The Concept of the Political

As a counterterrorism officer my moral duty is to protect the residents of my state from terrorism attacks and the national security of US. Therefore, I am under no obligation but to ensure I fulfill the role that I have been assigned. I am the senior counterterrorism officer in California State where there is a high percentage of Arab American citizens and immigrants. Thus over the last couple of decades it has been difficult to detect terrorists. Furthermore, infiltrating such a community has proved to be difficult thereby providing a loophole for the increase in terrorist activities.Infiltrating the Arab American Community To curb this demise I will commission FBI agents to act as my spies by posing as Muslim worshippers in the California mosques. This decision may be perceived as a violation of human rights and the freedom of privacy enjoyed by other citizens. However, in the actual fact this initiative is among the criminal responsibilities that are bestowed on counterterrorism officer. Moreover, it is a counterintelligence activity that ensures protection of the US national security by providing important information to the FBI body and the government.The rights to perform counterintelligence activities have been governed by the National security of 1947 which was amended in 2004 by the establishment of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act. Furthermore, the commissioned FBI agents will not commit any wrong doing offences (Uwe, 2007). I will also employ informant to live amongst the community. The informant will mainly be ex-US military officers whose credentials are remarkable and stimulate the required standards.I prefer using ex-military officers because they are competent, trained to serve the nation thus will thoroughly understand the importance of their assignment and the need for them to keep their identity in discretion. The agents will regularly be monitored to prevent the development of discrepancy behaviors against ethical and mo ral norms. I will also make use of biometric fingerprint procedure for all travelers leaving and entering the California state. It may be argued that this tactic will detain people unnecessarily thereby wasting their time and subjecting them to measures and challenges that are unjustifiable.However, the initiative will enable the California Homeland Security Department to prevent identity theft, use of fraudulent documents and terrorists from gaining access to the state thus enhancing the national security and safety of California residents (Schmitt, 2007). The Status, Rights and Protections offered to Culprits of Terrorism In an attempt of increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of counterterrorism an executive order authorizing the interrogation and trial of foreign terrorist suspects and illegal combatants by a special military tribunal was passed in 2001.Therefore, an ex-American citizen captured in the United States in the act of terrorism should be considered as an illegal enemy combatant. Thus I would not hesitate to hand the culprit to the jurisdiction of the military commission of the United States, an act that will be in accordance with the (Military Commissions Act (MCA) of 2006 that was passed by the Congress introducing the concept of illegal combatant into US legislation. Furthermore, the concept of illegal combatant enemies has been accepted by other nations who have willingly handed over their sovereignty in this context to the US (Gill & Sliedregt, 2005).The establishment of the above legislations withdrew all the protections that were accorded to ex-American citizens. The same applies to foreign nationals caught engaging in terrorism in US, American citizens fighting American forces abroad and foreign nationals that are non-military officials fighting American forces abroad. The above are all illegal combatant enemies of the state and thus also deserve to be tried before the jurisdiction of the military commission without the provision of Habeas corpus rights.The Habeas Corpus is a provision given to detained culprits to appeal for their release incase of being detained unlawfully. The above subjects are liable to torture in the event of collecting information that would increase the efficiency of the government and military to provide the US state national security. Therefore, I would fully support the idea of implementing torture as a method of extracting useful information to such culprits in an attempt of protecting the California residents (US Congress Joint Resolution, 2001). Perspectives Concerning Just WarJust war is perpetuated by states in an attempt of protecting themselves from aggressive attack from other nations. However, for just war to be justifiable it should be used as a last resort problem of solving the conflict that exists that is after all non-violent mechanisms of resolving conflicts are exhausted. Just wars should only be perpetuated by bodies that are recognized by the society as legitimate. A just war should be initiated if the presumed end results are beneficial where its success is guaranteed to prevent death and suffering of innocent people in accordance to moral vices.The death of civilians can only be justified if they were accidentally killed by being in the vicinity of the military targets. Therefore, just wars should initiate long lasting peace between the nations that were under conflict. Furthermore, states are not supposed to use force when initiating just wars and in instances where such force must be implemented it should not exceed the injury or suffering caused. The war on terrorism can thus be classified as a just war because it adheres to the above principles.However, it can cease to be a just war if its goal is to spread terror, subject war on a non-state organization and if it aims at killing and hurting civilians (Fotion, 2007). Anti Americanism involves the negative aspect that individuals and state have over the political, economic, social and cu ltural values of US. Anti Americanism has adversely affected the national security of US due to introduction of foreign hostility towards the US state for instance terrorism, thus curbing the effective attainment of stipulated US policy goals.Anti Americanism also affects the ability of US to conduct businesses abroad. This is unethical and thus not justifiable therefore individuals that perpetuate the stimulation of violent acts against the American state should be held accountable for their actions and thus are liable to stand trial before the military commission. The US government has a right to protect the national security of the country by dealing with schools, mosques and charities that indirectly support terrorism while actually not directly engaging in the terrorism activities.The government prosecutes such individuals or organization with the aim of eliminating the terrorism concept and support that the individuals and organizations offer (US Congress Joint Resolution, 200 1). USA PATRIOT Act The enactment of the USA PATRIOTIC ACT after the 9/11 attack has substantially reduced terrorism in United States because the surveillance and investigating powers of the US law enforcement officers was increased especially with respect to internet use.However, if I were in Congress I would vote for the renewal of the Act to amend it. This is because the Act was enacted in haste without being subjected to Congress debate and house report to declare the consent of Senators. This fact resulted to the omission of a balance between civil liberty and stipulated legislations (US Congress Joint Resolution, 2001). Word Count: 1190 Reference List Fotion, N. (2007). War and Ethics: Just War Theory. New York: Continuum. Gill, T. & Sliedregt, E.(2005). Guantanamo Bay: A Reflection on the Legal Status and Rights of Unlawful Enemy Combatants. The Utrecht Law Review, 1 (1). Retrieved on July, 6th, 2009 from http://www. utrechtlawreview. org. Schmitt, C. (2007). The Concept of t he Political. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. U. S. Congress Joint Resolution (2001). Authorization for Use of Military Force. Public Law, 107(40), 115 Stat. 224. Uwe. S. (2007). On the Ethics of War and Terrorism. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Ethics of eating meat Essay

