Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Impacts of Terrorism on Global Events Literature review

Impacts of Terrorism on Global Events - Literature review Example Management issues involved The increasing terror threats demand the stakeholders enforce pragmatic management measures of dealing with the vice. These include enforcing preventive strategies and mechanism for mitigating the ultimate outcomes of terrorism. This project focuses on the impacts of terrorism on global events. It informs the stakeholders of the extensive effects terrorism has had on the sector in the past. To address these effects, I have used the second method of collecting data of past terror attacks targeting global events. I have examined the effects of terror attacks in 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, the attacks at International cricket tournaments in Pakistan in addition to the impacts of September 11 attacks on the attendance of the FIFA World Cup. From the data collected, analyzed relevant themes pertinent to the study. (3c) Statement of the research question The impacts of terrorism on global events (3d) Aims and objective The aim of the study is to examine the eff ects of terrorism on global events. Objectives i. To examine the effects of terrorism on the motivation of tourists attending global events ii. To examine the effects of terrorism on attendance at global events. They were not only carried out in the territory of a global superpower but also by foreigners, who had previously gained entry into a sovereign state. The attack demonstrated the vulnerability of all countries to terrorism and the need to enforce preventive measures became apparent (Baxter and Downing, 2001). Since the attacks, immigration and movement of people across international borders are highly controlled and consequently, the organization of major global events such as sports and musical events was affected. (4a)The significance of hosting global events Events such as sports and music are increasingly becoming an important segment of tourism market (Yuan and McDonald, 1990). According to Bramwell (1998), countries across the world strive to organize global events in order to increase visitations in their countries, mitigate the seasonality of tourist visits and enhance the attractiveness of the destinations to tourism. In addition, organizing global event spurs development in the destination. The achievement of these goals depends on various factors but the numbers of people attending the events play a critical role (Sageman, 2004). Some of the major sports events that attract a high number of people globally include FIFA world cup, Olympic Games, UEFA champions league games, formula 1 racing among others. In addition, music and concerts featuring popular artists such as Live 8 attract numerous audiences across the globe. (4b) History of terror attacks on global events Due to the large number of people that global events attract, terrorists are increasingly targeting them (Toohey, et al 2003).

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Modernism and Postmodernism in Architecture

