Barriers and Drivers to Sustainability

This project has been assisted by the NSW Governmen t through its Environmental Trust. How to overcome common barriers and make the most of key drivers to sustainability About this guide This guide draws upon research completed in 2009 fo r the Urban Sustainability Support Alliance (USSA) by the Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF), Univer sity of Technology, Sydney, into the Barriers and D rivers to Sustainability in Local Government. This guide has been developed to assist council sus tainability practitioners to identify key drivers and common barriers often experienced when working towa rds sustainability. Why develop a guide? The guide adds value to the research by providing p ractical examples of strategies councils have used to overcome barriers and make the most of key drivers to sustainability. The examples provided have come directly from sustainability practitioners who have shared their initiatives with LGSA. The barriers and drivers are listed broadly in the order of significance indentified in the research. Complementary barriers and drivers are grouped toge ther to demonstrate the inter-relationships between barriers and drivers. More information: If you have additional examples to add to this guid e or if you require any assistance in taking any of the following actions please contact the Sustainability Team on (02) 9242 4000 or email [email  protected] Electronic copies of the research report and this g uide are available from the LGSA website: www.lgsa.org.au look under â€Å"ESD†. Gui de developed July 2009 Updated July 2012 Sustainability Learning Guide: Barriers and Drivers to SustainabilityThis project has been assisted by the NSW Governmen t through its Environmental Trust. Commonly identified Barriers and Drivers to Sustain ability: Barrier = Driver = Common Barrier or Driver What the interviews tell us How can I overcome this barrier? or How can I make the most from this driver? Lack of Organisational Support A lack of leadership or the failure of leadership to inspire others in the organisation. Despite a good reputation, the sustainability agenda often relies on individuals and occurs only in pockets across councils. Use examples of what other councils have done. Case studies can be used as a business case for sustainability. External experts or facilitators can be used to help raise awareness of sustainability internally. When communicating to senior management on sustainability issues do it in a meaningful and memorable way. Try using statistics and graphs. Get your sustainability initiatives recognised externally by submitting awards applications. General manager and senior management support The level of personal commitment, knowledge and leadership provided by senior management, in particular the General Manager of the council. Recognise staff achievements in the area of sustainability. The intranet and staff newsletters are possible tools. Reward staff achievements in the area of sustainability e.g. Staff Awards Program Ask your GM to endorse your work by inviting them to speak at relevant meetings and training sessions. Mayor and councillor leadership Strong leadership from the elected council. Simply having one or two new councillors who are open to, and positive about, sustainability can be a key driver. Harness councillor support by inviting them to pilot and champion council sustainability initiatives. Use your mayor as a speaker for council events. Encourage councillors to become representatives on sustainability committees.This project has been assisted by the NSW Governmen t through its Environmental Trust. Common Barrier or Driver What the interviews tell us How can I overcome this barrier? or How can I make the most from this driver? Gap between Theory & Practice A mismatch between what is espoused and what is practiced. Policies not being carried through to implementation. Integrate sustainability into councils management plans, job descriptions and induction training. Build momentum by doing the little things right. It is better to excel in a few targeted areas rather than have average performance across a wide range of areas. Sympathetic organisational structure The level of openness of staff to change can effect how sympathetic they are to the sustainability agenda. A council motivated to come up with new and improved ways of doing things. A history of strong leadership and a policy of recruiting people with these values and skills can contribute to a sympathetic organisational culture. Make the most of a positive organisational culture by involving staff from across the organisation in sustainability planning and actions. Create opportunities for staff to exchange ideas about sustainability. Start an internal sustainability committee or host lunch time sustainability discussions. Lack of staff capacity and high staff turn over Staff with responsibilities for engaging their organisation or community in sustainability, feel the pressures of their wide ranging responsibilities and the types of skills required of them. There is a need for increasing skills of staff more generally. High staff turnover and loss of corporate knowledge. Improve staff capacity to work on sustainability issues by developing an internal sustainability committee made up of staff from different divisions. Support professional development opportunities around sustainability. Consider implementing a mentoring program to give staff additional support. Dedicated sustainability staff Having a sustainability position or a sustainability team was identified as a major enabler. However regardless of a person's job title or position within council, staff who are highly motivated and posses skills in motivating others are extremely important. Recognise dedicated staff by offering incentives such as staff bonuses and awards. Encourage sustainability staff to speak at conferences.This project has been assisted by the NSW Governmen t through its Environmental Trust. Common Barrier or Driver What the interviews tell us How can I overcome this barrier? or How can I make the most from this driver? Competing priorities A lower priority for environmental or social equity issues was often a reflection of prevailing community attitudes, or lobbying by particular interest groups. Host sustainability workshops to raise community awareness and build community support. Use community expectations and concerns to highlight the importance of sustainability issues. Media coverage of global and local issues Increased media coverage of sustainability issues can increase the level of understanding and support for issues such as climate change and other environmental issues. Use an interesting angle and eye catching pictures. Link local sustainability programs and events to current and dominant issues in the media. Active and engaged community Active communities can have a major influence on the policies and priorities of the elected council. For example the influence of letters advocating action on particular issues. Involve community champions in workshops; e.g. to give a short presentation on a topic of their interest. Popular social media tools such as Facebook and YouTube can be used to harness community support. Inadequate systems for managing information For many councils, data management and IT systems present real challenges. The problems of complex and incompatible systems, or lack of automation, can add to the time involved in planning, coordination and reporting. Use internal financial management systems to track sustainable procurement. Investigate the use of external companies to monitor your water and energy consumption. Effective management systems Internal management systems that brake down silos and ensure easy access to information can help achieve sustainability outcomes. If you are using good systems for sustainability outcomes promote their use both internally and externally.This project has been assisted by the NSW Governmen t through its Environmental Trust. Common Barrier or Driver What the interviews tell us How can I overcome this barrier? or How can I make the most from this driver? Lack of internal and external funding A lack of resources can limit the implementation of actions in sustainability plans. The current economic climate is putting a strain on council budgets, with implications for staffing. Set up a revolving energy fund. The money that is saved from reduced energy consumption is reinvested in sustainability programs. Use a grant database to track upcoming grants and avoid missed opportunities. Partner with other councils or organisations to develop regional grant applications. Apply for an environment/sustainability levy. Identify and implement low cost initiatives. External funding External funding allows greater access to resources that support sustainability internally. Use the opportunity of external funding to integrate sustainability into councils operations. Regularly communicate your project outcomes to senior management to increase ownership. Ensure your sustainability initiatives are as self sustaining as possible when the funding ceases. Difficulty dealing with government agencies While relationships are often very good at a personal level with officers in other government agencies, the lack of co- ordination between federal and state plans and agencies, and between state agencies, complicated work at the local level unnecessarily and often hindered progress. Partner with state and federal agencies in grant applications. Network with government agencies. Organise round tables with government agencies to progress difficult issues. Partnerships and external agency support Positive partnerships with other agencies such as local Catchment Management Authority (CMA) and/or Regional Organisation of Councils (ROC). Use your partnerships to increase resources, provide joint training opportunities and facilitate information.This project has been assisted by the NSW Governmen t through its Environmental Trust. Common Barrier or Driver What the interviews tell us How can I overcome this barrier? or How can I make the most from this driver? Supportive Legislation The principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development outlined in the Local Government Act 1993 and related requirements can be used as an important driver. Educate the community, council staff and councillors about legislation e.g. LGSA's Understanding Sustainability for Councillors Course Link councils sustainability projects to relevant legislation. Inadequate Legislation While legislation was recognised as a driver, it was also a common view that it is behind current practice and that the debates and issues in the Local Government sector now are at a very different stage from when the Local Government Act 1993 was drafted. Actively participate in consultation phases of key legislation. Aim to go above and beyond the requirements. Research and development challenges Environment and sustainability positions generally required new knowledge and new ways of doing things, but time for reflection, reading and keeping up with developments is a challenge. Costs involved in obtaining reliable data, and finding appropriate and affordable external assistance can also be a challenge. Partner with universities to gain access to sustainability research and expertise. Subscribe to sustainability networks which allow for transfer of knowledge and approaches e.g. www.sustainablenet.org.au The language of sustainability While practitioners in this area understand sustainability is convenient short hand for a set of well understood principles, the term often proved problematic when used in a broader audience. This is often adds to confusion about the term â€Å"sustainability†. Encourage council and the community to define what sustainability means to them. Develop a shared sustainability vision and understandings. Sustainability newsletters, sustainability induction and sustainability surveys can be used to build awareness of key principles.