Have you ever wondered why people become vegetarians? People who are vegetarians choose to become so for a wide variety of reasons. Being a vegetarian has become a popular and trendy during the past few decades. However, according to Alan Beardsworth and Alan Bryman authors of â€Å"Meat Consumption and Meat Avoidance Among Young People: An 11-year Longitudinal Study,† people have started to eat more meat rather than avoid it. Whether vegetarianism is on the rise or not, it is interesting to discover what drives a person to choose a vegetarian lifestyle. John Lawrence Hill, professor of law at St. Thomas University, School of Law, and author of The Case for Vegetarianism, holds that about nine million Americans are vegetarians, which is about four percent of the entire population of the United States. Reasons for why people of this group become vegetarians include health, not liking the taste of meat, compassion for animals, and religious reasons. According to Karen Iacobbo, professor at Johnson and Wales University, and Michael Iacobbo, a journalist for the Associated Press and the Providence Pheonix, who are both the authors of Vegetarians and Vegans in America Today, people even become vegetarians in order to end world hunger. When people decide to become vegetarians, they are usually motivated by a single reason. Iacobbo goes on to say that the person who decided to become a vegetarian usually adds other reasons why they became one (Iacobbo). Read Also: Exploratory Essay Topics for College Students I think this is true, because one thing might finally convince someone to become a vegetarian, but as they learn more about vegetarianism and meet other vegetarians, their reason for becoming a vegetarian will become many reasons. In their book, Karen and Michael Iacobbo include a survey taken by the Vegetarian Times in 1992 that stated that the majority of people become vegetarians â€Å"for health reasons, followed by ethical, religious, environmental, and other reasons† (74). Conversely, Hill points out that 67 percent of people who become vegetarians did so because of animal suffering concerns, followed by 38 percent who were concerned with health. Either way, health and animal suffering are the two largest concerns for people who decide to become vegetarians. Only four percent of the entire United States is vegetarian? This really is not much of the population at all. If vegetarianism was so much better for you than being an omnivore, shouldn’t the number be much greater? If it is so easy to become a vegetarian, wouldn’t there be more people converting? The answer should be yes, but why is this not the case? Those against the idea of becoming vegetarians have the answers. They claim that vegetarianism is not as healthy as it claims to be. People choose not to become vegetarians so that they can get all the vitamins that are essential for healthy life, because they are pregnant, or so that they can keep a healthy bone density. All these reasons are to promote health. It is interesting to learn that most people become vegetarians for health reasons, while most people say they stay omnivores for health reasons too. Additionally, people are meat-eaters because it is inconvenient to be a vegetarian. It can be very difficult for people who are accustomed to eating meat their whole life to make the switch to vegetarianism. Another reason people do not want to be vegetarians is so they do not have to deal with social situations that may arise because they are vegetarians. In this exploratory research paper I aim to learn the reasons why people choose or choose not to be vegetarians and to explain both sides of the vegetarian/anti-vegetarian argument. Health reasons are a major factor that makes people want to become vegetarians. Iacobbo claims that studies show that a vegetarian diet can help prevent or reverse arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Prevention or reversal of diseases and cancer are great, reasonable, and productive reasons to become a vegetarian. Suzanne Havala Hobbs, D.Ph., RD, clinical assistant professor at the School of Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, tells us â€Å"sticking to a vegetarian diet can be challenging†¦ especially†¦ if your motivation for going vegetarian is health† (qtd. in Iacobbo 74). Becoming a vegetarian is difficult enough, and if someone doesn’t feel like they are making a difference or feel like they have a strong enough motivation, he or she is likely to fail. An interesting quote that I found in my research is â€Å"the fat you eat is the fat you wear,† as stated by John McDougall, MD, (qtd. in Iacobbo 75). In other words, eating meat is apparently an unhealthy diet and makes you fat. So, in order to not get fat, people become vegetarians because that diet is lower in fat. According to Iacobbo’s book, Neal Bernard and his Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine have done studies that demonstrate that a vegan diet can result in a reversal of disease. His study is very significant because a diet without meat that can reverse disease is remarkable. More people should want to become vegetarians just because of studies like this. Some people choose to be vegetarians because they dislike the taste of meat. According to Hill, twelve percent of vegetarians are so because they do not like the taste of meat. This argument for becoming a vegetarian is quite simple because if a person does not like meat, they will not eat it. Meat-eaters cannot argue with the dislike of meat because it is just personal preference. I do not really understand why people dislike meat though. Possibly they have never had meat cooked correctly so that it tastes delicious. Maybe they have grown up most of their life without eating meat, and after they taste it, it’s just different from what they are used to. In any situation, you can’t really change someone’s mind to not be a vegetarian if they just don’t like the taste of meat. Although some don’t like the taste of eating meat, some are completely against it for the animals’ sakes. Animal cruelty and factory farming are two of the most popular reasons for becoming a vegetarian. Factory farming is â€Å"a system of large-scale industrialized and intensive agriculture that is focused on profit with animals kept indoors and restricted in mobility† (Dictionary.com). Hill claims that factory farms do not care about the animals’ living conditions; all factory farms care about is the profit they make off the animals they sell. Because there are places like factory farms, choosing meat can pose a problem for everyday omnivores. An interesting quote I came upon during my explorations was a quote about choosing to eat meat: â€Å"if you eat meat today, your typical choice is between animals raised with either more (chicken, turkey, fish, and pork) or less (beef) cruelty† (Foer 243). I thought this quote was valuable because it explicitly states that there is no good way to choose meat. Any type of meat you could choose is bad because the animals were treated terribly. Foer also mentions that â€Å"contributing to the suffering of billions of animals that live miserable lives and (quite often) die in horrific ways† is a great influence to potential vegetarians (243). Foer puts it quite plainly that the meat we eat every day comes from animals who were treated in cruel ways. People sometimes choose not to eat meat because they care about the way animals are treated before and at the time of death. People don’t just become vegetarians for feeling sorry for animals. Some people have to be vegetarians because of their religion. Iacobbo states that for thousands of years, vegetarianism has been practiced for such religions as Judaism, Christianity, Catholicism, Seventh Day Adventism, Mormonism, and Paganism. According to Hill, vegetarianism is also customary in Hinayana Buddhism. Hill goes on to state that Hinduism is â€Å"known for its strict adherence to vegetarianism†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (32). So, vegetarian is extraordinarily popular throughout many religions all over the world. Although some people like to be vegetarians for various other reasons, these religious people are required or suggested to be because of their religions. It is perfectly understandable for people to believe that they should be vegetarians because their religion requires them to be. Surprisingly to some, people sometimes choose to become vegetarians in order to help end world hunger. This reason for becoming vegetarian was surprising to me because I had never heard of this reason before engaging in my research. Hill states that the problem is that a third of the world’s grain harvest is used to feed livestock, but about a billion people in the world are malnourished. He then proposes that the solution to this problem is to rework the system to better use the resources to help eradicate world hunger. An unnamed writer in Hill’s book calls this misuse of the resources â€Å"unfair distribution† and states that â€Å"if everyone†¦ became a vegetarian, it would be possible to give four tons of edible grain to every starving person† (qtd. in Hill 128). So, the less meat people eat, the more grains there are for the rest of the world to eat. If the cows, pigs, and chickens don’t eat those grains, it gives more to the people who really need it. Essentially, if the world were comprised of vegetarians, people would not suffer from starvation. Meat eating has been practiced for thousands and thousands of years. This alone for some is reason enough for being omnivorous. There are also other reasons to be a meat-eater though. Some of them are being pregnant, being a baby or toddler, getting all the vitamins and minerals necessary for a healthy life, inconvenience of being a vegetarian, and to avoid social situations and dealing with one’s vegetarianism. A large portion of today’s vegetarians is women. Women who are vegetarians or women who might want to become vegetarians might decide to not be vegetarians for their pregnancy. According to Nina Planck, author of â€Å"Real Food: What to Eat and Why,† a woman who was expecting stated that before she became pregnant, she â€Å"[†¦] concluded that a vegan pregnancy was irresponsible. You cannot create and nourish a robust baby merely on foods from plants.† Planck goes on to state that vegetarians who have babies that they would like to be vegetarians sometimes allow the babies to eat a non-vegan diet. She also argues that breast milk is the best nourishment for babies. She adds that sometimes vegans try to use soymilk as a replacement for breast milk, but that soymilk stunts growth and also decreases the absorption of protein and minerals. I agree that breast milk is the best source of nutrients for babies. Women were designed to make the milk for the babies to drink, so it should be the ideal nourishment for the babies. In addition, Planks claims that â€Å"a vegan diet is equally dangerous for weaned babies and toddlers, who need plenty of protein and calcium.† From her arguments we can deduce that for babies to have a vegetarian diet is unhealthy because they will not get enough protein, and will end up unhealthy. In summation, babies need to be omnivorous or at least be able to eat dairy products in order to have the healthiest lifestyle. Babies are not the only ones that need all their nutrients. Many people choose to be omnivores in order to get all the vitamins and nutrients they need. According to the article â€Å"To Meat or Not to Eat,† cutting out meat does not necessarily mean being healthy. [†¦] Kids also could be cutting out key nutrients, especially if they go vegan.† A vegetarian diet could be detrimental by itself, and I certainly agree that it could be even worse for young adults to be vegan. Winston J. Craig of the Department of Nutrition and Wellness at Andrews University declares that diets without eggs, fish, or seaweed do not have n-3 fatty acids that help with the cardiovascular system. Vegans do not eat eggs or fish, so they are likely to have more problems with their heart since these foods are not in their diet. Craig states that vegetarians and especially vegans have lower blood concentrations of n-3 fatty acids compared to meat eaters. Craig’s article includes an EPIC-Oxford study, in which it was observed that vegans have a quarter of the amount of vitamin D that non-vegetarians have. Penney explains that Vitamin D enables our bodies to use calcium. Without sufficient vitamin D, people will not be able to absorb and use the calcium they may or may not intake. Penney later adds that calcium is important for people to absorb for bone mass. Craig claims vegans tend to have lower concentrations of vitamin B-12, therefore creating vitamin B-12 deficiencies. So vegans will tend to have more vitamin B-12 deficiencies than non-vegans or non-vegetarians. Craig also argues that vegetarians have low intakes of calcium because of their diets. As Craig explains, a vitamin B-12 deficiency creates neurological and psychiatric complications. He adds that vegetarians consume less zinc than non-vegetarians, but evidence for this being a problem is lacking. However, some people are likely to not become vegetarians anyway so that if a lower intake of zinc turns out to be a problem, they will not have to worry. So, people are likely not to choose a vegetarian diet in order to gain all the n-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, vitamin B-12, and zinc their bodies require. According to Hill, the inconvenience of being a vegetarian is â€Å"the most important reason, as a practical matter, that many people do not become vegetarians† (154). Hill states that twenty-seven percent of vegetarians found not eating meat very hard to do. Hill understands why vegetarianism can be difficult to adopt, stating that eating meat is easier, more enjoyable, and more convenient than eating a vegetarian diet. He calls starting a vegetarian diet downright â€Å"burdensome.† So even according to a vegetarian, starting vegetarianism can be a difficult task to undertake. Non-vegetarians may decide to stay vegetarians for social reasons. A common belief among meat-eaters is, according to Hill, if they become a vegetarian, they will â€Å"become a hermit, a recluse, or social outcast† (155). Facing situations where people have to admit to being a vegetarian can stop people from becoming vegetarians altogether. Hill adds that it is especially a popular decision to stay omnivorous if the person has to go to many outings at restaurants with clients or business partners. They may feel ashamed or shy to admit that they are vegetarians, so they will just stay meat eaters instead. An interesting bit of information that I found during my research was a list of notable people who were vegetarians. Hill lists them; they are people such as â€Å"Leonardo da Vinci, Isaac Newton, Voltaire, Benjamin Franklin, Henry David Thoreau, Leo Tolstoy, Thomas Edison, George Bernard Shaw, Albert Schweitzer, and Mahatma Gandhi† (xiv). Also mentioned by Hill as vegetarians were ancient philosophers and writers such as Socrates, â€Å"the father of ancient rationalism and humanism;† Plato; and Ovid (xiv). When I read these names, it made me feel like I should become a vegetarian too because these people are such amazing people in history, and becoming a vegetarian would make me feel like I am more notable like them. If some of the biggest names in history were vegetarians, shouldn’t we take note and become vegetarians as well? Possibly. But I don’t think that I could ever give up my meat for good. Being a vegetarian means to give up all meat, and to not eat it consistently. Vegetarians may choose to be so because of health reasons or for concerns for the treatment of animals. They may decide to take up vegetarianism to help end world hunger or for their religion. More simply, some people become vegetarians because they just don’t like the taste of meat. However, non-vegetarians decide against vegetarianism for health reasons as well. It may be safer and healthier for pregnant mothers to be omnivores and for their babies or toddlers to be omnivores as well. Many people choose to stay omnivores because they would like to obtain all the vitamins a diet with meat brings. Others may be meat-eaters because it is inconvenient to be a vegetarian or to avoid social situations they don’t wish to face. After my research, I have concerns if vegetarians take vitamin supplements to supply all the vitamins they would get if they ate meat, if they are as effective as the meat. I also wonder if vegetarianism became more successful, how would a widespread participation in vegetarianism affect the economy of the United States? And finally, how do vegetarians feel about the genetic manipulation of crops? Works Cited Anti-Vegetarian T-Shirt 156790. N.d. JPEG. Eshirts.com. 7 Oct. 2011. Web. Beardsworth, Alan, and Alan Bryman. â€Å"Meat Consumption and Meat Avoidance Among Young People: An 11-year Longitudinal Study.† British Food Journal 106.4 (2004). 14 Oct. 2011. Web. Criag, Winston J. â€Å"Health Effects of Vegan Diets.† The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 89.5 (May 2009). 14 Oct. 2011. Web. â€Å"Factory Farming.† Dictionary.com’s 21st Century Lexicon. Dictionary.com, LLC. 09 Nov. 2011. Web. Foer, Jonathan Safran. Eating Animals. New York: Little, Brown, and Company, 2009. Print. Hill, John Lawrence. The Case for Vegetarianism. Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 1996. Print. Iacobbo Karen, and Michael Iacobbo. Vegetarians and Vegans in America Today. Connecticut: Praeger, 2006. Print. Penney, Debra S. â€Å"Nutritional Counseling for Vegetarians During Pregnancy and Lactation.† SciVerse: Science Direct 53.1 (Jan. – Feb. 2008): 31 Oct. 2011. Web. Planck, Nina. â€Å"Death by Veganism.† New York Times 21 May 2007. 31 October 2011. Web. Protein? N.d. JPEG. Vegetarian Fighters. 7 Oct. 2011. Web. â€Å"To Meat or Not to Meat.† Current Events 108.16 (2009): 7. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. 14 Oct. 2011. Web.