Modernism and Postmodernism in Architecture INTRODUCTION CONTEXT OF MODERNISM Modernism is a set of cultural or aesthetic styles which associates with the scientific and the artistic movement which started in the decade around the First World War and have dominated among several movement such as cubism, functionalism and surrealism. Sarup, M. (1993). However in architecture, modernism reacts to the dedication of addressing new buildings after the two World Wars such as mass housing of traditional forms and the potential for exploring new conditions of production such as new materials and technology. Le Corbusier and Mies van der Roche were the key influences of modern architecture; they took several cultures and tradition to formulate the notion of modern architecture. Curtis, W. J.R. (2001). Modernist have the idea that architecture should have a result as being functionalistic, positivistic, technocentric, and rationalistic with their building or urban planning. Harvey, D. (1990) page 35. In the World War II, Modernism became popular especially in the United State where it took on a new life by using different technologies such as steel frame and glass curtain walls for constructing skyscrapers and suburban office parks and shopping centers which were cost-effective. Ghirardo, D. (1996). CONTEXT OF POSTMODERNISM Postmodernism is very ambiguous to describe because it has certain elements that relates to modernism. The term originated within artists and critics in the United State in the 1960s and it was distributed in the European and other industrial nations in the 1970s. However postmodernism is an unstable concept of movement within an advance capitalist culture that argue the visual approaches in literary criticism of art, film, fashion and architecture within the political economic social conditions of the late 20th century. It also involves the new relationship between humankind and nature. Ghirardo, D. (1996). Postmodern notion of approaches to architecture derived from modernism ideology of architecture, and it even influences some postmodern architects, this is because of their knowledge from training and also their modern methods of constructions but they also add their new concept to their buildings. Jencks, C. (1988). There are three principles that Robert Sterns article portrays to describe the characteristics of postmodernism, the first characteristic is contextualism, this describes the individual building as always a fragment that represents its environment. The second is allusionism, which emphasise the building of its historical and cultural aspects, and the third is ornamentalism, and this suggests all the walls of the building to have an architectural meaning. (See the work of Robert Stern) Bertens, H. (1995) page 59. Postmodernism has also emerged the classical stage whereby it has influenced certain postmodern architects like Michael Graves, James Stirling, Norman Neuerburg and even Philip Johnsons ATT building (see figure 1). Jenks emphasise that the Free-Style Classicism determines some characteristics of postmodern architecture which started precisely from the 1980s. (See the work of Charles Jencks) Bertens, H. (1995) page 64. CRITICS OF POSTMODERNISM ON MODERNIST NOTION OF ARCHITECTURE David Harvey argues about if postmodernism, for example, represent a radical break with modernism, or is it simply a revolt within modernism against a form of high modernism. Harvey, D. (1990) page 42. This message is to question the architecture of the postmodern movement, Harvey then explains by emphasising that postmodernism has widely identify a break with the modernist conception that planning, designing and development should concentrate on the wide-scale, technologically rational and economically urban plan which should be strict on ideas of design with a functionalist perception of an international style. Harvey, D. (1990). The most influential critic on postmodernism and modernism is Charles Jenks, he portrayed architecture from a linguistic point of view as emphasises in his book The Language of Post-Modern Architecture. Jenks argues that postmodernism architecture is not a break of modernism but however its trying to overcome the ideology of its architecture not by dropping it but by extending the language to a different level into a vernacular and commercial but away from tradition. He listed all the old buildings as which had modern characteristics and named them as the ersatz, however he calls the new building as the social realism. Jencks, C. (1991) page 97. Furthermore he pinpoints the exact date for the death of modern architecture as he mention at 3:32 pm, July 15, 1972 when the Pruitt-Igoe housing project built in 1951 was demolished. Likewise Charles Jenks explores further the idea of the modernist idea within postmodernism architecture, he argues that postmodern architecture is double coded, this suggest that postmodernism is an eclectic mixture of traditional codes with modern ones this shows that modernism is always one of the codes that forms postmodernism so postmodern architecture has evolve from modernism but it must go beyond modern style. Therefore postmodernism is to break completely or drop modernist idea of architecture but has extended it into a different notion. Jenks explores Mies van de Roche who is a modern architect, he argues that the use of steel I- beams for buildings are nasty and brutal and has no purpose for its users or developers so therefore postmodernism has evolve to find solution of improving the upon modernism. Bertens, H. (1995). The indication that modernism architecture is rational and austere is because the restrictions and their influence on traditional forms and concepts which most postmodern architects see as passà ©, however when postmodern architect design they contravene to tradition also when they build their buildings they express it through a modern way by emphasising on a mixture of different styles. Likewise in the description of postmodern architecture Paolo Portoghesi who also criticise postmodernism argues that postmodern is any building that breaks modern constrains of historical styles with vernacular influences. Kolb, D. (1990) page 88. The restriction of modern architecture on historical influences is one of the main challenges of postmodernism. Jean-Francois Lyotard a postmodern critic explains that one characteristics of postmodernism is the transform nature understanding in scientific and computerised society, this has gave them advance knowledge and technology to overcoming and the rational and austere notion of modernism. Sarup, M. (1993). In favour of this, Joseph Fredrick who defended against the International Styles and his own idea of construction explains that modernism in architecture has various characters but its attack was on its style, which inevitably postmodernism has taking over. It is the austereness of modernisms traditional forms which postmodern took the advantage of scientific knowledge to break the historical influences and give freedom for architects to design their building. Larson, M, S. (1993). The division between modern and postmodern is that modern is restricted whereby postmodern has its freedom to design. Furthermore modernist notion of architecture as rational and austere to traditional restriction has not been negated by postmodern but it has interpreted and integrated modernist ideology. However Jencks argue that postmodernism has not become a break or dropped the idea of modernist architecture but it has evolve from modernism, and has notice the understanding of the development of its time so they change the direction and extended its characteristics to suit its era. Portoghesi, P. (1980). Therefore postmodernism is commonly known as the stylistic phenomenon. Ghirardo, D. (1996) page 8 Charles Jenks argues that postmodern buildings in general have made a positive impact in architecture, since the nineteenth century technological construction has made a vast improvement on buildings and has been overly-accurate as with the hand-crafted variety, this and other factors have become the main reason for its break from modernism. Likewise he argues that postmodernism has taking radically from the concept of how to knowledge building space where as modernist to see space as something to be shaped for social purposes, they interpret space as something independent, to be design according to creative aims but not to overreach its traditional influences. An example is Le Corbusiers Domino buildings (see figure 3) which started modernist development of space, however postmodernism reacted to this by looking for solutions to define place instead of abstract spaces and to establish the various ambiguity of spaces rather than the simple, predictable traditional building of moderni st architecture. Jenks, C. (1990). Le Corbusiers domino housing project There are certain features of modernism which have been developed by postmodernist architects, the spatial ideas such as layered and shallow simple spaces of Frank Lloyd Wright and Le Corbusier. Postmodernist have developed these aspects into a more new kind of ambiguous space with various complex elements. Jenks, C. (1988). Charles Jencks points out that postmodern architecture have two reasons into significant technological change; the first is the contemporary communications have broken the strong modernist interest of the rational and austere spaces based on function and of social interest. The second is the advance technologies for example computer modelling which has broken away from traditional restraints and permitted the flexibility of designing and constructing. Jenks, C. (1990). Postmodernism has not dropped modernist notion of architecture but it has taking certain elements of it such as space and even some traditional aspects of building and developed it into a more complex style. However it has set freedom from modernist conception that architecture should be austere and reasonable. The advances scientific technology has aided postmodernism to evolve from modernism. Jenks, C. (1988). Michael Graves as a postmodernism architect. Michael Graves was part of the late-modern movement before he left the abstract conception approach to the New York Five in 1977; this group consisted of Peter Eisenman, Richard Meier, Michael Graves, and Charles Gwathmey. They introduce an advance technique of designing with figural element, and this has influenced postmodern architects. Schulz, N. (1990) page 7-8. He then left to join other architects such as Venturi, Moore, and Stern who were involve with the prototype for postmodernism in America. Ghirardo, D. (1996). Graves has become one of most influential architects in postmodernism, his concept of fragments have become significant to postmodernist architects to design their building in a complex and ambiguous style which contradicts the notion of modernism. Graves has also adapted postmodern classicism in architecture such as the Portland Building and the Humana Building (see figure 4 and 5). Grave has taking the traditional forms and styles of classicism and extended into a postmodern approach by introducing classical skyscrapers. Jenks, C. (1988). THE PORTLAND PUBLIC SERVICES BUILDING The Portland building (see figure 4) was a very significant municipal building within its era, which was begun in 1980 in Portland Oregon, this project provoked modernist architects because it was one of the most inspirational building in postmodernism. Powell, K. (1995). The public building is located in the middle of the area whereby it had to have a quality of postmodern landmark, but however his way out was to bring back figural forms to the building to portray the public nature of the context and urban and the internal program. He used the classical style of organisation by dividing the building into three parts; which is the base, body and the top. Bibliography Bauman, Z., 2004. Identity conversation with Benedetto Vecchi. London: Polity Press. KING, D. A., 2004. Spaces of Global Cultures Architecture Urbanism Identity. New York: Routledge. POWELL, K., 1994. Lloyds Building Richard Rogers Partnership ARCHITECTURE IN DETAILS. London: Phaidon. POWELL, K., 1999. Richard Rogers Complete Works Volume One. London: Phaidon. POWELL, K., 2001. Richard Rogers Complete Works Volume Two. London: Phaidon. SIEBERT, H., 2007. The World Economy A global analysis. 3rd edition. New York: Routledge. SILVER, N., 1997. The Making of Beaubourg: A Building Biography of the Centre Pompidou, Paris. (s.n.): MIT Press. SIMAI, M., 1990. GLOBAL POWER STRUCTURE, TECHNOLOGY AND WORLD ECONOMY IN THE LATE TWENTIETH CENTURY. London: Pinter publishers Limited. STRELITZ, Z., ed., 2005. Tall buildings a strategic design guide. London: RIBA Publishing. VALE, J. L., 2008. Architecture, Power, and National Identity. 2nd edition. New York: Routledge. WOODS, N., ed., 2000. The Political Economy of Globalisation. New York: Palgrave (ANON) Royal exchange luxury shopping and dining.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Crude Oil Essay -- Papers