Healthcare Issues in America Essay

Some of the healthcare issues that share the limelight with politicians nowadays are the skyrocketing cost of drugs, health insurance system, the ever growing cost of hospitalization fees and the low coverage of insurance for malpractices for doctors. Debates and plans have been made so as to improve the quality of service to the people. But really, are these the real issues that an average American or a politician should give much emphasis on? There is a growing epidemic that is invading the country in silence†¦ And because it doesn’t make much noise as that of an aggrieved patient filing for a case against a physician, who by mistake, has distorted her nose in some way, that doesn’t mean this epidemic is not worth our time. For some reason these issues aren’t given much attention when in fact it threatens the very life of countless citizens therefore endangering the future of the country. Obesity, Alcohol Abuse, Mental Health, unhealthy foods†¦ These are real issues that could very well be the cause of more deaths and unhappy citizens of this country†¦Though these issues have been around for decades much of the efforts to address these problems are often not enough or simply useless. To further impress the gravity of the situation, it is therefore right to discuss these issues one by one. In the next few decades Scientists conclude that life expectancy for an average American could decline by as much as 5 years unless the government do something to decrease the rates of obesity (Dollemore 2005). With the rise of capitalism which gave way to consumerism, more and more goods make it to the hands of an average American. Life has also been fast phased which led to the success of over the counter dinners and lunches, ready to cook meals, watching television , playing video games, using computers and etc. The youth has been living a very sedentary lifestyle which lessens their interest in physical activities. Much worst is that there has been a sudden influx of quality computer games that has taken much of their time. They are also bombarded with fast foods, high fat, high sugar meals which are made available at every corner store. These factors lead to obesity that has taken the world aback with a staggering 20% increase in obesity rates among the youth. Diabetes is one of the complications that can sprout from Obesity. Cardiovascular diseases are also common to those who have diabetes. Emotional stress is also experienced by those who are obese are society tend to discriminate these people giving them less chances to enjoy life. The irony of it is that the government provides services to treat obesity rather than preventing it. It is a growing epidemic and unless we get to its roots, it will continue to rot away the future if countless American youth. According to surveys approximately 11 million current drinkers are in the ages of 12-20. Half of these drink excess to the point of losing total control to the outside environment. These drinkers are the American Youth who at a tender age finds solace in beer bottles. Alcohol abuse can lead to different kind of injuries such as alcohol related accidents, date rape, fire and etc. Automobile crashes, suicides, homicides, and unsafe sex leading to teenage pregnancies are one of the gruesome after effects of teenage drinking that are often overlooked by their fragile minds. Underage drinking is a widespread problem which can be attributed to the free access to liquor by minors. Substance abuse is very much widespread especially in impoverished areas in the country and this eventually lead to mental incapacity.   One need not look deeper to know that these issues are interconnected in someway. Teenage drinking and Obesity are discussed in detail to show that all the rest of the issues find its roots on the two events. The rest are just offshoots from these problems. Given the above issues, I guess it would be more appropriate for the government to give more attention to the cause of the problem rather than spending billions for rehabilitation facilities, diet programs and etc. As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure. It is indeed pretty much logical to answer the question on why the youth is engaging in substance abuse rather than put them in rehabilitation centers.   The thing is, the government is spending large amount of money to improve healthcare services to the populace not taking into consideration that these ailments that they are treating could not have found its way to the average American citizen in the first place. Now if by the end of the century this epidemic is not yet cured, then worst comes to worst, this country should expect more sickly citizens needing healthcare services to address their plight for good health. This is where my thoughts go in full circle†¦ if the government spend as much time, money and effort in addressing the problem of healthcare improvements and that of actually improving the health of its citizens, then I guess there is better hope for the future Americans. Come to think of it, if the epidemic is not stopped, more and more citizens will need healthcare services from the government. As a consequence, no matter how we try to improve the healthcare services and insurance system it will never be enough. Laws of supply and demand holds true even in this situation. More sick people, more hospitals, more doctors, more healthcare services, more chances for politicians to exploit the scenario by adding â€Å"improved healthcare† in their platforms. This is a vicious cycle, and unless we recognize the need to focus on individual health rather than health care services, we will never be able to actually address the problem of healthcare in this country. References Dollemore, D. (2005). â€Å"Obesity Threatens to Cut U.S Life Expectancy.† Retrieved April 10, 2007, from http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/mar2005/nia-16.htm.

Mcdonald’s Business Type and Purpose Essay

McDonald’s was invented in the year 1940 and has currently about 34 000 restaurants in the whole world. Since McDonald’s was found they established loads of shops especially in Europe and America. McDonald’s is obviously a private company and is owned by a head of shareholders. It was found by Richard and Maurice McDonald’s and until today they don’t get any support by the government. Today, the company is leaded by Andrew J McKenna as chairman and Don Thompson as president and CEO of the organisation. These people are the main decision makers within McDonald’s organisational structure. This business is one of the main fast food companies in the world. This means they produce food, but get supplied by several other businesses. They are settled in the secondary and tertiary sector, cause they’re not actually producing each part of the food they sell, but they do combine products to another saleable product. McDonald’s is combining supplier’s goods to actual fast food products and I selling them. Therefore they’re settled in the restaurant sector. McDonald’s is a franchise and public limited company. Franchising a business means that the company, even though it is owned by a head of directors, they sell several shops to private people, who pay for using the companies name and selling the whole menu of this business. They still have restaurants which are actually controlled and managed by the McDonald’s company, but even the shops the franchised, they still own and control the actions and on- goings in each shop and restaurant. By franchising the companies name they give people, who want to be independent, the opportunity to find a quick start into the worlds market of restaurants. Loads of small business fail to get widely accepted and fail to make their name famous. McDonald’s is a name the public trust and it’s much easier to sell the services and goods. Independent managers of a franchised shop don’t just have to pay for using products and names, but have to stick to the companies rules and can’t produce or establish other products. Usually the franchisees are limited responsible and have limited liability for the on- goings in their shops. They are partly responsible for mistakes their employees do, but there are main subjects which lie completely on the actual business and their directeurs, McDonald’s. McDonald’s is basically raising money by selling produced fast food products and fro example franchise contracts. The owner of any franchise organisation earns money from each franchised shop. They get a fixed percentage of the income of each shop and McDonald’s gets paid for allowing other people to use their name and produce their products. Public limited company means that the organisation is owned and controlled by shareholders. They have a limited liability, because the concept of them is it to sell shares of the company. Therefore they’re no longer unlimited responsible for all their shops. They raise money by selling their shares, because the private people who buy them are able to use the product and the name of the company for their shop. In addition they raise funds by selling their products to costumers. They get profits from each franchised shop and obviously from the shops which are actually owned by McDonald’s. The profits are shared between the shareholders and the owners of the company. The percentage is fixed in a contract.

Matching Cube Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Matching Cube Analysis - Essay Example The matching cube depicted above shows the comparison of different personality traits which are common or different in me and my spouse. We are living a very healthy life because of the fact that we have inculcated the fact that the trust and sacrifice are the most important traits in any relationship. If we will become itchy and problematic in every matter, there will be no coexistence and the relationship will come to breakup very soon. Me and my spouse have been living a healthy life for past two years and despite of all the problems that are common in every relationship, we have dealt with every issue and there is no serious problem that is challenging our relationship. There are many factors that are matching in our relationship. Physical attraction is the first and foremost common trait that is increasing our love bond. My spouse has a very healthy body and a good height of 5’ 10†. She is weighing around 132lbs which is totally perfect according to her BMI. I have a height of around 6’2† and my weight is around 165lbs which is almost according to the BMI. There is also a great love bond between me and her because of the perfect physical matching. Our needs are satisfied and we both look forward to increase the love relationship. Physical attraction with each otter gives us a chance to be confident all the time and my attention never deviates from her to other women because of her beauty. Similarly she is also very happy because of my physical attraction and we always feel sexually attracted to each other even after years of relationship with each other. The political ideology and interests are also a great match between us because of the fact that I am also of the favor of the secular system in which the religion and politics don’t have to overlap and my spouse is also of the view that the religion and politics must be segregated. This gives us a great chance to work for the same cause because we spend our time together di scussing these issues with each other and we also work on a website t promote this ideology. There is also an increased love bond between each other because of the social thinking we have developed for the political system in our country as she is also from a well educated background. Spiritual factor is also a great match between me and my spouse. we both belong to Christian background ( catholic) and we go to church every now and then to refresh our faith. This gives us chance to come close to God and each other. The spiritual factors give a great sense of responsibility and soothing to us. Me and my spouse are from well educated background and this gives a great advantage for us to come close to each other. There is no communication gap between us and put thinking perspectives are matching most of the time. Educated background gives us a chance to share the same feelings and thoughts about different events happening around us. As far as the differences are concerned, there are ma ny, and differences are a beauty of any relationship because humans are prone to get bored of the monotonous routines. If there will be no differences, we will not get any chance to learn new things and ideologies. Me and my spouse have different interest for example when I am watching cricket on TV, She always insists to change the channel and switch on different soaps and talk shows whereas I get always bored of the talk shows. But we never tend to

Nursing Therory Analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Nursing Therory Analysis - Research Paper Example Later on, it was revised so as to be brought into the modern taxonomic fabrication for comfort that often explains comfort to be a nature for accomplishing needs for ease, relief plus transcendence in one’s sociocultural, physical, environmental plus psycho-spiritual settings. In describing deduction, here comfort is described as having associations to some nursing theories so as to help make up a hypothesis. According to the author called Murray in his book published in 1938, he contributed towards providing a sensible structure that helped Kolcaba’s notions sustaining. In addition, Relief became distinguished by an author named Orlando in the year 1961, same to transcendence by Zderad and Paterson in 1976, and ease became distinguished by an author named Henderson in the year 1966. In the year 1975, the idea on behaviors of seeking health was utilized by a person named Schlotfeldt. In regard to retroductive step implementation, Kolcaba ensured that she in culminated the idea of having institutional sincerity incorporated in her comfort theory. In addition, the theory often depicts various personalized patient centered care, plus the given benefits accrued from comfort plus engagement of the habits involved to seek health. Basically, some of the notions found in this given philosophy encompass: Intervening variables, comfort needs, institutional integrity, comfort procedures, comfort including health seeking attitudes or behaviors. According to Kolcaba, comfort is something which needs to originate from a care circumstances which cannot be offered at the same time by a given patient’s maintenance structure. In addition, it is through the set of standards set in nursing that are supposed to assemble the given needs hence captivating patients aspects like maturity, emotional situation, defiance, given support structure, past experience among others which are