Bank of America Mobile Banking

Brown, who was responsible for the development and launch of mobile banking, reported on the current status, In less than three years we have four million mobile banking customers. Brown was hesitant to make the banks mobile app complex by adding more features. The added complexity could slow down the app and negatively affect user experience. He explained, App comple xity has led to some high-profile failures in the marketplace. This carries a huge risk. It was also unclear if users were ready to sign up for mortgages or credit cards on their mobile phones. Carrel reminded them, Dont forget that competitors view mobile as yet another platform to differentiate themselves. Just last month, Citi integrated credit card account information in its iPhone app. Citi customers can even track their credit card rewards on their mobile devices now. Carrel floated a second option, Why not create different apps for different target groups, say an app for Merrill Lynch brokerage, or for small business customers? Citi and Wells Fargo have done this, feeling they can provide users a more customized solution. (See Exhibit 1 for mobile banking apps for major players. ) McDonald, Brown and Carrel agree that they have to come up with a new strategy on mobile banking. Financial Services Industry The U. S. financial services industry was fragmented, with thousands of banks offering retail and wholesale banking services. In 2009 the 10 largest banks held 46. 4% of total deposits, with BofA the largest U. S. bank holding company, followed by JP Morgan Chase, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo. In 2008-2009, the financial services industry went through the most stressful times in recent history. The collapse of the U. S. real estate and subprime mortgage markets caused a dramatic fall in the value of mortgage -backed securities, which led to a deep recession in the U. S. and financial troubles abroad. In 2012 they situation in the banking industry has improved. Bank of America By 2009, BofAs businesses included retail banking (i. e. , deposits, debit and credit cards, mortgage loans), global wealth management, middle market lending, large corporate lending, global treasury services, and investment banking. By December 2009, BofAs markets covered 82% of the U. S. opulation, and the bank served over 53 million customers and small businesses. U. S. Mobile Banking Market Mobile banking was introduced in the U. S. in 2007. Consumers could access their bank accounts on the move from their cell phones. Many banks saw it as yet another channel to differentiate themselves from competitors and engage customers that could potentially lead to both higher income and increased customer re tention. While mobile banking introduced some new capital investment and operational costs, analysts projected it to be one of the least costly banking channels. Since almost all banks had a well established online presence, this was the easiest option for banks. Slow browser speed on many mobile phones coupled with small phone screens made this option less appealing to some users. The emergence of smartphones, such as iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry, allowed banks to provide a richer experience to users through apps. By optimizing the user interface specifically for these devices, apps had the potential to engage users. Smartphones were expected to grow in use from 10% in 2008 to 46% of the total U. S. mobile phone market by 2012. App development costs could range from $40,000 to several hundred thousand dollars. Research from Global Industry Analysts shows that mobile and internet banking are becoming increasingly intertwined. This is largely due to the success of smartphones, which afford consumers convenient access to internet banking. The global mobile internet market will continue to drive the expansion of the mobile banking services sector. Financial institutions are responding by launching downloadable applica tions and encouraging consumers to bank online and through mobile devices by rolling out mobile and internet banking services. Market Size and Consumer Adoption In 2009, an estimated 10 million consumers used mobile banking in the U. S. ; by 2014 this number was expected to grow to 37 million, representing 30% of the total expected online banking users in the U. S. Total annual transactions for mobile banking services were expected to increase from about 180 million in 2008 to 2. 4 billion in 2014. Improvement in mobile devices and networks, better features from banks, and increasing awareness among users were the main drivers of growth. Most banks required customers to be registered online banking users before they could sign up for mobile banking. However, a 2009 survey of 500 mobile users showed that almost 60% of consumers not currently using online banking would be interested in using at least one mobile banking service. In early 2010, Wells Fargo allowed customers to sign up for its mobile banking service, regardless of their online usage. In spite of increasing interest, mobile banking was still relatively small compared to other banking channels. According to an American Bankers Association survey, only 1% of respondents considered mobile as their preferred banking method, compared to 25% for online banking, 21% for branches, and 17% for ATM.

Fashion, Culture and Tibetan Buddhism Research Paper

Fashion, Culture and Tibetan Buddhism - Research Paper Example The essay "Fashion, Culture and Tibetan Buddhism" will study the relationship that exists between Tibetan Buddhism (its culture and religion) and fashion, while comparing it with Islam and its influence on fashion. In the context of fashion and social identity, observations revealed that an individual interacts with fashion in a same manner he/she interacts with other people, thus using fashion to reveal what he/she wants to personify. The direct contact between the wearer and various fashion elements (such as, clothes and other accessories) help to establish a personal identity. Since fashion tends to portray the link between physical materials (such as, clothes and jewelry) and the wearer’s personal values, there is also a close connection between fashion and one’s self-perception. Fashion affects the wearer’s self-perception, thus acting like a filter, positioning itself between society and the wearer. Observations revealed that generally, physical bodies are viewed as social symbols, where female bodies form an important mechanism for preserving social and cultural traditions; wherein majority of the conservative religions tend to dictate stringent norms for female fashion . While establishing personal identities, fashion also helps in constructing social status and position, where it is presumed that fashion is a true reflection of the wearer’s self and lifestyle. The strict sociocultural rules governing fashions are often visible as laws of the land that force people (primarily women). to follow rigid social standards in the context of clothing, and often giving rise to a social tension between conformists and dissidents (Voss, 405-407). In such instances, it is evident that culture plays a dominating role and fashion becomes a strong tool in hands of the conservatives, which is used for gender subjugation and social control, a condition prevalent in the Islamic countries. On the other hand, social dissidents also use fashion t o symbolize their breakaway from rigid socio-cultural and religious norms. Therefore, fashion is closely related to different aspects of the culture and society from which it originates and subsequently represents. Tibetan history, culture and fashion Tibetan culture  has evolved through the influence of various external factors. Tibet had established trade connections with India and China from the ancient times, and these two countries have produced a significant effect on its cultural development. Tibet’s  inaccessibility, owing to its remote location, has however helped to preserve certain local influences that make it stand apart from both India and China. In terms of religion, Buddhism  has a strong influence on the socio-cultural aspects of Tibet, since its introduction in the country as early as the seventh century. Music, literature, art, clothing and almost all aspects of the Tibetan life strongly reflect presence of Buddhist values and beliefs. In Tibet, Buddh ism has developed its own unique form, which adopted the  Bon cultural tradition, interspersed with various local beliefs. According to

COMMUNITY PROJECT ABOUT HIV Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

COMMUNITY PROJECT ABOUT HIV - Essay Example However, scientists are working extra hard to find a cure. The enormity of the effects of HIV/AIDS attests to the fact that it continues to be a huge global health and social problem. According to the UNAIDS’s World AIDS Day Report of 2011, about 34 million people had HIV, indicating a growth of up to 17 percent since 2001. In 2010 alone, the UNAIDS reported that new infections stood at 2.7 million people. Besides being a health issue, HIV/AIDS is a huge social, cultural and development problem, which is spreading rather fast among women, young people and working-age adults. Thus, HIV/AIDS negatively impinges on the economy, society, family and schooling in a country hence, weakening the entire world. Whenever a portion of the population contracts HIV/AIDS, the economical growth and status of the world is negatively affected. The scourge thus reduces the labour force while demands on already overwhelmed governments and economic and health care systems increase (Gardner et al., 2013). The other reasons HIV/AIDS is particularly a big problem in poor and vulnerable countries and communities are lack of resources to treat and help HIV/AIDS patients, overburdened health care systems, expensive and inaccessible HIV/AIDS medication, and cost of HIV/AID treatment compares unfavorably with the GDP of most poor countries (Gardner et al., 2013). Resources for campaigning and educating the public on HIV/AIDS and on risky behaviors are also scarce. Finally, many people and societies are quite reluctant to discuss risky behaviors and HIV/AIDS, which are considered taboos in certain communities. Citizens, corporate organizations, local and state governments, NGOs, and the international community should thus combine effort to thwart the scourge. Through this project, stakeholders will create HIV/AIDS treatment and response health policies, expand care and treatment, improve teacher training, AIDS education, and social programs, protect children, and do further research on HIV/AIDS an its effects (Gardner et al., 2013). HIV/AIDS Statistics for Miami-Dade County Miami-Dade County, also referred to as the  Greater Miami is situated in the southeastern portions of  Florida. Dade is the most populous county in Florida with the population standing at 2,496,435 as of the 2010 census. In fact, it is the seventh most populous county in the U.S. With a land area of 1,946 square miles (5,040  km2), Dade has the third largest land area in Florida and has an estimated half of the  Miami metropolitan area's population and several of Florida’s largest cities. With 35 incorporated cities and many unincorporated areas, many parts of the northern, central and eastern regions of the county are heavily  urbanized.  Agricultural land constitutes nearly a third of Miami-Dade County's inhabited land area. Unlike the densely populated urban areas in the county’s northern sections, the agricultural areas are sparsely populated. According to the U .S. Census Bureau’s 2012 Ethnic/Race Demographics, White Americans constitute about  77.6% out of whom16.3% are Non-Hispanic Whites. On the other hand, African Americans constitute 19.2%, Asian: 1.7%,1.2%, American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3%, Hispanics or Latinos  of any race: 64.3%, and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander:  0.0%. A county-by-county analysis of the FloridaCharts.com reveals that Broward,

