 1995). This is the reason why I believe my grandmother was able to cope with her limitations and still live a healthy, positive lifestyle. Religion also helped my family and I cope with her death. There are sometimes situationsShow MoreRelatedPsychology : Positive And Negative Psychology955 Words   |  4 PagesPositive Psychology We often think of psychology with a negative connotation. A reason for this is that for many years, psychologists focused more on the negative side of psychology. This part of psychology deals with peoples’ symptoms, wounds, disorders, and trauma (Morgan Nemec, 2013). This changed in 2000 when psychologist Martin Seligman founded the science of positive psychology (Schueller Parks, 2014). 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The Benefits of Persuasive College Essay Topics

The Benefits of Persuasive College Essay Topics There's, naturally, a limit on the range of pages even our very best writers can produce with a pressing deadline, but generally, we figure out how to satisfy all the clients seeking urgent assistance. The most frequently encountered paper writing service that the bulk of our clients require is essay writing. There are a sizable number of such companies providing essay writers, but should you select this path, due diligence is important to ensure the job will be finished right. Many people wind up covering the exact tired topics they see in the media every day, just because they can't produce a better idea. Persuasive College Essay Topics for Dummies Nowadays it is extremely hard to locate a trustworthy essay writing service. Doing this, you'll certainly find your ideal essay title easily and faster. After you are aware that you need to locate unique persuasive essay topics so as to compose the ideal text possible, it's the op portunity to consider how to study the structure of such texts. As any guide on the best way to compose a persuasive essay will inform you, your essay has to be organized in paragraphs with a logical progression from 1 paragraph to the next. Just adhere to the guidelines stated above, and you'll be well on your way to writing a great persuasive essay. Another good idea is to receive some totally free essay examples of different sorts and on various subjects to find a general idea of the way in which a prosperous debatable paper looks. When you inform us about all of the paper information, we'll begin searching for a proper writer for your paper. If you might have integrated the writings of somebody else without seeing, you are going to have the capability to discover them and rephrase them in order to take out any traces of plagiarism ahead of handing your essay in. Persuasive College Essay Topics - the Conspiracy There are several intriguing topics that could be become a persuasive essay if you take the opportunity to consider about doing it. To get the absolute most from the education essay topics, explore the many resources about the problem you're writing about. A good deal of students have a tendency to find writing a persuasive essay a little challenging on account of the essence of the essay and its dynamics. The majority of the students that are doing their courses for graduation and post graduation aren't conscious of the kind of topics they ought to choose for writing essay. Choosing topics for argumentative essays is important for your general success. If you're thinking about how to compose a persuasive essay, you must know that writing an essay is a complicated course of action. To assist you craft an intriguing essay, below are some great persuasive topics for you to select from. Argumentative essays are a few of the best that you can write as a student. Take notes concerning all prospective topics you're able to consider. The revisions are completely free! The Basics of Persuasive College Essay Topics A great college essay isn't just persuasive, it's a piece which highlights the appropriate attitude to the college, the personal aspirations and the vision the student has once they get in the school. It's possible to easily research a college's history on the internet or at your neighborhood library. On the flip side, some argue that the price of college leaves students with crippling debt they'll never have the ability to repay. Colleges ar e more inclined to admit students who can articulate certain explanations for why the school is a great fit about them beyond its reputation or ranking on any list. The Benefits of Persuasive College Essay Topics One other important issue when picking a persuasive speech topic is to select a topic that may provoke your audience a little. To begin with, if you're arranging a persuasive speech, you ought to think about a topic that could create mental pictures in the minds of your audience. Perform extensive research on the subject of your choice and make an impressive persuasive speech that individuals will remember for long. Naturally, giving a fantastic persuasive speech requires more than simply picking a fantastic topic. What Does Persuasive College Essay Topics Mean? Remember your essay shouldn't be a string of jokes, it's a narrative it ought to have a start, middle and the end. Homework shouldn't be abolished article.

Principle of Economics for Accountant GDP

Questions: 1. Australia s economy is growing at 3.3% and has a real GDP per capita of US$ 54,000. Suppose that the Netherlands is growing at 4.8% with a real GDP per capita of US$ 42,0000. How many years would it take for the Netherlands GDP per capita to overtake that of Australia? (Show your working). 2. The article claims that Australia has now notched up 100 quarters without a recession. Carefully define the term recession and briefly outline two other indicators of a recession mentioned in the article. (If other sources are used please state the complete reference in your answer) 3. Use the national income identity to explain which sectors, according to the article, are currently performing well and which ones are not. 4. State the latest figure available for the unemployment rate in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland carefully citing the source of your information. Answers: 1. As Australias economy is growing at 3.3% and has a real GDP per capita of US$ 54,000. Suppose that the Netherlands is growing at 4.8% with a real GDP per capita of US$ 42,000, the number of years required is t, following the formula of compound interest rate the given problem can be written as: 54000*((1+ (3.3/100)) t = 42000*((1+ (4.8/100)) t i.e. 54000*1.033t = 42000*1.048t i.e. (54000/42000) = (1.048/1.033)t i.e. 1.2857 = (1.0145) t i.e. log(1.2857)= t log(1.0145) i.e. t = log (1.2857)/log (1.0145) i.e. t = 16.873. Hence, Netherlands will take 17 years to overtake the real GDP per capita of Australia. 2. Recession is a state of the economy where the economy shrinks significantly through a certain time period (Smithin 2013). As stated by Wray (2015), during recession, a countrys economy witnesses a fall in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) along with the employment rate. In the given article there are several indicators of recession in Australia. Among those indicators, two are as follows: Western Australias jobless rate is at 6.3 percent, which is second to South Australias 6.4 percent.Western Australias domestic demand has declined by 2.5 percent. The unemployment rate in Australia has the possibility of increasing as the mining boom in the country fades. From the data given above, it can be said that without government expenditure the countrys unemployment rate can increase. This will result in recession in the near future. 3. As per the ideas of Godley and Lavoie (2012), the national income identity is Y = C + I + G + (X M), where Y is the national income or Gross Domestic Product, C is domestic consumption, I is the private investment, G is government expenditure, X is exports, and M is imports. According to the article, C, I, and X are not performing well, whereas G is performing well. In the views of Professor Mitchell, G is the only thing which is keeping the growth positive in this quarter. The Global Financial Crisis of 2007 is partly responsible for the fall in export (X) sector. 4. The unemployment rate in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland are given below: The latest unemployment rate in New South Wales is 4.9 percent. The latest unemployment rate in Victoria is 5.7 percent. The latest unemployment rate in Queensland is 5.8 percent (Employment 2016). From the above data, it can be said that the employment process in Australia is not balanced, as inequality holds. The unemployment rates differ in different states. The present boom in the countrys economy is due to the mining boom in the country. Thus, it is assumed that when the boom will fade, the economy of Australia will face a recession along with higher unemployment rates. The data can be presented in a figure as given below: Figure 1: Unemployment rate in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland (in percentage). Source: Employment 2016. References: Employment, D. o., 2016. Labour market information portal. [Online] Available at: https://lmip.gov.au/default.aspx?LMIP/LFR_SAFOUR/LFR_UnemploymentRate [Accessed 21 december 2016]. Godley, W. and Lavoie, M., 2012. Monetary economics: an integrated approach to credit, money, income, production and wealth. Springer. Smithin, J.N., 2013. Essays in the Fundamental Theory of Monetary Economics and Macroeconomics. World Scientific Publishing Company Pte. Limited. Wray, L.R., 2015. Modern money theory: A primer on macroeconomics for sovereign monetary systems. Springer.

Make Prostitution Legal Essays - Feminism, Human Sexuality

Make Prostitution Legal Prostitution Theory 101 by Yvonne Abraham with Sarah McNaught Few things have divided feminists as much as the sex industry. Theorists who agree on a vast swath of issues -- economic equality, affirmative action, even sexual liberation -- often find themselves bitterly opposed over pornography and prostitution. Most 19th-century feminists opposed prostitution and considered prostitutes to be victims of male exploitation. But just as the suffragette and temperance movements were bound together at the turn of the century, so too were feminist and contemporary moral objections to prostitution. Women, the argument went, were repositories of moral virtue, and prostitution tainted their purity: the sale of sex was, like alcohol, both cause and symptom of the decadence into which society had sunk. By the 1960s and '70s, when Betty Friedan and Germaine Greer asserted that sexual liberation was integral to women's liberation, feminists were reluctant to oppose prostitution on moral grounds. Traditional morality, Greer argued, had helped to repress women sexually, had made their needs secondary to men's. That sexual subordination compounded women's economic and political subordination. Today, some feminists see hooking as a form of sexual slavery; others, as a route to sexual self-determination. And in between are those who see prostitution as a form of work that, like it or not, is here to stay. Radical feminists such as lawyer Catharine MacKinnon and antipornography theorist Andrea Dworkin oppose sex work in any form. They argue that it exploits women and reinforces their status as sexual objects, undoing many of the gains women have made over the past century. Others detect in this attitude a strain of neo-Victorianism, a condescending belief that prostitutes don't know what they're doing and need somebody with more education to protect them. Some women, these dissenters point out, actually choose the profession. Feminists who question the antiprostitution radicals also point out that Dworkin and MacKinnon sometimes sound eerily like their nemeses on the religious right. Phyllis Schlafly, a rabid family-values crusader, has even cited Dworkin in her antipornography promotional materials. This kind of thing has not improved the radicals' image among feminists. At the other extreme from Dworkin and MacKinnon are sex-radical feminists like Susie Bright and Pat Califia. They argue that sex work can be a good thing: a bold form of liberation for women, a way for some to take control of their lives. The problem there, though, is that the life of a prostitute is often more Leaving Las Vegas than Pretty Woman (see Pop Tarts). Many feminists fall somewhere in between the rad-fem and sex-radical poles. Wendy Chapkis, professor of sociology and women's studies at the University of Southern Maine and the author of the Live Sex Acts: Women Performing Erotic Labor (Routledge, 1997), is one of them. For nine years, Chapkis studied prostitution in California and the Netherlands, as well as in Britain and Finland, and conducted interviews with 50 sex workers. Chapkis says she sees the profession as it is: many of her interviews confirmed much of the ugliness that radical feminists abhor, as well as the empowerment that sex radicals perceive. I don't think prostitution is the ultimate in women's liberation, she says. But I think it's better understood as work than as inevitably a form of sexual violence. What prostitutes need, she argues, is not a bunch of goody-goodies looking down on them, but decent working conditions. Chapkis believes prostitution should be decriminalized. Just because it can be lousy work doesn't mean it should be stamped out, she argues. After all, she says, there are lots of jobs in which women are underpaid, underappreciated, and exploited. Criminalizing the profession just exacerbates prostitutes' problems by isolating them from the law and leaving them vulnerable to abusive pimps and johns. In a profession where women traditionally are not treated well, aren't empowered, and should be able to go to the police for protection and assistance, she says, we make the police an extra obstacle, another threat. In the Netherlands, by contrast, where prostitution is decriminalized, police and prostitutes are on the same side: hookers speak at police academies to educate the officers about their work, and Chapkis says the communication pays off in safer working conditions for the women. But what of the radical feminists' claim that prostitution is too patriarchal to be tolerated? Chapkis points out that many things in modern life began as patriarchal institutions -- marriage, for example. Problems within marriage, she says, can be addressed without resorting to abolition: these days, marital property is distributed more fairly, and abused wives have places to go for help. Even Catharine MacKinnon