The Kennedy Doctrine 1961-1963 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Kennedy Doctrine 1961-1963 - Research Paper Example If Kennedy would not have inherited the legacy of the Recession of 1960-61, and also if ‘the Bay of Pigs’ invasion would not have failed, the Kennedy Doctrine had been, possibly, read as an anecdote or sequel to his predecessor Eisenhower’s foreign policy which rigidly was permeated with the president’s confidence in the country’s military strength to suppress any threat in international politics. Though within the first six months of his presidency in the Oval Office, Kennedy recovered from the recession, the increased military expenditure in the following years was the reflection of Kennedy’s policy to deter any possible offensive role of the Soviet Union. In this regard Gaddis (2005) opined that also the failed CIA-backed military coup in Cuba, in spite of Kennedy’s promise to refrain from Cuban Affairs, provoked the president to be bold to pronounce the United States’ defensive stance regarding the Berlin issue and the diplom atic acknowledgement of the Soviet Union’s concern in Germany. (Gaddis, 2005, pp. 112-115). Outlines of the Kennedy Doctrine and Historical Background Though the Kennedy Doctrine is often misinterpreted as the elaborations of Eisenhower and Truman’s foreign policy prerogatives to contain Communist expansion around the world at any cost, even by involving into another war, the skeletal difference of JFK’s policy with his predecessor’s was determined by the country’s experience of fighting the recession during its earliest months, of failure of the â€Å"Bay of Pigs† and the â€Å"Cuban Missile Crisis†. Kennedy promised to pay â€Å"any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty† (The Avalon Project, 2008). In his augural speech; nevertheless he was aware of the pressure of a tumultuous economy that was suffering from the fourth great r ecession in the US history. In one of his Union addresses, Kennedy admitted it: â€Å"The present state of our economy is disturbing. We take office in the wake of seven months of recession. Insured unemployment is at the highest peak in our history. In short, the American economy is in trouble† (Sorensen, 2009, p. 98). Unlike his predecessor, Eisenhower, Kennedy took the reign of America at a time when â€Å"business bankruptcies had reached the highest level since the 1930s, farm incomes had decreased 25 percent since 1951, and 5.5 million Americans were looking for work† (Miller Center, n.d.). Failure of the â€Å"Bay of Pigs† Invasion: A New Turn in Kennedy’s Foreign Policy Indeed Kennedy’s perception of the country’s economy along with the failures of his overly enthusiastic but covert military enterprises in Cuba in April 17, 1961 seemed to provoke him to be more diplomatic in confronting Communism around the World. Researchers often t end to characterize the Bay of Pig Invasion as Kennedy Administration’s initial trend to tread down the predecessors’ path to respond to Nikita Khrushchev’s â€Å"support for the wars of national liberation† in January, 1961 and the Soviet role in Congo crisis in February, 1961. According to Gaddis (2005), such experience in the â€Å"Bay of Pigs† might bring a new twist in Kennedy Foreign Policy (p. 89). This event provoked the president to voice the US positions clearly, less depending on the covert role, in the Berlin

Finance and Management Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Finance and Management - Personal Statement Example Throughout my life I have always been a very hard worker. I am a professional athlete currently working as a UFC fighter. My career requires a lot dedication and self discipline. These attributes can help me in my studies because being a student also requires a lot of sacrifice and self control. Universities such as the City University London are offering its students a learning experience bringing into the classroom the latest technologies to enhance the learning atmosphere. As an aspiring business student I realize that in order to succeed at graduate school I will have to dedicate myself more than ever. I already have an educational background in business. I studied my undergraduate degree at Ezerbaijan State Economic University graduating with a major in finance and credit. My prior exposure to business school will facilitate my transition better than other candidates that studied other fields. During the last of couple of years I have gained valuable experience in the business w orld working as a business development manager for a courier company. Working for this company was one of the factors that inspired me to study graduate school. In this job I learned a lot, but I realized that my skill sets and capabilities in business were not sufficient for me to continue a path towards ascension in the business world. I like being a manager a lot. ... The starting salary of a person with a master’s degree is about 20% higher than people with a bachelor’s degree. It is estimated that a person with a masters degree will earn over ?1.63 million over a lifetime. Continuing my education in business is very important for me. I like the fact that a masters’ degree opens up opportunities and increases your income capacity, but the real reason I want to attend City University London is to expand my business knowledge. I want to apply that knowledge at work in order to improve my performance. I also have aspirations beyond working for the private sector. One of my goals in life is to open up my own business. The business world has changed a lot since the start of the 21st century. Globalization has become more influential and technologies such as broadband internet have expanded the reach of ecommerce. Foreign markets such as the US marketplace have a growing customer base of online customers with ecommerce sales reachi ng ?93 billion in 2010. Due to the changing dynamics of business I have to be able to keep up with changes. The only way that I will be prepared for running my own business in today’s marketplace is by first completing a master’s degree in finance and management. One of my hobbies is reading books. When a person reads a lot they gain endurance at reading. This skill will help me lot in this new stage of my life. Graduate students often have to read hundreds of pages in textbooks, cases, and journals on a weekly basis. For me reading and learning about business is going to be a very gratifying experience. Some of the topics in business that I need to improve to become better at my career are international finance, foreign exchange markets, diplomacy, and negotiations. For me

Discussion 8 part B Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Discussion 8 part B - Essay Example sattva of Compassion’, the figure is claimed to have been sculpted using a special technique called ‘yosegi’ which gave most creation of the era, 794-1185 AD, its distinct characteristic, chiefly made of wood carved into form out of the several fragments of wood. The assembly when examined in detail, may be observed to have been artfully crafted by a number of specialists or artisans with the finest skills. Such endeavor justify how this particular bodhisattva could, in a way or another, reflect the prevailing theme at the time in which Japan took pride in its genius through the fields of religion, philosophy, art, and rich literature. Though the ‘Eleven-Headed Bodhisattva of Compassion’ primarily consists of wood, the sophisticated carvings and the countenance which appears to possess a blend of gold and bronze external coating, aimed to bring about a wholly essential color, suggests subtle prominence while depicting the purpose of identifying a bodhisattva by nature. The smooth lines of the sculpture were fashioned such that the strokes exude a character with humble gesture, one with which no trace of rigidity can be detected. In the absence of conspicuous edges in its shape all throughout, the eleven-headed Kannon may be readily claimed to have been so intentionally brought to the gentlest of forms so as to align the overall look of the structure with the attribute or definition the ‘Eleven-Headed Bodhisattva of Compassion’ is. With the manner it was rendered through carving, it occurs naturally deserving of an equivalent sentiment apart form all anxieties as it effortlessly projects a n image of pure and complete tranquility. A sound critic may truthfully infer that the eleven-headed Kannon was created by an author whose hands well communicated with the mind that synergistically functioned with the heart by virtue of passion and wisdom which entailed total discernment of his work. Knowing the essence of a bodhisattva, which is substantiated in

Communications Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Communications - Essay Example It serves as a communication therapy discussing three major themes in communication issues: indicators, findings, and therapy (Reich 153). As with everyone who experienced family talk, it is easy to see how it can go in circles. Family members argue about little trivial matters that sometimes merely started as normal conversations. We hear every single type of complaint like â€Å"she doesn’t like to apologize,† or â€Å"I didn’t do anything wrong so I shouldn’t say sorry,† or â€Å"mom always criticizes everything I do,† or â€Å"he doesn’t appreciate what I do.† (Tannen 5-6) Every single individual experienced times when they tried to say something good yet ended up being misunderstood. This is a commonplace happening, but usually harder when family members or people who are close to each other are involved (Noller and Fitzpatrick 17). It is like giving a person a gift of a nice scented-lotion and, instead of a â€Å"thank yo u,† receive a response that they were offended because it means they smell bad or need more grooming. The real meaning of the message wrapped in the niceness of the gift is taken as a negative hint for the correction of their errors. Even if that was never the message the sender wants to give, the distorted interpretation creates a negative impact upon the relationship of the sender and receiver (Tannen 11-3). No further proof is needed for this pathology of communication problems shown in this scenario and other scenarios similar to this. There is evidence in almost every daily interaction people have with others, and usually, although unfortunately, the closer people are with each other, the greater chances there are for miscommunication (Tannen 21). The author’s intention is to explain the process of conversation, to which interpretation plays a great role. People should not read a single message in one specific context. Most communication process, particularly betwe en those who are closely related to each other, involves a lot more than mere words (Noller and Fitzpatrick 19). In interpreting the sender’s meaning, one should be familiar with all the other aspects of communication. This is the only solution for the issue of misinterpretation. The underlying message --- the meta-message --- has greater effect in communication, whether negative or positive (Tannen 7-8). In the third chapter of the book (67-93), Tannen explores meta-messages in several spoken lines people use, and the differences of these meta-messages in conversations between people in close relationships. Tannen states that the meta-messages in intimate relationships is different because of control continuum and connection continuum (Tannen 11). In the overall message of the third chapter, the solution for miscommunication is simply acknowledging that everything heard and said are potentially vague. The appropriate process in deciphering the message, therefore, is to disam biguate by looking at the core of the message. However, the issues in this process are that a speaker at times intentionally creates the meta-message, or unintentionally create the meta-message, or the receiver imagines a meta-message. This makes the interpretation of meaning a not so simple task, and unless one is able to read minds, the possibility of misunderstanding is big. Therefore, paying attention is important (Reich 153). Even to one who has not studied the art of communication, ideas regarding the surface meaning

International students could not work in the US Essay

International students could not work in the US - Essay Example Lack of money as a result of inability to work might limit the credit hours of a student which may also lead to extension of the duration of getting degree. Moreover, this work restriction law may make some international students to work in illegal stores or indulge in illegal activities that might result to other problems (â€Å"International Students and Social Security Numbers. Social Security Administration† 1). It is as a result of this problem that institutions that started offering job opportunities to international students in areas such as bookstore, the library, and the physical plant within the campus. Some institutions also allowed international students to work in the cafeteria, media services, and in other departments in the campus. However, working in such areas also required one to have a Social Security number. Social Security number aid significantly in addressing international students’ unemployment problem. â€Å"Social Security numbers enable the U.S. government to monitor a person’s wages along determining eligibility for Social Security benefits† (Lewis & Clark 1). Therefore, it is advisable for international students willing to work in the U.S. to apply for a Social Security number. However, they should first contact designated school officials for international students in order to determine if they are eligible to work on campus before applying for the Social Security