To what extent the negative internet contents affect children Essay

To what extent the negative internet contents affect children - Essay Example In this paper, we will discuss the effects of negative internet contents on young children. We will also focus social construction of the childhood in order to get a better understanding of the issue. 2. Children and Negative Use of Internet â€Å"The combination of pornography and the pedophiles it produces is deadly for children† (Kastleman 2010). The sexual contents available on the internet in forms of pictures, stories, and movie clips produce a number of negative effects on the children. Some studies show that almost 4 to 5 out of every 10 children regularly switch on their personal computers just to watch the adult material. The number of children watching adult material varies from place to place and it depends on their social construction as well. In some societies, people try to keep their children away from any sort of adult activity. Some people even make their children stay away from the friendships with opposite gender. Such restrictions increase the frustration level of the children and the frustration leads their way towards illegal social and sexual activities. The growing age of children is very critical for their proper mental and social development. Children generally are very eager to know about sex, and for this reason, they use different ways to gain information about it. Internet is one of the easiest ways to get sex related information. Some children do not open adult websites intentionally. They just log on to the internet to search educational stuff or other things based on their personal interests. But when they start searching for their desired stuff on the internet, the links present on the websites sometimes lead their way towards adult material, which drive the attention of children away from actual purpose. Seventy percent of all children exposed to pornographic material are not actually looking for such contents (Dougherty 2010). The unintentionally opened websites attract the attention of the children and they start exp loring those websites in order to know more and more about sex. 3. Negative Internet Contents Livingstone and Hadden (2009) found that internet brings both opportunities and risks for the children. Risks are related to the presence of sexual contents on the internet. There are three major types of negative contents available on the internet, which include sex stories, sexual video clips, and webcams. Pictures and video clips arouse the sexual feelings of children and increase the level of sex frustration in them. We cannot say that every child who views pornographic material is affected by the negative contents. â€Å"Every child who is exposed to pornography does not automatically become a sexual deviant or sex addict† (Hughes 1998). The effects are harmful for those children who view the pictures and try to practice what they see in the pictures. We can take the example of alcoholic drinks. Not every person who takes such drinks becomes addicted to those drinks. Some people take those drinks very seldom just to relieve themselves from the tensions for some time whereas some people become addicted to alcohol and they cannot even live a single day without taking alcoholic drinks. Same case is with the children who want to view

McKinsey case study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

McKinsey case study - Essay Example An organization can get competitive advantages in the market than other competitors by applying knowledge management efforts. It also helps to do more improved and innovative performance. Sharing of knowledge is a major part of knowledge management system which can overlap the traditional learning procedure. In this regard SECI model can be used by any organization to handle its knowledge management system in a better way. The model is mainly focusing on the tacit knowledge and explicit knowledge. In this model four modes of knowledge conversion are identified. These modes are Socialization, Externalization, Combination and Internalization (Becerra-Fernandez and Leidner, 2008). This model is describes as follows. 1. Socialization [Tacit to Tacit] – In this mode knowledge is passed on through practice, observation, guidance and imitation. Tacit knowledge is such kind of knowledge that is difficult to transfer to another person by verbalizing it or by means of writing it down. Here social interaction is an example of tacit to tacit knowledge transfer system. Sharing knowledge through face to face or through experience both come under this mode. Meeting, conference etc are the examples of socialization in which people can get knowledge through sharing experiences. This kind of knowledge sharing system is time and space specific and also difficult to formalize. 2. Externalization [Tacit to Explicit] – In this mode tacit knowledge is transformed or coded into manuals or documents so that it can distribute in a easier way throughout the organization. Every employee of a certain organization can get access of knowledge through this system. Here tacit knowledge is coded into explicit knowledge. Explicit knowledge means such kind of knowledge that is codified, articulated, expressed, stored in certain media and readily transmitted to

Possible Future Strategies for Research in Motion Essay

Possible Future Strategies for Research in Motion - Essay Example The major competitors of RIM in the segment of mobile operating system platforms comprise of Nokia Corporation (Symbian), Apple Inc (iOS), Microsoft Corporation (Windows Phone), HTC Corporation, Google Inc (Android) and Motorola (Research in Motion (a), 2012,p.9). This is a highly competitive market and in recent years RIM has experienced a progressively declining market share that has led the organization to a current crisis situation. Currently, the organization is tasked with making large-scale strategic changes or even potentially prepare for sale or takeover (De la Merced 2012). In terms of recent developments, the next generation systems (4G) like HSPA+, WiMax and LTE were commercially introduced for the first time in 2011 (Research in Motion (a), 2012, p.10).. The wireless communication industry is also observing the union of computing with personal entertainment competences on wireless communications gadgets throughout the world. In the present day market, almost all the Blac kBerry Smartphones include multimedia facilities that consist of music, playback, video recording, camera, and entrà ©e to content, games and other applications (Research in Motion (a), 2012, p.10). Increasingly, however, tablet technology has come to dominate the wireless market. The tablet, as originally released through Apple’s iPad, operates as a medium between handheld Smartphone’s and the larger-scale laptop. PEST is an ellipsis for political, economic, social, and technological analysis. The political issues in the analysis generally comprise of government policies pertaining to the industry, tax regulations, laws and policies, trade limitations and duties among others (Wheelen et al, 2008, p. 58). In comparison to other industrialised countries, the United States has the maximum corporate tax rate. The tax rates pertaining in the developing countries are much lower than that of the US, where RIM predominantly operates. A deduction in the tax rate would have en abled the management of RIM to have more cash to pay out dividends or reinvest.  

Proposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Proposal - Essay Example I will use questionnaires for carrying out the research. The whole process will be based on one month. Introduction: LON failed completely and lost all its power when as a result of withdrawal of the member countries, it was left with minimal armed forces that were not enough to help it in making the countries comply with the sanctions proposed by the league. The league came into being to control the aggressiveness practiced by some countries through measures of arms control, settlement and negotiation. LON had no armed forces of its own, owing to which it failed in threatening the aggressive nations with military might and simply failed to enforce its resolutions designed to maintain world peace and World War II initiated. Literature review: According to a research study done by (Buchanan), LON had no other means of making the defiant state abide by its decisions than introducing economic sanctions on that state. For example, when LON verbally threatened Germany to not violate the r ules of the treaty flagrantly and stop moving troops into Rhineland, Germany walked out of the League and gave up membership.

Ecological Debt Repaid through Awareness and Commitment Essay Example for Free

Ecological Debt Repaid through Awareness and Commitment Essay At this age of technological advancements, where people are more likely inclined with the latest technical and industrial innovations, the most modern gadgets, the cyber world itself, the group believes that a public service message posted to social-networking sites, like Facebook, would reach out with its millions of users; teen-agers, civilians, and people from all walks of life, who are still unaware of the impacts and dangers that humanity would face because of our ecological debt and neglect. Now that man is getting more engaged with a computerized and scientific world, the preservation of the earth’s innate form is often situated at stake. For instance, land developers aim to civilize mountain and forested areas in view of larger residential communities, neglecting the extinction of species and the degradation of their habitats in that area. In the same way, roads and tunnels are logged to provide efficient trips in woody regions, unaware of the affected species due to construction. It should be realized that in the context of global progress, biodiversity should not be sacrificed. Biodiversity is about making sense of the variation of life on earth, and its fundamental unit is the species. Why is there a must to conserve biodiversity? It is mainly because it affects mankind by all means. Outstandingly, biodiversity has an incontestable subsistence value. Remember that the species we use for our herbal medicinal needs, the plant and animal species that we eat, and the other species we use for our consumption, all contributes to biodiversity’s value for human survival. Biodiversity also has an economic value; the productive use it imposes into our market. In addition, it provides service value, like tourism benefits for a region where a certain specie is  endemic. But most importantly, biodiversity has to be conserved because of its intrinsic value. By the principle of Biocentrism: All species are worth of moral consideration. Humans have an obligation to protect them (Do or Die, 1999). We should be grateful for nature because it provides us our basic needs, water, food, air, even which the greatest engineering cannot tantamount. All of us have an ecological debt we can never repay fully, but we could somehow pay its interest, that is by preserving biodiversity. There are two modes of payments: In Situ and Ex Situ. In Situ is the maintenance of biodiversity in the wild, by allowing the species to continue their aboriginal evolutionary interactions (Reid, 1989, para.1). The species are left to be free and to continue their way of survival without any human intervention. This is a general and efficient solution that is left to the hands of government officials or organizations for strict implementations. But as part of the human race, we should be aware of the creation of such law and support it whole-heartedly. Many of our local or indigenous fellowmen would still continue the hunting or harvesting of the endangered species due to lack of knowledge or opportunities; thus, there should be thorough promotion of In Situ throughout the nation. On the other hand, Ex Situ is the maintenance of wild or domesticated species in home gardens, orchards, aquaria, zoos, or laboratories. These sites provide home for viable populations of threatened species, also providing areas for research, educational and public awareness (Reid, 1989, para.1). Indeed, there are several solutions man could engage to if we really want to hinder more biodiversity losses. We could grow endemic plants in our region in our own backyards. Every time we go to a beach, we must remember not to take souvenir seashells or corals with us. We should refute groups that do  activities leading to biodiversity losses. Or join movements which promote awareness and commitment in saving the earth’s biodiversity. Spread the information of biodiversity’s importance. All of us can make a difference. The move should start today before we reap the wrath of nature’s revenge. Change does not happen overnight, neither does it occur one-time big-time. The restoration of our ecosystems does not depend only on politicians or environmentalists, simple steps should be made by simple citizens, like you.