Aisha Rapant Essays (1576 words) - Literature, Absurdist Fiction

Aisha Rapant Essays (1576 words) - Literature, Absurdist Fiction Aisha Rapant Essay The Stranger Seeing past normality Albert Camus creates a series of characters in The Stranger whose personality traits and motivations mirror those that are overlooked by the average man. Camus develops various characters and scenarios that are considered rude and unpleasant, but because it has become common, society accepts it as norms. Camus incorporates atrocious personality traits of the characters, variety, consistency, and everyone's fate through the creation of the characters. Camus demonstrates the disregarded reason behind the origins of relationships between people to characterize people as selfish. The relationship between Salamano and his dog displays how Salamano as self-centered. When Meursault mentions, "He hadn't been happy with his wife, but he'd pretty much gotten used to her. When she died , he had been very lonely. So he asked a shop buddy for a dog and he'd gotten this one very young" (Camus, 44), the inconsideration is displayed. This evidence proves the wife's lack of importance towards Salamano , but along with time, he adapted to her, just like he did with the dog. After her death, he became lonely which supports the reason for him getting the dog. Not to love the dog, but instead to put an end to his loneliness. Another source of selfishness is shown through the relationship between Marie and Meursault. Meursault's lack of communication and the excess amount of physical contact desired and received is displayed by Meursault in the reference, "I kissed her. We didn't say anything more from that point on. I held her to me " (35). The textual support confirms that Meursault's purpose with Marie, for her physical appearance and not her personality. The relationship between Meursault and Raymond displays another representation of a person being egoistic in the novel. When Meursault states that " According to Raymond, all I had to do was to state that the girl had cheated on him. I agreed to act as a witness for him" (37), the contextu al evidence proves that Raymond only uses Meursault for his own benefit by making him his witness. In this relationship, Camus presents Raymond with selfish-like characteristics for using Meursault for his own benefit and not returning the favor to Meursault. Camus employs a change in routine, Meursault having food with other people, which reveals the unexpected cause for him becoming involved and encountering bad situations. Meursault mentions that "I ate at the restaurant, at Celeste's , as usual" (Camus, 3), which displays his every day routine. The principal factor of his everyday routine which involves food, usually took place at Celeste's . Meursault in the textual quote displays a shift in his food routine when mentioning, I've [Raymond] got some blood sausage and some wine at my place. How about joining me' (28)? Raymond's invitation leads up to him becoming involved in a faulty situation. Meursault mentions the situation when saying, "He'd thought of asking me to write it for him. Since I didn't say anything, he asked if I'd mind doing it right then and I said no" (32). Through the excuse of just having dinner with Raymond, it results in Meursault writing a letter to Raymond's ex-girlfriend. Later the letter cause s a quarrel which results in Meursault becoming a witness as well. Another instance of a change from Celeste's restaurant is when Meursault consumes coffee at his mother's funeral. Another change in routine is shown by Meursault when he mentions, "Then he offered to bring me a cup of coffee with milk. I like milk in my coffee, so I said yes, and he came back a few minutes later with a tray. I drank the coffee" (8). Instead of eating at Celeste's or drinking coffee there, Meursault decides to drink coffee at his mother's nursing home. During this time, he does not cry during his mother's funeral and many witnesses notice this fact. The result of not crying reappears during the court scene where they mention several times that he lacks emotions for not crying at his mother's funeral. With an alibi of lunch, Meursault goes to Masson's house and it leads him to becoming involved in a huge problem. Following with Masson's routine, "My wife always takes a nap

Steps for Writing a Short Story (Fiction)

Steps for Writing a Short Story (Fiction) Steps for Writing a Short Story (Fiction) Writing a short story is a great way to practice writing skills. Because a short story limits your word count, you have to determine which details are important and delete the others. This can be a challenge for writers who have so many ideas they want to convey. If you have been tasked with writing a short story but are stuck, here’s some information to help: What is a Short Story? Short stories are fictional works. There are three kinds of short stories: Micro fiction can be as short as five to less than 100 words Flash fiction length ranges from 101 to 1,000 words Traditional can be as long as 5,000 words per story Elements of a Short Story Writers who excel at writing short stories are able to master combining five elements that must be present. These are: Characters these are people, animals, objects, or creatures that think and talk Setting the location where the story takes place Plot the series of events that lead to the climax Theme a general â€Å"truth† about life Point of View the vantage point the author uses to tell a story Steps to Writing a Short Story A short story is an artform that takes practice and dedication. Here is a five-step plan to help you improve your short story writing: Determine what message you’re trying to convey Choosing a theme for the story makes it easier to formulate a story. When you know which lessons the characters should learn or teach the readers, it helps inspire writing. Write a plot that coincides with the message Once you’ve figured your message, create a storyline that coincides with that theme. The first step is what message you want to tell. This second step is how you deliver that message. Create your character Memorable fiction characters are detailed. Give each a distinct personality and allow them to develop. Character development is one of the biggest challenges for short story writers. You only have a handful of pages to transform certain characters. Write an attention-grabbing first paragraph The first paragraph of your story captures the attention of an audience. Make that paragraph interesting by making a bold statement, relate to the audience, appeal to the senses, or add a little mystery. Build to the climax and end with a satisfying resolution Short stories begin closer to the climax than a regular novel would. Keep your build to the climax interesting and fast, and take care not to rush it. Here’s how to build a gripping end to the story: Write a clear-cut ending that explains exactly what happens Provide an open ending that lets the readers decide for themselves how the story ends Offer a monologue from one of the characters, tying it all together Create symbolic ending with meaning beyond the literal one One of the best ways to improve your creative writing skills is to keep reading. Observe the writing techniques of authors you enjoy, and try to develop your own creative writing style. If you need help with writing, editing, proofreading, or finishing a writing assignment, is at your service.

Multi-Media Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Multi-Media - Essay Example ‘Why we crave horror movies’ is a story that uses the genre of realistic fiction to explain the reality behind people and their love for horror movies. It gives reason behind the popularity of horror films in America and explains the nature of the movies. ‘A GPS helps a guy always know where his couch’ uses the art of science fiction and reality genres to explain the role of technology in creating easy movement of people in the modern world as one can visit new places without difficulties with the use of GPS trackers. ‘The fast food factories’ make the use of realistic nonfiction genre to explain the event behind children molestation in the real world. Dave Barry is a famous writer from Chester city in England. He uses his literature skills to emphasize on the importance of technology in solving various circumstances in the modern societies. He points out the importance of GPS in navigation as it promotes ease in movement of people around the world. Barry audience is basically made of people who have an interest in modern technology thus have the desire to know more about the impacts of technology in the current world. In this case, he uses the context of ‘A GPS helps a guy always know where his couch’ to explain one of the impacts of modern technology which is the use of GPS in navigation. King is an American author who draws his inspiration from psychological studies. He uses this notion to explain the circumstance behind American film fanatics and their love for horror movies. His audiences are basically film funs whom he helps to understand the reason behind the love of horror movies especially in America. Amitai Etzioni is another famous writer born in Germany but spent most of his academic life in the United States. One of his best selling literatures is ‘The Fast-Food Factories’ where he target business entrepreneurs as his major audience. His story rotates around child molestation

