The Crying Tree

In the novel The Crying Tree Naseem Rakha A family goes through one of the hardest things ever, when their son Shep was found murdered. Nate, Shep's father insisted on the family moving to Oregon. Sheps death caused Irene and Nate to fall apart Bliss was too young to truly understand her brother being gone. The family moved back to Illinois, they continued their lives in a sort of trance, never discussing Shep or mentioning his name. Bliss was a forgotten child until she made her mother see that her life was bring wasted. Bliss went off to college defying the standards of her town. Irene struggled with living so she tried to take her own life, after this fail Irene decided that forgiveness of her sons killer was the only way for her to keep living. Daniel was on death row when Nate found out about the letters Irene and Daniel had been writing to each other, the two got into a huge fight that uncovered some secrets about Sheps death that only Daniel and Nate knew of. While finding out about the family you also learn about Superintendent Mason and his struggles of life and dealing with someone on Death row. In the end Irene, the family, Daniel and Mason find their peace. Point of View-The information is received through dialogue mainly and the way these people go through life. The perspective used was effective for this novel because it really gave the feel of the main character Irene and I do not personally connect to Irene because I do not know what it is like to lose a child but the perspective lets me get into her head and learn what she is feeling and what it is like. â€Å"My son is dead, and you want to tell me about justice? There’s no justice for this kind of thing† (Rakha 69). This dialogue really showed what Irene is going through. The novel also shows her husband but mainly through his actions and how he goes through life. Protagonist- The protagonist in this book â€Å"The Crying Tree† is Irene the mourning mother. Irene is mainly revealed through her thoughts and her actions throughout the story. She is a very round character meaning that she changes a lot in this book, for the better one quote that I think really shows Irene is when she finally forgives Daniel for killing her son â€Å"I forgive you for what you did to my son. For whatever it may be worth, I understand people make mistakes in life, Mr. Robbin, and I forgive you yours†(Rakha 126). It took a lot fir Irene to do this. Setting- This novel occurs in Blaine, Oregon and Carlton, Illinois. They are only a few locations describes, the house in Blaine and the house in Carlton, Illinois. The connection of the setting and characters are that the mother Irene and her husband both grew up in a town where almost everywhere a girls goal is to get married. Blaine and Carlton are almost opposite to each other Blaine is a very green beautiful city full of sights and nature while Carlton is a very dry farming state yet Irene felt more safe in comfortable in Carlton yet she felt very unsafe and uncomfortable in Blaine. Blaine, in contrast, looked incidental, an afterthought built by people who had no intention of staying† (Rakha 19). Theme – The major theme in this novel is forgiveness. After Irene’s son died she thought she could never forgive his killer, that he was the worst there was and he truly deserved to die, even said that she wouldn’t rest until he was dead. The death penalty can take years to go through in fact it took 19 years for Daniel to finally be given a death warrant. Throughout the novel Irene starts to realize that her life is horrible, she stopped speaking to her husband, stopped worrying about her daughter and stopped living her life. Irene tried to commit suicide and that is when she hit rock bottom she had to start admitting to herself what she was holding inside. â€Å"Shep died and we just stopped doing things. And now-now I’ve gone and thrown it away, and it’s broken, and, well, it’s gone. It’s all gone† (Rakha 122). After coming to a reality Irene proceeds to forgive Daniel after 10 years because she wants to get on with her life and stop focusing on living in the past. It is also showed through Nate because Nate must work through forgiving himself, for lying and for holding back critical information that could have saved a mans life. Forgiveness is also showed through Daniel and Mason. Mason because we learn about his past and how he feels as if he can ever forgive his brother for the way he used to torture him. Daniel because he needs to learn to forgive himself now that Irene forgave him when he did not deserve it. Title- This title is very appropriate for the book because the author uses the image to show what was going on in Irene’s mind at the funeral and The Crying Tree is used as an example to show how there are things in life you should never have to see. In the novel the title is mentioned at Shep's funeral his little sister is grieving her brother when hes sees a tree and runs to it coming back with her handful of pearls â€Å"They look like tears, like the tree’s crying† (Rakha 37). Personal Recommendation- This novel should be added to the AP curriculum because the book used many great examples of literary devices including scenery, character flat and round, metaphor, structure, narration and many more. This book allows you to see through another perspective and not just one many different perspectives. This book was also very enjoyable and I am sure many students would enjoy reading the story of Irene and her family.

Legalizing or not legalizing abortion creates

Whether to legalize or not to legalize abortion remains one of the most debatable issues in the world. There have been many arguments for and against abortion which have taken religious, political and moral perspectives.Every side of both proponents and opponents come up with very substantive claims that clearly support their arguments.   Some countries have gone to an extent of entrenching abortion legally in their constitution which has raised resistance from the conservatives.They claim that the constitutional laws legalizing abortion and   penalizing murder are contradicting when they impose death penalty on individuals who are   convicted of murder but at the same time it legalize abortion which is taking the life of unborn and therefore amounts to murder.Legalizing or not legalizing abortion creates no difference since it is practiced all over the world in countries which have legalized or not legalized it.   My thesis is that abortion should be legalized since illegali zing does not deter people from aborting and instead it encourages backstreet abortion which comes with increased risk.What is abortion?Abortion is the premature expulsion of a human fetus, whether it occurs naturally like in case of a miscarriage or artificially induced or carried out with the consent of the pregnant women through the use of surgical or chemical equipments or any other method used.It may be carried out for medical reasons which in most case are acceptable evening countries where it is not legalized. This is usually done in order to save the life of the mother and has a moral backing in case the mother has other children to look after. However the main controversial issue of abortion regards cases which account for 93% of the abortions that are carried out based on no medical reason but mainly for elective purpose.  Why abortion should be legalized  There are many reasons which have been argued to support or to oppose abortion. Abortion can be considered   leg alized when carried out in context of cases like where a woman been raped or had undergone another ordeal like incest that is likely to affect their life because bearing such a child may most likely rekindle the painful memories of the ordeal.Social nod economical changes have brought about many homeless people and street children and families. In this context, abortion should be legalized for those women who feel that they has not well off economical to support their children since they will end up leaving them to wander on the street increasing the number of homeless families and children.Illegalizing abortion does not deter it any way since even in countries which have illegalized abortion there are very high cases of backstreet abortion. In order to grasp the concept why abortion should be legalized, we are going to argue the facts which we have listed. Though few, and complete discussion on the three points will support our thesis that abortion should be legalized since illegal izing does not deter people from aborting and instead it encourages backstreet abortion which comes with increased risk.The first reasons why abortion should be legalized is that it is necessary in cases where a woman might have conceived after a rape or after a painful ordeal like incest, and other painful sex related ordeals. There is high likelihood that such ordeals may haunt the victim for the rest of their life not mentioning the trauma. It has been shown that one out of every six case of rape or incest usually results to conceptions which are unwanted and unplanned.   There are more dangers which are associated with rape in addition to conception. There is a high likelihood of the women contracting venereal disease like syphilis which may result to impaired infant as venereal diseases may affect fetal formation.Research has also shown that women bearing such children are more to suffer repeated trauma when they see that child since they remember the ordeal they went through . The effect of rape on abortion reveals that more than 50% of pregnancies resulting from rape, incest or any other sex ordeal are usually aborted whether the country legalized or illegalized abortion (Johnson, 2008).Tehre are issue regarding the re-victimization of women in countries where abortion is illegalized and therefore they tend to seek abortion from backstreet clinics. Most will not report rape or pregnancy fearing stigma.   They end up seeking crude methods of abortion risking their health and thousand lose their life all over the world.   Legalization of abortion is therefore important in order to save women from such ordeals.

Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the role of the social media Essay

Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the role of the social media or social news sites in reporting the Arab Spring in Egypt - Essay Example Within the context of the social media, the Arab Spring has become a more significant phenomenon, especially as the social media has propelled the issues preceding the Arab Spring into the very forefront of both the national and the international political discussions. However, the social media has also engaged the political discussions towards a less truthful direction, one swayed by public opinions which are not necessarily based on facts or contextual discussions. These conflicts indicate that there are strengths and weaknesses relating to the impact and role of the social media or social news sites in reporting the Arab Spring in Egypt. As such, these conflicts will now be discussed in this paper. First, a discussion of the strengths will be presented, followed by its weaknesses. A conclusion will summarize and restate the important points for this discussion. Body The social media has taken on a life on its own, especially in recent years with the entry of Facebook and Twitter i nto the electronic fray. The easy accessibility of electronic devices as well as the affordability and widespread use of the internet has also spurred the social media phenomenon into even greater heights and greater power. The momentum of social changes has now shifted from the political leaders to the general public who have discovered their power to bring down governments, political personalities, and other influential individuals with a simple click of their mouse. On the other side of the social media spectrum is the fact that the social media has become a rabid and non-contextual social tool which has taken on a dangerous life all on its own. Inasmuch as its strengths for the purposes of public welfare have become apparent, its weaknesses also represent the fickleness of a public eager to point any finger on perceived political failures. Strengths In the case of Egypt, protests started on the 25th of January 2011 and went on for 18 days (Aday, et.al., 2012). During such time, the protesters were spurred on by encouraging posts from the social media, not just from local users, but from different parts of the globe as well. Some of these encouraging posts were seen in the Facebook page Kullena Khaled Said allowed anonymous posts about the Egypt unrest from any interested individual anywhere across the globe (Scott, 2013). At one point, the government sought to curtail the internet use in the country in order to control the protests and limit the impact of the social media (Aday, et.al., 2012). This attempt proved to be unsuccessful and eventually the protests would result to the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak who was a political power in the country for close to 30 years. In the above case, the social media was a vital cog in the Egyptian movement, and it was also further pushed further by the new generation of technology-savvy Egyptians (Chebib and Sohail, 2011). Facebook pages like â€Å"We are all Khalid Said† represented groups of individuals who were united in their cause and sentiments against the violence and oppression from the Egyptian government (Eltanwany and Wiest, 2011). These protestors were also widespread and active internet users, especially of the social media sites like Twitter and Facebook, allowing for the coordination of their activities. Facebook and Twitter helped the protesters anticipate when and