Advantages and Disadvantages of System Testing

Advantages and Disadvantages of System Testing Assessment and reporting are the means by which learning can be monitored and stakeholders can be informed of achievement. Its educational aspect sees results used to identify strengths and weaknesses and improve future learning, and its instrumental aspect involves grouping of students according to achievement . Parents, teachers and students are interested in its educational function, whereas external stakeholders such as governments are concerned with the instrumental aspect. Movement towards a global and digital economy has necessitated skilled and knowledgeable school leavers, crucial for Australias social and economic prosperity. Governments therefore require schools to demonstrate student achievement at acceptable levels to justify their economic support . This accountability also ensures the community understands provision of funding and services to schools . To provide this information, assessment must be undertaken on a national scale. As the information required differs to that required in the classroom, strategies for assessment differ in design, implementation and reporting. National assessment must be inexpensive, rapid and externally mandated, and results must be transparent and accessible . Herein lie the issues with national testing. Authentic assessment is becoming popular in the classroom, testing real-life experiences and practical knowledge over numerous assessment tasks. In contrast, national tests assess students on one occasion and rely on a pen-and-paper mode of deliver, leading to debate over validity. Benefits of system-wide testing Over the past 40 years, international and national testing has increased substantially. While early implementation assisted selection of students for higher education, more recent national assessment is used to evaluate curriculum implementation . As different curricula operate throughout Australia and internationally, benchmarking has been developed to facilitate comparisons between countries or students and identify strengths and weaknesses . In Australia, the National Assessment Program (NAP) incorporates annual NAP literacy and numeracy (NAPLAN), and three yearly sample assessments in science literacy, civics and citizenship, and information and communication technology literacy. Most debate surrounds NAPLAN, hence it will be discussed further. NAPLAN proceeds under direction of the Ministerial Council for Education, Early Childhood Development and Youth Affairs (MCEECDYA, previously MCEETYA) and is federally funded. It was developed to test skills essential for every child to progress through school and life . Each year, all students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 are assessed in reading, writing, language conventions and numeracy. NAPLAN endeavours to provide data enabling Government to: analyse how well schools are performing identify schools with particular needs determine where resources are most needed to lift attainment identify best practice and innovation conduct national and international comparisons of approaches and performance develop a substantive evidence base on what works . NAPLAN claims to achieve this by collecting a breadth of information that cannot be obtained from classroom assessment. Government benefits from analysis on such large data samples: outcomes for groups including males/females, Indigenous and low socio-economic status students provide an evidence-base to inform policy development and resource allocation . Comparing individual students to others in their state, and national benchmarks provides detailed information for teachers to inform future learning. Individual students can also be mapped over time, to identify areas of improvement or those requiring intervention. In addition, national testing assists students moving schools in that it allows immediate identification of their learning level by their new school . Strict guidelines surround reporting of results to ensure benefits are gained. The Government have committed to ensuring that public reporting: focuses on improving performance and student outcomes is both locally and nationally relevant is timely, consistent and comparable . If NAPLANs implementation follows these guidelines, it will provide great benefit to Australia. However in these early stages of implementation, it is important to consider the troubled experiences of other countries regarding national testing. Lessons to be learnt National assessment was introduced in England in 1992 to establish national targets for education. Students are assessed at ages 7 and 11 in English and mathematics, and at 14 also in science . The no child left behind legislation was implemented in the USA in 2001 to reduce the disparity between high and low ends of student achievement, focussing on literacy and numeracy. Students are assessed yearly between Year 3 and 8, and once between Year 9 and 12. Results are analysed on the basis of socioeconomic and ethnic background, and published as school league tables by the media. Federal funding is linked to school performance . The common issues with both cases will be discussed below. Being a topical issue, the majority of literature on national testing is highly biased towards the authors opinion. However if or when these effects occur, they have the capacity to negatively impact on students. As such, they also need to be considered within the Australian context. Narrowing of the curriculum With funding linked to success, teachers are obliged to ensure students achieve the best result possible in assessed subjects, and can end up teaching to the test. Those teachers who produce successful students using this strategy are rewarded, deepening the problem . Within assessed subjects, increased class time is spent teaching students to take tests and increasing focus on tested areas, leading to reduced emphasis on skills such as creativity and higher order thinking . Furthermore, time spent on subjects not tested is reduced in preference for those that are. This type of teaching has been labelled defensive pedagogy and leads to narrowing of the curriculum . Excluding low-achieving students Reports suggest that some low-performing students are excluded from enrolment or suspended during testing to improve school performance . In one example, students with low scores were prevented from re-enrolling, but were officially labelled as having withdrawn . Compounding this effect, successful schools then have further power to choose students, leading to a widening gap between low and high performing schools; in direct opposition to the reasons for implementing national assessment . disregarding high-achieving students High-achieving students can also be adversely affected, as many results are reported only as percentage achieving benchmarks. Priority is therefore given to students just below benchmarks to ensure they reach them . This has been described as developing cookie-cutter students, all with similar skills . In doing this, students achieving above benchmarks are not challenged, reducing motivation and causing disengagement. Lowered self-esteem In one study, for the three years after national testing was implemented student self-esteem was significantly reduced compared to students the previous two years. Furthermore, attainment in national tests correlated with self-esteem, suggesting that both pressure of testing and the students achievement can influence self-esteem . Increased drop-out rates When compared to schools of similar socio-economic background but without national testing, a significant increase in Year 8-10 students dropping out of school was observed . This may be linked to pressure to suspend students or reduced self-esteem and motivation associated with high-stakes testing. Reporting of league tables National testing results are often reported as league tables, presenting average scores allowing direct comparison between schools. However, results tend to reflect socio-economic status rather than true achievement, and the depiction of schools as successes or failures leads to even further inequity between socio-economic groups . Importantly, the tables give no information as to the cause of low achievement or means for improvement , and therefore do not fulfil their intended purpose. Recent trends have seen publication of value-added data, adjusted for socio-economic status , however the methods of calculation are not explicit, hence their benefit is debatable. disparity from classroom assessment Classroom assessment has become increasingly authentic, with students being assessed on real-world tasks , giving them the best possible chance of demonstrating knowledge and skills. The use of national testing opposes this model, assessing students on one single occasion and leaving teachers uncertain as to appropriate pedagogy. Results obtained during classroom inspections of authentic styles of assessment have been shown to differ to those from national testing , leading to questioning over validity. Ensuring reliability and validity in Australia The issues described above need to be considered to ensure reliability and validity of national testing in the Australian context. Reliability Reliability refers to consistency of assessment, where results should be the same irrespective of when, where and how the assessment was taken and marked . The primary issue is marking consistency throughout Australia. Information technology facilitates accurate marking of simple answers, and Newton suggests computer-based scoring algorithms for constructed responses also improve reliability. Moderation ensures all assessors use the same strategies, and marking by more than one person may also improve reliability. Moderation also assists in maintaining threshold levels over time . Validity Validity refers to the assessment testing what it was designed to test. Construct validity: assessment is relevant, meaningful and fair and provides accurate information about student knowledge Content validity: assessment is linked to a specific curriculum outcome Consequential validity: assessment does not result in a specific group of students consistently performing poorly Concurrent validity: students receive similar results for similar tasks . Debate arises over the capacity of national assessment to demonstrate real-world tasks in meaningful contexts, or deep thinking and problem solving . With diverse cultural and language backgrounds, Australian students bring to school a variety of experiences and beliefs and demonstrate learning differently. The single occasion, pen and paper style delivery of national testing does not capture this diversity and can lead to anxiety . This is evident particularly for students from Indigenous and low socioeconomic backgrounds. One teacher suggested that the assessment is daunting, and skills valued in their culture are not seen as relevant . The concept of silent and individual examination is foreign due to their cultural value of collaboration, and the numeracy assessments are unfair because of their low English literacy (G. Guymer, personal communication, April 2011). Much time is spent teaching students how to complete forms, reducing teaching time already limited by low attendance . The aspiration for equality in Australian education is evident. However, this evidence suggests that rather than closing the gap national testing may actually be increasing it. Reporting of results In the past, rather than publishing league tables Australia has value-added to data by grouping schools with similar characteristics, to track individual students, and identify schools in need . However, this grouping has been challenged, as each school is essentially unique . To address this, the My School website was published in 2010 (http://www.myschool.edu.au), publishing a school profile including information on staffing, facilities and financial resources. The NAPLAN results are reported for each school against national averages as well as against 60 schools with similar socio-economic characteristics throughout Australia . Using results to improve learning Despite the overwhelming negative response to national testing, it is unlikely to disappear. As such, using results to improve student learning is the best response. Some methods used successfully are described below. Diagnostic application Although not designed for the purpose, results can be used to identify strengths and weaknesses for individuals or groups of students. By analysing specific questions, common errors can be identified and inadequacies in thinking inferred . In doing so, national assessment results can be used as a formative assessment to guide future teaching. As NAPLAN is undertaken every three years, results for individual students can also be analysed over time to identify improvement or decline. Consistency of schooling Together with the National Curriculum, results from NAPLAN will ensure students receive the same schooling across Australia. This will reduce difficulty associated with students changing schools, as their achievement level will be immediately accessible. Incorporation of content in the classroom NAP assessment tasks will be based on National Curriculum content once implemented. As students will be exposed to content during class, national testing should not pose an added burden for teachers. Teachers at Ramingining School ensure all worksheets incorporate question formats similar to those on NAPLAN tests, and in primary school tests are undertaken weekly in English or mathematics under test conditions (G. Guymer B. Thomson, personal communication, April 2011). The school therefore does explicitly teach students to take the test. Allocation of funding and resources Arguably the most important outcome of national testing is to identify schools with particular needs and determine where resources are most needed to lift attainment . Appropriate distribution of funding and resources will mean NAPLAN has delivered on these promises. In turn, there should be a closing of the gap between low and high achieving schools, and a reduction in many of the issues discussed. Hopefully, implementation of the National Curriculum will support the purposes of NAPLAN, together leading to equality for young Australians.