Internal Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Internal Analysis - Essay Example rategic ways on how Wal-Mart can make use of its strengths in order to take advantage of its opportunities within its external environment will be thoroughly discussed. In the process of discussing some ways wherein the company could experience continuous business growth, recommended ways that could make Wal-Mart strengthen its weaknesses and avoid unnecessary external threats will be provided. For the conclusion, whether or not it is possible on the part of Wal-Mart to strengthen its position in the market will be defended by an argument. As a retailer, Wal-Mart has successfully established a strong brand name over the years. By selling consumer products at relatively low prices, the company managed to have the biggest market shares throughout the retail industry in the United States. (Bianco & Zellner, 2003) Due to the excessively large size of the company, it becomes very difficult on the part of its purchasers to maintain the availability of some of its product within the store outlets. Because of the weak purchasing network that causes insufficient supply of T-shirts in some of Wal-Mart’s retail store outlets during the second half of 2007 (Bianco, 2007), the company experienced a huge business opportunity loss. Aside from having a weak purchasing network, Wal-Mart’s growth strategy was reported to become inefficient since 2005. (Bianco, 2007) Basically, the rapid business growth that the company has achieved over the past few years enabled Wal-Mart to capture as much of its target market. For this reason, it becomes very difficult on the part of the company to use the same growth strategy in the near future. Even though the overhead costs of Wal-Mart significantly increased from 16.4% in 2000 up to 18.6% in 2007 (Bianco, 2007), the company is often being accused of underpaying its employees with low salary of US$8.23 per hour or US$13,861 each year (Bianco & Zellner, 2003). Having the idea of following the retail store structure of European

The Cuban Missile Crisis Essay Example for Free

The Cuban Missile Crisis Essay Remembered as perhaps the most intense episode of the Cold War due to its nuclear threat, the Cuban Missile Crisis has been analyzed extensively by historians hoping to construct an accurate picture of its cause and development. The tight control exercised by both Soviet and American government agencies, however, has limited access to relevant documents, and thus inhibited any objective study of the crisis. Until only a few years ago, most of the world would have agreed with Arthur Schlesinger Jr. s description of the event as a brilliantly controlled1 American victory- a paragon of US dedication, morale, and diplomatic skill. But as the National Security Archive has gradually opened access to key accounts, it has become apparent that what seemed so finely orchestrated was in fact wrought with misinformation, miscalculation, and misjudgment. 2 At the time, tensions were already running high due to the fierce military and psychological rivalry between superpowers, and problems within the Eastern and Western blocs themselves made it even easier to misinterpret political signals. Failures in intelligence and a general lack of central control further complicated the situation, fuelling the fires of mistrust that were already burning with the increased urgency that accompanies the prospect of nuclear war. From these revelations, we can conclude that initial assessments of the episode as a thirteen day affair are incorrect, that it was rather the result of long-term misunderstanding. And while deliberate deception did play a significant role in the development of the crisis, we must acknowledge that it was, for the most part, perpetuated by a combination of basic mistrust and political and military mishaps. It is with this knowledge in mind, then, that we proceed to examine the complex set of factors that brought the world to the brink of a cataclysmic war. The years leading up to the Cuban Missile Crisis had seen a number of significant changes in the Cold War conflict. Things were very unstable, as new faces became prominent, new nations were born, and the rivalry between superpowers reached previously unvisited levels, both high and low, as Soviet and American governments experimented with foreign policy. While these factors had a significant influence on the status quo in both the Eastern and Western hemispheres, their effect was particularly marked within Khrushchevs domain, as he sought to assert his individuality by introducing anti-Stalinist mechanisms. His advocation of peaceful co-existence,3 and military disarmament, as well as his insistence on publicly denouncing Stalin, met with fiery opposition from within the Kremlin, and, by 1957, it had become apparent that he was losing control of the formerly centralized Communist world. With rebellions springing up across Eastern Europe, then, and China beginning to pursue a course independent of Khrushchevs support, it had become clear that a firm reinstatement of Soviet authority was needed, and soon. The pressure that this goal put on Khrushchev, and the conflicts between him and his advisers caused Soviet foreign policy to fluctuate drastically. After pursuing what seemed what seemed like rapprochement at Camp David, and making an amiable visit to the United States, the Soviet leader suddenly reverted to hostile tactics, refusing to negotiate over Berlin, and assuming a suspicious attitude about US actions in Europe. This dramatic change of approach was best displayed in the fact that, after years of silence on offensive American overflights, he unexpectedly ordered a U2 plane that was photographing Soviet territory shot down. Khrushchev went on to cite this incident as the cause for his failure to attend the Paris Summit Conference in May, 1960. Obviously, such inconsistency sent mixed messages to the American administration, increasing their distrust. Suspicion of the Soviets escalated to a new high, as many key officials sided with former Secretary of State John Dulles in describing the period of peace as a tactical ploy to lure the West into a false sense of security, while (they) pursuedaggressive goals in disguise.4 The Soviet desire to reassert its strength and control caused even further problems when it extended past attempts to preserve Russias hegemony in Eastern Europe to actions intended to undermine the American public image. Ultimately, it became apparent over the next year or so that Soviet movements were double-edged, designed to consolidate, certainly, but also to probe US defenses, to determine the actual extent of its interest and loyalty to its allies in Europe. Their efforts in Berlin constituted one such probe, as the construction of the Berlin Wall was intended both to plug a hole in the iron curtain,5 and, at the same time, to break down the relationship between the United States and West Germany. The Soviets felt that if the Americans failed to intervene despite the West Berliners cries for help, this would weaken Germanys confidence in their US allies, and make a statement to the rest of NATO confirming their fear that the US was unable or unwilling to offer substantial resistance to Eastern strategies. This sentiment had arisen with the Soviet launching of Sputnik in 1957, a statement of its progress in the nuclear arms race. The Americans, meanwhile, were aware that their failure to follow through on some of their ideas for NATO, including the goal to increasetroop strength to fifty divisions,6 was giving the impression that US support was all talk. Further problems with the French over the establishment of the European Defense Committee threatened the cohesion of the Western bloc and engendered a need to reinforce US interest in Europe, a need which so paralleled the Soviet goals that it set the two superpowers up for an almost inevitable collision. In addition, the new president John F. Kennedy was experiencing similar problems to those faced by Khrushchev. Confronted with a hawkist faction within his body of advisers, Kennedy was constantly under pressure to be more aggressive, to abandon containment and start to roll back Communism. Just as disagreements within the Kremlin had caused confusion and misinterpretations of political moves, conflict inside the White House allowed American foreign policy t o appear fragmented and thus unpredictable. These things ensured that an already precarious situation was complicated by factors that masked the true intentions of each side. Cuba may seem an unlikely place for this clash between superpowers to occur, but since 1959 it has been a key symbol of resistance to US imperialism both in Latin America, and, on a grander scale, in the entire western hemisphere. In 1947, a Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance had been signed by the US and a number of South and Central American countries, apparently an alliance of similar design to NATO. It had been the source of much trouble, however, as the Latin Americans had envisioned the pact as a mechanism for their own economic development and security, not as a means by which the US could prevent Soviet expansion in this part of the globe. When ten years passed with little tangible aid, but plenty of American interference in the political system, the civilians grew dissatisfied, a sentiment which intensified as the US threatened leftist Colonel Arbenz of Guatemala with military opposition if he did not step down as premier. The Cubans especially resented this, and, when similar threats were raised against their Communist leader Fidel Castro, they turned to the Soviet Union for assistance. By the end of 1959, Cuba had become a Russian client state, and a useful foothold for the Soviets in the western hemisphere. Despite the intense antagonism that existed between the Russians and the Americans, the US administration did not view the close relationship between Castro and Khrushchev with any real alarm. This was because they felt that while the Soviets wanted to undermine the American public image, they were not willing to take action that could precipitate nuclear war. Thus, Kennedy was reasonably sure that his warning to the Soviets not to deploy missiles in Cuba would be obeyed in the interests of the common goal of nuclear non-proliferation. It came as a shock, then, when U2 planes flying over Cuban territory showed that several missile sites were under construction. This greatly increased the American mistrust of the Soviets, and, as correspondence began to flow between Moscow and Washington, it became apparent that there was an inherent difference in the way that the two superpowers defined the Cuban problem. For instance, the Americans felt that they had a right to know what was happening in their part of the world, complaining that the Kremlin had given repeated assurances of what (you were) not doing7- in effect, that it had lied to them. The Soviets, on the other hand, asserted that they were under no obligation to inform the U.S of any activities (they were) carrying on in a third country.8 This statement was probably only made to promote a sense of strength and independence, but it was, to the Americans, a sign that even the prospect of nuclear war could not deter the Soviets from their campaign of domination and expansion. It is clear from similar incidents that a need to appear strong led each superpower to use a certain degree of deception in its dealings with the other. This did not essentially cause the conflict, however; as already stated, the missile crisis had been set up by intensifications in the East-West rivalry long before Soviet ships carrying nuclear arms set sail. It would be more accurate to say, then, that the bluffing that went on only served to delay the resolution of the problem. In addition, it was effective in that it gave the world a false understanding that, particularly on the American front, could be manipulated by government officials in order to create a more favorable public impression. The United States especially made a significant effort to present the Soviet action as a dangerous attempt to change the world-wide status-quo,9 ridiculing their qualms about a possible invasion of Cuba. Recent studies have shown, however, that these concerns were not so unfounded as has been previously supposed. According to the US Archives, a plan for an operation against the Castro regime had been in existence since April 1960, entailing sabotage, infiltration, and psychological warfare, activities with military exercisesfor a possible invasion.10 It is also clear that President Kennedy was well aware of this throughout the crisis negotiations, having endorsed the scheme with the comment that its final success would require decisive military intervention11. We can only conclude that the Americans assumed the stance they did to protect their public image- seeking to mask the traces of imperialism in their attitude towards Cuba, and, at the same time, to undermine the Soviet positio n by presenting them as bad liars to the rest of the world. The Soviets were less successful, but just as determined, in their attempts to use deception to work the situation to their advantage. They, in turn, lied to the Americans in stating that no missiles will be placed in Cubawhich would (be)capable of reaching the United States,12 and again, later, in their claim that the deployment of missiles to Cuba was a purely deterrent move carried out to save Castro. While it is clear that there may have been something in the concerns about invasion, the writings of Khrushchev himself show that the strategy was also invented as a means of equalizing what the West likes to call balance of power. 13 The double-edged nature of this Soviet probe became even more obvious in the correspondence that took place between the Kremlin and the White House, as Khrushchev requested two separate concessions in return for removing the missiles- a no invasion pledge, and a promise that threatening nuclear bases in Turkey be dismantled. These missile bases may have actually triggered the Soviet action in Cuba, as they provided the US with an unanswered first-strike capability, and, incidentally, had become operational just a few weeks before ships began to cross from Russia to the Cuban coast. Known as the Jupiter missiles, these nuclear bases were an important part of a US statement intended to counter general lack of confidence in American support. They were also, however, essentially provocative,14 capable, as the Cuban crisis had shown, of precipitating a nuclear war. As the Americans weighed up these two factors, their concerns about their public image again caused them to revert to deceptive measures. Their inconsistency did not exactly impress the Russians, who were one day confronted with the announcement that the missiles in Turkey were NATOs decision,15 and the next, told that they would be removed if the Soviets kept the news of this concession from the American allies. In the end, however, the US administration judged correctly when it assumed that Khrushchev would happily forget about publicizing the agreement if he were given what he had asked for. The missiles in Turkey continued to be a central issue, though, as ongoing denial of any explicit Turkey-Cuba deal created the impression that the Cuban Missile Crisis was a great American victory. To further confound a situation that was already complicated by long term misunderstanding and deliberate deception, a number of military and political mishaps occurred. For instance, the fact that an American plane was shot down over Cuba almost triggered a U.S. air strike because it was interpreted as a Kremlin initiated action. Evidence has shown, however, that this was a purely local effort on the part of the Cubans to assert their independence. Similar problems occurred in the US administration, as CIA officials undertook unauthorized operations that gave the Cubans even more reason to anticipate an American invasion. This lack of central control made communication vitalfor the whole world,16 as the White House at least, recognized. In a conflict involving nuclear weapons, Kennedy said, even if these are only valuable for their psychological effect, every precaution must be taken to prevent an accidental outbreak of war. It is clear, then, that the Cuban Missile Crisis was born out of mutual but conflicting desires to appear strong in the context of an intense ideological war. During the years leading up to the event, a number of factors, the most important of these being the threat of nuclear war, combined to escalate existing tensions to dangerously high levels. In addition, the fact that neither side was willing to acknowledge that relations were deteriorating meant that the situation was further complicated by diplomatic exchange. When the conflict broke out in 1962, both Khrushchev and Kennedy stumbled through negotiations as they weighed up various concerns: how to protect their public image at home, and yet, at the same time, undermine the enemys position; how to keep up in the arms race while avoiding nuclear war. These things, and may others ensured that any resolution of the crisis would have to offer a military quid pro quo which would diffuse the nuclear conflict without causing either superpower to lose face. The fact that Soviet and American officials still disagree about the details of the eventual agreement, however, shows that it was more the (nuclear) restraint that was practiced and expected17 that prevented the outbreak of war than any diplomatic feat. 1 Jonathan K. Reece Revising the History of the Missile Crisis, pg. 34. 2 Robert McNamara as quoted in Jonathan K. Reeces Revising the History of the Missile Crisis, pg. 34. 3 William R. Keych The 20th Century World pg. 304 4 William R. Keych The 20th Century World pg. 304 5 William R. Keych, op cit., pg. 316 6 William R. Keych, op cit. pg. 297 7 Letter from John F. Kennedy to N.S. Khrushchev of Nov. 6, 1962. 8 Soviet Ambassador Kusnetsov as quoted in letter from John F. Kennedy to N.S. Khrushchev of Nov. 6, 1962. 9 The Presidents Address, October 22,nd, 1962. 10 Top Secret document released to the US National Security Archives in January 1989. 11 Ibid. 12 Letter from John F. Kennedy to N.S. Khrushchev of Nov. 6, 1962 13 http://www.wilsoncenter.org/subsites/ccpdc/pubs/zart/Ch11.html 14 Eisenhower as quoted by Jonathan K. Reece, op cit. page 46. 15 http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/nsa/cuba_mis_cri/moment.html 16 Letter from John F. Kennedy, op cit. 17 http://wwww.wilsoncenter.org/subsites/ccpdc/pubs/zart/Ch.11.html