Money Judgement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Money Judgement - Essay Example In most cases, people intentionally do this, while some others face difficulties because of their poverty or personal inconveniences. Debt collection indicates a means which helps in collecting individual debts and reminds the debtors of their requirements to pay outstanding debt. "The matter of debt collection comes into the issue when procuring debt payment from debtors through ordinary credit control process is proved ineffective" (Getting Paid by Debtors, 2006). "Debt recovery policy is concerned primarily with the recovery of debts prior to legal action being taken but the principles should still be applied wherever appropriate even if litigation has commenced (Debt Management, 2007, p.3). A fair and sound debt recovery policy is a sine qua non for the effective and working finance regime in a given country. "Debt recovery policy should be fair to everyone, particularly for the well- being of low incomes people" (Corporate Debt, 2005, p.3). People are to suffer much hardship in collecting debts. However, in order to win the legal battle in recovering debt money, concerned party or creditor is to arrange sufficient documents and evidences for the courts satisfaction that the said creditor is entitled to have the disputed debt money. "Successful debt recovery suggests the conglomeration of adequate evidences and in particular proof of rent arrears, invoices for remedial work and copies of the inventory and condition check" (Made Easy, 2005). The growing expansion and gradual development of trade and commerce within a state and between states have made the financial dealings and business regulations more complicated. As a result, countries have sharply experienced the necessity of a well- structured debt collection policy corresponding to the existing business regulation. "An ideal debt collection policy provides an overarching framework and covers the collection of Rents, Council Tax, Business Rates, Sundry Debts and Housing and Council Tax Benefit overpayments" (Corporate Debt, 2005). Debt recovery strategy requires a close and continuous contact between the debtor and creditor or the solicitor appointed by the creditor for recovering the debt money. "An effective debt recovery strategy involves a combination of communication methods; such as, telephone, mail, visiting and so on" (Debt Recovery Guidelines, 2002, p.5). Of course, the manner of such contacts should not be oppressive or threatening, and must conform to t he accepted good practices. Implementing an effective UK debt recovery strategy is a priority for any business wishing to maximise its cash flow. Amongst nations, UK is mostly concerned to reform its debt recovery strategy and accordingly it has been continuously striving to erect a well-shaped debt recovery strategy. "Debt recovery procedures were significantly changed in 1999 following the reforms implemented by Lord Woolf after the Woolf report" (Debt recovery Agents, n.d.). Again, it is said that "[d]ebt recovery procedures and a corporate debt recovery policy were last approved by Cabinet in June 2006. The procedure relates to all types of debt i.e. Council Tax arrears, Business Rates and sundry debts" (Report of DCS, 2007, p.2). 3. Modes of Recovering Debt money Frequent Cash flow and the prompt

Evolution of Social policies in Mental Health in the US Essay

Evolution of Social policies in Mental Health in the US - Essay Example Hippocrates who lived in the 5th century is the pioneer who treated mentally ill with methods which was not rooted in superstition or religion. Negative attitudes towards mental illness persisted into the 18th century in the United States, leading to stigmatization of mental illness, and unhygienic (and often degrading) confinement of mentally ill individuals. Since then the mentally health had been evolving and at present it has reached a stage where comprehensive policies underlie mental health treatment particularly in U.S. In this paper, the evolution of social policies with regard to mental health in U.S will be looked in to. The social, economical and political factors that have contributed to the evolution will be explored. The current policy, goal of the policy and its relevancy with the welfare and state would be analysing. Also whom the policy serves and its universal characteristics will be examined. Mental health in U.S has been progressing ever since the beginning of 20th century. The Mental Health America which was founded in 1909 founded by Clifford Beers has changed the lives of mentally ill people. The U.S governments formed throughout these years have been proven to contribute largely to the welfare of mental health system in the country. Many research and lobbying effort have undergone to revive and upgrade the mental health system in U.S. The National Mental Health Act passed by Harry Truman 1946 gave rise to National Institute of Mental Health and have allocated funds from government for the research, treatment purposes. Moreover, The Mental Retardation Facilities and community health centre was passed by the Congress in 1963 which gave a new dimension to mental health system. In 1979, the National Alliance for mentally ill was formulated All these changes have given enormous support, education, advocacy and research facility to

Fundamental of International Buisness Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Fundamental of International Buisness - Essay Example As the discussion declares the company decided to expand globally It also wanted to get ahead of other retailers who were also heading in the same direction. In addition to greater growth, by gaining international reach, Wal-Mart has been able to demand deeper discounts from the local operations of its global suppliers thus increasing its potential to lower customer prices , gaining market share and ultimately earning greater profits. This paper stresses that Walmart is arguably as american a company as it can get.So when the decision was made to expand globally,there was plenty of skepticism to go around.Some of the major management decisions involved questions concerning where to begin , how to go about it and how to customize their products to a foreign clientele. While its retailing practices thrived in America ,there were a multitude of challenges it would have to face in other countries where infrastructure is different, government policies vary, and customer tastes and preferences are â€Å"foreign†. Not to mention the competition in the form of established retailers already having the leading edge .After its successful venture into the foreign market in the border and neighboring countries of the United States notably Canada and Mexico(where it’s the biggest private employer),it looked towards Europe for its next move. UK and Germany, countries with the biggest family incomes, became its next targets.

Beef Hormone Crisis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Beef Hormone Crisis - Essay Example The future implications of what could turn out to be a drastic exploitation of science are uncertain, but should they prove to be negative, someone will have to be held responsible. Experimentation with hormones has been taking place for approximately fifty years. In the early 1980s the potential use for hormones as growth stimulants in cattle were realised: "A hormone-treated animal gains weight more rapidly, producing a more flavorful and tender product. By reaching market weight sooner, there is a reduction in the cost of beef production. Thus, consumers are provided with a higher quality of meat at lower prices" (A Primer On Beef Hormones). Research intensified in attempts to better understand and ultimately put to use potentially revolutionary procedures in hormone administration. Six hormones became the focus of attention for scientists and agriculturalists alike, three of which occur naturally within humans and animals (estradiol, progesterone and testosterone), and three synthetic hormones (trenbolone acetate, zeranol and melengestrol acetate). As early as 1981, Europe's stance concerning hormones became clear as the European Commission (EC) Council "adopts Directive 81/602 to prohibit the use of hormones, except for therapeutic purposes, but later postpones action on five hormones pending EC study" (Chronology of the EU's hormone ban). The United States adopted a more lenient policy towards the use of hormones as growth stimulants, encouraging the use of both naturally occurring and synthetic hormones as growth stimulants. Problems immediately arose as both parties either side of the Atlantic began to realise the financial implications of their differing views. Finding themselves on the raw end of the deal, in September 1986 the United States "raises EC hormone ban in the Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade ("Standards Code") of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)", and then early in 1987 "invokes dispute settlement under the Tokyo Round Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade" (Chronology of the EU's hormone ban). Hence a virtual trade war begins. The main results are a European Commission ban on all U.S. meat, and, in retaliation, one hundred percent tariffs on many millions of dollars worth of EC imports. Following the climax of trade disputes between Europe and the U.S., a relatively quiet period ensued leading up to 1993. The greatest significance of this year was perhaps the development and introduction of a new synthetic hormone, "Posilac", otherwise known as bovine somatotropin. According to its manufacturer, "supplementing dairy cows with bovine somatotropin safely enhances milk production and serves as an important tool to help dairy producers improve the efficiency of their operations" (Posilac; Bovine Somatotropin). Quite clearly the financial potential associated with such a product is considerable, and, just a few years after its introduction into the U.S. market, a new series of appeals arose as the United States bombarded the World Trade Organization (WTO) with complaints that Europe was not complying with International trade law. Canada also joined in the protestations summarised in the Iowa Agricultural Review: In 1996 the United States

The U.S Debt Ceiling Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The U.S Debt Ceiling - Term Paper Example In essence, it can just limit the Treasury from settling expenditures once the limit has been achieved, but which have already been permitted and appropriated. When the debt limit is normally reached devoid of any raise in the limit having been passed, the Treasury has to use extraordinary measures to provisionally fund government expenditure and responsibilities till a resolution can be reached. The U.S. Treasury has never, in the past, reached the level of wearing out extraordinary actions, leading to a default, even though the Congress, on a number of occasions, seemed like it would permit a default to occur (Masters, 2013). Managing of the U.S. public debt is a significant aspect of the macroeconomics of the country’s financial system and economy, and the debt limit is a restraint on the Treasury’s capacity to run the United States economy (Abotalaf, 2011). However, there are talks on how the U.S. financial system should be controlled, and whether a debt limit is a suitable method for restraining government expenditure (Abotalaf, 2011). This paper will discuss the consequences of debt ceiling in the United States economy, how the country got there and how they can get out of it. What the United States Got to the Current Debit Ceiling In Article I, Section 8 of the American Constitution, only the Congress can consent to the loaning of money by the United States on credit (Levit et al., 2013). From the independence days of the U.S. till the early 90’s, the Congress openly consented to every singled debt issued (Masters, 2013). To offer more elasticity to support the U.S.’s involvement in the First World War, the Congress modified the technique through which it legalized debt in the 1917, 2nd Liberty Bond Act. Under this law, the Congress created a summative limit also known as a â€Å"ceiling†, on the overall amount of fresh bonds, which could be issued (Austin et al., 2012). The current debt limit is a summative limit relev ant to almost all national debt, which was significantly created by the both the 1939 and 1941 Public Debt Acts that have consequently been amended to transform the limit amount (Abotalaf, 2011). From time to time, political disagreements occur when the Treasury informs the Congress that the debt limit is almost to be reached (Masters, 2013). When the debt ceiling is achieved and pending a raise in the limit, the Treasury can use "extraordinary measures" to seek extra time before the limit can be increased by the Congress (Austin et al., 2012). The U.S. has never got to the level of a default where the Treasury was not able to pay United States debt requirements, even if it has been close on a number of occasions. The only exemption was in the 1812 War when a number of areas in Washington D.C., and also the Treasury, were burned to the ground (Levit et al., 2013). The U.S. reached, in 2011, a crisis level of close to a default on public debt. The holdup in raising the debt limit led to the initial downgrade in the U.S. credit ranking, a quick plunge in the stock market, as well as a raise in borrowing expenditure. Another debt limit crisis developed in early 2013 when the ceiling was reached once more, and the Treasury assumed extraordinary measures to evade another default (Levit et al., 2013). The 2013 debt limit crisis was settled, for now, on 4th February, 2013, when the President consented to the No Budget, No Pay Act and also delayed the debt

ENZYME-LINKED IMMUNOSORBENT ASSAY (ELISA) OF PLASMA IgM Lab Report

ENZYME-LINKED IMMUNOSORBENT ASSAY (ELISA) OF PLASMA IgM - Lab Report Example After washing again to remove unbound enzyme a chromogenic substrate is added which develops colour upon reaction with the enzyme and measurement is recorded. Constructing a graph using the data and extrapolating to get appropriate values the following graph is generated. To construct the graph 0.088 was subtracted from 1st reading, 2nd reading and average reading and the values were plotted. Since, the readings for G were too high we had to use reading for F. ELISA helps in quantification and detection of antigens and in this case we detected human IgM and quantified their concentration in two plasma samples. One major advantage of using antibody to capture the antigen is that there is no need to purify the antigen (Gan and Pate, 2013). A standard curve was obtained using the trend of which we have predicted the concentrations of IgM in the sample plasma.In well A and B we provided nothing but the TBS and therefore we obtained very low values which were a result of the some reactions between the substrate and the enzyme. From wells C, D, E to F we provided a gradual increase in the concentration of the IgM and a subsequent decrease in the TBS concentration and we obtained values of optical density which showed a gradual increase in trend. Each of the wells is coated with antibodies which can react with the antigen under study. IgM is now added and it binds to the antibodies already bound to the walls. IgM is a pentamer and has a number o f binding sites that allows it to bind to both the antibody and the enzyme linked antibody thereby allowing it to perform sandwich ELISA. Next, the enzyme linked antibody is added which is specific for plasma IgM antigen is added. Greater the number of antigens, greater will be the number of enzyme-bound antibodies as well. After the substrate is added a colored product is obtained. The intensity