Crude Oil Crude oil is a complex mixture of hydrocarbon molecules formed over millions of years when the remains of microscopic sea creatures trapped in sediments were converted by heat and pressure into crude oil. The most abundant of these mixtures are the ones containing hydrogen and carbon only. These hydrocarbons can take on a number of different forms, i.e. alkanes, alkenes and alkynes. They vary in size and shape and viscosity. By manipulating these chains of hydrocarbons you can create any number of useful substances as they are very adaptable. However there are lots of compounds that also contain some of the following; oxygen, sulphur or nitrogen. The purer hydrocarbon compounds are the most required for these produce a higher temperature when they are burned which is the primary use for it as it generates an excess amount of energy when burned and therefore is a useful fuel. The other compounds with sulphur or nitrogen also have a high energy when burned but they have a negative side-effect as they make sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide when burned and these compounds contribute towards acid rain. Crude oil has to be refined by fractional distillation to separate the short productive hydrocarbon chains from the longer, less useful ones before the compounds can be put to good use. Fractional distillation is a technique that relies on the difference in boiling points of the chains of hydrocarbons to separate them. It is so specific that it can separate the substances from each other even when there is only a small amount of difference between the boiling points of the substances. The crude oil is heat... ...ne, which are used to manufacture chemicals. Or the residual from the distillation tower is heated 482Â °C, cooled with gas oil and rapidly burned in a distillation tower. This process reduces the viscosity of heavy weight oils and produces tar. The other method of cracking is called Catalytic Cracking and it uses a catalyst to speed up the cracking reaction. Catalysts include zeolite, aluminium hydrosilicate, and bauxite. The hydrocarbons (only from the oil fraction) are heated in the same way but the catalyst speeds up the reaction by lowering the boiling point of the substance and allowing high molecular mass alkanes to break into many low molecular mass alkanes and some alkenes. Because the bond breaking happens randomly, many different forms of the substances are made, i.e. cyclo or branched isomers.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Poland Unemployment Rate Essay

Current : Poland’s unemployment rate climbed to 13.4 percent in December, from 12.9 percent the previous month, due to an economic slowdown and a seasonal loss of many outdoor jobs. The Main Statistical Office said Thursday that some 2.14 million people in this nation of 38 million were without a job at the end of December. Unemployment usually rises in Poland in winter, when outdoor jobs are lost due to snow and low temperatures. Additionally, Europe’s economic jitters have affected Poland, where growth is expected to slow to about 1.5 percent this year, from an estimated 2.3 percent in 2012 and 4.3 percent in 2011. Some industries, such as car manufacturing, have been hit by massive layoffs and more jobs are to be lost this year. History: Unemployment is one of the most serious economic and social problems in Poland. The unemployment rate has been growing successively in the recent years: in 1998 it was 10.6 %, and in 2002 almost 20%. That unfavorable trend changed in 2003. The biggest drop of the unemployment rate took place, however, in 2006 when the unemployment rate fell below 15%, reaching 8.9% in September 2008. It was the effect of an economic boom which brought more work offers and the growth of the number of working persons. In January 2012 the unemployment rate amounted to 13.2%. In an analogous period of the previous year the unemployment rate amounted to 13.1%. The characteristic feature of unemployment in Poland is its regional diversification, for example, in the Wielkopolskie Voivodeship the unemployment rate in January 2012 was 9.8%, and in the WarmiÅ„sko-Mazurskie Voivodeship – 21.1%. Problems with finding a job are experienced by young people, women and the long-term (over a year) unemployed. Public Employment Services (the network of voivodeship and poviat labour offices) are there to help and give advice to the unemployed and persons who look for a job in order to get an appropriate employment and to employers to find appropriate employees. Therefore, employment services provide a range of services, including: job agency, professional agency or help in active job seeking. Labour offices also carry out various programmes which support local or regional labour markets, register the unemployed and persons looking for a job, pay unemployment benefits, organise trainings in order to give the unemployed greater chances to find a job. The unemployed can take part in various activities which facilitate their professional activation, inter alia, intervention works, traineeship, on-the-job training, training loans, trainings or support for business activity. As of 1 May 2004 Polish Public Employment Services became the member of the European Employment Services – EURES. Labour offices carry out activities for EURES, especially, international employment agency along with advisory in the field of earning mobility on the European labour market. Having a little knowledge about unemployment, especially in the country that we are going to work, is useful for each of us. Sooner or later, we will have to think about it while looking for a job or changing it. When unemployment is low we have more chances to catch a good job, when not it is success when we catch any. Unemployment is one of the most important economic and social problem in Poland because in recent years, the unemployment rate has been steadily rising. During communism the official unemployment level was less than 1%, but some economists estimated that the hidden unemployment in state-ruled companies was about 50%. That mean that typically two people were doing a job which could be done by one person. Because of political and economic transformation (from a centrally planned economic model, to a free market system) after 1989 unemployment start to rising rapidly. In 1990 it was 6.1% and in 2002 already 20% (the highest unemployment rate historically). This unfavourable trend was reversed in 2004. The largest drop in unemployment, however, has been taking place since 2006, when the unemployment rate declined below 15%, reaching 9,5% in 2008 ( the lowest unemployment rate). This was due to the economic upward trend which produced more job offers and more active people. Because of financial crisis, in 2009, the unemployment rate increased to nearly 12% and to 12,8 in 2010. According to the newest statistics Poland’s registered unemployment rate rose to 13.2 percent in February from 13 percent the previous month. Unfortunately, is also higher than year ago. Labour Minister Jolanta Fedak thinks that the numbers are not too disturbing, however. She said that „The rise in unemployment is seasonal. It’s difficult to judge now [if the trend will remain]. We need to wait until the spring to find out,† She also predict lower unemployment rate at the end of this year but everything will depend on Poland’s economic growth in 2011. As you can see in the chart seasonal unemployment is characteristic feature in polish unemployment. It is connected with fluctuations of the weather and seasons. For example, in winter there is a high unemployment especially in tourist industry, building industry or agriculture. Unemployment in Poland is characterised by: Geographical differentiation: A strong differentiation is observed in the unemployment rates for various parts of Poland, with the highest unemployment rate for a single region standing at more than twice the figure of the lowest. e.g. in the WarmiÅ„sko – Mazurskie voivodeship the unemployment rate in February 2011 was 21, 5 while in the voivodeship Mazowieckie – 10%. The highest unemployment rates are primarily seen in regions dominated by the agriculture, mining and manufacturing industries. Unemployment rate by voivodships (at the end of February 2011). Selectivity: Polish unemployment is, first of all, is a problem of young people (below 35 years of age). According to Eurostat data 24,9% among unemployed people are young. It is because young people have often no experience on the job market, their qualifications are incompatible with employers demandings and they are not flexible enough. Difficulties with finding a job are also experienced by women and people over 50 years. People of this last group spent at least half of their life under the communist system so they are not well adjusted to the capitalist system. They are unwilling or they do not have a chance to re-educate and move from their home to the areas where more jobs are available. Unemployment among young people in Europe Period of unemployment: unemployment in Poland tends to be of a structural or long-term nature. As we can see in the chart there are 34% of unemployed who cannot find a job above 12 months. This in turn has an impact on the health and well being of large segments of society. The forecasts predict that joblessness in Poland will stand at 9.9 per cent by the end of 2011, before steadily declining to 8.6 per cent by the end of 2012 and to 7,3 at the end of 2013.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