Conservation Assignment Essay --

Ailuropoda melanoleuca, also known as the Giant Panda, is one of the most endangered species. It was first found and ranged throughout the region of southern and eastern China, as well as northern Myanmar and northern Vietnam indicated by the fossil records (Là ¼, 2008). Today, giant panda is only found and restricted to six fragmented and isolated mountains including Qinling, Minshan, Liangshan, Qionglai, Xiaoxiangling, and Daxiangling in Shaanxi, Gansu and Sichuan Provinces. The current population is estimated to be around 1000-2000. Wild giant panda subpopulation is estimated to be around 50. It exhibits a female-biased dispersal due the larger amount of female compare to male and competition for mating. This led male pandas to set up territories near the birthplace, creating a uniform dispersion. Giant pandas live in coniferous and temperate forests along with dense stands of bamboo at elevations around 5000-10,000 feet. They tend to not hibernate but generally descend to lower places in the winter and take places such as hollow trees, caves and rock crevices as their temporary shelters. They spend around half of their day feeding on different species of bamboos depending on the seasons to maximize the ingestion of energy, which comprises 99% of their diets. They obtain the water that they need from bamboos. Wild pandas occasionally eat grasses, small rodents and musk deer fawns but these only make up 1% of their diets. The giant pandas that live in the zoos eat mostly bamboo and occasionally other food that wild pandas don’t eat such as sweet potatoes, carrots and some special high-fiber biscuit (national zoo, 2012). One of the main causes of the giant panda population decline is the degraded and restricted habitat. Gian... ...hough the increased amount of panda isn’t as high, it still worked. Works Cited Amsel, Sheri. â€Å"Environmental Issues.† Endangered Species -The Giant Panda. Exploring Nature Educational Resource. 2005. Web. 14 Mar. 2014. National Zoo. "Giant Panda." Facts. National Zoological Park, 2012. Web. 14 Mar. 2014. Loucks, CJ. "Result Filters." National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 16 Nov. 2001. Web. 14 Mar. 2014. Là ¼, Z, Wang, D. & Garshelis, D.L. (IUCN SSC Bear Specialist Group) 2008. Ailuropoda melanoleuca. In: IUCN 2013. Web. 14 Mar. 2014. World Wildlife Fund. "Panda's Natural Enemies and Defenses." WWF. World Wildlife Fund, 2008. Web. 13 Mar. 2014. Zhan, XJ. "Molecular Analysis of Dispersal in Giant Pandas." National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 16 Sept. 2007. Web. 14 Mar. 2014.

‘Tis the Season

The Season Just because we all grow up physically does not mean we have to allow ourselves to become numb to all the things that made us feel giddy as a child. Everyone knows how exciting it can feel to wake up on Christmas morning. All December long, we work to ring in the Christmas spirit by giving to others, displaying festive colors of green and red, and enjoying the constant Jingle of holiday music in the background of everything we do.I personally feel like a little kid, naive and blissfully ignorant very year on December 25th. There's something magical about all the traditions and events that make me feel forever young at heart on this special day. At our house, though I am a fully-grown only child, my parents still enforce the mystery of Santa Claus. On Christmas Eve we all gather In the kitchen, warmed by the radiating heat of a wood-fired stove, and bake fresh gingersnaps that embrace every room In the house with their saccharine fragrance.We lay them out on a festive plate with a refreshing glass of cold milk, and as I sleepily tiptoe my way to bed I pretend that I actually believe a chubby man in a crimson suit will shoot out of our chimney and joyfully gobble them up while I'm asleep. Then I wake up early the next morning and peek out the window and watch puffy white flakes descend gently to the ground, and the crisp, cold air chills the palms of my hands as I touch the frosty glass.My mind says there is no such thing as magic or flying reindeer, but as I observe the delicate snowfall and notice one lonely, half-eaten gingersnap left on our plate in the kitchen, my heart starts to believe all over again. Later, when I'm done absorbing the simple leisure of Christmas morning in my solitary silence, I drag my feet all the way to my parents' bedroom and I wake them up. They reluctantly roll out of the comfort of their warm bed Like two teenagers getting up for school on a dreary Monday morning.After they pour themselves a steaming hot cup of bitter, b lack coffee, we all congregate in the living room around the Christmas tree. Before we even consider tearing into the plethora of gifts wrapped in shiny, foil paper and topped with curly ribbons, we sit together for a while, and we are hushed by the fatigue of early ironing and the distinct elegance of the glimmering lights that dress the tall, green tree that appear like stars in a cloudless midnight sky. Eventually someone will break the infinite silence by saying â€Å"Whiffs going to open the first one? Then we dig into the various gifts, being particular with which boxes we choose first. Sometimes I shake the box like a rattle to try and guess what lies within its layers of cardboard, scotch tape, and colorful wrapping paper. We all watch each other, waiting eagerly for a surprised reaction. When we are done scavenging through every Inch of the ere, we enjoy each others company and sit contently on our couch while we watch a classic, the movie A Christmas Story.Christmas, I'm sure, is celebrated very different from person to person. Hopefully, my family. Christmas is a time to believe, whether that be in a Jolly, old, overweight man, the spirit of giving, or the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas is when people should let themselves feel young again, and for me, that means baking cookies and waking up early with my parents Christmas morning so we can watch a movie together. As the wise Dry. Issues once wrote, â€Å"Maybe Christmas,' the Grinds thought, ‘doesn't come from a store.