Ezra Pound Essay Example for Free

Ezra Pound Essay The Young Genius: Ezra Pound’s influenced poetry on Benito Mussolini and the Fascist movement, time of his stay in St. Elizabeth’s Hospital and the concept of Imagism. â€Å"If a nations literature declines, the nation atrophies and decays.† (Ezra Pound Quotes) Ezra Pound was not a man of many words, but he certainly did have a knack for turning simple words into something beautiful. Pounds’ poetry was influenced by his fascination with Benito Mussolini and the Fascist movement, the time of his stay in St. Elizabeth’s Hospital and the concept of Imagism. It is safe to say that Ezra Pound did not live a boring life growing up. He was born on October 30, 1885 in Hailey, Idaho. However, he was brought up in Wyncote, Philadelphia. At the small age of 12, Pound’s father, Hoomer Loomis Pound, sent him to military school. His father’s occupation was an assistant assayer at the U.S. Mint. Pound was the only child from his father, Hoomer Loomis Pound, and his mother, Mary Parker Wadsworth Weston. The family was your average, middle-class family. His mother, was more of a traditional woman. â€Å"A family that has respect for tradition,† were the words that often came out of her mouth. (Ezra (Weston Loomis) Pound Biography) In the year 1905, Pound received a bachelor degree of philosophy from Hamilton College and a master’s degree from University of Pennsylvania in 1906. After he graduated in 1907, his first teaching gig was teaching Spanish and French at a small Presbyterian college in Indiana. He was shortly fired from that occupation, due to the accused charges of seducing a young woman. Pound was never found guilty. One of the main influences in Ezra Pound’s poetry was Benito Mussolini and the Fascism beliefs. The whole interest and fascination began around 1924, when Pound left England and went to Italy with his second wife Olga Rudge. He left England because he believed they were responsible for the usury and international capitalism for the war. â€Å"Mussolini seemed to have clever ideas about economics than Major Douglass did.† (74. Wilhelm, James J.) Pound was so fixated on Mussolini that he eventually met him in Rome at January 30, 1933 in the Palazzo Venezie. (Ezra Pound Pound, Politics, Poetry) Furthermore, Pound created a name for him in the Fascist world and eventually made a regular address on the Italian State Radio, approved by the Italian government, because he was such an advocate for Benito Mussolini and his fascist views. Because of his incredible favor towards Mussolini, people back in the United States viewed him as a traitor  and were saying he was fraternizing with the enemy. â€Å"If a man isnt willing to take some risk for his opinions, either his opinions are no good or hes no good. (Treason, Fascism, and Anti-Semitism) People thought that Pound went insane and he was arrested for treason and was sent to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital of Mental Health. I believe, that this is an expressive poem about his feelings living in England or the United States. He was so happy in Italy and was living such a â€Å"colorful† life that every other way of life just appeared â€Å"dull† to him. â€Å"And the days are not full enough† And the days are not full enough And the nights are not full enough And life slips by like a field mouse Not shaking the grass. (Pound, Ezra) Ezra Pound In this poem, Ezra Pound used diction, tone, and euphony. Diction shined through in the chosen phrase, â€Å"not full enough†. Although he only used that twice in the poem, that phrase had a very powerful effect on the readers’ mood of the poem. He gave the poem a dull and melancholy vibe for the poem. Although the Pound’s attitude is not directly stated in this poem, the depressing tone is as noticeable as a white elephant in the room. Last but not least is the use of elegy. Despite the part of elegy relating to death, elegy is used in this poem because it is a very solemn themed poem. In my opinion, this â€Å"man† Pound is talking about is intended to be viewed as England or the United States. This â€Å"ideal† man that he speaks of, who has order about him, meant to be viewed as Italy/Benito Mussolini. â€Å"Canto 13† If a man have not order within him He cannot spread order about him; And if a man have not order within him His family will not act with due order; And if the prince have not order within him He cannot put order in his dominions. (Lines 46-51) In the previous excerpt of Canto 13, the three literacy terms refrain; anaphora and a hint of didactic poetry are involved. The word and phrase order appear in every line of the excerpt. It is repeated to not only get the meaning across, but to make a significant indent in the readers’ mind while reading the poem. The hint of didactic poetry is shown in this poem, I believe, because Pound is telling the reader without order you cannot do a few things such as spread order about him, family will not act, and one cannot put order in his dominions. In a way, that is teaching the pros of â€Å"order.† From this poem I can infer that Ezra Pound is stating that whether or not he is ruled by an imperialistic power: everyday is going to be the same, for everybody. The last line â€Å"Imperial power is? And to us what is it?† means that no matter government is enforced, their everyday life is not going to change. â€Å"Cantos XLIX: For The Seven Lakes† Sun up; work Sundown; to rest Dig well and drink of the water Dig field; eat of the grain Imperial power is? And to us what is it? The fourth; the dimension of stillness. And the power over wild beasts. (Lines 42-48) In this excerpt of a free versed poem, the mood is shown to be this sort of â€Å"depressed† or â€Å"given up on life† type of attitude. Also used in this poem are diction and caesura. Caesura is a natural pause in the middle of a line, sometimes coinciding with punctuation (Quizlet). The short and curt choice of words really gives off the frustrated aura of the poem. And caesura shines through with the use of the semi-colons after every first verse in the line of that stanza. The second influence of Ezra Pound’s poetry and writings had to do with his stay in St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. When Pound was arrested and put in St. Elizabeth’s Hospital he was deemed mentally insane after being convicted of treason. While Pound was in the hospital, he wrote most of his poetry. For example, the series of 120 sections of Cantos were written mostly in the hospital. Furthermore, after being analyzed, his poems and writing were said to be from a â€Å"sane persons mind.† ( Not being a very talkative man out of the hospital, his lack of social skills really showed through while in the hospital; he was not a very warm and fuzzy man. While still in St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Pound was awarded the Bollingen Award by the Library of Congress for his Pisan Cantos (1948). About 10 years later in 1958, his fellow writers and fans released him due to the campaign. I really liked this excerpt of the poem â€Å"Before Sleep† because I feel that it really described how Ezra Pound was feeling in his room at the hospital. He must have had a good amount of time to think and analyze everything going on around him. â€Å"Before Sleep† The lateral vibrations caress me, They leap and caress me, They work pathetically in my favour, They seek my financial good. (Lines 1-4) Obviously from the title of the poem, we can infer that the theme of the poem is about the period of time before one falls asleep. However, any knowledgeable reader can infer that without the title. The imagery used in this poem is absolutely marvelous. When I read the excerpt, I really envision the vibrations becoming one and interacting with the body. That is also an excellent use of personification. Vibrations obviously cannot â€Å"caress† and â€Å"leap† across ones body. In my opinion, Ezra Pound is explaining through the character Kung that being cooped up in the hospital is doing him no good, that he is not himself. â€Å"Without ones’ freedom (character) one cannot get far in life (play on that instrument or execute the music)† (Poems by Ezra Pound) â€Å"Canto 13† And Kung said, Without character you will Be unable to play on that instrument Or to execute the music fit for the Odes. The blossoms of the apricot Blow from the east to the west, And I have tried to keep them from falling. (Lines 80-85) This excerpt from â€Å"Canto 13† has two hidden literacy terms incorporated in its writing. The terms symbolism and didactic poetry are noticeable and relate to each other. Symbolism is used to symbolize the word â€Å"character† with ones freedom and the phrase â€Å"unable to play on that instrument† is used to symbolize the ability to use and control that freedom. This is where didactic poetry comes into play, having freedom and being able to control it is teaching. The third influence that had a major part in Ezra Pounds’ poetry is Imagism. It is safe to say that Ezra Pounds’ most noted contribution to poetry was the founding and involvement of Imagism. Imagism: a literary movement launched by British and American poets early in the 20th century that advocated the use of free verse, common speech patterns, and clear concrete images as a reaction to Victorian sentimentalism. (Imagism: Definition from Answers.com) â€Å"We believe that the individuality of a poet may often be better expressed in free verse than in conventional forms. In poetry, a new cadence means a new idea.† (Imagists Quotes). That quote is derived from Ezra Pound and his fellow poets who had a large effect on the Imagism period. One of the other poets was Amy Lowell. In 1912, Pound founded the Imagist School with T.E. Hulme and F.S. Flint and Helda Doolittle. This poem is one of my favorites because it is so direct and honest. Not only is it honest but also it is so forward and really makes me gain more respect for Ezra Pound. This poem is influenced by Imagism because one of the main topics in Imagism is to advocate the use of free verse and this poem is the epitome of free verse.