SWOT Analysis of Tesco in UK

Tesco’s reputation for low cost products, can gain fair-trade cotton clothing substantial market share in the UK. Tesco’s growth in the insurance sector provides financial strength to Tesco in UK. Another important factor is the increasing growth of online sales and fair-trade cotton clothing could be included in these sales. The Brand recognition of Tesco in UK is an important strength and will help fair-trade cotton clothing. Weaknesses: The weaknesses of Tesco are that it is still largely dependent on UK for its sales. it is doubtful if it will support fair-trade cotton clothing objectives. The business model that Tesco is using is suitable for UK and not for the rest of the world. Even though Tesco sales are growing from low priced items there is fall in sale of non-essential and high priced products. If fair-trade cotton clothing are perceived as non-essential, its sales objectives will not be achieved. Tesco has suffered from bad debt, credit card arrears and household insurance claims. This is financially debilitating. Opportunities: Tesco can exercise a high degree of buying power to ensure that it has economies of scale in its fair-trade cotton clothing line. The growth opportunities n Europe and Asia provides excellent opportunities for growth. Most importantly, the growth of online sales shows excellent opportunity for increasing the sales of Tesco. Threats: Increasing fair-trade cotton clothing prices can lead to lower sales and lower profits for Tesco. Change in consumer buying patterns n the UK because of change in technology can lead to loss of customers in UK. SWOT Analysis of Tesco in Germany: Strengths; The Tesco brand recognition gives it a good start for fair-trade cotton clothing in Germany. The Germans are known to avoid uncertainness, ambiguity and unquantifiable risk. In case of Tesco they are buying from a well recognized brand. The brand value of Tesco will work very well in Germany. Further, the global market place recognition of â€Å"Retailer of the Year 2008† provides substantiation to the German customer about fair-trade cotton clothing. Weaknesses: German financial industry is very circumspect and will consider the debt of Tesco in the UK before it gives finance for store expansion for fair-trade cotton clothing in Germany. The reputation of Tesco for acquiring competing store chains may also be held against the company in Germany. Acquisition is a risky move, and Germans are averse to risk. Opportunities: Fair-trade cotton clothing in Germany has good opportunity because it has the endorsement of Tesco brand; it has the marketing channels of Tesco, and the backing of an excellent product mix. If fair-trade cotton clothing offers a good product for money it will get a good reception in Germany. Threats: The low priced fair-trade cotton clothing could lead to price wars. In addition, there can be low profitability because of competitive moves for Tesco. Finally, international competitors like Wal-Mart could add a cotton line in Germany to compete with Tesco.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Free Essays on Professional Counseling

Professional Orientation to Counseling According to Vacc and Loesch there is no quick and easy way to define or explain the term ‘counseling’, rather they consider the activity of mental health counseling complex, consisting of a number of assumptions. Counselors require a myriad of ‘helping skills’ from what are referred to as intentional and unintentional helping skills. Counselors can use and draw upon helping skills and therapeutic constructs to strengthen and refine their counseling skills. In chapter 4, Helping Skills are elaborated on and described to assist the new counselor. Skills of this nature are useful in all forms of counseling; I found chapter seven, Working with Groups to be interesting and could easily understand how a counselor using ‘helping skills’ could quite effectively facilitate group sessions. Chapter 9, focused on Assessment and Appraisal – again another very interesting topic. Understanding the need for assessments is critical for the new counselor. Assessments are not meant to be used alone, but in conjunction with other counseling methods, which can assist the counselor to understand the needs of the client while being able to choose appropriate counseling techniques. Research in professional counseling was not something I expected to come across at great length, but according to Vacc and Loesch, it is extremely important for counselors. Heppner, Kivlighan, and Wampold (1998) stated that as professionals we have a responsibility to not only promote wellness with our clients, but to stay abreast of human nature and the field of counseling. Traditional research methodology is not necessarily the preferred method of research for professional counselors. It seems that the ‘single-subject’ design is more beneficial in measuring and demonstrating the effectiveness of counseling. The elements of single-subject research are based on measuring change, connecting the change to a charac... Free Essays on Professional Counseling Free Essays on Professional Counseling Professional Orientation to Counseling According to Vacc and Loesch there is no quick and easy way to define or explain the term ‘counseling’, rather they consider the activity of mental health counseling complex, consisting of a number of assumptions. Counselors require a myriad of ‘helping skills’ from what are referred to as intentional and unintentional helping skills. Counselors can use and draw upon helping skills and therapeutic constructs to strengthen and refine their counseling skills. In chapter 4, Helping Skills are elaborated on and described to assist the new counselor. Skills of this nature are useful in all forms of counseling; I found chapter seven, Working with Groups to be interesting and could easily understand how a counselor using ‘helping skills’ could quite effectively facilitate group sessions. Chapter 9, focused on Assessment and Appraisal – again another very interesting topic. Understanding the need for assessments is critical for the new counselor. Assessments are not meant to be used alone, but in conjunction with other counseling methods, which can assist the counselor to understand the needs of the client while being able to choose appropriate counseling techniques. Research in professional counseling was not something I expected to come across at great length, but according to Vacc and Loesch, it is extremely important for counselors. Heppner, Kivlighan, and Wampold (1998) stated that as professionals we have a responsibility to not only promote wellness with our clients, but to stay abreast of human nature and the field of counseling. Traditional research methodology is not necessarily the preferred method of research for professional counselors. It seems that the ‘single-subject’ design is more beneficial in measuring and demonstrating the effectiveness of counseling. The elements of single-subject research are based on measuring change, connecting the change to a charac...