Comparing the Tragic Hero in Things Fall Apart and Heart of Darkness Es

The Tragic Hero in Things Fall Apart and Heart of Darkness A tragic hero could be considered a "noble person with a fatal flaw" or "an opponent of society who is willing to take action that 'sensible people' might applaud but never perform themselves". In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart and Joseph Conrads's Heart of Darkness, two characters, Okonkwo and Kurtz, have some qualities which could categorize them as tragic heroes. However, only the reader's interpretation of the characters' actions will determine if they are tragic heroes or not. In his Ibo society, Okonkwo would certainly be considered a "noble person". Not only has he worked his way up from poverty to become one of the leading men of Umuofia, but he has also been deemed one of the greatest warriors and wrestlers in the land. "Okonkwo was well known throughout the nine villages and even beyond. His fame rested on solid personal achievements", (Achebe 3). Due to the exemplary actions, Okonkwo has gained respect from his fellow tribesmen. Okonkwo has also taken two titles in his clan and he is a member of the egwugwu, which demonstrates his leadership capabilities and the power and "nobility" he holds in Umuofia. Despite his skills in those areas, Okonkwo does have a "fatal flaw". "His whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and of weakness", (Achebe 13). Unoka, Okonkwo's father, was considered an "agbala", or a woman, because he was soft and not masculine enough. Okonkwo had also hated his father because he was em- barrassed by him, so his life's passion is to be the polar opposite of him. Due to this fear, Okonkwo held in his emotions and acted hard, which ultimately made him weak, because a s... ...o appears to have more qualities of a tragic hero than Kurtz. Achebe had created Okonkwo with some nobility, and he definitely had a fatal flaw; his fear of weakness ultimately culminated into his death. Also, Okonkwo had opposed the white society and some of his fellow tribesmen. However, his clan did not approve of his final action: suicide. Due to this fact, Okonkwo can never be a true tragic he- ro. Now, Kurtz never was considered to be a noble man by society's standards and he didn't really have a flaw; instead, he had the ability to persuade and manipulate people to his advantage, which would not be a flaw for his sake. Kurtz was a mixed man of society; he opposed some parts while accepting others. Despite this, both characters have exhibited some characteristics of a tragic hero and only the reader's response can determine their roles. Â  

Book Report on Lord of the Flies by William Golding Essay -- Lord of t

Book Report on Lord of the Flies by William Golding The following report is on William Golding’s Lord Of The Flies. The book itself is 208 pages. The topics that will be covered are a brief summary, type of chronology used, evaluation of character development, type of conflicts, themes, writers styles, and personal opinions. This novel takes place on a boat like shaped island. There is a jungle, beach, and a lagoon. There are pigs and fish that they can eat, and different fruits. This novel is about several young boys trying to survive on this island after their plane crashed. They have to work together in order to survive. There aren’t any grown ups around. Ralph and Piggy are the first to appear after the crash. Ralph finds a conch shell and blows into it hoping to get the attention of the other survivors. When they get around in a circle, they elect Ralph as the chief. Jack gets upset and this begins the conflict between Jack and Ralph. Jack decides that he and his choir, now called â€Å"hunters† want to go out and hunt for food. On his first attempt, he fails. One of the boys mentions that there is a beast on the island. Nobody paid too much attention to him, but in the back of their minds they knew there had to be something out there. Ralph decides that they need a fire so that ships can rescue them. They use Piggy’s glasses to start the fire. Each of the boys were told to watch out for ships but they decided to play instead so they missed their opportunity to be rescued earlier. Jack and his â€Å"hungers† have become obsessed with hunting and killing. They painted their faces and finally killed a pig. Finally Jack breaks away from Ralph’s leadership and he tells the others to follow him. He killed another pig and put the head of the pig on a stake, which symbolized The Lord Of The Flies. While Jack and the â€Å"hunters† were roasting the pig, Simon finds a dead man hanging from the rocks wearing a parachute. When he ran to tell the boys they mistaken him for the beast and kill him. Now only Ralph, Piggy and the twins remain together. The fight for leadership reaches a climax when Jack turns violent. The hunters stole Piggy’s glasses, broke the conch, stole the twins and Roger ends up killing Piggy by throwing a boulder at him over the edge. Jack wanted to kill Ralph then, but Ralph ran into the woods to hide. ... ...itions, our ideals, values, and the basics of right and wrong are lost. Another theme is that people often single out others to give themselves security. This happened a lot with Piggy, which wasn’t fair. The boys definitely singled him out and Piggy knew what was happening. I liked Golding’s style. It was fast moving, smooth, and I was able to understand what he was writing for the most part. He used good word choices when talking about a scene. In the first scene, when the boys were talking about how wonderful the island was, Golding used words like â€Å"thorns† and â€Å"Creeper† to tell us that the island wasn’t very friendly at all. He also uses good imagery. The point of view was usually objective, but was sometimes omniscient, showing the thought of only one character at a time in the scene. Most of the story is told through the eyes of the boys, but sometimes it changed to the viewpoint to that of the author. The age level that this book would be best suited is 12 and older. I think that boys would enjoy it more just for the fact that it is a book based on all boys. The only thing in the story that bothered me was the killings of the two young boys.

After the Bomb by Gloria Miklowitz :: After the Bomb by Gloria Miklowitz

After the Bomb  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     After the Bomb written by Gloria Miklowitz is a thrilling novel that takes place before, during, and after a bomb which supposedly was sent from Russia by accident. L.A. and surrounding cities are all altered by the disastrous happening. Philip Singer a teenager is in a position as leader of the family. His brother Matt is awfully sick, possibly from radiation, his father was away at work during the blast and for all Philip knows he might be dead, and his mother was desperately injured and needs immediate attention. Hospitals are flooded with injured and dying people and the government doesn't send help for a few days. The badly injured don't even get the chance to be helped because the hospitals have to send the ones that are likely going to live to hospitals that specialize in burns. His mother is so badly burned that the hospitals put her on the bottom of the list to be flown to burn centers. By the end of the novel Philip has taken charge, snuck his mom ahead to be flown to a burn center, and in a sense saved his town from thirst. He truly survived the terror, shock, and danger of the bomb. The novel goes through a couple of settings such as, Philip's struggle to keep his family alive, and the conflict between the nature of a nuclear bomb against the Los Angeles area. When the bomb hits he is playing around in a playroom shelter with his brother and his girlfriend. They go out to find out what had happened and found burning houses, their house only left with one wall, rubble on the ground, debris all over the place, and people running frantically for shelter. Philip's brother became sick after finding his mother and bringing her back down to the shelter, and found that his mother had been burnt severely and needed immediate medical attention. Philip struggles to keep his brother from getting even more sick than he was and to bring his mother to a hospital. Philip's family weren't the only people affected by the bomb. the entire surrounding area of Los Angeles was pounded by a devastating bomb. Churches, Hospitals, and streets were flooded with sick, dying, and even dead people. Hospitals that were built to only withstand 200 people now have thousands, and hospitals lack food, doctors, and water.