Green marketing: Promoting environmentally friendly products

Green marketing: Promoting environmentally friendly products Abstract Green marketing is marketing of products that are environmental safe. Companies market ­ing their green achievements were once a small segment of forward-thinking organisations, but since grown into a group of unlikely advocates that includes an oil company and the worlds largest retailer. Environmental friendly production is vital in running future economies. By nature, plants take carbon dioxide from the air and give oxygen in respiration process. By doing this, they make ecology sensible and sustainable. Companies should stop polluting the environment and make their existence sensible and sustainable. They should go green. This paper discusses what is green marketing, and to what extent are companies inte ­grating its principles into their communications i.e. positioning green and green thinking into their operations? Paper also focuses on what is the effect of green marketing in the satisfaction of the needs and wants of consumers. The challenges in an effort of going green are also put in the paper. Positioning strategies for Green i. e environment-friendly products are suggested in the paper. Keywords: Green marketing, positioning green, environment Introduction According to the American Marketing Association, green marketing is the marketing of products that are presumed to be environmentally safe. Thus green marketing incorporates a broad range of activities, including product modification, changes to the production process, packaging changes, as well as modifying advertising. Yet defining green marketing is not a simple task where several meanings intersect and contradict each other; an example of this will be the existence of varying social, environmental and retail definitions attached to this term. Other similar terms used are Environmental Marketing and Ecological Marketing Green marketing refers to the process of selling products and/or services based on their environmental benefits. Such a product or service may be environmentally friendly in itself or produced and/or packaged in an environmentally friendly way. The obvious assumption of green marketing is that potential consumers will view a product or services greenness as a benefit and base their buying decision accordingly. The not-so-obvious assumption of green marketing is that consumers will be willing to pay more for green products than they would for a less-green comparable alternative product an assumption that, in my opinion, has not been proven conclusively. While green marketing is growing greatly as increasing numbers of consumers are willing to back their environmental consciousnesses with their dollars, it can be dangerous. The public tends to be sceptical of green claims, to begin with and companies can seriously damage their brands and their sales if a green claim is discovered to be false or contradicted by a companys other products or practices. Presenting a product or service as green when its not is called greenwashing. Green marketing can be a very powerful marketing strategy though when its done right. Also Known as: Environmental Marketing, Ecological Marketing, Eco-Marketing. Common Misspellings: Geen marketing, gren marketing. Example: Chads green marketing campaign bombed bec Environmental Product Strategies There are a large number of environmental issues impacting on the production of goods and products. For example: What is the impact of production, sourcing of materials and packaging on the environment? Can minimum levels of packaging and/or environmentally friendly packaging be achieved without compromising product quality or appeal? Supplier practices i.e. are they at least as environmentally friendly as the organisation they are supplying? Environmentally friendly products can increase and decrease production costs; environmentally friendly production may increase costs for organisations and their suppliers but this may be offset by lower fuel bills through energy efficiency measures or an increase in sales caused by a positive product image. An organisation may able to pass increases in production costs (caused by EFS) to consumers. However, this will depend on the level of increase, type of consumer, competitor prices for the same type of product and the strength of the economy. For example during times of recession consumers will place price above many if not all of the factors making up the marketing mix. Environmental Place Strategies All organisations will need to carefully time when their product reaches consumers; exact time of distribution will depend on the product or service being distributed. Such timing may have an environmental implication. Some products will need to reach the consumer shortly after production for example fresh food in order to retain freshness, taste or nutritional value. The fastest method of distribution may damage the environment. Conversely a more environmentally friendly method e.g. via canals may impact on speed of distribution and consequently quality of the product. A method of distribution that combines speed with environmentally friendliness may increase distribution costs as some of these processes are still under development e.g. electric vehicles. In addition to the type of transport used for distribution, an organisation will need to review distribution techniques; For example timing deliveries so that they occur during off peak hours and do not contribute to congestion. Some organisations attempt to make fewer deliveries, whilst others promote concentrated products (e.g. fabric conditioner) as they increase the number of products that can carried in each delivery vehicle. Even if environmentally friendly distribution is not at the top of an organisations list of priorities, government policies may elevate it to the top. Congestion charging and low emission zones have been introduced in the London. Apart from the obvious increase in costs emanating from observance of such policies, a failure to observe environmentally friendly rules and regulations will lead to fines and sanctions and consequently negative publicity. After reviewing internal distribution methods an organisation will need to review supplier and subcontractor distribution as consumers and the media expect organisations claiming environmental credentials to only liaise with other environmentally friendly organisations.. For example do the subcontractors use Bio-fuel? Are the subcontractors actively managing their carbon footprint or energy use? Environmental Promotion Strategies Due to the consumer, celebrity and government appetite for protecting the environment environmentally friendly practices are used as promotional tools. For example the award of ISO 14001 (which certifies that an organisation has certain environmental standards, as certified by an independent external auditing organisation) is often quoted in marketing literature. Product packaging that can be recycled will have a message on the packaging clearly stating the recycling properties for the packaging. Similarly organic products will be labelled, not only on the packaging but also around the shelving displaying the organic produce. Some organisations have sought to reduce costs through the promotion of environmentally friendly strategies. The use of carrier bags has changed dramatically in the UK over the last 2-3 years. Retailers actively promote the benefit of reusable bags as they have many benefits Lower costs for the retailer Consumers feel good as they believe that the use of a reusable bag is helping the environment Fewer carrier bags go to landfill Another example is hotels offering guests the opportunity to engage in fewer linen and towel changes. Such strategy is environmentally friendly as it reduces the use of detergents and energy but it also reduces costs for the hotel and improves corporate image. Some organisations providing products and services which may harm the environment have added off setting methods to their portfolios and marketing literature. The idea behind off setting is that the consumer is offered the opportunity to indirectly engage in an activity (such as tree planting) that benefits the environment and therefore balances/evens out the damage they caused for example through flying. Such schemes attempt to ease the consumers conscience and retain a positive image for the organisation providing the environmentally unfriendly product or service. Environmental Pricing Strategies Throughout this article we have discussed how environmentally friendly strategies can either increase or decrease organisational costs. The ideal marketing mix is a reduction in costs and/or an increased in costs which is exceeded by an increase in profits. Pricing must reflect the demand for the product an incorrectly priced product will reduce demand; this is now further complicated by the impact environmental issues have on pricing. If an organisation is paying more for raw materials because the supplier is environmentally friendly it may decide to pass on this price increase to the consumer, the amount the ideal amount will be dictated by the target consumer. On the other hand companies cutting costs and increasing profits at the expense of the environment may be risking negative publicity, fines, sanctions or may simply lose out to organisations actively promoting their environmentally friendly practices even if such competitors offer more expensive products and services. Summary The environmental marketing mix is becoming extremely important in todays business world. Firms will have to carefully manage this mix if they are to successfully operate in a world which is becoming increasingly aware of climatic changes. Wheres the beef? may not be the most accurate phrase, but its the first that comes to mind. Seriously, thats the only thought I could come up with in the face of this news: McDonalds is swapping out the red in its logo for a deep hunter green to tout its environmental credentials in Europe. From an Associated Press article by Mary MacPherson Lane: About 100 German McDonalds restaurants will make the change by the end of 2009, the company said in a statement Monday. Some franchises in Great Britain and France have already started using the new color scheme behind their Golden Arches. This is not only a German initiative but a Europe-wide initiative, Martin Nowicki, McDonalds Germany spokesman, told The Associated Press. [] The company has warmed to greener practices, including environmentally friendly refrigeration and converting used oil into biodiesel fuel. With this new appearance we want to clarify our responsibility for the preservation of natural resources. In the future we will put an even larger focus on that, Hoger Beek, vice chairman of McDonalds Germany, said in the statement. Leaving aside the fundamental unsustainability of the fast food industry as a whole, this is not to say that there is nothing behind McDonalds claims of environmental action the company is working on green buildings, electric vehicles and published a report earlier this year highlighting its best green efforts. Who are the green consumers? Understanding the demographics of green consumerism can help entrepreneurs explore the environmental market, and home in on likely prospects. Research has shown that green consumers: are sincere in their intentions, with a growing commitment to greener lifestyles; almost always judge their environmental practices as inadequate; do not expect companies to be perfect in order to be considered green. Rather, they look for companies that are taking substantive steps and have made a commitment to improve. However, they also: tend to overstate their green behaviour, including the number of green products they actually use; want environmental protection to be easy, and not to entail major sacrifices; tend to distrust companies environmental claims, unless they have been independently verified; lack knowledge about environmental issues, and tend not to trust themselves to evaluate scientific information about environmental impacts. However, at the same time they are eager to learn, and this means that consumer education is one of the most effective strategies that entrepreneurs can use. The most responsive age group tends to be young adults, many of whom are influenced by their children. In addition, women are a key target for greener products, and often make purchases on behalf of men. The best green customers are people with more money to spend. As a result, the most promising products for greening tend to be at the higher end of the market. The most promising outlets for green products are retail stores frequented by better-off shoppers. In general, green consumers have the education and intellectual orientation to appreciate value; they will understand evidence that is presented in support of environmental claims. In the US, children and teens are generally more concerned than adults about the environment, and are more knowledgeable about green alternatives. Increasingly, they influence their parents purchasing decisions. Equally importantly, millions of them will reach adulthood in the next decade, and gain purchasing power of their own. At the opposite end of the age spectrum, US consumers born before the 1950s are the least green. As their numbers diminish, their share of consumer purchases will dwindle. In Canada, children and parents alike tend to have strong environmental concerns. Older people, too, tend to be active green purchasers.

Writing as Art in The Painted Bird :: Painted Bird Essays

Writing as Art  in  The Painted Bird  Ã‚  Ã‚   Three Works Cited    The use of art has many functions.   It lacks a satisfactory definition and is easier to describe it as a way something is done --â€Å"the use of skill and imagination in the creation of aesthetic objects, environments, or experiences that can be shared with others†Ã‚   --rather than what it is.   Jerzy Kosinski’s The Painted Bird describes the disasters that befall a six-year-old boy who is separated from his parents and wanders through the primitive Polish-Soviet borderlands during the war.   Kosinski fails to mention the boy’s name and the names of the towns the boy travels over throughout the text.   This enables the reader to assume that this child could have possibly been any unfortunate youngster during the war.   Kosinski’s writings organize the chaos of the boy’s life experiences through form.   The use of both organic and conventional form throughout the book draws the reader closer to the horrific encou nters the young boy faced on a daily basis.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Using writing as a method of art organizes the chaos of experience through form.   Kosinski’s novel applies organic form to portray the appalling predicaments the boy encountered during the separation from his family.   The use of organic form in the formal pattern offers the reader the â€Å"what-will-be-next† scenario before they proceed through the pages.   Kosinski gives the reader a taste of the animalistic characteristics of the towns’ people the boy confronts during the war.   This allows the reader not to be â€Å"shocked† when the peasants the boy faces demonstrated an extraordinary predilection for incest, sodomy, and meaningless violence.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   While reading â€Å"The Painted Bird†, the reader gains the impression that religion seemed to be a high priority for the village people.   However, Kosinski’s use of conventional form to inform his readers that church was a very important part of the   culture in these villages seemed to contradict this portrayal. In the culminating incident of the book, the boy drops a missal while he’s helping service Mass and is flung by the angry parishioners into a pot of manure .   Emerging from the pit he realizes that he has lost the power of speech.   Church goes watched as the young boy was tossed into the manure and no one tried to assist him.   A group of bullies pushes the boy, a presumed spy or Jew, below the ice of a frozen pond.

Sone Clay and Glass Industry :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Stone, Clay, Glass, and Concrete Products Industry generates a broad array of products, primarily through physical modification of mined materials. The industry includes establishments engaged in the manufacturing of flat glass and other glass products, cement, structural clay products, pottery, concrete and gypsum products, cut stone, abrasive and asbestos products, and other products.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Under the Stone, Clay, Glass, and Concrete is the Structural Clay industry which will be the primary focus of the report. Clay consists of the finest-grain particles in sediment, soil, or rock, and a rock or a deposit containing a large component of clay-size material. Clay can be composed of any inorganic materials, such as clay minerals, allophane, quartz, feldspar, zeolites, and iron hydroxides, that possess a sufficiently fine grain size. Along with organic matter, water, and air, clays are one of the four main components of soil. Physical properties of clay include plasticity when wet, the ability to form colloidal suspensions when dispersed in water, and the tendency to clump together (flocculate) and settle out in saline water. Establishments that fall within the Structural Clay Products Industry (SIC code 325) are primarily engaged in using different types of clay and other additives to manufacture brick and structural clay tile, ceramic wall and floor til e, clay firebrick and other heat-resisting products, and clay sewer pipe. The mining of clay used to make structural clay products are not included within SIC code 32.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The U.S. Bureau of Mines categorizes clay into six groups: ball clay; bentonite; common clay and shale; fire clay; fuller's earth; and kaolin. Ball clay is a plastic, white-firing clay that has a high degree of strength as well as plasticity. Principal ball clay markets in 1992 were pottery, floor and wall tile, and sanitary ware. Bentonite is a clay composed mainly of smectite minerals. The three major uses of bentonite in 1992 were drilling mud, foundry sand, and iron ore pelletizing. Common clay and shale contain mixtures of differing proportions of clay, including illite, chlorite, kaolinite, and montmorillonite, plus other nonclay materials. The largest user of these clays is the structural clay products industry, which manufactures brick, drain tile, sewer pipe, conduit tile, glazed tile, and terra cotta. Fire clays can withstand very high temperatures and consist mainly of kaolinite. These clays are used in commercial refractory products such as firebrick a nd block. Fuller's earth, either the attapulgitetype or montmorillonite-type, is used in pet waste absorbents, oil and grease absorbents, and pesticide carriers. Sone Clay and Glass Industry :: essays research papers   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Stone, Clay, Glass, and Concrete Products Industry generates a broad array of products, primarily through physical modification of mined materials. The industry includes establishments engaged in the manufacturing of flat glass and other glass products, cement, structural clay products, pottery, concrete and gypsum products, cut stone, abrasive and asbestos products, and other products.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Under the Stone, Clay, Glass, and Concrete is the Structural Clay industry which will be the primary focus of the report. Clay consists of the finest-grain particles in sediment, soil, or rock, and a rock or a deposit containing a large component of clay-size material. Clay can be composed of any inorganic materials, such as clay minerals, allophane, quartz, feldspar, zeolites, and iron hydroxides, that possess a sufficiently fine grain size. Along with organic matter, water, and air, clays are one of the four main components of soil. Physical properties of clay include plasticity when wet, the ability to form colloidal suspensions when dispersed in water, and the tendency to clump together (flocculate) and settle out in saline water. Establishments that fall within the Structural Clay Products Industry (SIC code 325) are primarily engaged in using different types of clay and other additives to manufacture brick and structural clay tile, ceramic wall and floor til e, clay firebrick and other heat-resisting products, and clay sewer pipe. The mining of clay used to make structural clay products are not included within SIC code 32.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The U.S. Bureau of Mines categorizes clay into six groups: ball clay; bentonite; common clay and shale; fire clay; fuller's earth; and kaolin. Ball clay is a plastic, white-firing clay that has a high degree of strength as well as plasticity. Principal ball clay markets in 1992 were pottery, floor and wall tile, and sanitary ware. Bentonite is a clay composed mainly of smectite minerals. The three major uses of bentonite in 1992 were drilling mud, foundry sand, and iron ore pelletizing. Common clay and shale contain mixtures of differing proportions of clay, including illite, chlorite, kaolinite, and montmorillonite, plus other nonclay materials. The largest user of these clays is the structural clay products industry, which manufactures brick, drain tile, sewer pipe, conduit tile, glazed tile, and terra cotta. Fire clays can withstand very high temperatures and consist mainly of kaolinite. These clays are used in commercial refractory products such as firebrick a nd block. Fuller's earth, either the attapulgitetype or montmorillonite-type, is used in pet waste absorbents, oil and grease absorbents, and pesticide carriers.