Monday, October 21, 2019

Causes of The Great Depression †History Research Outline (200 Level Course)

Causes of The Great Depression – History Research Outline (200 Level Course) Free Online Research Papers Causes of The Great Depression History Research Outline (200 Level Course) 1) The world- wide economic disorder following world war I a) WWI had caused vast destruction of property, loss of millions of lives, disruption of trade b) Thus U.S. Depression was part of a world-wide depression 2) High Tariff policies of Twenties Republican Presidents a) Protected US industries from foreign competition, but hurt the economies of nations trying to recover from WWI b) These countries struck by passing high tariffs of there own, thus cutting down on demand for U.S. goods overseas. 3) Lack Of Prosperity among certain groups in the economy a) Not all Americans were sharing in the prosperity of 1922-29 i) African Americans, Mexican Americans, Native Americans not sharing in the prosperity b) Many Factory workers not doing well economically i) Some lost jobs to new machinery ii) Conservative government hostile to labor unions, unions generally ineffective during 1920s iii) Some industries (e.g. coal, textiles, leather) never recovered from post-war depression of early 1920s c) Farmers i) Demand for farm products was falling while farm production was rising, result, falling farm prices, less income for farmers ii) At same time, farmers were going into debt (1) High costs of new farm equipment (2) Mortgage payments for their farms iii) By the time of the Crash of 1929, U.S. agriculture already in a depression 4) Unequal distribution of income a) Wealth was concentrated hand of a relatively few wealthy people; tax cuts favored the wealthy b) Farmers workers in bad shape economically; worked longer hours for not much higher income c) If farmers had received fair prices and if workers had had decent wages, they would have been able to buy businesses’ surplus products. This could have kept businesses from failing and from having to lay off workers 5) Overproduction by industry during 1920s a) Businesses produced more goods than they could sell at a profit; they had surplus inventories b) Thus when Depression began, businesses already had more goods on hand than they could sell. As noted above, they then had to lay off millions of workers. 6) Excessive borrowing of money during 1920s due to easy credit a) People borrowed huge amounts of money to buy goods and services, installment buying was prevalent; buy now pay later b) Business borrowed too much. 7) The Stock Market Crash of 1929 a) Overspeculation in stocks caused stock prices to rise higher and higher during 1927-1929 b) Then in late October 1929 investors panicked and began to sell stock in huge quantities, thus causing stock prices to fall sharply. The value of stocks fell so fast that banks, businesses and private investors lost fortunes; by mid-November 1929, stockholders had lost $30 billion. c) Causes of the Stock Market Crash i) Overspeculation drove stock prices to ridiculously high levels; stock were overvalued ii) Fraudulent stocks: many stocks were sold by companies that existed in name only. iii) Due to lassiez faire, the stock market was largely unregulated by the government iv) Buying stocks on the margin: (1) many people had only paid part of the price of the stocks they were bu8ing, promising to pay the rest later (2) When the market crashed and the value of their stock fell, stockholders still had to pay back the balance of what they owed o the stocks they had purchased. d) Stockholders panicked, and millions tried to sell their stocks at once, this drove prices down even further e) Results of the Stock Market Crash of 1929 i) Businesses lost fortunes, many went bankrupt; businesses laid off millions of workers f) Banks lost fortunes and many failed; many banks could not repay the money businesses and savers had deposited in the bank g) Millions of workers lost their jobs savings, home, etc., and were reduced to a life of poverty and unemployment i) by 1930, 6-7 million unemployed ii) by end of 1933, 12.5 million unemployed Research Papers on Causes of The Great Depression - History Research Outline (200 Level Course)Twilight of the UAWDefinition of Export QuotasThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationAppeasement Policy Towards the Outbreak of World War 2Never Been Kicked Out of a Place This NicePETSTEL analysis of India19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraGenetic EngineeringRiordan Manufacturing Production PlanMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever Product

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Present Perfect Tense in Spanish