Detective writers Essay

The dim-witted police (inspector Raglan) acted as Poirot’s sidekick. Inspector Raglan is the traditional dim-witted policeman who comes up with bad suggestions, however he is also Poirot’s right hand man. When Inspector Raglan was out of sight, Poirot claimed, â€Å"†¦that stupid inspector- for he is stupid-has everything pointing his way†. Poirot is saying that he is to stupid to see the evidence that is right in front of him and it shows you his dim-wittedness. M. Poirot had asked the inspector if he had checked all the evidence carefully, but when he was asked if he had overlooked â€Å"the quick or the dead† â€Å"The inspector looked bewildered† as if he was too stupid to understand.  Poirot had also asked if he had overlooked the fingerprints on the dagger, He had then mocked inspector Raglan by exclaiming, â€Å"It is an easy matter to verify†.  Poirot, the superior detective had come across a lot of evidence during the story, however the evidence was faulty and Poirot was intelligent enough to figure this out. During his inspection around Roger Ackroyd’s room, Poirot was told that the Grandfather chair had been moved since the departure of parker’s stay in the room, The doctor said it wasn’t important, however Poirot replied â€Å"It is completely unimportant†¦That is why it is so interesting†. Here Poirot is showing us his superior judgement. When Poirot was examining the body he was very observant and he automatically knew Mr Ackroyd did not commit suicide because of the positioning of Ackroyd’s hand, â€Å"the position of the prints was somewhat awkward†.  Poirot was the only one to spot that Mr Ackroyd was dictating a letter when Mr Raymond overheard him. Poirot knew he was dictated it from how he read it out, â€Å"Would any man use such a phrase in talking to another?† This shows us that Poirot has excellent observational skills and his intelligence. It was very surprising to know that it was Doctor Shepard who committed the murder because he seemed genuine, however it was more surprising to know that it was the murderer who was the narrator, that was a huge shock. Christie had gave us a very exciting twist which didn’t follow the traditional detective story, but gave us a very interesting ending. I think that this technique adds to the excitement of the story and also intrigues the reader much more. The surprise is that the trustworthy narrator is the murderer, you automatically assume he or she is the trustworthy distant bystander. The murder was set in King’s Abbot, a village â€Å"†¦very much like any other village†. The setting was a very unexpected place for a murder, there was nothing sinister about it, so it would be a very unusual place to have a murder, however it did intrigue the reader to know whom the murdering villager was. Although the setting seemed innocent Mr Roger Ackroyd seemed different. Poirot describes the average villager of being â€Å"a country squire† however he describes Mr Ackroyd of being â€Å"†¦an immensely successful†, a contrast between the average countryman and Mr Ackroyd. From reading ‘The Orient express’ and ‘the blue carbuncle’ you notice a huge contrast in the way the author presents his characters. When reading one of Agatha Christie’s novels you find out all the characters background information where as when you’re reading a Sir Doyle novel the back ground information is limited only if The superior detective decides to concentrate on a particular character.  Agatha Christie’s method had influenced other up and coming writers. Ruth Rendell is a more recent novelist who has manipulated detective Fiction, however she has kept the certain methods of what Agatha Christie had once used. ‘Burning End’ was very unusual to my detective genre perceptions. The story had felt peculiar to how I would perceive a detective fiction. I would perceive a detective story to contain Traditional elements, where as this one doesn’t even contain a detective. The story was a mystery, where by the reader was psychologically presuming whom the murderer was at the end of the story. It was basically an open ending for the reader to ponder upon. The story had contained a few traditional elements but not as you would assume their to be. The elements found were the perfect crime, the wrongly accused suspect, the surprise ending and the dim-witted police. Each one seems very doubtful because of the open ending, however passages in the story have made the situation controversial. The crime committed that we know no perfect to or any truth to have believed the matter to be insufficient, however if beliefs were told you would assume Linda to have committed the offence. Linda seemed very caring and had worried about the welfare of Betty. She would be her personal servant, however Betty had never shown any affection or appreciation to Linda’s hard working generosity, for example Betty’s son asks her â€Å"to come and live with them at the farm. Betty responded very differently from when she asked her†. This might have provoked Linda into uncaring motives. During the death the house that Betty was living in had naturally or unnaturally caught on fire while Betty was present. Ms Rendell gives suggestions on how it set on fire, however the likeliest possibility was that the Linda had intentionally new the house was going to be caught on fire and Linda would of used it as an attempt to dispose of Betty for her ungratefulness. Linda had discovered an unpredictable way of causing fire and found it quite astonishing. She discovered this method by noticing the paper near the vase had caught on fire, to her amazement she believed the vase had began a magnifying effect when exposed to sunlight, causing the paper to be magnified, in result to a fire. Linda had intended to move the vase for safety hazards, however Linda had felt hesitation, â€Å"It was a strange feeling she had†¦she would somehow have closed a door or missed a chance†. Linda doesn’t give reference to what she had missed a chance on, but the only explanation the reader can think of is that she has missed a chance on killing Betty in such an accidental way that to Linda it was the perfect crime. Then again it may not have been Linda. The wrongly accused might have been the doctor or even Linda. No one was literally accused, however the reader would have been suspicious on particular characters. The Doctor is the most controversial of my suspects, his remarks and attitude seem to emphasize that Betty should die early with her family â€Å"†¦best for the old folks to end their days at home whenever possible.† He seems to clarify that he wants her to die soon and â€Å"He made no comment on the cigarette† where as most doctors try to keep the patient healthy, this doctor doesn’t mind the usage of cigarette smoke around her as long as it speeds up the process. Near the end the doctor believes he had killed her, he claimed it was an accident, however if it was murder or manslaughter he didn’t feel any remorse. â€Å"I don’t feel a scrap of guilt, accidents will happen and there’s nothing you can do about it†. Any other sincere human being would have felt guilty if they knew they had caused a death, it seemed as if he intentialy left the cigarette their to cause the death. Although The Burning End doesn’t contain any dim-witted police, the story still contains a sense of dim wittedness. Like Agatha Christie, Ruth Rendell uses her dim witted police role in her characters. While Brian and Michael are suggesting why Linda is miserable, they come across the fact that she feels guilty. However they don’t realise she is upset because she might have literally killed Betty. Brian and Michael knew Linda was feeling guilty but they never took it into consideration that Linda could of caused the fire. The brothers are too dim witted to see that Linda was feeling guilty over the fact that Linda may have caused the death. Michael suggests that its â€Å"guilt† that is making Linda miserable. Brian responds to Michael’s theory by blasting back â€Å"What’s she got to be guilty about? She couldn’t have done more if she’d been Mum’s own daughter.'† This would of made the crime even more perfect if it was L inda. Detective Fiction has been changed and manipulated over the past century, from Sir Doyle to Ruth Rendell. Detective Fiction has changed with time and time has changed with Detective fiction. Since Sir Doyle detective fiction has introduced new excitements and has gradually manipulated the readers thoughts. Detective stories have changed so much, from having the superior detective as the centre point to having no detective at all. Agatha Christie was the one, who began manipulating Detective Fiction, although she had made a few adjustments, she still kept the concept. Agatha intended to use the ideas of past detective writers and present them in her own way  Ruth Rendell the most recent Detective writer of my studies is a prime example of how Detective fiction has changed. Ruth stories are in contrast with Sir Doyle’s because Ruth uses the ideas and manipulations of the recent Detective writers (Agatha Christie) and recapitulates them to create new means of excitement. This is an example of how Detective fiction has changed and will proceed in the future.