A cup of tea please Essay -- Politics, Tea Party, Palin

During the last two years our society are being bombarded with something called Tea Party. According with CBS News/New York Times Poll, only 55% of American citizens have heard not much or none about Tea Party movement. The interpretation of this data says that â€Å"even among those Americans who say they have heard about the Tea Party, four in ten still admit they do not know about what it stands for† (1). Personally I include myself in that group. When I heard this term for the first time, my impression was not exactly a political movement. During the election of 2008, the term Tea Party were mentioned but not on a major scale like during the election of 2010. My curiosity about this movement grew as a result of an invitation my husband received to be a speaker in a Tea Party meeting in our town. Just weeks before the elections they invite him as Republican Chairman to speak about the election process, which were the best candidates and discussing some of our nation issues. Unfortunately, my impression was not the best, with their furrowed brow and seriousness they let me know I was not welcome there. Of course they use all the internal force to pretend, of course I was the wife of speaker. Between here and there of my husband explanations about politics as soon as he finished they start passing papers about immigration. They were discussing the controversial Arizona Law towards immigrants, a law that seems unmerciful, allows the police force to intervene with a person who is suspicious on the mind of the police officer to be illegal immigrant. So that allows to them to intervene with all the Mexicans and possibly or not at all wit h others ethnicities in Arizona State. I can remember how their faces change, happy fac... ... live. They hide their personal opinions and goals under the wing on the Republican Party. If the Tea Party is beneficial or not we will not know the answer for now, time will tell. It is important to be aware of what is going on around us. About the accusations of racism, true or not is something that the group itself will show soon or later with an uncover face. Right now they need a lot to prove concerning this issue. The Tea Party helps to change the history of the election of 2010, so it will be good to see what else this Movement can achieve. Our job as citizens is to look that any group that raise the voice, do it for the right reasons, make the approach without hiding schemes, not hurting others and showing nothing but the truth. In case any group attempt against the values of this country we can rise our voices and make them respect our voice.

My Favorite Healthy Meal

I do, and it's a delicious turkey sub. It's my favorite meal because it's healthy, it fills me up, and best of all, it's scrumptious, all at the same time! This meal is healthy because it has Just about all the food groups you need in a healthy meal. It has meat, vegetables, dairy, and wheat. The reason the meat in my sub is turkey cold cut, is because turkey doesn't carry much fat in it. You get your vitamins and nutrients from the vegetables; and you get grains from the wheat bread.One of the advantages of dairy, is that dairy strengthens your bones. The ingredients needed are sliced, turkey cold meat, shredded lettuce, sliced cucumbers, sliced American cheese, low fat ranch, and a six-inch wheat bread that are used for subs. Before you start, wash your hands with warm water and soap. To start off, you have to get six-inches of wheat bread cut the sub from left to right. After you cut the bread open, take one slice of the turkey at a time, and starting from one end of the sub, line them up across the entire sub. Next, do the same thing with theAmerican cheese. After that, take the shredded lettuce and spread it across the sub on top of the meat and cheese. Next, get the sliced cucumbers and Just do the same as you do with the meat and cheese. In the next step, grab the low fat ranch and put one straight line of ranch on top of the vegetables, meat, and cheese. Lastly, close It up and enjoy your sub! In conclusion, I think this sub Is a great sub that I love to make and eat! It Is a great and healthy meal! I hope you get to make It and even more Importantly, Like It! Again, this Is a healthy, yet delicious meal!

Yudhisthira’s Wisdom

While running after a deer in the forest. the pandava brothers became thirsty. It was hot and they were tired. Then yudhlsthlra sent sahadev, one of his brothers to look for water. When he did not return, he sends the other three brothers one at a time. When none of them returned he himself went to look for them. He saw them lying on the ground near a pool. They were either dead or unconscious. Yudhlsthlra did not no that they had ignored a yakshya's warning not to drink the water of his pool until hey answer his questions.Although Yudhisthira was very thirsty, he obeyed the yakshya and answers all his quesuons correctly. The Yakshya was pleased with hlrn ready to revive (bring back to life) one of his brothers. Then Yudhisthira chose Nakula on the moral ground. Pleased with Yudhisthira's righteousness, the Yakshya showed himself as Yama, and revived the entire tour brother. He then advised them to go to Matcha and also promised to help them when they were in danger.This story may be trying to tell us some thing about the Importance of patience, obedience to god's wisdom and right conduct. Without these qualities, the pandava brothers would not have become successful. This story can also be Interpreted to mean that righteousness make us feel good here on earth. In other word good actions are immediately rewarded. CRITICAL THINKING An atheist may ask a lot of quesuons about this beautiful story. Do gods really exist? If they exist what is the proof for their existence? Is righteousness always rewarded?Arent the good people ever in trouble? In spite of such questions, the answer given by Yudhlsthlra Is very simple. I am very much satisfied with the answers to the questions. â€Å"what can a man give up and immediately become rich? † â€Å"it is desire. † If we have no desire we can really be happy. ASSIMILATION This tale has influence me very much. All the answers are Yudhisthira are simple but very powerful. If we follow his wisdom we can make our life successful. I also knew that the value of wisdom and patience. We should be as patience.

Are Video Games Good for Kids? Essay

Are video games bad for kids? Back in time in mid 90’s the best source of entertainment for kids was the television that have a great variety of cartoons for the kids to have good entertainment and learn good things. But now they have video games that right now are the top selling industry in the world according to Barbara Ortutay of MSNBC online â€Å"the selling of video games on July of this year went to $1. 19 billion with a 17 percent more than last year. But the only concern for the society is that kids are getting to much access to violent games and that makes the video games bad for them. As said by David Walsh, Ph. D. National Institute on Media and the Family he said in this report that â€Å"Children are more likely to imitate the actions of a character with whom they identify. In violent video games the player is often required to take the point of view of the shooter or perpetrator. Video games by their very nature require active participation rather than passive observation. Repetition increases learning. Video games involve a great deal of repetition. If the games are violent, then the effect is a behavioral rehearsal for violent activity. † He also said that â€Å"Exposure to violent games increases physiological arousal, increases aggressive thoughts, increases aggressive emotions and increases aggressive actions. † Video games should not be at the reach of any kid because more all less they all involve violence like for example Mario games that all of them involve killing enemies for success, or crash bandicoot that have the same type of game experience as Mario. Naturally there are always people that do not think the same way like ABC news. com that make a report of social critic Steven Johnson, author of the controversial new book, â€Å"Everything Bad Is Good for You. â€Å"he argues that video games — violent or not — are making children smarter. â€Å"You have to manage multiple objectives at the same time,† he said. â€Å"You have to manage all these different resources, and you have to make decisions every second of the game. † Video games typically require the player to complete a number of specific tasks to win. â€Å"Well we have to get the Jeep, we have to ride up a hill, kill the snipers, drive past the mountainside, go into another giant palace and activate the remote,† said one 10-year-old interviewed by ABC News while playing the Halo 2 video game, designed for the Microsoft Xbox gaming system. But children should not be exposed to that type of learning because they are going to be more aggressive and â€Å"less positive people toward life† according to David Walsh. ABC also site from Johnson that â€Å"Children who play such video games exhibit what experts call â€Å"fluid intelligence,† or problem solving. † â€Å"They have to discover the rules of the game and how to think strategically,† said James Paul Gee, a University of Wisconsin-Madison curriculum and instruction professor. â€Å"Like any problem solving that is good for your head, it makes you smarter. † â€Å"Intelligence test scores in the United States are rising faster than ever, experts say. One possible reason: Studies show video games make people more perceptive, training their brains to analyze things faster. † But the truth based on studies is that â€Å"Studies measuring cognitive responses to playing violent video games have shown that violent games increase aggressive thoughts. These findings have been found for males and females, children and adults, and in experimental and correlational studies. † Said David Walsh on his report. In conclusion violent video games should be restricted for kids in all the way possible because they will develop more aggressive actions, less caring and aggressive emotions in comparison with regular games that also have that responses and that also should be avoided for the raising of a kid. People can say that the help to problem solving and to fast response to other thing but the truth is that the make more damage than a helping. Works Cited Walsh, David. â€Å"Video Game Violence and Public Policy† culturalpolicy. edu. 2001. September 30, 2008. http://culturalpolicy. uchicago. edu/conf2001/papers/walsh. html. Ortutay, Barbara. â€Å"July video game sales jump 28 percent† MSNBC. com. August 14, 2008. September 30, 2008. http://www. msnbc. msn. com/id/26208654/ Argumentative essay Angel Bello 802-08-0724 October 1,2008.