Present Perfect Tense in Spanish Despite its name, the present perfect tense in Spanish (and English as well) is used to refer to events that happened in the past. Its use in Spanish can be tricky, however, because its usage varies with region and it sometimes is used in slightly different ways than it is in English. In Spanish, the present perfect tense is formed by the present tense of haber followed by the past participle. (In English its the present tense of to have followed by the past participle.) It generally indicates that an action has been completed that has some bearing on the present. Forms of Present Perfect Tense Here are the forms in which the present perfect would be stated. Pronouns are included here for clarity but often arent necessary: yo he past participle (I have ...)tà º has past participle (you have ...)usted/à ©l/ella ha past participle (you have, he/she has ...)nosotros/nosotras hemos past participle (we have ...)vosotros/vosotras habà ©is past participle (you have ...)ustedes/ellos/ellas han past participle (you have, they have ...) Note that while in English, as in some of the examples above, it is possible to separate the have from the past participle, in Spanish you normally dont separate  haber  from participles. However, if haber applies to two participles, the second haber can be omitted, as in the second sample sentence below. Sample Sentences Here are some examples of sentences using the present perfect tense along with the way theyd most commonly be translated: Me he comprado una esponja rosa. (I have bought a pink sponge.) ¡Es lo mejor que he visto y escuchado en mi vida! (Its the best thing I have seen and heard in my life!) ¿Alguna vez has hablado con las ranas a medianoche? (Have you talked with the frogs at midnight?)Todos lo hemos pensado. (All of us have thought it.)Minerva ha conocido ya a los padres de su novio. (Minerva has already met her boyfriends parents.)Siempre he anhelado tener un metabolismo con el cual pueda comer lo que quiera. (I have always wanted to have a metabolism that would let me eat whatever I want.)Hay videojuegos que han hecho historia. (There are video games that have made history.)He leà ­do y acepto la polà ­tica de privacidad. (I have read and I accept the privacy policy.) Subjunctive Use The subjunctive present perfect functions in much the same way: Mi amiga niega que su madre haya comprado un regalo para el perro. (My friend denies that her mother has bought a gift for the dog.)Titular: 14 piscinas que no se parecen a nada que hayas visto antes. (Headline: 14 swimming pools that dont seem like anything you have seen before.)Es probable que hayan escondido micrà ³fonos en la casa y està ©n escuchando nuestras conversaciones. (It is likely that they have hidden microphones in the house and are listening to our conversations.)El la eleccià ³n ms sucia que hayamos conocido en los à ºltimos tiempos. (It is the dirtiest election that we have known in recent times.) Present Perfect With Meaning of the Preterite You should be aware, however, that the Spanish present perfect tense should not always be thought of as the equivalent of the English present perfect tense. In many regions, it can be used as the equivalent of the English simple past tense. Sometimes the context will make this clear: Ha llegado hace un rato. (She arrived a little bit ago.)Cuando lo he visto no he podido creerlo. (When I saw it I couldnt believe it.)Leo la carta que me han escrito esta maà ±ana. (I am reading the letter they wrote to me this morning.)Esta maà ±ana he estado en Madrid. (This morning I was in Madrid.) But even where the context doesnt dictate so, the present perfect can be the equivalent of the English preterite, also known as the simple past. This is especially true for events that occurred very recently. Youre also more likely to hear the present perfect used in this way in Spain than in most of Latin America, where the preterite may be preferred (e.g., llegà ³ hace un rato). Key Takeaways The present perfect tense is formed by following the present tense of haber with a past participle.No words should intervene between haber and the participle.The Spanish present perfect sometimes is used to indicate than an action recently took place rather than merely that it has occurred.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Hello Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Hello - Essay Example This necessitated that I study the management information systems (MIS). I realized this early enough and had the opportunity to change over from finance. MIS is concerned with processing data into information. I have seen how MIS enables quick and reliable referencing apart from efficient and effective coordination. I have been witnessing this while at the college administration and the library services. As far as our family business of real estate is concerned, technology such as customer relationship management (CRM) can help to enhance relations with customers and increase customer value over time. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is one used by many service organizations as it helps to develop and maintain relations with the customers. Browsing through the dailies I also understand that economic downturn and market globalization have posed a challenge to the real estate market. These challenges range from revenue-generation to cost-cutting measures. I know SAP (Systems, Applications and Products) is one such technology which integrates application for managing all types of real estate. SAP is particularly interesting to me because in Saudi Arabia real estate market and constructional development is undergoing phenomenal growth. Incorporating modern technology in the family business would add value as communication and modern technology have become fundamental for any business. I would like to employ technology to integrate green solutions in real estate projects. Green buildings have profound impact on productivity. The consequences of such projects can bring about reduction in costs while enhancing employee efficiency. It keeps the employees motivated which in turn positively impacts productivity. I am aware of the challenges that lie ahead of me in accomplishing my task. The use of technology such as SAP and CRM are fairly new to my home country. I would first need to educate the people in my

Friday, October 18, 2019

Aegisplc Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Aegisplc - Essay Example The common stocks of the company are traded in the London Stock Exchange under the symbol CEY and it is also traded in the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol CET. The value of CEY common stocks as of February 22, 2013 is $54 (Yahoo, 2013). The company has offices in London, Egypt, and Australia. The majority of the firm’s employees are located in Egypt. The total revenue of Centamin Plc in fiscal year 2011 was $340.4 million (Annual Report: Centamin, 2011). The firm’s revenues increase by 183% in comparison with the previous year. In 2011 the net income of Centamin Plc was $177.79 million. The profitability of the company is outstanding. The firm’s gross profit in 2011 58.8%, while its net margin was 52.27%. The net margin is a measure of the absolute profitability of a company. The firm’s earnings per share (EPS) in 2011 was $16.68. EPS is a financial metric that tends to have an effect on the market price per share (Garrison & Noreen, 2003). A high EPS ratio is a desirable outcome. The total assets and total equity of the company as of December 31, 2011 were $834.52 million and $806.22 million respectively. The return on assets of the company in 2011 was 21.33%, while its return on equity metric was 22.08%. Both financial metrics are outstanding illustrating that the company is generating good revenues in rel ation to both its assets and equity. The current ratio of the company is 10.34. Current ratio is a solvency ratio that measures the ability of a company to pay off its current obligations. The formula to calculate current ratio is current assets divided by current liabilities. The company’s current ratio is outstanding considering the fact that a current ratio is good if is above the 1.0 threshold. Another solvency ratio is working capital. Working capital shows the ability of a company to pay its current liabilities solely with its current assets. The working capital of the firm in 2011 was

Agriculture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Agriculture - Essay Example I also ate kales, carrots and potatoes for lunch. Supper comprised of rice and beef. On the second day, I ate oat porridge and eggs for breakfast, chicken and soybeans for lunch. Supper included potatoes, pumpkin and beef. For both days, I ate bananas, grapes and apples and drank orange juice in between meals. The source of the foods included groceries and stores. Kales, carrots, potatoes, apples and oranges were purchased from groceries while bread, chicken, rice, soybeans, oats and, beef, milk, pumpkin and eggs were purchased from stores. My experience with the assignment is that I got the opportunity to know the various kinds of foods that are grown and processed in the United States. The assignment also gave me a deeper understanding of natural foods and processed food. I further got to discover that there are many foods on the market that have additives and which pose a threat to people’s health. In general, my experience was explorative. In terms of shopping, I managed to shop differently. I was keen on checking the state of the food and the ingredients that had been used in processing. I read more labels with the aim of comparing the ingredients in similar foods from different processing companies. I was also keen on establishing the kind of additives that had been used for instance for preservation and flavoring purposes. At the sores, I asked more questions. For example, I asked about how the foods were transported from their source to the groceries and stores. I also asked what the storekeepers and gro cery owners did to ensure food remained fresh and in good shape. I further inquired whether other consumers were concerned about where the food they purchased came from. During the process, I managed to change my definition of ‘local’ to include additives. The new definition, therefore, became foods that are grown within the Unites States of America and which contain additives that are locally manufactured.