Why women were constantly reminded of the need to maintain their Essay

Why women were constantly reminded of the need to maintain their femininity even as they deviated from traditional gender roles in the Second World War (UK) - Essay Example hild-bearing, about motherhood, home keeping, sex life, inner and outer beauty. Many Writers construed feminism to mean differently. There are those who said it is a term that belongs to a specific movement in US and Europe and is linked to activism, and there are those who refer to the term as injustices to women. But did these things mattered to women as they deviated from their traditional roles in the Second World War, particularly in UK? Our goal here is to sketch feminisms as they deviated from their traditional roles during WWII. Femininity classification and definition Before 1800s feminism refers to the qualities of women. The term begins to take new meaning with the beginning of feminist’s movement who asked for equal rights, so it was called the first wave of feminism. The movement was briefly forgotten during the war upon which, feminism took a new meaning for them, that of leaving the patriarchal society to become members of the men’s world. ... They can learn to protect themselves by learning techniques for fighting .Feminity is also defined by Brownmiller, Susan, as â€Å"making oneself as harmless, and that the feminine principle is composed of compliance and conflict†. Brownmiller argues that femininity merges female weaknesses with conflict avoidance and good will. Brownmiller is a controversial writer because of her assertion that â€Å"rape is a process of intimidation in which all men keep women in a state of fear† She said rape is a tool used by men ever since as a form of oppression to women. She said that femininity pleases men because it makes them appear to be more masculine, and by behavior, female expresses femininity by tearful expression of sentiments and fear as one way of establishing route to success. Femininity did not vanish when women became workers. It is alive and well in the workplace. The Second World War changed everything in the British way of life. Their work, family, governmentâ⠂¬â„¢s policies all changed because of war. It practically altered the roles of women and almost challenged the roles of gender relations as women were called on to work on men’s field. The war had changed the contours of society, erased the division of class, had challenged the existence of gender (Swanson, Gillian and Gledhill, Christine, 28 February 2012). .In all of these work changes, their femininity allows them to move in the work places away from their traditional roles. In a way, women used femininity as a competitive edge in getting and keeping their jobs. In a sense, this also pleased businessmen and even the government because women were paid less for the same man’s work In Chapter 10 â€Å"Mothers as wives in an individualistic society†, â€Å"feminity†

Character Analysis of Romeo Essay Example for Free

Character Analysis of Romeo Essay The play Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare in which Romeo is a tragic hero, who is the son of Montague and falls in love with Juliet from his feud family, Capulet, at their first glance of each other. Shakespeare uses several rhetoric devices in Romeo’s lines to suggest that Romeo is a romantic yet rash figure. As Russ McDonald mentions in his essay â€Å"Shakespeare’s tragic characters are visionaries, purists, idealists† 1, Romeo satisfies to be an idealist, who believes that he is going to have an adorable life with Juliet but gets totally messed up when things turn down. First, â€Å"Heaven is here where Juliet lives and every cat and dog and little mouse, everything unworthy thing live here in heaven and may look on her, but Romeo may not†¦ They may seize on the whit wonder of dear Juliet’s hand and steal immortal blessing from her lips†¦Ã¢â‚¬  2 Both personification and metaphor are used in this quote in order to vividly describe the grief in Romeo’s heart. Human behaviours are applied to every dog, cat, mouse and other unworthy things that they can â€Å"seize† and â€Å"steal†. Evidently, to â€Å"seize the white wonder† and to â€Å"steal immortal blessing from her lips† are things that Romeo wants to do rather than he wants those animals to do. It is also suggested that Romeo would rather to be those animals instead of him to stay with Juliet given that he has been sentenced banishment. These things show that Romeo is suffering from anguish that he is going to leave Juliet and regarding himself as one that ranks lower those cats, dog, mice and other unworthy things. Moreover, â€Å"heaven†, in this context does not refer to the place where people live after they die. Actually, Shakespeare uses metaphor here to refer â€Å"heaven† to the place where Juliet lives but Romeo is prohibited to live. On the other hand, Romeo implies that he is going to a place like the hell. The contrast between the heaven and the hell is so strong that Romeo is upset because before he believed that he would lead a sweet life with Juliet. At this point, I conclude that Romeo is round character in this play. Round characters are defined to be those â€Å"who are more complex, who change their minds, attitudes, and actions, or who take readers through a process of conflict along with them. † 3 Before Romeo is sentenced, he was assuming that he was going to stay with Juliet after he married Juliet and most of the readers think so. But given that Romeo kills Tybalt and he is exiled, things turn to the dark side so that Romeo becomes sorrowful by which the reader is shocked. Second, â€Å"Eyes, look your last. Arms, take your last embrace. And, lips, O, you the doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss a dateless bargain to engrossing death. † 4 This piece contains imperative sentences that Romeo does certain things to show his magnificent love to Juliet straight from his heart. It is also an appealing detail, which carefully depicts the actions of Romeo’s eyes, arms and lips and which the reader is able to visualize in their head. As Gail Kern Paster mentions in his essay â€Å" Rather Romeo and Juliet’s love is a social problem, unresolvable except by their deaths, because they dare to marry secretly in an age when legal, consummated marriage was irreversible† 5, in that historical context, in order to show that he is still loving Juliet not anyone else, he has no choices but to kill himself. Third, â€Å"Hence ‘banished’ is ‘banished from the world,’ And world’s exile is death. Then ‘ banished’ is death mistermed. Calling death ‘banished’, thou cutt’st my head off with a golden ax†¦Ã¢â‚¬  6. In this quote, the word â€Å"banished† is repeated several times. Such a repetition shows enormous grief that exists in Romeo’s heart and his unwillingness to leave the place where Juliet lives. Moreover, Romeo regards banishment as death and the fantasy, â€Å"cutt’st my head off with a golden ax†. At this point, I think that Romeo is quite rash and pessimistic. As Russ McDonald mentions â€Å"†¦ they are like children, for their idealistic conception of the world is usually marked by a radical simplicity and naivete† 7, I state that it is Romeo’s simplicity and naivete that he equals banishment to death. In my opinion, it is just a tiny stumble block in his life as every other individual will have and Romeo is so rash that he is demanding death. Fourth, â€Å"†¦her beauty makes this vault a feasting present full of light. † 8 The hyperbolic language in this quote suggests that Romeo sees that Juliet presents impressive and glorious beauty, which looks light. Again, it is a very strong piece of language to emphasise the unshakable status of Juliet in Romeo’s mind.