House on Mango Street Questions Essay

1. The apparent randomness shows the diversity of Mango Street. The random topics emulate the random cast of characters that live on the street and the different lives they lead. 2. The fact that Esperanza has problems with eating in public shows that she is very insecure and self-conscious of her body. She doesn’t want others to see her eat. This may be because she believes she is too skinny or too fat. 3. In many ways, it is a feminist text. Since the main character is female and much of the story is seen through her point of view, she addressed many female issues. These include the constant abuse many females faced from the men in charge of their lives. However, many of these issues are universal. Both sons and daughters have been victims to parental abuse and everyone dreams of escaping to paradise. 4. When Esperanza mentions her own war, she is referring to her inner struggle between becoming a grown woman who will patiently wait for a man or becoming a woman who is in ch arge of herself. 5. Boys are held to a higher standard than women are. They are bred to become proud, authoritative figures in society while the females are nurtured into becoming submissive partners. Since boys are considered superior, it is considered a weakness when they befriend and play with girls. These beliefs will cause the boys to grow up as dominative, controlling husbands that rule over their own lives and their wives’ lives. The women will end up being common submissive partners. The future relationship is one similar to one between masters and slaves. 6. Esperanza looks up to many women in the book. She looks up to Marin because she exudes knowledge of the world and shows off the sexuality that Esperanza is just discovering. She also looks up to Alicia because she isn’t only wishing to escape, but is actually working towards it by going to university. Esperanza looks up to Lois because she represents the freedom that Esperanza desperately craves. Esperanza wants to stay out until late and feel the love that she sees Lois experiencing. Finally, Esperanza looks up to Sally because Sally is there to comfort her and because she envies Sally’s beauty. She feels connected to Sally because they both dream of escaping. 7. The House on Mango Street is a book about culture because the problem that Esperanza faced is caused by the clash in culture. She longs for freedom because she is trapped in a slum due to her race. Cathy referred to this racism when she said that she was moving because people like Esperanza were moving in. Cisnero also uses various Spanish words throughout the book. 8. Esperanza has contrasting feelings towards her Hispanic heritage. On one hand, she feels that it confined by it because Spanish culture trains their women to be submissive. On the other hand, she feels that her name can only sound beautiful through a Spanish tongue. Esperanza feels that the Spanish heritage can show off her inner beauty. She also feels disconnected from the English culture that she has been thrust into. She is looked down upon and is tossed aside by the outside society. She longs to change that when she gets older. She wants to get out of Mango street but plans to come back to help those who could n ot get out. 9. Esperanza’s love of speech is shown when she describes her name. She says that her name is like a muddy colored number nine. All the characters live on Mango street and have their own troubles, but many of them share similar issues. Sally is beaten by her dad while Minerva is beaten by her husband. Earl keeps his wife behind locked doors just like Rafaela’s husband keeps her in the house at all times. 10. In â€Å"Beautiful and Cruel,† Esperanza thinks she’s seen as the ugly daughter. However, she sees herself as a strong woman who won’t allow any man to control her. Esperanza believes she has inner power that nobody else can see other than her. 11. Rafaela dreams of escaping the house she is confined to, and is able to escape for a moment on Tuesday when she gets various fruits from the nearby market. Minerva tried to escape her abusive husband by kicking him out, but she always lets him back in. Sally wishes to escape the abusive home she lives in but is unable to do so. Cathy’s family wanted to escape the many Chicanos moving into the neighborhood, and they achieved that to an extent when they moved farther down the street. Esperanza wants to leave too. She will have to work just as hard as everyone else, or even harder, to escape but she will. It’s hard to escape when one is poor. The less money they have the lesser opportunities become available. Poverty lessens the chances of escaping, but increases the drive to want to do so. 12. Esperanza dreams of a white house with trees, a big backyard, real stairs, three bathrooms, and a basement. Her actual house is small and red with a small backyard, tiny windows, a swollen door, one bathroom, and only one bedroom. Esperanza dreams big and craves success. She has a lot of ambition to leave but has just as much ambition to come back. She wants to give back to the community as well as escape it.

The role of education in a juveniles life Essay

The role of education in a juveniles life - Essay Example The years of schooling are extremely vital in an individual life, since they c an make or break the kind of person he turns out to be. Education passes on virtues like leading a disciplines mode of life, being sensitive to the others' emotions, respecting fellow humans and also leading an honest and worthy life. Today, children are being diverted and exposed to hazardous knowledge from numerous sources. This has resulted in the rise in the number of juvenile delinquency cases. Children are being lead astray due to the high penetration of crime into the society and the influence it has on young impressionable minds. This has paved way to increasing crime rates in the age group of below 18. It is here, that one needs to sit back and contemplate on the ways and means to curb this rising delinquency rate. One of the best ways t o exert a crease on such occurrences, is through education, Education helps refine children and their thinking processes. Since they can be moulded easily and brought into a certain fold, imparting education to juveniles is necessary. By doing so, delinquency rates can experience a dip, while also facilitating the rehabilitation of juveniles who have been led on to the wrong path. This paper attempts to explore the Role played by Education, in the process of rectifying a nd rehabilitating the lives of Juveniles. ANALYSIS ROLE OF SCHOOL EDUCATION Schools play a very important role in providing a perspective to children. For instance, if a child is brought up in an atmosphere where he is put down and looked down upon by his peers, he becomes excessively negative in his perspective. Low self-esteem and the illusion that one is not cared for, creeps in and this often propels the student towards self-destruction. Schools play a three-fold effect on the lives of children. They influence a child in various facets of his growth and comprehension. Firstly, schools establish the Process of Learning, in the lives of student. This learning need not be limited to the learning of varied subjects. It extends beyond. For instance, learning about oneself is the foremost step toward knowledge and wisdom and school education sows the seeds towards the attainment of this wisdom. School education helps a child understand the world, learn to adapt to demands of situations and to acquire not only subject matter, but also soft skills, like working in a team, acquiring leadership qualities, etc. This is the most evident impact that school education has, in the process of moulding and making the life of a child. The second influence that school education creates, on the life of young minds, is that of establishing set behavioural patterns. Following school rules and regulations is the primary step in curbing the influence of external forces of distraction. When a child is given the absolute freedom to do as he pleases, the child often does not know what ahs to

Contrasting the English and French Court Decisions in Dallah v Essay

Contrasting the English and French Court Decisions in Dallah v Pakistan - Essay Example The concept of Arbitration is a process by which parties which are bound by a contract can choose to settle disputes without engaging in any time-consuming litigation process. In most cases the parties enter into an agreement in their respective contracts about the arbitration methods that will be employed in case of any disputes that could happen in future. In some other cases such arbitration can also remain a statuary requirement. The process of Arbitration is being governed through various statues in different countries has acquired international recognition via conventions such as the New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards 1958 (New York Convention).1 For many reasons Arbitration is the most sought after option than litigation as the process is quicker and also involves lesser expenses and a higher degree of transparency compared to litigations. Also in cases where a lower judicial standard could possibly compromise the outcome of a case, arbitration is the preferred choice for resolving disputes. In addition, cases of multinational companies which usually include parties to settle international disputes in contracts and where a higher degree of confidentiality is at stake; the process of arbitration would be more suitable to settle such discrete cases compared to the court litigations. In some other cases arbitration can be preferred by parties in order to ensure control of the proceedings throughout the case which could be vital for making crucial decisions. In the arbitration process parties usually have their choice of representation who would be involved in presenting their arguments in the case. Individuals with the necessa ry skills and legal expertise are mostly chosen to contend on their behalf. In addition, the parties also have considerable say in the appointment of the chairperson for the arbitration process. Choosing the process of Arbitration also provide parties

Management Accounts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Management Accounts - Essay Example For example, the cost of labour engaged in a service department can be charged wholly and directly but the canteen expenses of the factory cannot be charged directly and wholly. Its proportionate share will have to be found out. Charging of costs in the former case will be termed as "allocation of costs" whereas in the latter, it will be termed as "apportionment of costs." Management Accounting is an indispensable tool for any business unit to set budgets. It sets standard costs and actual costs of processes, departments or products and through variance analysis measure the profitability and social use of funds. This assists the management to attract more investors and tap potential funding sources. The main aim of costing is the providing crucial management information to ascertain costs, proper allocation of costs to a centre of responsibility, cost planning and control. Further, it provides the necessary information to plan the cost of operation and ability to monitor and control those cost against the plan. Costing can provide all the information required for the effective management decisions. The effective costing is therefore essential for survival of any business. 3.2 Methods of costing Costing can be defined as the procedure and technique of ascertaining costs. The principles in every method of costing are same but the methods of analyzing and presenting the costs differ with the nature of business. The methods of costing are as follows: Absorption Costing Marginal Costing Job Costing Activity Based Costing Batch Costing 3.2.1 Absorption Costing Absorption costing means that all of the manufacturing costs are absorbed by the units produced. In other words, the cost of a finished unit in inventory will include direct materials, direct labour, and both variable and fixed manufacturing overhead. As a result, absorption costing is also termed as full costing or the full absorption method. 3.2.2 Marginal costing Marginal cost means the cost of the marginal or last unit produced. It is also defined as the cost of one more or one less unit produced besides existing level of production. Marginal costing may be defined as the technique of presenting cost data wherein variable costs and fixed costs are shown separately for managerial decision-making. Marginal costing technique has given birth to a very useful concept of contribution

Four Circles of HR Professionalism Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Four Circles of HR Professionalism - Assignment Example This involves having a knack for managing people and conducting activities which may include hiring and recruiting the staff, managing work culture and job performance within an organization, training the personnel working within an organization, assuring that the staff complies with the rules and regulations in an organization, and the overall management of the behaviour of personnel at the workplace (Sartain &Finney 2005). Thereby in a professional context, any HR manager does need to be astutely aware of as to how to conduct oneself at the workplace (Kulik 2004). There stand to be some predominant professional considerations related to the workplace that an HR manager does need to hold sacrosanct. As an HR I am well aware of the fact that within a professional environment it is not only the sacrosanct ‘best practices’ but also an array of rules and regulations that my conduct needs to be subservient to. I am well aware of the fact that for the personnel I manage, I am the actual company. Not only the staffs that I manage to view me as the management but in the courts of law, I will also be considered to be the actual employer (Muller 2012). This realization has a serious impact on my professional conduct. I am well aware of the fact that as an HR manager I will always be directly held responsible for the things I do or fail to do for the employees (Muller 2012). The other thing that I always keep in my mind is that employees never leave organizations; they mostly tend to leave bosses. Thereby I also keep in my mind that every employee that comes to work in the organization is not a passive toolbox, but rather a complete person with a heart and a mind and a soul. My approach towards employees is always imbued with concern and I hold very human expectations from them. I well understand the fact that employees do always need a feedback. Whether they are doing a good job or are not doing well, the employees are mostly not able to ascertain it until they are evinced an honest feedback (Slade 1994). I have also realized that extending a timely feedback to the employees does go a long way in assuring organizational efficiency and thereby as an HR professional I make it a point to be thorough and prompt with the feedback I extend to the employees.  