Islamic finance PowerPoint Presentation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Islamic finance - PowerPoint Presentation Example Instead Islam asks for an equitable distribution of wealth so that all members of society can prosper together. Concentration of wealth in a few hands is not desirable. Islam strikes a balance between conventional socialism and capitalism. One allows only for private ownership, while the other negates it outright. It is the Islamic way that has sought a path between the two extremes for the betterment of man. Unlike conventional systems, Islam recognizes only 3 factors of production which include capital, land and labor. The returns generated from the combination of these three are distributed accordingly. Capital gains return in the form of profits, land in the form of rent and labor in the form of wages. Islamic Contracts Islamic contracts govern the business conventions on how trade transactions must be entered into. First of all, the trade must be permissible in the light of Shariah. It cannot contain any element of Riba’, Gharar, Mysur, Haram etc. Secondly, there are many conditions which must be fulfilled in order for a contract to be rendered valid. They include: A condition which is not against the contract is a valid condition A condition which seems to be against the contract, but is normal market practice, is no void unless proved in the light of Shariah. A condition which seems to be against the contract and not market practice but favors any one participant is void. A condition which is against the contract, not market practice, and doesn’t favor anyone is a void condition. Sales in Islamic Finance The concept of sales in Islam is the exchange of a thing of value with another thing of value. However, it is very strict on the core principles of sales. In the contract, there must be offer and acceptance for the contract to be executed. Furthermore, the individuals must be sane and of proper age to enter into agreements such as this one. The commodity/asset under consideration must exist. It must also have some intrinsic value to as to c ater to the sale. Furthermore, it should be capable of showing ownership. For example, no one can point to the moon and claim that they own it. It exists, and must have some value. But since it cannot be owned, it cannot be transacted. Furthermore, the asset must be deliverable to the buyer, the quantity and quality must be aforementioned. The price of the trade must be addressed at the start so as to avoid any misunderstandings between the parties. Lastly, either physical or constructive possession of the asset must be taken in order to render the sale complete. Modes of Islamic Finance The modes of Islamic Finance, while seemingly like their conventional counterparts, are free from all the Haram (unlawful) ways which have been prohibited in Islam. Following are the types of Islamic Financing: 1. Musharakah In a Musharakah agreement, two parties come together to form an alliance for commercial enterprise and share the profits according to a set ratio. This is decided at the time of entering into the alliance. However, if a loss occurs then the parties distribute that according to the rate of participation of initial investment from each individual. There are two explicit types of Musharakah. In the first type, the partnership arises out of a joint ownership of an asset. For example, two brothers inherit their father’s sugarcane factory. Hence they become partners through the joint ownership which exists. The second kind is via contracts. In this case, the two individuals enter into an

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Development of new products and services in hotels Essay

Development of new products and services in hotels - Essay Example Techniques of research are often based on epistemologies, which differ considerably across disciplines; there are numerous forms of research (Assante, Mulaj, & Steed, 2011; Bansal, & Corley, 2012). A methodology generally involves a framework upon which the search for solutions to a problem is based (Bansal, & Corley, 2012). Methodologies encompass specific components like the stages of research, operations, techniques, and the tools used (Hassanien, & Eid, 2006). A methodology includes several approaches, with each being implemented in different aspects as the project rolls out (Bourgeault, 2012). The research is often divided into two categories: quantitative research and qualitative research (Mason, Augustyn, & Seakhoa-King, 2010). The following sections of the paper examine the research methodologies used by Hassanien and Eid (2006); and Hossain, Kumar and Kumar (2010) to investigate the significance new product development in hospitality industries found in the West and North Af rica. II. Overview of the Chosen research articles (a) Article # 1 Hassanien and Eid (2006) examined the outcomes of studies and empirical research related with the involvement of key stakeholders and skills of hotels’ staff in ensuring that new product development (NPD) processes are successful during implementation. The research offers a deeper exploration of the creative behaviours and operations that can yield positive outcomes when introducing new services within a modern hotel facility in the northern African region. The outcomes of the research are of immense benefit to not only the key stakeholders in the Egypt’s hospitality industry, but enables scholars who are specialized in the hospitality management as well. The researchers arrived at the results by undertaking a survey targeted at marketing executives in various categories of the local hotels (Hassanien, & Eid, 2006). The outcomes reflected significant variations between the hotels depending on their capa cities and size. More specifically, the researchers established that 5-star hotel facilities show a better understanding and implementation of NPD than the smaller facilities in the 4-star or 3-star categories. The latter two categories of hotels have shown a lower predilection to incorporate NPD processes into their corporate culture, especially in marketing campaigns. And by touching on the benefits and pitfalls that hotel management teams are likely to experience, the researchers are spot-on regarding the right implementation process of NPDs in the various categories of hotels. (b) Article # 2 The research by Hossain, Kumar and Kumar (2010) explore the impact of new service developments (NSD) practices in hotels. The authors provide an assessment of the prevailing NSD models by carrying out researches that can be used as pointers to the innovativeness of hotel facilities in two key Western hospitality industries; the United States and Canada. The researchers identified innovative services, and evaluated them with keen eyes in order to evaluate their effectiveness. The research findings revealed stark variations in the various innovation

One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) - Research Paper Example   To survive in this competitive world; universalization of education or at least elementary education is very important. Keeping this fact in mind most countries regard the Right to Education as a Fundamental Right. A laptop teaches beyond instructions. It will deliver a whole new world to these children. They would actively engage in learning through doing, sharing knowledge, and this will bring out the best practices in them. A point worth noticing is that if each child gets an access to the computer or a laptop, phenomenal amount of potential can be trapped which may solve a number of problems without much efforts. According to laptop.org In 2002 MIT professor, Nicholas Negroponte experienced first hand how connected laptops transformed the lives of children and their families in a remote Cambodian village. The laptop also called the XO laptop is a small and compact machine serving a huge cause. Size of a textbook, this machine is designed with a unique screen that can withstan d hot and humid conditions. It is easily readable under direct sunlight. It is a boon for children studying outdoors. It has an inbuilt wireless and also provides local language support. The XO laptop has been supplied to a number of countries like Ethiopia, Haiti, Afghanistan, Australia, Cambodia, Mongolia, Rwanda etc. Almost all schools, where XO laptop is supplied have reported an increase in the attendance as the children engage in exploring their own potential to emerge with an incredible power to transform the world.