Unilever in Brazil

The Importance for cleanliness and to make clothes smell good has lead to growing penetration of the detergent powder portrays a cultural influence on the consumers buying behavior. The various reasons that the consumers mentioned for using detergent powder is described in Exhibit . Attribute Importance, Brand Positioning, And Consumer Expectations In the North East Exhibit 1 Source: – Milliner Research Cleanliness which has a 24% Importance helps to determine the motivation of the consumers; they believe that cleanliness Is part of their social status; It also caters to heir need for being part of the society.Only 28% household own a washing machine and the rest 72% household†s washing attitude (behavior) is to scrub the clothes with laundry soap and then add bleach to remove tough stains and only add a little detergent powder at the end to make the clothes smell good. So their perception about detergent powder Is that It Is only for good smell. In the EN, people consid er washing clothes as more of a leisure activity because the activity is generally taken up outdoors (physical environment), in the nearby ponds where people can socialize amongst each other.This is an Important aspect of the culture of EN, which differentiates it from the people of SE. As the social needs (Moscow†s hierarchy of needs theory) of the people are reflected in cloth-washing activity. The influences of mother in the decision making process is substantial in the case of detergents(FMC). Moreover the frequency of washing clothes is higher as they believe that cleanliness of clothes reflect on the responsibility taking behavior of the mother. Low income consumers were attached to boxes and regarded anything else as good for only second-rate products.Mom is positioned specifically to be used in gashing machine which shows that it is targeted for the people belonging to a higher social class. Southeast Region: The lifestyle of people of this region is better than EN whi ch is evident from the 67% of households owning a washing machine. The washing attitude Is more using a machine than hand wash. Hence the consumption of detergent powder Is more as against EN. Their learning from the washing experience is that hard stains are not cleaned in a washing machine in spite of using the most expensive Ana Test product. So teen need to use laundry soaps Tort cleaning ten tough stains on collars.This behavior has led to an 88. % penetration of laundry soaps. Players and brands in Brazil and their strategy: Milliner is the leading player in the detergents industry with a market share of 81%, with the detergent division in the cash-cow phase (as outlined in the BCC growth-market share matrix), helping the company generate funds to fuel the growth of its upcoming segments of home-care and personal-care products, which were still at a nascent stage. The market structure could be considered as a duopoly, with Milliner and P&G as the major players in the organized market.The market has been broadly categorized into the detergent odder and the laundry soap segments. The former is predominantly used in the SE part, while people in the EN used it in little quantity to make the fabric smell good. Hence, the growth of this segment was comparatively higher (stood at 17% against 6% for laundry soaps). The entry barriers were quite high for the detergent powder segment because of high investment in terms of the capital outlay, as sophisticated processes and machines were used in the manufacturing process.At 75%, Milliner†s share of the EN detergent market is below its national average as against P&Gs market share which is slightly above its sectional average. The local brands make up for only 8% of the share. A detailed breakup of the market share of each of the brands is shown in exhibit 2. Market Share and Wholesale Price of Major Brands in the Laundry Soap and Detergent powder categories in Northeast in 1996 senses Detergent Powder 70. 00% 60. 00% 50. 00% 40. 00% 30. 00% 20. 00% 10. 00% 0. 0% Laundry Shop Exhibit 2 Source: – Nielsen On the other hand, the laundry soap segment had low entry barriers because of the ease of the manufacturing process for soaps, as it could be produced relatively easily using animal fats and oils. The water in EN is soft as compared to SE region. Thus the amount of foam created is more leading to a higher usage and also appealing the consumers. Milliner faced competition in this segment from other established local players, like AS whose brand BEMA-tee-vi had an market share. SOOT ANALYSIS Strengths: 1.Milliner is leading the detergent powder category with 81% market share achieved with mainly three brands; Mom one of Brazil†s favorite brands across all categories; Minerva the only brand to be sold as both detergent powder and laundry soap; and Campfire, Milliner†s cheapest brand. . Brand Recognition: a. Milliner brands have a good market position as it was a pioneer of the consumer goods industry in Brazil. As against the other brands in the market, Milliner products have the higher % of brand knowledge, market penetration and top-of-mind awareness.Weakness: 1 . Distribution: Milliner is lacking the expertise in distribution of its products among the small outlets. In approximately 75,000 small outlets it is hard to find any of the Milliner products. Local distribution is important as the low-income consumers rarely shop in large supermarkets like Wall-mart. . Price: EN is a price sensitive region. For such consumers price = quality. So Milliner†s premium brand, Mom is perceived as a high quality at a premium position, while the other Milliner brands are considered to be of inferior quality. . Mom is regarded as the best product while the others are hardly able to satisfy the customers† expectations. 4. No prior knowledge or experience of dealing with low-income consumers. Opportunities: 1 . The EN market has good scope for growth. The re is a big possibility of better business with respect to the low-income consumers. 2. P&G has not entered into the laundry soap market. So Milliner only has a few local competitors. And since the usage of laundry soap is the maximum in EN, Milliner can capture the market for laundry soap. 3.The purchasing power of the low-income consumer has grown by 27% during 1995-96 which will probably lead to an increase in the usage of detergent. 4. The EN is 48 million predominantly low-income consumers whose consumption is 42,000 tons of detergent and 81 ,250 tons of laundry soap which is a big number. 5. Brazilian government is providing tax incentives to encourage investments in EN. 6. EN women wash frequently (5 times per week). Cleanliness is part of their culture. Also the symbolic value they attach to cleanliness is of high regard. . 28% of EN has washing machines. 8. Popularity of laundry soaps is higher in EN region due to the softness of the water in this region. Threat 1 . Brazil (EN) has illiteracy rate of 40% which can lead to unemployment. Such factors can have an adverse effect on the purchasing power. 2. P&G is a strong competitor in detergent powder market with Ace ranking third in the market share. 3. The R&D of P&G as a whole is far advanced than Milliner. Strategy for Milliner in Brazil Marketing communications strategy options (Chris Fill, 2005, Peg. 32) Strategy Pull Push Profile Target audience Consumers End-user bib customers Channel intermediaries All relevant stakeholders Message focus Product/ service Product/service The organization Communication goal Purchase Purchase Developing relationships and distribution network Building reputation The push strategy is aimed at pushing the product through the channel intermediaries and then finally to the end users. Whereas a pull strategy is aimed at pulling the consumers to retailers.A successful marketing involves a mixture of push through the trade and pull from consumers and thus the two areas are not mutually exclusive. , Peg unlived can Implement ten Tooling strategies: 1 . Push Strategy (Promotional Strategy) (Chris Fill, 2005) Manufacturer Wholesaler or Distributor Direction of Communication Retailer or value-added reseller Consumer or buyer The consumers in Brazil have a strong brand knowledge and top of mind awareness for the Milliner products. Mom is regarded as one of the premium products and does not have a close competitor.But this product is beyond the budget of the low- income consumers and hence the people of this particular sector cannot afford this brand. But by taking the advantage of the brand success, there are two options that Milliner can adopt: 1 . Launch a completely new product under the brand name of Mom with different detergent formulae. 2. Use one of the brands that satisfy the requirements of the low-consumer of a detergent from its existing portfolio. There is a disadvantage with the 1st option; the cost involved in the R&D in formulating a deterg ent from the scratch would be an additional expense in the budget.In option 2 t is not certain if the launch of an existing brand from the portfolio will be interpreted the way it is expected. The risk involved in the 2nd option is higher than the price factor in option 1. Thus option 1 although involves more time is a much wiser decision. Hence under the brand extension, launch a new product under the Mom brand (family) umbrella. Therefore the marketing mix (4 AS) for this strategy would be: Product: Package the product in different quantities of games, games and 1 keg so that it is affordable for people having either a weekly or a monthly budget.Like every other product of Milliner let this new product also be distributed in boxes as the low-income consumers consider anything other than a box to be inferior. At the same time design the packaging in such a way that it protects the contents from humidity and also very attractive to pull the attention of the buyers. Include pictures of popular parties like Carnival so that people can relate it to their rich cultural background. Price: Keep the price of this new product definitely less than Mom but almost of the same range as Campfire since for the low-income consumers price= (is equal to) quality.Hence lesser the price, the more it is vulnerable to be perceived as a low standard product. The wholesale price of Campfire is 1. 7/keg so the pricing for the new product could be between 1. 5 and 1. 7 per keg. Promotion: Promotions in this case rules out some of the forms like personal selling as the targeted market is very large, also television marketing as most of the people are low-income families, even magazine ads as most of them are illiterate.So the forms that will make an impact on the consumers are: direct marketing, buzz, word of mouth, banners with simple messages relating to the cultural and religious history EN has. Concentrate on visibility of the products in small stores so that when customers enter t he store they should realize that there is a new product which is catering to their needs, this way create an Montreal Impact on ten minas AT ten consumers Tort Tanat product. Place: Milliner lacks the distribution skill in EN.More than 75,000 small outlets don†t have any of the Milliner products. So the first step towards placing the new product is to make sure Milliner does a strategic distribution among the small outlets as the consumers in EN usually shop at a nearby store instead of going to large stores. Also considering the fact that 21% of consumers in SE are in the social class E, the new product should be carefully placed among the small outlets even in the SE region. 2.Pull Strategy(Selling Strategy) (Chris Fill, 2005) Communication Flow Originator or manufacturer Wholesaler Flow of goods and services Retailer Customer The consumption of laundry soap in Brazil is (6. 8+20. 4) keg and the detergent consumption is (12. 9+11. 4) keg. These figures reveal a very importa nt fact that many of the consumers are still tied to laundry soap and so by using the â€Å"pull† strategy, Milliner should attract these laundry soap consumers towards detergent powder. The pull strategy is successful when people have brand awareness and go to the shop to buy a particular product.So considering the washing habit (detergent powder in a very small quantity only for good smell), one of the ways of pulling the customers towards the detergent usage is by giving a small sachet of the new product for free with every purchase of a laundry soap(Minerva). By doing this the consumers would be forced to use the product and if the performance of the new product is convincing to them then the chances of people switching to detergent is tie high, which in turn will increase the brand recognition of the new product and as a result it would be a success of the pull strategy.Also once the consumers start buying the new product reward them by putting some coupons inside the pa ckaging so that the consumers are motivated to buy it the next time. Moreover, certain freebies like a container to store the detergent, a spoon to measure the quantity of detergent to be used in a given amount of water, can be deployed during the initial phases of launch of the product.One more way to increase the brand awareness of the new product is to vive a demonstration of the new product in and around the small outlets or at places most visited by the targeted consumers. Refill packs should be produced, and the product should be made available across all locations, because of the very nature of the product which is that it is a low-involvement one, and people would not travel long distances to buy the product.Since the product is targeted to a low-income and price sensitive segment, the company should make sure that it optimizes the distribution network and save on the logistics cost so as to transfer the benefits to he end consumer. While the product is gaining more brand lo yalty, the producer/ manufacturer should make sure that the new product is available on all the shelves (small stores, large malls) Tanat consumers can possibly reach out to. 0 encourage this give suitable incentives/rewards to the dealers. Thus convince the retailers to stock up in response to the demand created for the new product. The success of the new product can be achieved by striking a perfect balance between the push and pull strategies. So push or launch the product into the market and create awareness or the same and through the pull strategy create a strong affinity for the new product thus converting the laundry soap users to detergent powder.