Explosion In The British Petroleum Texas City Refinery Commerce Essay

Explosion In The British Petroleum Texas City Refinery Commerce Essay The explosion and fires incident in the British Petroleum Texas City refinery on 23 March, 2005 has been described and reviewed in this assignment. Investigation report revealed that the incident occurred during the startup of an isomerization (ISOM) process unit. It was reported that this incident resulted in huge impact on BP Company and its stakeholders. The impact of the incident has been critically commended with the support of several data. Fatalities and injuries on nearby trailers, onsite and offsite damage, post-incident emergency response, and economic losses were the major consequences of the explosion. Causes of the incident have been also examined in order to improve BP performance. Organizational and process safety inadequate was the major blame for the incident. Recommendations which may improve BP situation and help to avoid hazardous incident have been provided throughout the assignment. The improvement on process safety culture, organizational changes such as merger and acquisition, budget cutting and employees training at all levels, as well as the enforcement of more effective safety management systems have been suggested to improve BP performance. Lastly, a safe trailer placement policy has been proposed to avoid the risk of similar incident. British Petroleum Company and Texas City Refinery Background The British Petroleum (BP) refinery in Texas City, Texas is the third largest oil refinery plant in the U.S. On Wednesday, 23 March 2005 at 1:20p.m, an explosion and fires happened at the BP refinery in Texas City, Texas, 30 miles southeast of Houston. The BP refinery in Texas City has the great impact on the overall gasoline supply in the U.S. This oil refinery has the capability to produce about 10 million gallons of gasoline per day. This amount of production makes up about 2.5% of the gasoline sold in the U.S. Apart from producing gasoline, this BP refinery also produces diesel fuels, jet fuels, and chemical feed stocks. There are 29 oil refinery units and 4 chemical units cover its 1,200 acre plant. In BP refinery in Texas City, BP employs about 1,800 employees. While the explosion and fires occurred, about 800 contractor workers were onsite carrying turnaround activities. The site has had several alters in management at both the corporate and refinery stages from its commission ing to the date of the explosion incident (Kaszniak Holmstrom, 2008; U.S Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB), 2005). Incident Description On 23 March, 2005, explosion and fires in BP Texas City refinery occurred during the startup of an isomerization (ISOM) process unit (Figure 1). On that morning, the raffinate splitter tower in the refinerys ISOM unit was restarted after it had been shut down for maintenance. During the startup of a section of the ISOM unit, flammable liquid hydrocarbons were pumped into a distillation tower for more than 3 hours without any liquid being removed by operations worker. This action was opposing to startup procedure instructions. The false signal provided by control instrumentation and critical alarms failed to alert the operator workers of the high level in the tower. As a result, unidentified by the operations worker, the distillation tower was overfilled and flammable liquid hydrocarbons overflowed into the overhead pipe at the top of the tower (Kaszniak Holmstrom, 2008; U.S CSB, 2005). As the overhead pipe filled with liquid hydrocarbons, the pressure at the bottom rose rapidly and resulted in the three emergency relief valves which used to protect the tower from high pressure opened for six minutes. A large quantity of liquid hydrocarbons then flowed from the discharge of safety relief valves to a blowdown drum with a vent stack open to the atmosphere. The blowdown drum and stack speedily overfilled with flammable liquid hydrocarbons, which resulted in geyser-like release out the 113-foot tall stacks (Figure 2) (Kaszniak Holmstrom, 2008; U.S CSB, 2005). According to CSB final report (2005), this blowdown system was a hazardous and outdated design. As the liquid hydrocarbons fell to the ground, some of the volatile liquid evaporated to form a flammable vapor cloud. The explosion and fires happened when the flammable vapor cloud was ignited most likely by an idling diesel truck positioned approximately 25 feet from the blowdown drum. The vapor cloud arrived at a wi de area which is evident by the burned area as shown in Figure 3 (U.S CSB, 2005). Figure 1. Raffinate section of isomerization ISOM process unit (U.S CSB, 2005) Figure 2. Raffinate splitter tower overfills and blowdown drum releases flammable liquid hydrocarbons to the atmosphere (U.S CSB, 2005) Figure 3. A post-explosion photo shows the burned area in and around the ISOM unit had the most severe fire damage while the red arrow points to the top of the blowdown stack (U.S CSB, 2005). Causes of Incident There are several key findings as the causes of this incident occurred in BP Texas City refinery after an investigation was conducted by BPs investigation team which coordinated with CSB, the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The causes of the incidents are summarized as below, The BP board of Directors did not propose effective safety culture and major accident prevention programs. There were no member in charge of measuring and verifying the performance of BPs major accident hazard preventive programs (U.S CSB, 2005). Risk blindness (The Economists, 2006). For instance, BP did not take effective actions to halt the growing risk of a catastrophic event although several fatalities occurred in BP Texas City refinery prior to this incident (U.S CSB, 2005). BP was too much focused on the low personal injury rate at Texas City while the process safety management and safety culture had severe insufficiency (U.S CSB, 2005) Inadequate in BPs mechanical integrity program. This led to the failure of the process unit in BP Texas City refinery (U.S CSB, 2005). Overzealous cost-cutting strategies (Economist, 2006; Marketline, 2007a; U.S CSB, 2005). According to CSB final report (2005), BP Group executive managers had expenses cuts in the 6 years resulting in the Texas City disaster without measuring their impact on safety of the site (Economist, 2007; Process Engineering, 2007). The blowdown drum and the relief valve disposal piping were undersized and the relief valve system safety study was 13 years overdue (Process Engineering, 2007; US CSB, 2005). ISOM operators had been overstretched (Economist, 2007; US CSB, 2005). Insufficient in BPs operator training program (US. CSB, 2005). Impact of Incident on BP Company and its Stakeholders Explosion and fires in BP Texas City refinery resulted in several negative effects on BP Company and its stakeholders. Those effects include casualties and injuries, facility and equipment damage, offsite damage, post-incident emergency response and economic losses (US CSB, 2005). Stakeholders of BP who had been affected by this incident were as below, BP Company and its employees Employees of contracting firms which include Jacobs Engineering Group (J.E. Merit), Fluor Corp. and General Electric Co. Families of dead victims and injured workers in this incident Texas community Texas City BP stockholders The U.S citizens who use crude oil Casualties and injuries In the incident, it was reported that 15 contract employees of J.E. Merit, Fluor Corp. and General Electric Co. were killed and a total of 180 employees in the refinery were injured (U.S CSB, 2005). Investigation report revealed that those 15 casualties were due to the explosions impact on the nearby temporary office trailers where employees were having meetings. Of the 15 casualties, 11 of them were employees of Jacobs, Pasadena, Calif, which was contractor in BPs Texas City refinery. The 11 dead Jacobs workers include several managers, administrators and 4 female craft workers. 3 of the victims were employees of Fluor, Aliso Viejo, Calif, was contractor provided maintenance management services at the plant since 2001. The remaining contractor victim was employee of General Electric Co. whereas no BP employee was killed in the incident. Blunt force trauma, which most likely resulting from being hit by structural components of the trailers was the cause of the all 15 casualties. Duri ng the incident, there were approximately 2,200 contract employees and 1,100 BP employees working at the refinery plant. Table 1 shows the details of the 15 dead contractor employees (Powers Rubin, 2005; US CSB, 2005). Company Name Age Position J.E Merit Glenn V. Bolton 50 Planner-scheduler J.E Merit Lorena Lori G. Cruz 32 Instrument fitter-helper J.E Merit Morris R. King 57 Construction manager J.E Merit Arthur G. Ramos 59 Quality control technician J.E Merit Ryan Rodriquez 28 Craft superintendent J.E Merit James W. Rowe 48 Civil superintendent J.E Merit Linda M. Rowe 47 Tool room assistant J.E Merit Kimberly A. Smith 43 Field administrator J.E Merit Susan D. Taylor 33 Pipe fitter helper J.E Merit Larry S. Thomas 63 Project superintendent J.E Merit Eugene White 53 Safety supervisor Fluor Corp. Rafael Herrera 27 Quality control inspector Fluor Corp. Daniel Hogan 58 Quality control inspector Fluor Corp. Jimmy Hunnings 58 Quality control inspector General Electric Co. Larry Linsenbardt 58 Title not disclosed Table 1. Contractor employees who died in the incident (Powers Rubin, 2005) Additionally, 180 employees at the plant were injured, 66 of the victims had serious injuries and most of them were suffered multiple injuries. It was reported that lacerations, fractures, sprains, strains, punctures and second-and third degree burns were the typical combination of injuries occurred on victims. Those seriously injured had leave for works, medical treatment or constrained work activity. Of the 66 workers with serious injuries, 14 were BP employees while the others were contractor workers from 13 different firms. Moreover, report revealed that 114 employees were given first aid during the incident. Of those who were given first aid, 35 were BP employees while the rest were contract employees from 14 different contracting firms (U.S. CSB, 2005). Facility and equipment damage According to CSB final report (2005), the place within the ISOM unit which caused explosion, nearby trailer area, the adjacent catalyst warehouse as shown in Figure 4 and the adjacent parking areas suffered the most severe blast damage. The nearby metal warehouse which used to store catalyst and the satellite control room were heavily damaged (Powers Rubin, 2005; U.S CSB, 2005). Figure 4. Nearby trailers that sited west of the blowdown drum (pointed by red arrow) were destroyed (U.S CSB, 2005). Furthermore, it was found that about 70 vehicles surrounding the ISOM unit were damaged and numerous vehicles were destroyed (U.S CSB, 2005). Moreover, a total of 44 trailers sustained heavy damaged (Figure 5) and 13 trailers were totally destroyed by the blast pressure wave that propagated through the plant when the explosion and fires happened. Report also disclosed that a number of workers were injured in trailers as far as 479-foot away from the explosion (Kaszniak Holmstrom, 2008; U.S CSB, 2005). Additionally, adjacent buildings also were damaged by the blast pressure. The damage level on building was not as severe as those occurred on trailers. The damage on surrounding buildings included damaged doors, cracked walls, and broken windows, scattering of interior contents, damaged roofs and bent metal panels. Also, the explosion also damaged a total of 50 storage tanks although most tank farm was located more than 250-foot away from the ISOM unit. The damage on tanks included distorted tank shells, both the shell sides and the roofs. A number of tanks utilized to hold hazardous substances like benzene were found being damaged as well and this resulted in the hazardous substances vapors escaped to atmosphere (U.S. CSB, 2005). Offsite Damage CSB report disclosed that not only the buildings in the refinery were damaged but windows of some houses and business buildings which situated north of the refinery were broken as well. These damaged offsite buildings were located up to 3 quarters of mile away from the explosion (U.S CSB, 2005). Figure 5. Trailers in the vicinity of the ISOM unit were heavily damaged (Occupational Hazards, 2005). Post-Incident Emergency Response The emergency response teams in Texas City were one of the BP stakeholders affected by this BP refinery explosion. These emergency teams provided effective and rapid assistance for the injured people and recovered the fatalities. Texas City Industrial Mutual Aid System (IMAS) member companies helped with search and rescue and fire hose lines (U.S CSB, 2005) Economic Losses BP has set aside approximately $2 billion in compensation repairs, payouts and lost profit for settlement of the incident (Marketline, 2007a). According to The Justice Department and US Environment Protection Agency (EPA), in order to resolve Clean Air Act violations in Texas City refinery, BP Products North America has spent over $161 million after the explosion to control pollution in Texas City, improved monitoring and maintenance and enhanced its internal management practices in Texas City refinery. EPA also reported that $12 million was paid by BP on civil penalty and $6 million was spent on a supplemental project to decrease air pollution in Texas. For settlement issues, BP also converted 100 diesel public vehicles to vehicles that operate using liquefied or compressed natural gas in order to reduce the hazardous emissions like hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. Besides that, BP agreed to build 4 refueling stations for those converted public vehicles (Marketl ine, 2009). It was also reported that BP faced penalties with $92,000 from The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for violations in the Texas City refinery (Marketline, 2007b). Moreover, to compensate the victims in the explosion, BP has incurred $1.6 billion (Economist, 2007). Likewise, BP faced reduction in its fourth quarter profit in 2006 due to the huge expenses on safety and integrity investments after the incident. It was reported that BPs fourth quarter profit fell 12% when compared to the last 3 quarters of 2005. Although BP achieved record profit for 2006; BP lagged behind that of its UK competitor Shell (Marketline, 2007c). BPs share price also trailed its rivals like Americans Exxon Mobil in 2006 (Economist, 2007). Recommendations Some recommendations to improve BP situation have been proposed after accessing the causes of the incident. Safety culture recommendation and trailer siting recommendation have been suggested to BP Company as follow, Safety culture recommendation Improve and emphasis more on process safety culture and performance through: Increase spending on safety assessment and maintenance Appoint an expert on safety management systems for at least 5 years to examine the safety progress in BP refineries. Incorporate process safety into management decision making at all levels Promote improved process safety through education and training employees at all levels Construct organizational changes that may improve process safety which include: Main organizational changes in refinery, for instance through mergers and acquisitions Policies changes like cost cutting and ensure consistency of policies Employees changes such as changes in staff experience and hire more workers to avoid work overloads. Reinforce safety management systems through enforcement of more valuable and effective programs, for instance: Mechanical integrity programs Risk management and analysis programs and Errors reporting and investigation programs Trailers siting recommendation Develop a novel trailers placement policy which contains practices to ensure the safe siting of trailers as below, Protect occupied trailers from accident exposure, for example, explosion pressure and heat Set up minimum safe distance requirements for trailer siting where is away from dangerous zones of process plants Assess the relocated trailers placement via novel risk analysis methodology Conclusion The explosion and fires occurred in BP Texas City refinery in 2005 resulted in huge impact on BP Company and its stakeholders. The effects of the incident included casualties and injuries which 15 contract employees were killed and 180 employees in the plant were injured, facility and equipment in the plant were damaged or destroyed, offsite houses and business buildings were damaged, assistance from emergency response teams in Texas City and economic losses. BP had has paid about $2 billion to compensate the repairs, payouts and lost profits and about $1.6 billion to compensate the victims. Moreover, BP was fined by EPA and OSHA for violations in Texas City refinery. BPs Q4 profit in 2006 also faced declination due to the explosion in Texas City refinery. The profit reduction not only affected BP Company but also BP stockholders. The incident also resulted in the financial performance of BP lagged behind its competitors. As part of settlement, BP also agreed to convert 100 diesel pu blic vehicles to vehicles that operate using liquefied or compressed natural gas. Furthermore, the incident has vast impact on the overall gasoline supply in the U.S as the gasoline production of this oil refinery makes up about 2.5% of the gasoline sold in the U.S. Safety culture recommendation and trailer siting recommendation have been given to improve BP situation. Even though compliance with practices in policies does not guarantee on avoidance of hazardous incident, non-compliance undoubtedly increases the risks. Also, enforcement of effective safety management systems is essential in all companies. Last but not least, employees safety training at all levels are very important to prevent the major incidents.