Free Infrared Surveillance Essay

Free Infrared Surveillance Essay Infrared Surveillance Contemporary world experiences plenty of challenges in the sphere of security The reality is such that old traditional safety and security measures are not capable of coping with the growing threats of terrorist attacks, crimes, natural disasters, etc. Now is the time when novel sophisticated tools appear to solve the problem of ever-growing need for eliminating danger. One of the challenges of potentially dangerous situations might be solved by a tool, which enables people to see in the darkness systems of infrared surveillance. This essay focuses on infrared surveillance and spheres of its application in the modern world, ranging from military to fire control. Infrared security cameras have the special ability to render video in low-light conditions and in total darkness, thus making it possible to disclose what is happening in places where and at the time when human eyes cannot serve reliably (Security Camera Warehouse). Security PRO USA, one of online security centers, states that with the help of infrared surveillance systems people obtain a possibility to get the necessary picture even under the most severe atmospheric or environmental conditions (Security PRO USA). Infrared cameras were originally developed for the military use during the Korean War to further enhance night vision capabilities (Sierra Pacific Corp., 2012). Later on, this technology transferred to various spheres. Now infrared surveillance is widely used in numerous fields, such as military, law enforcement, maintaining perimeter integrity, mobile surveillance, marine surveillance, search and rescue, fire control, facilities safety and security, event or crowd management, etc. (Infrared Cameras Inc., 2012). Infrared surveillance has found its widest application in the military: night seeing, weapon sighting, remote sensing and force protection are just several examples of how infrared surveillance can be used in the military and paramilitary spheres (Sierra Pacific Corp., 2012). Infrared thermal imaging has become an important, cost-efficient solution for a wide variety of military missions such as surveillance, search rescue, force protection, drug interdiction, perimeter integrity maintenance and etc. (Security PRO USA). Border security is one of the vital tasks for any state today This unique challenge combines vast unpopulated territories with long distances and various climate and weather conditions. Carl Zeiss Optronics GmbH, one of the leading providers of optical and opto-electronic products and services for defense and security, indicates that monitoring and protecting larger areas presents security institutions with considerable problems, particularly at night and when poor visual conditions exist (Carl Zeiss Optronics GmbH). Infrared surveillance systems are an excellent opportunity to control a situation, as their cameras can be networked and provide high-quality imaging under any conditions (IEC Infrared Systems, 2008). Similarly, maintaining perimeter integrity at such facilities as refineries, nuclear power plants, ports, airports and other critical infrastructure also requires an overall control of the territory. Infrared surveillance enables to augment and sometimes completely replace conventional mobile patrols at night - in total darkness states Infrared Cameras Inc., one of the leaders in security systems manufacture (Infrared Cameras Inc., 2012). Mobile infrared systems enable the modern military to deal successfully with improvised explosive devices, which have become the weapon of choice for terrorists and insurgents (IEC Infrared Systems, 2008). Another task that infrared cameras help to fulfill is search and rescue of lost survivors (Infrared Cameras Inc., 2012). Search in the darkness used to be impossible and all attempts stopped at night. Now many lives are saved owing to this modern technology. One more challenging task for infrared surveillance is fire control and management Firefighting and firefighting management requires rapid information receipt. When a territory is covered in smoke, it becomes crucial to get a reliable picture as soon as possible to be able to save lives and prevent further spread of fire. Infrared cameras are the tool to gain this valuable real-time tactical information, which is invaluable in the decision making process (Infrared Cameras Inc., 2012). Many facilities have open-door displays of their products, such as automobiles or simply large areas, which should be protected from penetration. Moreover, they usually have large parking lots, warehouses or long and dark walkways, where it is almost impossible to ensure full and continuous lighting. On the one hand, using infrared surveillance helps save on electricity by eliminating unnecessary lighting over product displays and empty areas. On the other hand, it decreases the risks for employees when they are in poorly lit areas (Infrared Cameras Inc., 2012). Infrared surveillance can benefit law enforcement agencies in general, as it them with an opportunity to see what is not meant to be seen, as most crimes are committed in darkness. In this case infrared surveillance can either help witness a crime and stop it timely, or prevent it by spreading the information in the area that is being watched. There is one more sphere where infrared surveillance may play an important role, which is marine control. Waterfront security is a real challenge as people and equipment have to work in the most severe conditions and there are various threats to detect from swimmers to vessels, submarines and underwater mines. To sum up, infrared surveillance systems can help protect borders, military camps, troops, private and business property, detect explosives and drugs; search for the lost and save lives in fire. Nevertheless, infrared surveillance can not only fulfill security tasks, but also scientific queries, energy audits, etc. as it provides a wide range of applications with the possibility of receiving unique information, which cannot be obtained by other means either due to technology or conditions.

Visa O para trabajar en USA - habilidad extraordinaria

Visa O para trabajar en USA - habilidad extraordinaria Entre las visas que autorizan a  trabajar en Estados Unidos se encuentra la O, que se conceden a personas con habilidades extraordinarias. Este artà ­culo se explica cules son los puntos bsicos que deben tenerse en cuenta para considerar si es la visa apropiada y que, por lo tanto, debe buscarse. Adems, al final se hace referencia a cules son otras opciones de visa, para el caso de que la visa O no resulte la apropiada. Campos en los que es posible la visa O No todos los profesionales pueden optar a las visas O. Y es que estn limitadas a profesionales con habilidades extraordinarias y que adems estn encuadrados en los siguientes  campos: CienciasDeportesArtesEducacià ³nNegociosCine y la Televisià ³n En los cuatro primeros casos se tendrà ­a una visa O-1A, mientras que para los profesionales del cine o de la televisià ³n la visa es la O-1B. Aunque es comà ºn considerar que esta visa es, principalmente, para artistas, no es asà ­. Entre los profesionales que han recibido esta visa se encuentran: AgentesChefsDeportistas y entrenadoresDirectores de MarcaDirectores de mercadeoDirectores de publicidadEstilistas de cabelloFotà ³grafosGaleristasMaquilladoresPintoresProductoresSommeliersRestauradores de muebles, etc. Quà © se entiende por habilidad extraordinaria para la visa O Las visas O requieren que la persona extranjera que se beneficia pueda ser considerado como un profesional con una habilidad extraordinaria. En el caso de las visas O-1A no es necesario haber ganado el Premio Nobel pero sà ­ hay que ser una persona con un historial de trabajo de excelente calidad y respetada en su campo y que es considerada como que  figura entre los mejores en su campo de actuacià ³n. Esta circunstancia se puede acreditar mediante premios nacionales o locales de renombre o documentando membresà ­a en organizaciones profesionales de reconocido prestigio. Tambià ©n son vlidos como prueba los artà ­culos publicados en revistas profesionales de prestigio. En el caso particular del mundo de los negocios se puede demostrar que la capacidad de una persona ha sido crà ­tica para establecer la reputacià ³n de una compaà ±Ãƒ ­a o que tiene dotes de gestià ³n reconocidos. En todos los casos, un salario alto puede probar la habilidad laboral especial. En cuanto a la visa O-1B, los artistas deben probar que han alcanzado un nivel de distincià ³n dentro de su campo. Es decir, deben tener una reputacià ³n sobresaliente  que se puede acreditar mediante  premios de renombre, las crà ­ticas en la prensa, contratos, evidencia de à ©xito comercial o ingresos altos en relacià ³n a otros profesionales. En general se considera que es ms difà ­cil probar el carcter excepcional en  cine y televisià ³n que en el de las Artes. Visas O derivadas para personal de apoyo y para familiares Entre las visas derivadas se encuentra la O-2 para personas que con habilidades reconocidas y experiencia trabajando con el titular de una O-1 para quien su labor resulta imprescindible y no puede ser realizado por un trabajador con permiso de trabajo en EU. Estas visas sà ³lo se dan en los mbitos deportivos y artà ­sticos. Por à ºltimo, el cà ³nyuge y los hijos solteros menores de 21 aà ±os del titular de una visa O-1 y de una O-2 pueden viajar a EU con una visa O-3. Durante su estancia  no podrn trabajar. Adems, el titular de la visa O podrà ­a solicitar una B-1 para sus empleados domà ©sticos, siempre que se cumplan los requisitos. Cà ³mo se solicita la visa O La forma de solicitar este tipo de visa es presentando ante el Servicio de Inmigracià ³n y Ciudadanà ­a (USCIS) por sus siglas en inglà ©s, el formulario I-129 de Peticià ³n de Trabajador Extranjero. Debe enviarse al menos 45 dà ­as antes de la fecha de inicio del contrato. Este tipo de visa permite el pago de una tarifa extra para acelerar su tramitacià ³n. Adems, este formulario debe presentarse junto con documentacià ³n de apoyo, entre ella lo que se conoce como consulta. Una vez que se solicita la visa es posible verificar su estatus online.  ¿En quà © consiste la consulta y cundo no es necesaria? Es una opinià ³n dada por escrito por una persona o un grupo, como por ejemplo un sindicato, que es considerado como un experto en el campo de la persona para la que se solicita la visa O. En dicho escrito se validan sus habilidades. Se recomienda que esa consulta està © en papel de carta con marca de agua para acreditar su autenticidad. Sin embargo, se considera que no es necesaria esta consulta en dos casos. En primer lugar, cuando el peticionario de la visa pueda demostrar que no existe ni persona experta ni grupo para dar su opinià ³n. Y, en segundo lugar, cuando el beneficiario de la visa ya hubiera realizado una labor similar en Estados Unidos y exista una consulta al respeto de menos de dos aà ±os. En este caso se debe solicitar una exencià ³n al requisito de la consulta.  ¿Quià ©n puede ser solicitante de una visa O? ¿Es posible auto-emplearse con visa O? Aunque es frecuente creer que es posible que un trabajador extranjero se patrocine a sà ­ mismo una visa O, lo cierto es que la respuesta es negativa. Se necesita alguien que patrocine, que puede ser: Una empresa o empleador con base en los Estados UnidosUn agente Y necesariamente se debe trabajar para quien patrocina. Esto es asà ­ con independencia de si se tiene la consideracià ³n de trabajador en sentido estricto o si se le paga como contratista independiente, utilizndose en este caso la planilla 1099. En ocasiones puede darse el caso de que una persona extranjera funde una empresa en Estados Unidos y que esta empresa pueda contratarlo a travà ©s de una   visa O-1A. Estas son 7 opciones ms. Y entonces,  ¿por quà © se conoce a la visa O como una visa freelance? Hay que decir que no lo es. De hecho, en Estados Unidos no hay una visa para freelance. Lo que sucede es que si el patrocinador es un agente pueden darse situaciones que pueden dar la apariencia de freelance.   Por ejemplo, si el agente es el empleador, pero tiene contratos con varias empresas distintas y entonces el beneficiario de la visa O realiza trabajos para distintas empresas. Pero lo importante es entender que aà ºn en esta situacià ³n el patrocinador-empleador es el agente. Duracià ³n de la visa O Una visa de trabajo es siempre necesaria, aà ºn asà ­ sea para trabajar sà ³lo medio dà ­a. Si se trabaja sin un documento que lo permita se estarà ­a cometiendo una violacià ³n migratoria con posibles consecuencias. Las visas O se conceden  por un mximo de tres aà ±os, aunque puede ser por sà ³lo unos dà ­as. En teorà ­a, pueden renovarse sin là ­mite hasta el fin de la actividad laboral de su titular. Esto en la prctica equivale a que algunas personas desarrollen toda su vida laboral con este tipo de visa. Cà ³mo interactà ºa la visa O con otros tipos de visa Puede ocurrir que una misma persona podrà ­a solicitar distintas visas o que la visa O no sea realmente una buena opcià ³n por no cumplirse los requisitos. Para decidirse sobre cul pedir, debe saberse cules son sus objetivos y cules son las ventajas de unas visas sobre otras y cules son los requisitos. En este punto es importante familiarizarse con los puntos bsicos, pero asesorarse con un abogado migratorio experto en este tipo de visas. Por ejemplo, la visa O es muy parecida a la visa EB-2. La gran diferencia es que con esta à ºltima se emigra a USA con carcter permanente y, en consecuencia, se obtiene una tarjeta de residencia. En esta opcià ³n podrà ­an encajar las personas con estudios avanzados ms all de la licenciatura y aquà ©llas con una habilidad excepcional  en el campo de las Ciencias, las Artes o los Negocios. Otro camino para la green card pero sà ³lo abierto a las personas que puedan calificar como lo mejor en los campos de Deportes, Ciencias, Artes, Educacià ³n y Negocios es la visa de inmigrante que se conoce como EB-1. En cuanto a otras visas no que conviene conocer est  H1-B  para profesionales. La gran diferencia es que en el primer caso, excepto para el supuesto de los modelos, se exigen estudios de licenciatura. Adems, con la visa la visa H-1B puede haber el problema de los cupos por aà ±o fiscal. Esta inconveniencia obliga casi todos los aà ±os a tener que celebrar una loterà ­a para determinar quà © solicitantes de H-1B vern su visa tramitada, si bien hay excepciones por categorà ­as, empleador e incluso por paà ­ses, siendo Chile un caso a tener en cuenta. Adems, en los casos de las profesiones que permiten solicitar la visa TN, à ©sta puede ser una buena opcià ³n para los mexicanos y los canadienses. Este es un articulo informativo. No es asesorà ­a legal.