Poetry Anthology on John Brereton

POETRY ASSIGNMENT ?Biography John Le Gay Brereton was born in Sydney, Australia, on the 2nd of September 1871. He was the fifth son of John Le Gay Brereton (snr), a doctor, and his wife Mary Tongue. His parents and family life impacted greatly on his view of the world, distorting it from the views of the norm of the times. John senior was also a poet, and published several volumes of poetry. John junior went to school at Sydney grammar school, and was just 15 when his father died in 1886. John moved on to study at the University of Sydney, and graduated with a bachelor of Arts in 1894.John was the editor of many newspapers, including his school paper, as well as the university paper: Hermes, and after 1890, John was a regular contributor to the Sydney quarterly magazine. Through his press ties, his poetry and literature became better known than that of most poets of the era. John produced his first poetry anthology in 1896, titled: the song of brotherhood and other verses. John produ ced another anthology in 1897 titled: sweetheart mine: lyrics of love and friendship. The year 1900 saw John marry Winifred Odd. In 1902, John returned to the university of Sydney, as the librarian’s assistant.He was known among the students and staff at the university to defy the way of the time by never wearing a top hat. In 1908, john published his 3rd volume of poetry titled: sea and sky. Another volume followed after the first world war, in 1919, titled: the Burning Marl. 2 years after releasing his fourth volume, he was appointed professor of English at the University of Sydney. John produced his final volume: Swags up! In 1928, and produced a series of autobiographical essays in 1930. In 1993 John went on holiday in Tamworth, and died there whilst still on holiday. John died friends with more widely known poets such as Henry Lawson.John’s wife and 4 children all survived him. Anthology ANZAC Within my heart I hear the cry Of loves that suffer, souls that die, An d you may have no praise from me For warfare’s vast vulgarity; Only the flag of love, unfurled For peace above a weeping world, I follow, though the fiery breath Of murder shrivel me in death. Yet here I stand and bow my head To those whom other banners led, Because within their hearts the clang Of Freedom’s summoning trumpets rang, Because they welcomed grisly pain And laughed at prudence, mocked at gain, With noble hope and courage high, And taught our manhood how to die.Praise, praise and love be theirs who came From that red hell of stench and flame, Staggering, bloody, sick, but still Strong with indomitable will, Happy because, in gloomiest night, Their own hearts drummed them to the fight. I chose the poem ANZAC because of it’s descriptive language, truth, and it’s use of the harsh reality of war, while not glorifying war in any way. The Poet uses a mixture of descriptive text, rhyming words and rhythm to display his views on World War 1. His use o f scary and uncomfortable words really reflect this message that war is a sick and gruesome place.Toby Hey, Toby, Toby, Toby! —Dead? The silence is a flood That closes, choking, overhead, And chills the living blood. The leaping friend, whose jolly bark Was greeting every night, No more to thrill the summer dark With welcome of delight? Beside his grave I bend the knee, And O, my eyes are dim. He hunted for the dog in me: I found the man in him. Swags Up! Swags up! and yet I turn upon the way. The yellow hill against a dapple sky, With tufts and clumps of thorn, the bush whereby All through the wonder-pregnant night I lay Until the silver stars were merged in greyOur fragrant camp, demand a parting sigh: New tracks, new camps, and hearts for ever high, Yet brief regret with every welcome day. Dear dreamy earth, receding flickering lamp, Dear dust wherein I found this night a home, Still for a memory’s sake I turn and cling, Then take the road for many a distant camp, A mong what hills, by what pale whispering foam, With eager faith for ever wandering. The Patriot The patriot from his walls of brass Is singing loudly as I pass; With fearless heart and open eyes, He shouts the ancient battle cries; And, where I pause to hear him sing, A silent crowd is listening.My country, God bestows by thee The glory of the world to be The glory thou alone canst give To last amid things fugitive. My country, an ideal form I see thee splendid in the storm, Directress of the power divine That makes the expectant future thine. My country, all the world shall bow Before thy peace-conceiving brow, And all the peoples humbly stand Submissive to thy blessing hand. My country, yea, the foes who raise A tyrant flag shall learn to praise Thy steadfast love that dares to fight The horde of Satan for the right. My country, loveliest, strongest, best, Thou hast a mission to the rest,And greater wealth and love shall be The guerdon of thy ministry. In every land I hear him sin g; In every land I see him fling His country’s flag against the skies And gaze aloft with dazzled eyes; And then his loud applause rings roundAnalysis of â€Å"Toby† The poem: Toby is a poem that was written about the death of John’s dog. the poem begins in the Poet’s point of view, calling out the dog’s name, and finding him and realising he is dead. The use of descriptive and cold language engages the reader, and helps us to embrace the feelings that the poet is trying to force upon us.The nature of the poem encourages readers to think back on times that we may have lost a close or loved person, and the poem is both a metaphor and true. the second paragraph of the poem is centered around the sinking in of the fact that one of his closest companions was dead, and that there was now an emptiness in his heart, and silence in the house. Toby’s bark used to fill the house of noise when ever John came home from work, but now he is greeted by an empty house, and the memory of what a great companion Toby was. John uses language and emotions to make the readers feel a touch sad, and to bring our minds into his perspective.The third paragraph of the poem takes us on an emotional roller coaster while John reminisces over what a good mate Toby was for him, his loyalty and how he was always there for John. The third paragraph ends with John coming back to reality, and remembering that Toby is no longer there to greet him after a long day’s work. The nature of the last sentence of the paragraph is almost distraught, and the readers can almost feel John’s pain through his clever use of descriptive and emotive text. The final paragraph is a sense of closure for the poem, poet and readers.John lays Toby to his final resting place, and realises that Toby was the greatest companion that he has had, and they spent their time together trying to find the similarities, even though John was a man, and Toby was a dog, and John definitely found the man in Toby, whilst Toby spent his time trying to find out how dog-like John really was. The poem ends with a sense of happiness, as the poet seems to admit to the loss of his friend, and closes with the fact that Toby really was a man, as he is caring, kind, and always there for his mates, no matter what is going on.Bibliography Poetrylibrary. edu. au Brereton, John Le Gay – Poet – Australian Poetry Library Poetrylibrary. edu. au (n. d. ) Brereton, John Le Gay – Poet – Australian Poetry Library. [online] Available at: http://www. poetrylibrary. edu. au/poets/brereton-john-le-gay [Accessed: 24 Sep 2012]. En. wikipedia. org John Le Gay Brereton – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia En. wikipedia. org (2012) John Le Gay Brereton – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. [online] Available at: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/John_Le_Gay_Brereton [Accessed: 24 Sep 2012].

Biography of Fernando Botero Essay

Fernando Botero, also named the most Colombian of Colombian artists, has developed a style the world notices as his own. Fernando was born in 1932 in Medellin, Colombia. Fernando came across heavy schooling as a child, which isolated him from traditional art in museums and such cultural institutions. It was his strict school however that brought art to be an interest for Fernando, the school Botero attended was run by Jesuits who were strict and brought little enjoyment into Botero’s life. To find enjoyment Botero began to draw at a young age. At that young age his inspiration was anything that interest him such as bullfighting. Fernando was a great fan of bullfights so he would paint scenes of this then sold them in front of the arena for 5 pesos. He spent nearly two years painting this subject. He had a growing interest in art his entire life; he shared his thoughts, and studied. When Botero was seventeen he worked for the Medellin newspaper, El Colombiano, titled Picasso and the Nonconformity of Art, which showed Botero’s mind and how it is linked with art. Botero is so well known because of his signature style, robust and round objects and characters. Botero tells critics that he is simply attracted to his form without knowing why. He claims that artists never know why artists use a form, he claims the style is intuitive and that the explanation for their style can be rationalized after it’s adopted. Botero is difficult to understand, as he doesn’t share his opinion with his art or even explaining his art. â€Å"He shares his vision with us but not telling us how to feel about it. Navas- Nieves says. We know his works are personal as some of his famous works depict his youth, â€Å"The Bishop†, â€Å"The Nun†, â€Å"The Bullfighter†, and â€Å"The Widow†. It is unknown to all except Botero however if these drawings reflect the beauty with these no proportional, bright colored, exaggerated sized or the turmoil. Botero eliminated brushwork and texture in his paintings as he favored a smoother look. Botero’s works are abstract and are educated by a Columbian upbringing and social commentary. When Colombian children go to church they see all these Madonnas, so clean and perfect. In South America china-like perfection is very much a part of the ideal toilet of beauty. More so even than the polychrome wood sculptures in Spain, Latin American sculptures look like porcelain. So, in contrast to Europe or North America, you connect the notions of art and beauty at a very early age. I grew up with the idea that art is beauty. All my life I’ve been trying to produce art that is beautiful to discover all the elements that go to make up visual perfection. When you come from my background you can’t be spoilt by beauty, because you’ve never really seen it. If you’re born in Paris, say, you can see art everywhere, so by the time you come to create art yourself you’re spoilt – you’re tired of beauty as such and want to do something else. With me it was quite different. I wasn’t tired of beauty; I was hungering for it. † Botero said this knowing he was not raised with art, which is his beauty. The lack of art in his life made him develop such an original style. The church influences Botero, his baroque style was adopted from the church. Botero is the most Colombian of Colombian artists because of his insulation from international trends. Botero once remarked â€Å"A painter can do things a photographer can’t do, because a painter can make the invisible visible. † This thinking lead Botero to create a series of serious paintings about prisoner abuse in Abu Ghraib. Botero, through his paintings in this series allowed us to feel the prisoners suffering. The paintings brought us to the agony of the victims, the humiliation they felt and all the pain was transferred from the painting to us, making us the victim. This series proved moreover Botero’s skill of art. Many critics thought the series was out of Botero’s league claiming that Botero’s style cannot do justice to the seriousness of the subject. Botero proved the critics wrong when he captures the emotion of the victims. The difference between photographs and paintings are that photographs come with a story. Just something that happened. They can be beautiful but paintings show affects and emotion and thoughts and different depictions. Much more thought goes into a painting, which sets the two apart.