Representation of Photos in the Media

Representation of Photos in the Media Introduction to Media and Media Studies, Writing and the Media, Reading the Media Question 1 For the representation in the media, we can relate to radio, television, cinema, internet such as social media, news and so on. Through them, we receive different information and entertainment, mostly for young people who grew up in modern world and society. Media representation is how media portray particular groups, ideas or topics in the world to another perspective how we see it. Let me take Twitter, for an example. Twitter is social media that have over 1 billion users monthly and 313 million monthly active users. (Twitter usage/Company facts, 2016.) Twitter is one of the social media where people post their opinions about recent events, what is currently happening in their lives, who did something that was not impropriate or who is in a relationship with whom. Some of the companies or/and celebrities are trying to interact with their followers and fans. Those fans can see their inspirations the way they look like, their behavior and not experiencing it in reality. In the interpretation, OShaughnessy and Stadler (2016:35) says that à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦media first gives us information and only after the explanationsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ On the way media are teaching people how to make a change in the world and how they see the world around them. Let me take travel blog as an example. For the last few years more and more people are traveling around the world taking photographs, learning about new cultures, new countries, mostly difference between people. Only after they write about it and that is how they teach other people. Personally, I think that is the best way to meet surroundings, to be filled with experience and knowledge. Figure 1: Lin, E. 2013. 7 TIPS TO TRAVEL SMART IN THE SUMMER Summer time is here! It is the perfect time for traveling and exploring the world. (The Lab, 2013) TAKE ANOTHER ONE When we talk about evolution media, they give us the information about some issues or just how to understand genders, religions, cultures or races. They want to teach us how to be normal, basically creating stereotypes and making people being judgmental, how we see the world and the way we are going to treat each other if they are not the same as we are (OShaughnessy Stadler, 2016). Perfect example is with the biggest YouTube star Felix Kjellberg or his channel name PewDiePie and biggest business journal, The Wall Street Journal. Felix is a web-based comedian and video producer whose job is to make people laugh. As PewDiePie/Felix says in the video à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦old school media doesnt like Internet personalities, because they are afraid of us. We have so much influence and such a large voice and they dont understand that (see My Response- PewDiePie, 2017). Even if he did an interview in 2013 with The Wall Street Journal they would only focus how much he earns as the tittle says YouTubes Biggest Draw Plays Games, Earns $4 million a Year (The Wall Street Journal, 2014.) Also the media would only acknowledge him for earning money by playing games as a hobby, spending money on cars and luxuries, but they do not show that he donates millions to charities. But because he was so successful in his career, he wanted to be funnier than usual.   In one of his YouTube videos he went just a bit far with paying two men that were holding a sign saying Death to all Jews after he apologized to everyone saying that he did not expect their response (see My Response PewDiePie, 2017). In the videos he made before, he would wear a uniform, taking Adolf Hitler as a reference to make people laugh, but the words Adolf Hitler was saying had Nazi messages. As The Wall Street Journal (2017:1) says Disney Servers Ties With YouTube Star PewDiePie After Anti-Semitic Posts. After that incident happened Disney canceled his show saying people Jewish religion were offended. PewDiePie automatically responded and apologized to his fans and people all over the world saying he didnt want to offend anyone and that his job is to make people laugh. Other you-tubers are standing with PewDiePie, even his friend whose religion is Jewish. Felix friend Ethan Hakmon or his channel name h3h3Productions, states that Disney and WSJ didnt ask people Jewish religion did they actually got offended or not, because he isnt. (see Is PewDiePie Racist h3h3Productions, 2017). Representation, interpretation and evaluation in media are creating the world as a single community because they are giving their opinions on certain topics. The problem is they have a huge influence on the world and people. People are becoming stereotypes and do not have their own opinion. Question 2 One of the roles in the media is to inform. Media inform us about our surroundings, we can easily find out what is happening in our country or on the other side of the world. For an example Haiti Earthquake in 2010. Oliver Laurent (2015) states On Jan 12, 2010, a devastating earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0 struck Haiti, killing more than 160,000 and displacing close to 1.5 million people. Five years later, the scars of the tragedy remain in Port-au-Prince,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ We chose Haiti as information media because it was terrible for people whose families were on the island on that devastating and sad day. A lot of lives were lost and they are still battling with a lot of different sicknesses and people who are still trying to find them members of families. The second role of in the media is to educate. Media educate us about possible diseases, technology, undiscovered places and different cultures. As an example Elon Musk, who created SolarCity. Musk believes that in 20-30 years majority of the planet will use solar energy system. (see The mind behind Tesla, SpaceX, SolarCity à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ½Elon Musk TED talks, 2013). SolarCity creates roofs who are invisible but cells are exposed to the sun. A roof with hidden solar tiles that powers your home with clean, renewable energy (SolarCity, 2017). Basically, Elon Musk is teaching us how to save the environment around us and use it in a good way, but also how to save our money and time. The third role of the media is to entertain. It contains of film, television, radio and internet. They are providing us with a lot of different content wanting to people to have fun, relax with their family and friends or just socialize. The Walt Disney Company, for example. They are cartoon creation company, film company and music record label. They are also producing clothes and toys (About The Walt Disney Company, 2017). We chose The Walt Disney Company as an entertainment as an example because of their offers and there is something for people in every age. Question 3 Figure 2: Hutchings, M. 2015. Protest on the Ramp: South African Designer Isabelle Lotter Joins #FeesMustFall Movement. (Ramp1885.com, 2015) According to the BuzzFeedNews (2015) #Fees Must Fall Movement is student protest that began mid-October in 2015 and still going in South Africa. Universities wanted to raise costs by 10.5 percent. First protest was on the campus of the University of Witwatersrand and it was spread to other universities in the country. Figure 3: CityogJoburgZA, 2016. South Africa: Flash floods kill six people in Johannesburg. (Africanews.com., 2016) Africanews.com (2016) reports the storm was bad and it was raining a lot on 9th of November 2016. International airport O.R. Tambo was flooded, not only the airport but streets also. Water was everywhere and ended with disaster. People were dying and a lot of the infrastructure was ruined.    Figure 4: Independent.co.uk. 2016. Barack Obama tells Latin America: Dont assume the worst about Donald Trump (Independent.co.uk., 2016) On this picture we can see Barack Obama (right on the picture) who was United States President before Donald Trump (left on the picture) on November 10, 2016. where they discussed about foreign and domestic policy (US Weekly, 2016). The picture was taken after the election at the White House in Washington D.C. (US Weekly, 2016). Question 4 Our analysis of photograph that Sabelo Mlangeni was taking a series of photographs of people who African people are ignoring their existence. JRDIJKSTRA (2014) states in one of his articles that people are judged for things they do and for who they are. They are just trying to find themselves, it is not their fault that they were born in different bodies and different mind. But again, people are going to look at you and point fingers at you just because you do not look like they do. On the provided photographs we can see men who are wearing womans clothes and who represent their selves as women and women who are described as ghost.   JRDIJKSTRA (2014) is asking himself Why then do we hate these boys when they have grown up to be men who dress as women? Why do we turn and call them names, pretending that weve never seen it? The first thing that strikes us is their fashion. Because the way persons hair is done, the way they are dressed and the way they are proud who they are. You cannot really see that often with other people, but again, it is their fashion and this is how they feel and are. Also images are black and white which is unusual for 21 century. Central issue or concern would be how men are dressed in reality and the way they are not afraid to show who and what they are. Also, women on the street are like ghost what actually shows us how we do not realize what is happening around us and who is doing their job. Medium of the photographs are 10241024 and they are all black and white. They give us feeling how was in the past but in present. With his images he reflects on his countrys past, while at the same time looking forward into the future and how life has changed. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ¡History forms an important part of my work, he explains, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ¡especially in my own country where its just two decades ago that Apartheid was abolished (JRDIJKSTRA, 2014). So many things changed through past in South Africa. We think he wants to show people that difference between race and LGBTI people is not that different. It affects everyone around us and there is no rights of free speech and them coming out as different is brave no matter what other people are saying. Mlangeni wants to show us they existed before, not just in newer era. Sabelo Mlangeni is not relevant in South Africa because LGBTI is not a big topic at the moment the way is in countries overseas. The problem is that our country focuses more on corruption and finance rather than LGBTI. Maybe that is the reason they get more judged here in South Africa or African continent than in Europe, US or Australia.  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   Question 5 In South African movies such as District 9 and Tsotsi we can see a lot of crimes and how people are treating each other. Firstly, let me discuss about District 9. Xenophobia is one of the main problems in this movie. Xenophobia is a fear or dislike against people from other countries. (Dictonary.com, s.a.). Also in the movie they are referring to aliens as shrimps. I would say it is a racist thing to say. People from Johannesburg see aliens as people who steal all the time, they are uneducated or just doing illegal things. Tension of the crime is massive. The main character is Wikus van de Merwe, who is a very naive and he only thinks about himself, he also treats aliens like they are nothing. After he sprays a fluid in his face, he starts turning into one of them or into a shrimp. His father-in-law tries to convince his daughter to move on, because he does not like him that is why he even gave him a promotion in the company called MNU. Nigerian people were shown as War Lords because they were selling cat food to aliens as a scam, they would trade cat food for alien weapon. The problem was that the wea pon works only with alien identity, so the boss of Nigerians wanted to cut Wikus hand off. Muti is a term for a witch doctor that Nigerians believed in, they would kill aliens and eat their parts hoping they will get their powers to use their weapon. Another problem is that the media would show everything what is happening. At one point when the explosion happened, they said it was a terrorist attack, which was a lie. Also, when Wikus body started to change, people would see him on the news or hear on the radio and they would run away from him. Nobody wanted to listen to him and hear what he has to say, people only believed in mass media. At the end they were all judgmental to each other, because they were not the same (District 9, 2009). And Tsotsi (2005) is a movie about stealing from people, killing and running away from reality. One of the problems is how those people live. Their houses are not in proper conditions, there are a lot of diseases that can be spread around them. The second problem was that the main character did not know how to communicate without using his gun, he would have disrespectful behavior and he did not have mercy for anyone.   