The future of medical care in the united states Essay

The future of medical care in the united states - Essay Example In this paper, the history of the healthcare law will be recalled, the changes brought to its benefactors, and the worthy Americans to receive such assistance. Also, a comparison will be made between ACA and the health reform offered by the Congressional Republicans and how suitable the democratic-socialist approach to the current health care act. An efficient health care system has long been a need of the people, as they become more aware of diseases which can harm their livelihood and health. The face of the medical care in the 1920’s is far too different from what most communities have today. Doctor’s knowledge about certain diseases was limited and therefore, charging their clients with a low cost (â€Å"How did the Health†). Most patients were treated at home with liniments and other traditional medicine. Blumberg & Davidson argue that the medical care in that era was â€Å"basically medieval,† until technology has changed the course of health care practice. Through technology, the doctors were able to acquire much information about illnesses and medications were made available for its treatment. This is good news for health clients and at the same time an additional burden in their budget management; higher efficiency means higher cost. The beginning of the twentieth century marked the blossoming of health care industry. The continuous expansion of medical, nursing and other health practitioner’s schools and the number of hospital beds served as the proof of this growth. However, the Great Depression of the 1930’s stopped this medical improvement. As a solution, Baylor Hospital in Dallas formulated a system where financial aid was available, which eventually became the Blue Cross, where the goal was to assist people in paying their hospital bills. This went hand in hand with the Blue Shield, where the interest and payment for the Doctors were safeguarded. Having known to the insurers that majority of the people back then

Globalization and the state. discuss - marxist Essay

Globalization and the state. discuss - marxist - Essay Example Marxism is a case in point. It argues that the system is rife with exploitation, greed and is destined for an inevitable demise. The position is that nation-states are rendered helpless as globalization forces wrest control of the social, economic and political spheres. These issues highlight the conflicting views on the link between globalization and the state. Is there an accurate approach to explaining the phenomenon and its impact on nation states and the world? This paper proposes that the Marxist perspective can be effective in answering this issue. What is a state? For the purpose of this paper, it is helpful to establish the concept of the state. Max Weber defined it as â€Å"an agency of domination† which bounds civil society together (Abinales and Amoroso 2005, p6). The domination variable is important because it guarantees and holds together what Weber called the state’s main attributes: territory, monopoly and legitimacy (Stewart 2001, p103). This is one of the most comprehensive and widely cited definitions. In the Communist Manifesto, Marx and Engels (2012, p3) also provided his own definition by explaining that the state is â€Å"a committee for managing the common affairs of the whole bourgeoisie.† Both of these definitions – as the rest of other conceptualizations – differ in elements, structure and they do vary according to politics. But there are commonalities such as territory and control and, interestingly, most of these elements are present in the modern world system under globalization. This factor along with the state’s response to internationalization underpins the relationship between state and globalization. Globalization and the Marxist View It is important to note that Marxism is fundamentally a critique of capitalism. It established how the economic organization of society defines and control the political and social system (Neack 2003, p21). Any society that adopts this system is said to b e characterized by stratified socio-economic classes. The Marxian analysis approaches globalization from this perspective. It maintains that globalization, as a capitalist system, is endlessly driven by the need to accumulate more. Here, the means of production and consumption is cultivated in such a pattern of expansion, where the market is pushed further from the local to the nation on to the international levels (Milward 2003, p23). In 1857, Karl Marx (1973, p524, p.539) published Grundrisse, wherein he predicted globalization by declaring: â€Å"capital by its nature drives beyond every spatial barrier,† in order to â€Å"conquer the whole earth for its market.† The Marxist theory accurately explained globalization as a phenomenon wherein the world comes together in order to create a system that is conducive to profit making and wealth accumulation. Marx has explained that capitalistic development cannot be confined within states. Ultimately, such development was e xpected to break free of its spatial constraints and this is supposedly underpinned by the nature of capital mobility. Marx and Engels (1973, p77) wrote: The bourgeoisie has through its exploitation of the world market given a cosmopolitan character to production and consumption in every country†¦ [old industries] are dislodged by new industries, whose introduction becomes a life and death question for all civilized nations, by industries that no longer work up indigenous material, but raw material drawn from the remotest zones; industries whose

My Life, My Religion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

My Life, My Religion - Essay Example The Bible or the hymn book was my only choices so I choose the storybook. My parents decided to allow me to read, I suppose because it kept me from sleeping or fidgeting. My interest in this very long and difficult to comprehend book grew over time as did the time invested in exploring it. I began reading at home during episodes of boredom. This experience during my early teen years changed my outlook and shaped my philosophy of life. As I read, what I thought was important became rather meaningless. I began to develop a much different set of values than my friends, neighbors, and family. What fascinated me the most were the first four books of the New Testament. I found the words of Christ simple, to the point and ultimately a path to inner contentment. The Bible gave me the foundation of what I have built upon since my youth. Since then, I have read other philosophical and religious books and found they do not contradict, in fact, they support the tenets found in the Bible. Though the roots of my viewpoint begin with the Bible, I do not consider myself Christian, far from it. Most religions I know including and especially Christianity teach that ‘we are the right path to God’ therefore no other belief system is valid. My interpretation of Christ’s words leads me to believe the division is ultimately destructive for the individual and society. Rather, I concluded that inclusion and finding the similarities help bind us all together. The words of Christ allowed me to develop a new viewpoint which teaches the path to real happiness. In my case, this involves thinking in ways that bolster my self-respect, what makes me proud of me. Others, of course, have different views on what makes them happy such as ‘if I make more money, I’d be higher on the social ladder’ or ‘if I had more control over my life, I’d be happy then.’Â  

The way we lie Essay Example for Free

The way we lie Essay People tell lies everyday,whether it is a simple white lire or a more complex lie. In article the way we lie written by Stephanie Ericsson she explains the different forms of lying, and how life is harder when we dont lie to authority figures, people we love.In the short story shooting an elephant the narrator is guilty of lying to the Native people in the village he is in. The narrator puts up a facade that he is like any other white man and can kill anything. A facade is an illusion, we put on to portray what we think the world expects from us. The narrator in Shooting an Elephant continuously lets us know that he does not want to kill the elephant but he feels that he must because thats what everyone is expecting from himI had no intention of shooting the elephant- I had merely sent for the rifle to defend myself if necessary He also goes on to say how he feels like a fool going down the hill to kill the elephant, he continuously lets us know that he isnt what everyone thinks he is rather he is just as nervous as everyone else is. At the beginning of the short story we are told that the narrator is an european police officer in the town of Moulmein. When a person wears a police uniform one assumes many things.The first being that that person can protect us from harm and defend those who are weak. The narrator tries to preserve all these stereotypes in the short story. A stereotype is used to categorize a specific groups of people,although the narrator knows that he isnt a ruthless elephant killing machine he wants people to believe that they are safe around him. For them to think hes a good police officer he must kill the elephant regardless of what his initial intent was. because of the crowd gathering around him he doesnt want them to think that hes like any other white police officer, so he kills the elephant knowing that he didnt want to bring any harm to the elephant.