Syria MDG'S Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Syria MDG'S - Essay Example The year 1946 marks the time when this country gained independence and established itself as parliamentary republic. Since its independence the country has seen many skirmishes and wars. Many coups and attempts to take over the throne have shattered Syria’s infrastructure. The al-Assad family has been ruling the country since 1970. Hafiz al-Assad ruled the office from 1970-2000 only to be usurped by his son Bashar al-Assad. Today the country is part of United Nations. But due to conflict in the region its membership has been deferred from the Arab League as well as from Organization of Islamic Cooperation. March 2012 marks the formation of Syrian National Coalition, a group that stands in opposition to the government. The Arab League invited the representative of this group to take Syria’s seat. Currently Syria is governed by President Bashar al-Asad. It has been almost 3 years since conflict began. Humanitarian development achievements in the country have now been rolled back due to consistent fighting in the area. Flying bullets from everywhere make it difficult for humanitarian workers to continue their work. The conflict in Syria has already killed over 120,000 people and displaced 6.5 million (UNDP, n.d.). The crisis has stolen employment from the 50% population pushing Syrian citizens into poverty (UNDP, n.d.). Millions of Syrians are searching for refuge in neighboring areas and their host countries face a great challenge accommodating millions of them. Influx of new refugees is a serious setback for neighboring states. Basic needs like education, health, sanitation, infrastructure and non-existent economic opportunity has created cutthroat competition for jobs in Syria (UNDP, n.d.). People are practically living in ruins. Tensions are always on the rise threatening to rip apart the social cohesion. The UNDP workers were already deployed in Syria even before the crisis began. Their work was affected due

Causes of World War I Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Causes of World War I - Essay Example This is what will be dissertated in the following. "Facts are mere accessories to the truth, and we do not invite to our hearth the guest who can only remind us that on such a day we suffered calamity. Still less welcome is he who would make a Roman holiday of our misfortunes. Exaggeration of what was monstrous is quickly recognized as a sign of egotism, and that contrarious symptom of the same disease which pretends that what is accepted as monstrous was really little more than normal is equally unwelcome." (Max Plowman from Subaltern on the Somme). World War I, which has also been known as the First World War and the Great War, lasted from August 1914 to the final Armistice on November 11, 1918. Ultimately, this war created a decisive break with the old world order that had emerged after the Napoleonic Wars, as modified by the mid-19th Century national revolutions, "the processes of European national unification and European colonialism." ("Wikipedia", 2006). Unlike World War II, the circumstances leading up to World War I are more politically complex. There are several commonly used explanations towards the reasoning for the cause of World War I, some of which are as follows: The actual 'spark' of World War I occurred after the assassination of the Archduke Francis Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, and his wife by a Serbian nationalist on the morning of June 28, 1914, while traveling in a motorcade through Sarajevo, the capital city of Bosnia and Herzegovina. "The Archduke was chosen as a target because Serbians feared that after his ascension to the throne, he would continue the persecution of Serbs living within the Austro-Hungarian empire." ("Cyber", 2006). The humiliation of Germany, which occurred after Austria attacked Serbia on July 29 and Germany invaded Belgium on August 3, in accordance with the Schlieffen Plan. The guilt plause in this particular situation portrayed Germany and Hungary as being the aggressors, and therefore as those bearing responsibility for hostilities. What this meant was that Germany was responsible for paying all war costs - including pensions - of the Allies. It has been said by some that "This directly affected the global economy and indirectly contributed to the Great Depression." ("Wikipedia", 2006). Another commonly viewed explanation is that of the building of alliances and the related arms race. This factor was of great significance primarily because of the fact that the incorporation of allies resulted in severe strengths or weaknesses. From the end of the Franco-Prussian War, a system of secret alliances formed and developed in Europe. This of course eventually split the continent into two hostile and separate sides. These secret alliances led to much speculation and suspicion and the belief that far more secret alliances actually existed, then was in fact, the case. The major participants in the related arms race were Britain and Germany, tying in with the concept of new imperialism which gave way to the need for alliances. Competition was another major factor in the cause for World War I. The competition for colonies was a source of much international antagonism. "The great powers sectioned off Africa among them, established spheres of influence in China and sought protectorates elsewhere. Sooner or later this rush

Case study-bp struggles to resolve sustainability disaster-Ethic paper Term

Case study-bp struggles to resolve sustainability disaster-Ethic - Term Paper Example This incidence has affected the company severely damaging its reputation, costing it heavy losses and declining its business and productivity. The Deepwater Horizon disaster has produced cleanup costs that may exceed $40 b. In addition, billions more ultimately will be spent as a consequence of criminal and civil penalties and lawsuits. It also has produced an inestimable loss of reputation and goodwill for BP, a huge company that is more than a century old. The company was also blamed for acting unethically and avoiding its corporate social responsibilities. The aim of this paper is to examine key questions concerned with corporate ethics. These questions include whether any corporations believe that they must give evidence of acting ethically, whether this insistence is just politically-correct window dressing in many instances, whether it represents genuine moral concern on the part of top managers at the companies which issue them, whether it is truly good business for a corporat ion to institute ethical practices or whether these practices simply purchase a tawdry respectability within the community for a company. The answers to these key questions will be discussed in this paper in the context of BP. The role and significance of ethical considerations in corporate management Contrary to the earlier business practices and beliefs the present day corporate management provides significant importance to ethics in business and recognizes the the role and significance of ethical considerations in corporate management. Traditionally, the ethical principles were used for defining business rules and regulations and a set of standards which corporations should follow but presently, there are considered as serious issues required for the success of the organization and the top level management consider them vital issues for the business as they have to be accountable to their stakeholders including their customers who are life and blood for them and the ethical issue s are part of their social responsibility (Cavanagh, Moberg and Velasquez, 1981). The ethical considerations are still a dilemma for many corporations and they find it difficult in deciding about ethically acceptable or unacceptable behavior or situation. In the absence of clear and concrete definition of business ethics the corporations need the services of ethical consultants to resolve ethical issues. In the context of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, BP has been alleged for many serious ethical problems that have occurred after the incidence, but a close investigation of the issues suggests, given the facts as presented in this case, that the company has acted quite ethically and genuinely to all its stakeholders. The most critical ethical dilemma before the company was whether the company was fair and honest enough in handling the issues after the disaster. There is no limit to the expectations of the people and they always seek more than what they get. The company is spending substantially for the clean up projects for the damage caused by the Deepwater Hor