The third problem is that most of the children from the street are on the street because they dont have families or their families are just ruined. The main characters mom was sick and she died when he was little and his dad was alcoholic, so he basically did not have anyone to raise him on the way he can have an education or love. He would steal more and more from people who would look better looking, fights and killing others were the answer for everything. The only reason for changing his mind from all the crime was the baby from the car he stole. At the end he returns baby home after trying to take care of him, realizing it is very hard to take care of kids if you dont have money and safe area to live. Also, he took responsibilities for his actions. Question 6 6.1. Vodacom Summer 2015 Advert caption does not have anything with the provided link. However, advert that was on offer on provided link was a Blue Ribbon Bread (My Mom Is So Cool, 2015). The advert is way too long and it loses the whole point of the advert. We also decided to find Vodacom Summer 2015 Advert (Vodacom Summer 2015, 2015). From the begging we can see it that advert is about Vodacom. We think they tried to show their consumers and future consumers that they can stay in touch and stay connected no matter in which situation they are or where ever they are. 6.2. Chicken Licken Advert (Inner peace, 2015) tries to show us how their master is going to do everything and anything to get chicken pieces and just because he is eating their chicken he is so good in karate. 6.3. KFC (Emzini Wezinsizwa KFC South Africa advert, 2015) advert shows us that family or group of five can share one meal for a good price. The quality of the food is excellent because they would do anything for it. Also main characters in the advert according to the SABC1 (2017), were from the highly popular African sitcom Emzini Wezinsizwa. Bibliography/Reference list: Twitter usage/Company facts. 2017. Its whats happening, 30 June 2016. à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºOnlineà ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . Available at: https://about.twitter.com/company à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºAccessed 03.03.2017à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . OShaughnessy, M. and Stadler, J. 2016. Media and society. 5th ed. South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: Oxford University press. Lin, E. 2013. 7 tips to travel smart in the summer, The Lab!, 2 July 2013 à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºBlogà ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºOnlineà ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . Available at: http://blog.kdanmobile.com/2013/07/02/7-tips-to-travel-smart-in-the-summer/ à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºAccessed 03.03.2017à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . OShaughnessy, M. and Stadler, J. 2016. Media and Society. 5th ed. South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: Oxford University press. My Response PewDiePie. 2017. YouTube video, added by PewDiePie à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºOnlineà ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwk1DogcPmU à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºAccessed 03.04.2017à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . My Response PewDiePie. 2017. YouTube video, added by PewDiePie à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºOnlineà ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwk1DogcPmU à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºAccessed 03.04.2017à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . Grundberg, S. and Hansegards, J. 2014. Youtubes biggest draw plays games, earns 4$ million a year. Cussing, Comic Videogame Reviwer PewDiePIe has 27 Million Subscribers. The Wall Street Journal. 1. à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºOnlineà ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . Available at: https://www.wsj.com/articles/youtube-star-plays-videogames-earns-4-million-a-year-1402939896 à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºAccessed: 04.03.2017à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . Winkler, R., Nicas, J. and Fritz, B. 2017. Disney Servers Ties With YouTube Star PewDiePie After Anti-Semitic Posts. Move came after the Journal asked about videos in which he included anti-Semitic jokes or Nazi imagery. The Wall Street Journal. 1. à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºOnlineà ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . https://www.wsj.com/articles/disney-severs-ties-with-youtube-star-pewdiepie-after-anti-semitic-posts-1487034533 à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºAccessed 04.03.2017à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . Is PewDiePie Racist? h3h3Productions. 2017. YouTube video, added by h3h3Productions à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºOnlineà ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLNSiFrS3n4 à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºAccessed 04.03.2017à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . Laurent, O. 2016. Haiti Earthquake Five Years Later. Time.com, 21 January 2015 à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºOnlineà ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . Available at:   http://time.com/3662225/haiti-earthquake-five-year-after/ à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºAccessed 04.03.2017à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . The mind behind Tesla, SpaceX, SolarCity à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ½Elon Musk TED talks. 2017. YouTube video, added by TED à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºOnlineà ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgKWPdJWuBQ à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºAccessed 04.03.2017à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . SolarCity. 2017. Solar roof. à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºn.d.à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚  2017. à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºOnlineà ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . Available at: http://www.solarcity.com/residential/solar-roof à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºAccessed 04.03.2017à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . The Walt Disney Company. 2017. About The Walt Disney Company, 2017. à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºOnlineà ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . Available at: https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/about/   à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºAccessed 04.03.2017à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . Ramp1885.com. 2015. Protest on the Ramp: South African Designer Isabelle Lotter Joins #FeesMustFall Movement. [Online]. Available at: http://ramp1885.com/protest-on-the-ramp-south-african-designer-isabelle-lotter-joins-feesmustfall-movement/ à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºAccessed 04.03.2017à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . Africanews.com. 2016. South Africa: Flash floods kill six people in Johannesburg. [Online]. Available at: http://www.africanews.com/2016/11/10/south-africa-flash-floods-kill-six-people-in-johannesburg/ à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºAccessed 04.03.2017à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . Africanews.com. 2016. South Africa:Flash floods kill six people in Johannesburg. [Online]. Available at: http://www.africanews.com/2016/11/10/south-africa-flash-floods-kill-six-people-in-johannesburg/ à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºAccessed 04.03.2017à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . Independent.co.uk. 2016. Barack Obama tells Latin America: Dont assume the worst about Donald Trump. [Online]. Available at: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/barack-obama-donald-trump-latinamerica-president-elect-dont-assume-worst-tpp-trade-a7427986.html à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºAccessed 04.03.2017à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . US Weekly. 2016. President Obama, Michelle Obama Welcome Donald Trump, Melania to White House, 10 November 2016 à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºOnlineà ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/president-obama-donald-trump-meet-at-white-house-post-election-w449671 à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºAccessed 04.03.2017à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . US Weekly. 2016. President Obama, Michelle Obama Welcome Donald Trump, Melania to White House, 10 November 2016 à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºOnlineà ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/president-obama-donald-trump-meet-at-white-house-post-election-w449671 à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºAccessed 04.03.2017à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . JRDIJKSTRA. 2014. Jorrit R Dijkstra. My photographs dont belong in a drawer. à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºOnlineà ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . http://jorritdijkstra.nl/?tag=sabelo-mlangeni à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºAccessed 07.03.2017à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . JRDIJKSTRA. 2014. Jorrit R Dijkstra. My photographs dont belong in a drawer. à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºOnlineà ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . http://jorritdijkstra.nl/?tag=sabelo-mlangeni à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºAccessed 07.03.2017à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . Dictonary.com s.a. à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºOnlineà ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . http://www.dictionary.com/browse/xenophobia?s=t à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºAccessed 04.03.2017à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . District 9. 2009. Directed by Neil Blompkamp, à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºFilmà ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . South Africa, New Zealand, United States: TriStar Pictures. Tsotsi. 2005. Directed by Gavin Hood, à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºFilmà ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . South Africa: Ster-Kinekor Pictures and Miramax Films. My Mom Is So Cool Blue Ribbon Bread. 2015., added by Blue Ribbon Bread, 19 Feb 2014. à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºBrand videoà ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oW4WfO0LMnw à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºAccessed 07.03.2017à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . Vodacom Summer 2015 MyBroadband. 2016. YouTube video, added by MyBroadband à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºOnlineà ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iBZpTdDNTs à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºAccessed 07.03.2017à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . Inner peace Chicken Licken Advert. 2015., Agency Net#work BBDO Johannesburg, South Africa, 5 Nov 2015.   à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºBrand videoà ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMctGA8CzQE   à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºAccessed 07.03.2017à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . SABC 1. 2017. About Emzini Wezinsizwa, à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºn.dà ¯Ã‚ Ã‚  2017. à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºOnlineà ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . http://www.sabc1.co.za/sabc/home/sabc1/schedule/details?id=63154728-3583-4156-a34b-f080985d6811title=Emzini%20Wezinsizwa à ¯Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ºAccessed 07.03.2017à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ . In the List of Figures: Figure 5: Lin, E. 2013. 7 TIPS TO TRAVEL SMART IN THE SUMMER: Summer time is here! It is the perfect time for traveling and exploring the world. Figure 6: Hutchings, M. 2015. Protest on the Ramp: South African Designer Isabelle Lotter Joins #FeesMustFall Movement. Figure 7: CityogJoburgZA, 2016. South Africa: Flash floods kill six people in Johannesburg. Figure 8: Independent.co.uk. 2016. Barack Obama tells Latin America: Dont assume the worst about Donald Trump.