Sexual Abuse and Subsequent Suicidal Behaviour Essay Example for Free

Sexual Abuse and Subsequent Suicidal Behaviour Essay ABSTRACT. Suicidal behaviour is a cause for concern among many western countries; in general, it is most common among young women. This research used qualitative methods to explore the narratives of 24 Cate Curtis, PhD, lectures in psychology at the University of Waikato, New Zealand. She is interested in female self-harming behaviour, including self-mutilation and suicidal behaviour; social factors implicated both in engaging in self-harm and in recovery, particularly the roles played by family and friends; and barriers to help-seeking behaviour such as stigma. She is also interested in the ways people diagnosable with mental illness make sense of their experiences of being â€Å"unwell† and their experiences as consumers of mental health services. Cate has also worked in a number of social service agencies as a youth and community worker. Address correspondence to: Cate Curtis, PhD, Psychology Department, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, New Zealand (Email: [emailprotected]). The author wishes to thank the participants who candidly shared their experiences of suicidal behaviour and sexual abuse, and hopes that the opportunity to have their voices heard through this paper goes some way to repay their contribution. amine the meanings of events leading to and implicated in the recovery from suicidal behaviour. The research confirms sexual abuse as a common precursor to suicidal behaviour; several women asserted that they would not have attempted suicide if they did not have a sexual abuse history. KEYWORDS. Sexual abuse, suicidal behaviour, adolescent mental health, intervention Barriers to early death are increasingly strengthened through advances in medical science; we are more aware of the causes of premature death than ever before. Yet some young people continue to attempt (and in some cases succeed) to take their own lives. Internationally, adolescents and young adults are at greater risk of suicidal behaviour than other age groups (Gould et al., 1998; Romans, Martin, Anderson, Herbison, Mullen, 1995), and while males complete suicide at higher rates than females, rates of suicidal behaviour in general are considerably higher for females (Ministry of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Health, Te Puni Kokiri, 1998). Examinations of risk factors for suicidal behaviour have largely been quantitative in nature, seeking to determine correlations. Also, the majority of studies have been conducted with clinical populations. The research discussed in this paper attempts to address these possible methodological issues through the use of qualitative methods with a community sample. The paper discusses the experiences of women who engaged in suicidal behaviour while under the age of 25 through their first-hand accounts. Of particular interest is the relationship between sexual abuse and subsequent suicidal behaviour, and how sexual abuse impacts upon help-seeking behaviour and the efficacy of interventions for suicidal behaviour. Adults who have been victims of sexual abuse as children or adolescents report significantly greater symptoms indicative of depression, anxiety, and self-abusive and suicidal behaviour. In a 1992 study by Saunders, Villeponteaux, Lipovsky, Kilpatrick, and Veronen, abuse survivors were significantly more likely than others to meet diagnostic  criteria for agoraphobia, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, major depression, social phobia, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Vajda and Steinbeck (2000) found that childhood sexual abuse is a stronger predictor of repeated suicidal behaviour than individual characteristics and other stressors, and Read, Agar, Barker-Collo, and Davies (2001) found that â€Å"Current suicidality was predicted better by child sexual abuse (experienced on average 20 years previously) than a current diagnosis of depression† (p. 367). Rodriguez-Srednicki (2001) reported increased rates of drug use, alcohol abuse, disordered eating, risky sex, dissociation, self-mutilation, and suicidality in a sample of 175 female college students who were survivors of childhood sexual abuse, as compared to 266 female college students w ith no reported history of abuse. Likewise, elevated rates of depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, drug or alcohol abuse, suicide attempts, and psychiatric admission were found in McCauley and colleagues’ (1997) study of childhood physical and sexual abuse in American women. Similar findings are reported by Polusny and Follette (1995), Silverman, Reinherz, and Giacona (1996), Stepakoff (1998), Read et al. (2001), and Read, Agar, Argyle, and Aderhold (2003) have linked sexual abuse to hallucinations, delusions, and thought disorders. Sexual abuse has been linked to a number of negative psychological outcomes in addition to diagnosable disorders. Effects include trouble sleeping, nervousness, thoughts of hurting oneself, and learning difficulties. Women whose abusive experiences occurred within the family are at greater risk of disturbance than other women (Sedney Brooks, 1984). Wagner and Linehan (1994) reported that not only are women who have been sexually abused more likely to engage in deliberate self-injury, their behaviour is also more likely to be lethal than that of women who did not report abuse. More recently, Gladstone, Parker, Mitchell, and Malhi (2004) argued that depressed women with a history of childhood sexual abuse may require specifically tailored interventions. While a casual reading of the literature may suggest that most women who have been sexually abused go on to experience psychological problems, the Otago Women’s Health Study found that only one in five women who reported sexual abuse as a child developed a psychiatric disorder (Ministry of Health, 1998). Reviewing a number of studies, Goodyear-Smith (1993) argued that the other forms of abuse and family dysfunction that tend to occur alongside sexual abuse may in fact play at least as great a part in later depression and psychological problems. Boudewyn and Liem (1995) suggested that the longer the duration and the more frequent and severe the sexual abuse, the more depression and self-destructiveness is likely. In a large random community study, Romans, Martin, and Mullen (1997) found that of their 252 participants, 26% of the participants reported sexual abuse before age 12 and 32% were sexually abused by the age of 16. Twenty-three (4.8%) of those interviewed reported a history of deliberate self-harm, and 22 of these 23 reported childhood sexual abuse. The one woman who self-harmed without a history of childhood sexual abuse reported sexual and physical assault as an adult. It should be noted that the vast majority of women who were sexually abused did not report self-harm. A clear â€Å"dose effect† was found: the more frequent and intrusive the childhood sexual abuse, the stronger the association with selfharm. This was also found in a study by Mullen, Martin, and Anderson (1996). Sexually abused participants who had self-harmed were more likely than other survivors of sexual abuse to report depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and to drink alcohol in excess of the r ecommended guidelines. They were also more likely to have experienced psychosocial disadvantage in their families of origin, such as low care/ high control relationships with their parents, parental discord, paternal depression or alcohol abuse, and physical abuse. Romans and colleagues’ study clearly demonstrates that although not all women who have  been sexually abused go on to harm themselves, the majority of women who harm themselves have been sexually abused. Although exact figures cannot be obtained and various definitions1 are used in the research, sexual abuse in girls and young women is not uncommon, and it is generally accepted that females are far more likely to be victims of sexual abuse than males. For example, Saunders and colleagues (1992) reported that 10% of the women in their study in South Carolina had been raped during childhood, a further 15.6% had been molested, and another 12% had been the victims of non-contact sexual assault (such as indecent exposure). When studied at age 18, 17% of females in a longitudinal study reported experiencing sexual abuse before age 16 (Fergusson, Lynskey, Horwood, 1996). However, it has been suggested that survivors in this age group are inclined not to report the abuse they have suffered (Ministry of Health, 1998). A study of 3000 women aged 18-65 (Anderson, Martin, Mullen, 1993) reported 32% being sexually abused before age 16. Using a somewhat narrower definition2 of sexual abuse than some, Muir (1993) found prevalence rates of 38% among women and 10% among men in her sample of university students. However, Romans, Martin, Anderson, Herbison, and Mullen (1995) argued that until recently most studies have involved atypical samples such as social agency clients and clinical inpatients, and criticisms of the link between childhood sexual abuse and later suicidality have been based on these methodological issues; for example, clinical inpatients may not be representative of the wider population of survivors of sexual abuse. Disclosure of abuse appears to be difficult for many survivors of sexual abuse, particularly disclosure to police or others outside their circle of significant others. This may have implications for the efficacy of counselling and therapy. International studies reviewed by Muir (2001) suggested that 20-30% of survivors of childhood sexual abuse do not disclose until adulthood, and in over half the cases where disclosure occurred during childhood (usually to a parent or parent figure or friend; only 4% disclosed  to a community figure, such as police, teachers, or social workers), no action was taken. The majority of participants in Muir’s (1993) study reported feeling scared, humiliated, guilty, and powerless at the time of the abuse. When asked how they felt immediately after disclosure, approximately one-third gave negative responses, such as guilt or shame. In some cases, the response of the person to whom they had disclosed was negative or unsupportive. For some participants, negative responses to the question seem largely predicated on a lack of response by the person disclosed to, or little change to the situation. Another study conducted by Muir (2001) found that fear of the consequences frequently affected women’s ability to disclose. Anderson and colleagues (1993) reported that only 7% of sexually abused participants reported the abuse to police or social services, and Romans, Martin, and Mullen (1996) suggested that sexual abuse by a family member is much less likely to be reported to police or social services than if the abuser is outside the family. In many cases, fears were not unfounded: disclosures were often met with disbelief or rejection on the part of the confidant. Similarly, Myer (1985) reported that of 43 mothers who attended a programme for mothers of father-daughter incest victims, only 56% protected their daughters, with 9% taking no action and the remaining 35% rejecting their daughters in favour of their partners (the perpetrators of abuse). Members of the latter two groups either denied the abuse took place, or blamed their daughters, claiming, for instance, that their daughters were seductive, provocative, or pathological liars. Denial of abuse during childhood is often particularly disempowering and engenders a sense of betrayal and may result in the abuse continuing. Withholding disclosure may be a way to retain control over one’s memories and emotions; as Muir (2001) discussed, control (or the lack of it) is frequently an important issue for survivors of abuse. Control may also be maintained through selective disclosure, or choosing confidants that maximise confidence about disclosure. It seems possible that  disclosure may impact mental health and potential suicidality, depending on how the disclosure is dealt with. If abuse is disclosed when it first occurs and is appropriately dealt with, the abuse survivor will have the opportunity to take whatever steps she feels necessary to re-establish her emotional equilibrium. On the other hand, if she is unable to disclose the abuse, or it is not dealt with appropriately, she may be at greater risk of feelings of guilt, anxiety, low self-esteem, and depression and the abuse may continue. These emotional responses could, in turn, lead to suicidality. Holguin and Hansen (2003) suggested that in addition to the impact of the abuse itself, the consequences of being labelled as sexually abused may have detrimental effects. They argued that the combination of negative expectations and biases may create a self-fulfilling prophecy, but acknowledge that further research into this area is required. Additionally, the mother’s response to a disclosure of sexual abuse is central to her daughter’s recovery (Candib, 1999). Furthermore, perpetrators of sexual abuse are rarely identified and even more rarely punished (Candib, 1999); if a girl’s mother does not support her, she may well receive no support at all. A link between delayed disclosure of abuse or inadequate response to disclosure and subsequent suicidal behaviour does not appear to have been researched. However, given what is known about increased likelihood of suicidal behaviour among survivors of sexual abuse, it seems plausible that the addition of a lack of support to deal with the abuse may exacerbate suicidality. In summary, the literature reviewed suggested that sexual abuse leads to an increased likelihood of depression, anxiety, trauma, and substance abuse, all of which have been associated with suicidal behaviour. While it would be incorrect to say that the majority of survivors of sexual abuse engage in suicidal behaviour, there is no doubt that the risk is increased, and Romans and colleagues’ findings (Romans et al., 1995, 1997) suggested that the majority of young women who attempt suicide have been sexually abused. Candib’s (1999) and Muir’s (2001) findings that those who do not disclose abuse or whose disclosure does not result in appropriate responses are at increased risk of distress suggests that the likelihood of subsequent suicidal behaviour may be raised in these groups; however, there appears to be little research on this topic. This research sought to explore the perceptions of women who had engaged in suicidal behaviour. While the  literature discussed above clearly points to a link between childhood sexual abuse and subsequent suicidal behaviour, the author was concerned to avoid assumptions about linkages between the two. The purpose of the research was to determine  how the women concerned (i.e., the survivors of suicidal behaviour) saw their behaviour, what they considered to be the factors that led to their suicidality, how they made sense of their actions, and how they moved beyond suicidal behaviour. Therefore few restrictions were placed on criteria for inclusion in the study and a research method was chosen that minimises the impact of the preconceived ideas of the researcher. Experience of sexual abuse was not a necessary criterion for inclusion in the study. Rather, this was a study of female suicidal behaviour that revealed a high prevalence of sexual abuse in participants’ histories. METHODS The population of interest in this research was women who engaged in non-fatal suicidal behaviour while under age 25. As noted by Gould and colleagues (1998), clinical samples demonstrate higher rates of co-morbidity than community samples, leading to an increased risk of sample bias. Due to this potential bias, and because a large number of young female self-injurers do not come to the attention of a mental health professional, a qualitative approach that included a non-clinical population was used. Eligibility for participation in the research included prior engagement in suicidal behaviour, while under age 25, cessation of suicidal behaviour for at least one year, and self-assessed as having recovered from suicidality. The latter two criterion were included both to ensure a degree of safety from distress that might have occured through taking part in the research and to increase the likelihood of participants having had some time to reflect on the cessation of their suicidal behaviour. However, it is acknowledged that the decision that suicidal behaviour should have ceased at least one year prior to participation is somewhat arbitrary. Personal experience of sexual abuse was not a criterion for participation. Participants were recruited through  presentations made to third-year and graduate psychology classes, through items placed in magazines and newspapers, via the e-mail lists of relevant information networks, and through letters and information sheets sent to relevant community organisations such as women’s groups and community support groups. Potential participants were invited to contact the researcher. An initial recruitment discussion took place during which the purpose of the study was discussed, along with eligibility criteria. Participants were asked if they had questions and then offered a written information sheet. Following this, eligible participants were invited to take some time to consider whether they wished to proceed and to contact the researcher again  if they did. Most participants decided immediately that they wished to proceed and made an appointment for an interview. Two possible participants were not heard from subsequent to the recruitment discussion, and one cancelled her appointment. Participants A total of 24 women took part in the research. The participants formed a diverse group; efforts were made to recruit participants from a variety of backgrounds, in an attempt to obtain a sample as representative of the population of interest as possible, given the sample size. The youngest participant was aged 21 at the time of the interview, while the oldest was 46. The average age was 29.6 years. All participants were born in New Zealand and of European descent, although two also were of Maori ethnicity (the indigenous people of New Zealand) and one was part-Asian. Most (n = 23) of the participants spent their childhood living with at least one biological parent, with the remaining participant had been adopted. However, only 11 participants reported that their biological parents were cohabiting at the time of the participant’s first suicide attempt. In eight cases, the parents separated at some point of the participant’s childhood or adolescence; in three cases one parent had died, and in one case both parents had died. Eleven participants were living in cities at the time of their first suicide attempt, nine in towns, and four  in rural areas. Socio-economic status and education levels were mixed, possibly as a result of the recruitment process; thirteen participants had completed some university courses. Interview and Procedures An open-ended, semi-structured method of interviewing was chosen in recognition that an attempt to fit the participants’ varied experiences into a â€Å"one size suits all† structure would risk losing the subtleties of their interpretations. This method facilitates access to information the researcher could not have considered (Burns, 1994). In line with the narrative approach, once the preliminaries to the interview had been conducted (discussion about consent, recording of the interview, making the participant comfortable, discussion of the topic, etc.), the participants were encouraged to tell their â€Å"story,† beginning with the background to becoming suicidal. Participants were asked in general terms how or why they became suicidal. They were not prompted by having possible risk factors suggested, such as sexual abuse. During this stage, the researcher’s  role was solely one of encouraging the process of story-telling. The second stage was one of seeking clarification and elaboration as required. Interviews lasted an average of two hours and all except three were conducted face to face, with two others being conducted by telephone and the remaining one a combination of telephone and electronic mail. Face-to-face interviews were conducted at the place of choice of the participant (in one case, at the participant’s workplace; in another, at the offices of a participant’s counsellor; and the remainder evenly split between the researcher’s university office and the participants’ homes). All face-to-face and telephone interviews were audio-taped. When transcribing was complete (within two weeks), a copy of the transcription was given to each participant to check for accuracy. No participants requested changes be made other than adding or correcting some details. Thematic data analysis was performed utilising the QSR Nud*ist qualitative data analysis software package. A suitable coding structure was developed through this process,  with branches for risk factors, other self-harming behaviours, interventions/therapies, and factors in cessation. Results A range of both proximal and distal factors were discussed by participants as contributing to their suicidal behaviour. Although suicidal behaviour was often triggered by an immediately preceding event, it was clear from the participants’ narratives that suicidal behaviour occurred against a background of long-term disturbance and dysfunction. All participants spoke about combinations of factors, and, with the exclusion of two women who considered that their suicidal behaviour was primarily due to biological causes (Kate and Lucy3), all the participants spoke of issues within their family being key contributors. While the divorce of parents does not seem particularly common (eight out of 24 participants), most of the others spoke of a large amount of parental conflict that did not result in divorce. Additionally, there were five parental deaths, two of which were suicides, and a number of other issues as discussed above. Almost all participants spoke of some level of physical or emotional abuse within the family that was sufficiently severe to be considered a cause of their suicidal behaviour.