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Introducing Business Models

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Introducing Business Models A: Public Private Partnership is known worldwide as an important source of spurring clannish assets in stock building and improving public service delivery. As we move on with this business, it gets important to investigate objectives for PPP in visit to understand the risks and responsibilities the government would hit to adopt in visit to make PPPs growth. As we explore PPP we see two types of common reasons which are used to explain why a government pursues PPPs. The prototypal ordered of reasons are what we would adjudge as beneficial, reasons that are consistent with the outcome that PPPs actually achieve. The second ordered of reasons are what we adjudge Deceptive reasons-that is, reasons that are not really consistent with the outcomes that that PPPs can deliver. BENEFICIAL REASONS FOROF PURSUING PPP Risk transfer: Government getting rid of asset-based risks that is, risk directly associated with building or operating assets Whole-of-life costing: Through whole of life costing the government can achieve optimization between capital costs and operating and maintenance costs, a realistic projection of amount outlay of ownership, and a artefact of comparing competing designs on a like-with-like basis Innovation: Providing wider incentives for original solutions to assist delivery Asset utilization: Developing opportunities to generate income from utilization of the asset by third parties, which may reduce the outlay that the polity would otherwise have to pay as a sole user with the outcomes that that PPPs can deliver. DECEPTIVE RESONS FOR PURSUING PPP The main deceptive reason why some governments pursue PPPs is to access finance that would otherwise not be available. Accessing finance would not be doable ultimate by introducing a PPP. If an infrastructure source is not assured that, between user fees and government subsidies, it module be able to recover its costs, the government would unable to raise the top needed fund to build the project. The government module will not able to attract clannish finance simply by deciding to do PPP, cost recovery would need to be resolute before capital can be raised A government is an organization that has the power to make and enforce laws for a certain territory. There are several definitions on what exactly constitutes a government. In its broadest sense, govern means the power to administrate, whether over an area of land, a set group of people, or an association. A government is the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit. It is the system or form by which a community or other political unit is governed. Far more important to me is, that I should be loyal to what I regard as the law of my political life, which is this: a belief that that country is best governed, which is least governed George Hoadly Most people who have live in the Pakistan think of state provision when they think of public services. Consequently, when they think of public services being removed from state provision they think of privatization probably with the involvement of multi-national capital. However, for those who lived in from the period of the Industrial Revolution until the Second World war, and for million of people across the world who have lived since the war and up to the present day, the provision of services is not exclusively a matter for the state; it is a matter for the public. For people not living within our narrow cultural constraints, delivery of services is provided through co-operatives and mutuals. The democratic nature of co-operative structures gives people direct power over service delivery. The state, whether central or local, acts as a guarantor of peoples rights to services. The state must always be prepared to act as an enabler but should only be a provider in the last resort. Given our knowledge of this better way, we must continue to engage, not from any sense of ideological superiority, but because we know that this better way is more economically efficient and will provide better service delivery which meets people needs better than current provision. Let the people think they govern and they will be governed. William Penn It is worth acknowledging that there is some co-operative provision in Pakistan, for example there are a number of housing co-ops. It is equally worth acknowledging that there is a wider third sector which contains various social enterprises, charities and housing associations. Some of these are in a grant funded arrangement with the state while others take a more trading approach to procurement. Co-operative solutions, particularly when they are worker-led, require the support of trade unions. It is important to get the message across that co-operation is not privatization. Since trade unions are there to protect their members, perhaps co-operation should be promoted as a structure which can help protect their members. There is a need to make co-operative working the preferred option for workers in the service sector. Local Government Local government has played a leading role in Pakistans communities for many years and continues to have a key role to play. Support for co-operative values is not new to local government. Regional councils in particular funded and supported co-operative development. Pakistans local authorities have an important role to play in supporting co-operative businesses working in partnership with co-operative and mutual enterprises. A wise government knows how to enforce with temper, or to conciliate with dignity, but a weak one is odious in the former, and contemptible in the latter. George Greenville Local Authorities need to be partners in developing mutual solutions with communities. Pakistans local authorities should work in partnership with co-operative enterprises to improve social services, develop anti-poverty strategies and to provide environmental justice for communities. Procurement polices designed to achieve social aims and maximize the benefits for local communities will always assist successful co-operative enterprises. We should challenge the fear culture and encourage best practice. Procurement legislation needs to be looked at and all local services should be considered for co-op options. Moving to a co-operative model of service delivery would require a complete review of departmental structures within the local authorities existing political framework. We need to put in place now the support mechanism to underpin co-operative service development. There is widespread acknowledgement that the way local authorities deliver public services is changing. Privatization is happening but co-operative solutions can put people in ownership and control and enhance democracy. We should be pro-active in looking for services which are due to be externalized and have a co-operative model ready to promote. Public services should be delivered according to need and any profit should be paid back into the community. We need to develop across local government, through education, a knowledge base of councillors and policy makers across all parties together with officers with expertise ready to champion the co-op model. Planning Planning is an issue that cuts across policy areas. We should see this as an opportunity to develop a co-operative approach to some of the greatest challenges in 21st century Pakistan. Planning, above all else, is about co-ordination of provision and co-operative models, particularly secondary co-operative models, provide an ideal solution in this context. There are clear opportunities to develop co-op models to meet the needs of society to co-ordinate its approach to service delivery. For example, an industrial and provident society model could be used to create separate legal entities which would be responsible for linking up the shared responsibilities of the Health Service and local government and be democratically accountable to the communities they serve. This means extending co-operation beyond co-operation with a small c to creating structures which are fully accountable. It is important that co-operators take an active involvement in local planning and use it to engage with community groups. As a Movement which is heavily involved in retail and property, we are well placed to provide socially responsible solutions to the problem of town centre development in Pakistan. The co-operative model would provide an ideal structure for town centre partnerships. Not just co-operation with a small c between those involved in supporting town centre development but actual business models which could be used to develop town centers in a way that communities would want. We should seek to establish a consensus that co-operation is the default position. When planning new developments it is important to include play areas, community shops and centers where appropriate. Co-ops should seek to take advantage of community benefit clauses. The community benefit aspect should be seen as a way to develop new co-op businesses. Too bad that all the people who know how to run the country are busy driving taxicabs and cutting hair George Burns Health As co-operators, we view healthcare much in the same way we see every issue that confronts people, their families and communities we believe that power should lie with the people. Communities have to take responsibility for health provision and we believe co-operative and mutual models of healthcare provide them with the best opportunity to do this. The highly emotive campaigns which have arisen from proposals to re-design the delivery of acute and specialist services underlines the importance placed on the NHS by communities and the sensitivity with which politicians need to deal with the issue of health. The co-operative model could be applied to hospitals. With the aging population, social care was highlighted is the type of service where the caring, sharing Co-op model should be an obvious option. We believe that co-operative models would produce greater integration and would suggest that the evidence of co-operative healthcare provision overseas supports this contention. A key challenge for the provision of health services is to connect them with people the users, employees, patients and the wider community. It is essential to engender a type of ownership that enables stakeholders to feel that these services are run on their behalf and not for someone elses vested interests. We must address the issue of elections to Health Boards which would create an element of community involvement and accountability in health delivery. Consideration should be given to the increasingly challenging subject of care provision in Pakistan. This is an area which requires partnership between the NHS and local government. It is also an area which may have significant potential for co-operative development and is an area being prioritised by Co-operative Development Pakistan. We require action on pharmacy delivery and occupational health looking at co-operative rather than private solutions. One method of overcoming the difficult informational requirements of the allocation models described above is by enacting a requirement that anyone wanting to purchase cigarettes must first purchase a cigarette card. The card, which could be based on the same magnetic strip (or computer chip) technology used for credit cards and ATM cards, would be issued to any legal-aged smoker who wanted to buy cigarettes and would have to be presented by the smoker each time she purchased cigarettes. A reaction of many readers may well be that our proposal gives too much information to government agencies, therefore creating a Big Brother problem. We sympathize with that concern, but we believe the problem is not as significant as it may appear initially. First, it is not clear that the sort of information that the cigarette card system would generate is any different from the sort of information that the American public routinely provides to government and private agencies. In other words, it ma y be too late to worry about the sort of privacy concern that this proposal raises. Jon D. Hanson and Kyle D. Logue quotes Education Public services are more concerned about the delivery of education as a service rather than curricular issues. However, it is worth saying that the issues of educational structures and curriculum are connected. The Co-operative Movement has an excellent record in education. When, in the past, co-operatives have delivered education, delivery and content have supported each other. We hope that development regarding co-operative schools will lead to a return to this link. The work being done at present in Pakistan is to be highly commended and we hope this will achieve its objective of bringing co-operative ideas to every school in Pakistan. However, there is a long way to go. Co-operation offers solutions to many of the challenges of public service provision but co-operative solutions have been ignored because civil servants and politicians have no background knowledge in co-operation. Schooling system, almost without exception, completely ignores co-ops business models. Most teachers are still unaware of co-ops and therefore the ignorance perpetuates itself. We recognize that education sits quite firmly within local government and that most people in Pakistan would wish it to remain so. However, we would argue that in the longer term it is not just the curriculum which should become co-operative but also the structures. We need to continue to discuss how we can further develop co-operative education in schools and to develop the ownership of the curriculum so that it is owned and managed by the communities it serves. We should collate and build on best practice already in schools, such as the the work of unions, bringing new savings models into schools. It is essential to promote the co-operative model at school level and equally important to engage with the curricular drivers in Pakistan such as Learning and Teaching Pakistan. For centuries it was never discovered that education was a function of the State, and the State never attempted to educate. But when modern absolutism arose, it laid claim to everything on behalf of the sovereign power.When the revolutionary theory of government began to prevail, and Church and State found that they were educating for opposite ends and in a contradictory spirit, it became necessary to remove children entirely from the influence of religion. Lord Acton Its time to admit that public education operates like a planned economy, a bureaucratic system in which everybodys role is spelled out in advance and there are few incentives for incentives for innovation and productivity. Its no surprise that our school system doesnt improve: It more resembles the communist economy than our own market economy. Albert Shanker PPP approaches should not be seen as a magic bullet and may be best suited to specific circumstances. As in all cases of public procurement, corruption remains a risk that must be carefully managed. As PPP projects are relatively new, lack of familiarity with the procedures may open up new corruption risks. On the other hand, greater emphasis on the delivery and measurement of outcomes in PPP procurement may introduce greater levels of transparency and accountability. The main advantages and disadvantages of PPP are summarized below: ADVANTAGES Makes use of private sector skills, modern technology, and efficiency Forces the public sector to focus on outputs and benefits (rather than inputs) from the start Brings in private capital and makes projects affordable Risks are shared by the different parties Budgetary certainty The public sector only pays when services are delivered Capital at risk is an effective incentive to make private companies perform. DISADVANTAGES PPP implies a loss of management control by the public sector and therefore may be politically unacceptable Ability, skills, and sufficient capacity of the public sector to adopt the PPP approach and create a good incentive and regulatory environment Lack of private sector expertise Does not achieve absolute risk transfer Procurement can be lengthy and costly Long-term relatively inflexible structures PUBLIC SERVICE DELIVRY PROCESS