Malcolm X Essay -- essays research papers

Malcolm Little was born May 19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska. He grew up around eight siblings. His mother was a mixed woman because her mother was raped by a white man. His father was a very outspoken black Baptist church minister, who preached that blacks should go back to Africa. Due to death threats by white supremacist his family had to relocate to different places to live. After all that time his father was murdered when police found his body on the trolley tracks. The mother new it was by white supremacist. After his death his mother was committed to an insane asylum. Malcolm and his brother and sisters were split up and sent to foster homes and orphanages.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Malcolm graduated at the top of his junior high class. He then located to Harlem, New York. He then ...

e. e. cummings Poem of Simplicity in Life Essay examples -- Poetry Po

e. e. cummings' Poem of Simplicity in Life This poem by e. e. cummings describes the link between age and happiness by relating the two with simplicity. With this simplicity, however, there is a break from reality, and there are consequences. We can only do what is natural for us. you shall above all things be glad and young by e. e. cummings you shall above all things be glad and young. For if you're young, whatever life you wear it will become you;and if you are glad whatever's living will yourself become Girlboys may nothing more than boygirls need: i can entirely her only love whose any mystery makes every man's flesh put space on;and his mind take off time that you should ever think,may god forbid and(in his mercy)your true lover spare: for that way knowledge lies,the foetal grave called progress,and negation's dead undoom. I'd rather learn from one bird how to sing than teach ten thousand stars how not to dance In reading the first line, it sounds as though the focus of life is being glad and young. This is because of how the first part of the sentence is worded. The word "shall" is more of a command than a suggestion. It says something will be done, not that something may happen. Furthermore, it's saying that you will do something. To say that someone else will do something lessens the meaning of the action. However, since you, the reader, are creating this action, you are obviously involved in the action more than if someone else was creating this action. So what is the author saying you will do? You will be "glad and young" before anything else. By saying that you will be "glad and young" before anything else puts an importance on these two actions because there is nothing, accordin... ...on's dead undoom" is a part that "his mind takes off time." Therefore, his mind forgets that refusal no longer has no punishment. This may not make a great deal of sense, but remember that the theme to this point has been finding happiness and simplicity. Perhaps, then, if refusal is saying no to the oblivion happiness brings, then he is again associated with the consequences of reality. This connects to the idea that god is mentioned as a reminder of reality and its consequences. What is the conclusion? What is the significance of learning versus teaching? You can only learn of happiness through experience, in other words, living. However, you cannot teach one how to seek happiness; it is innate, meaning it is a natural part of you. It is natural for "stars to dance" and "birds to sing," so how can you teach them otherwise? Seek happiness and you shall find it.

Yusef Komunyakaa’s “Tu Do Street” and “Camouflaging the Chimera”

Both â€Å"Tu Do Street† and â€Å"Camouflaging the Chimera† express the negotiation of racial boundaries in a new, unfamiliar environment where barriers are at once more rigid and flexible. While the speaker addresses the boundaries that exist between black and white soldiers, particularly in Tu Do Street, he also explores the relationship between himself and the Viet Cong.As an African-American soldier, the speaker feels isolated from his white counterparts, even in times of leisure. The music that â€Å"divides the evening,† (Tu Do Street, 1) is sung by white singers (Hank Snow, 7, and Hank Williams, 12) and the speaker is passed over at the bar in favor of â€Å"white face[s],† (12). While interactions between black and white take place in a more illicit realm (black & white/soldiers touch the same lovers/minutes apart,† 28-30), the speaker also probes the hidden connections between the soldiers and their enemies: â€Å"Back in the bush at Dak T o/& Khe Sanh, we fought/the brothers of these women/we now hold in our arms,† (23-26).By exploring the dichotomy between loving and killing, to disparate concepts in both action and feeling, the speaker calls into question the human nature behind war and labeling the enemy by the color of his flesh.  In â€Å"Camouflaging the Chimera,† the connections between the Americans and the VC are further established. While the distinctions between black and white are largely abandoned, as Drew and Tyler mentioned (the narrator is â€Å"We,† not â€Å"I†), the speaker focuses on the similarities between the American soldiers and their Vietnamese enemies. While â€Å"painting our faces & rifles/with mud† (2-3) functions to equalize the American soldiers in skin color, it also serves as an equalizing force between the Americans and the VC.Through the poem, the VC are described with terms of darkness, literally as â€Å"dark-hearted songbirds,† (14), â €Å"rock apes,† (16) and â€Å"black silk† (24). This imagery works, on one level, to paint the enemy in a dark, negative light. On another level, however, it aligns the VC with the speaker, a black soldier. The final lines of the poem (â€Å"as a world revolved/under each man’s eyelid,† 30-31) distills the speaker’s understanding of the human aspect of war, as he acknowledges that each man, black or white or Vietnamese, has his own experience and history, and that each man is as much an individual as part of an army.In agreeing with Kris’s assertion that the speaker, at times, tries to cross the boundary of race between black and white soldiers, I think the speaker is more broadly concerned with narrowing the division between all who fight against each other in any arena—black and white in matters of race, American and Vietnamese in matters of war—in order to shed light on their shared humanity.

Diet and Exercise Analysis Essay

Yes, my eating habits has changed between week 2 and week 4. However, I have done a little cheating. I have eaten a few foods that I was staying away from. Foods like hot dogs, french fries and pizza among other foods I did not need. These are foods that I have been staying away from for a few months now. I can honestly say, since I have been staying away from the fatty foods, I was feeling difference. Now, this pass week, I have been eating junk foods, and I can really feel the difference. I have less energy, and my body feels way it used to feel when I was always eating junk foods and fast foods. Yes†¦ good glad you noted this. It is amazing when we clean it up†¦how much better we feel and how bad we feel when we eat crappy! My phsyical physical activities has changed a little in the pass two weeks. I have been doing a little walking, I have also been getting out and getting into more activities than usual. Next week after mother’s day, my sisters and myself are planning on doing some more walking and a lttle more exercise. We are planning on doing it together. Maybe we can make it a little more fun and a little bit more exciting. This is something I am really looking forward to. The similarities and differences of my current diet to the recommendations. I do not think that there is too much of a difference. B because my diet and exercise have not been too good this pass past week. Bbecause the last two weeks have been busy and stressful. However, I can still honestly say, that my eating habits and exercise habits has changed over time. Which I do plan on starting it up again. I do plan on getting back on track wth my diet and exercise. Content and Development (6 points) Points Earned: 6/ 6 Length: 150 to 300 words Additional Comments: All key elements of the assignment are covered in a substantive way. Includes a screenshot of tracking results Describes student’s current eating habits briefly describes any changes compared to Weeks 2 and 4 Compares the similarities and differences of student’s current diet to the recommendations Briefly explains any change to student’s physical activity regimen from Week 4 Content is comprehensive, accurate, and persuasive. The summary develops a central theme or idea directed toward the appropriate audience. The summary links theory to relevant examples and uses the vocabulary of the theory correctly. Major points are stated clearly, organized logically, and supported by specific details, examples, or analysis. Introduction provides sufficient background on the topic and previews major points. Conclusion is logical, flows from the body of the summary, and reviews the major points. Readability and Style (2 points) Points Earned: 2/ 2 Paragraph transitions are present, logical, and maintain the flow throughout the paper. Additional Comments: The tone is appropriate to the content and assignment. Sentences are complete, clear, and concise. Sentences are well constructed, strong, and varied. Sentence transitions are present and maintain the flow of thought. Mechanics (2 points) Points Earned:0 / 2 Formatting is consistent with APA guidelines (including headings, title page, and reference page) and meets course-level requirements (outlined at the Center for Writing Excellence). Additional Comments: Intellectual property is recognized with in-text citations and a reference page. Rules of grammar, usage, and punctuation are followed. Spelling is correct. Total (10 points) Points Earned: 8/ 10 Mekie, I took two points for the errors you have in the paper – grammatical and APA. You are single spacing and adding a space which makes terms capitalize by themselves and is really incorrect in that you cannot do this. You had a few wrong terms in the writing which you didn’t see when you proofread the work; however, your evaluation/examination of your journey is good in terms of what you are explaining you have learned. Good work! There is a Chinese proverb I like to use when discussing diets and that is â€Å"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step!† It seems appropriate to the process of modifying our diets for the better. This process takes time†¦but just keep going in the right direction.