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Development of new products and services in hotels Essay

Development of new products and services in hotels - Essay Example Techniques of research are often based on epistemologies, which differ considerably across disciplines; there are numerous forms of research (Assante, Mulaj, & Steed, 2011; Bansal, & Corley, 2012). A methodology generally involves a framework upon which the search for solutions to a problem is based (Bansal, & Corley, 2012). Methodologies encompass specific components like the stages of research, operations, techniques, and the tools used (Hassanien, & Eid, 2006). A methodology includes several approaches, with each being implemented in different aspects as the project rolls out (Bourgeault, 2012). The research is often divided into two categories: quantitative research and qualitative research (Mason, Augustyn, & Seakhoa-King, 2010). The following sections of the paper examine the research methodologies used by Hassanien and Eid (2006); and Hossain, Kumar and Kumar (2010) to investigate the significance new product development in hospitality industries found in the West and North Af rica. II. Overview of the Chosen research articles (a) Article # 1 Hassanien and Eid (2006) examined the outcomes of studies and empirical research related with the involvement of key stakeholders and skills of hotels’ staff in ensuring that new product development (NPD) processes are successful during implementation. The research offers a deeper exploration of the creative behaviours and operations that can yield positive outcomes when introducing new services within a modern hotel facility in the northern African region. The outcomes of the research are of immense benefit to not only the key stakeholders in the Egypt’s hospitality industry, but enables scholars who are specialized in the hospitality management as well. The researchers arrived at the results by undertaking a survey targeted at marketing executives in various categories of the local hotels (Hassanien, & Eid, 2006). The outcomes reflected significant variations between the hotels depending on their capa cities and size. More specifically, the researchers established that 5-star hotel facilities show a better understanding and implementation of NPD than the smaller facilities in the 4-star or 3-star categories. The latter two categories of hotels have shown a lower predilection to incorporate NPD processes into their corporate culture, especially in marketing campaigns. And by touching on the benefits and pitfalls that hotel management teams are likely to experience, the researchers are spot-on regarding the right implementation process of NPDs in the various categories of hotels. (b) Article # 2 The research by Hossain, Kumar and Kumar (2010) explore the impact of new service developments (NSD) practices in hotels. The authors provide an assessment of the prevailing NSD models by carrying out researches that can be used as pointers to the innovativeness of hotel facilities in two key Western hospitality industries; the United States and Canada. The researchers identified innovative services, and evaluated them with keen eyes in order to evaluate their effectiveness. The research findings revealed stark variations in the various innovation

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

History (Fifteen Year War in Asia) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

History (Fifteen Year War in Asia) - Essay Example This essay will address the responses of African Americans and Japanese Americans before and during the World War II. Many influential African descendants began admiring Japan after Japan’s defeat of Russia. W.E.B. Du Bois, Booker T. Washington, Marcus Garvey and Harry Dean all wrote and spoke about their high regard for the Japanese. These men considered Japanese to be a people of color. For a people of color to vanquish a country ruled by a white monarchy gave African Americans hope. If Japan could triumph over Russia, why could Japan not defeat America? Marcus Garvey believed the wind of change had started blowing. His organization the Universal Negro Improvement Association began supporting pro-Japanese causes in American and Britain. The African descendents and African Americans did not only admire the Japanese for their victory in the Russo-Japan war. The Japanese were admired for their acceptance of people of color. Many Japanese speakers in America at that time brought an African American wife or mistress to address the African Americans. In a time of Jim Crow laws to have a Japanese man affiliate himself with African Americans proved that Japan could provide a more racially equal environment than America. The thought of a society with little or no racial tension appealed to African Americans. To boost the pro-Japanese stance, Elijah Muhammad, a Nation of Islam leader, Marcus Garvey and Harry Dean, Paul Cuffe’s grandson, put forth the theory that Africans and Japanese were related by blood. A theory was put forth that Africans and Japanese were related by blood. Harry Dean, a sailor by profession, brought a tale back from Africa. This tale, the Teo Saga, claimed a chief, more Japanese than Africa, told how South Africa, Madagascar, Sumatra, Java, Korea and Japan once were connected by land. After the great flood these places were separated by water. Elijah Muhammad pointed out the

Monday, October 14, 2019

Urban Regeneration Environment

Urban Regeneration Environment TO WHAT EXTENT HAS CULTURE-LED REGENERATION AFFECTED THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT Abstract To what extent has Culture-Led Regeneration affected the built environment within the UK? Use examples to put this into a wider context. Since the 1940s the phrase ‘Urban Regeneration has been increasingly used in conjunction with the action of redeveloping land which had, in years prior, been areas of moderate to high density urban land use. The study of this process and the way in which it came about has also increased as the successes of Urban Regeneration throughout the United Kingdom and indeed internationally, continue to prove economically, socially and politically advantageous to any number of parties involved in the development of gentrification over the last 70 years. In addition to looking at how regeneration has affected the built environment, the idea that it has been ‘culture-led poses further aspects and issues but however, less scrutiny has been given to the idea of regeneration being ‘culture-led, this is a continuously growing area which deserves more analysis due to the economic success it has given investors and key stakeholders. It has also worked towards preserving some of Britains architectural heritage for the future, giving certain areas that would otherwise have been in a state of disrepair a new lease of life and additional social benefits. By paying attention to the way in which regeneration has developed during the 20th century to becoming culture-led it will be possible to give an in-depth view of the effects on the existing urban fabric of the United Kingdom, particularly over the last 25 years. There are a number of ways in which cultural regeneration takes place, from local governments wanting to increase investment in the area to them gaining status through cultural events such as the Olympic and Commonwealth games, the World Cup to the European Capital of Culture and prominent buildings such as Stadiums and tourist attractions. All of which will be discussed and then highlighted through case studies including the Albert Docks in Liverpool, the Capital of Culture for 2008 and Salford Quays, Manchester which was involved in the Commonwealth Games 2002. On a wider scale, regeneration has played an important role in the history and demographics of cities around the world including Beijing and Melbourne, commonly cited UK examples include Salford Quays in Manchester and Albert Docks in Liverpool; other UK examples include, Canary Wharf in London and Cardiff in Wales. For the purposes of this study, UK examples will be used to directly answer the question posed, which will then be put in to context through briefly analysing the city of Bilbao and Barcelona in, Spain. Regeneration or gentrification can be a contentious topic due to the variety of complex issues surrounding this topic. This often includes, premium prices charged for the new developments. To the nature of change and impact on the local communities that may have fallen in to decline. The existing infrastructure and community that is impacted on by the process of regeneration can take time to evolve and ultimately impact upon the initiatives proposed, as well as the effects on the local community, the power of which should not be underestimated. In order to balance the argument for regeneration it will be necessary to substantiate these different viewpoints and provide a fair consideration from all stakeholders who would be involved and affected by developments. The impact on the environment caused by regeneration can vary depending on the amount of refurbishing and the variety of materials used in the regeneration programme. The extent to which these are recycled and reused to reduce the amount of waste and energy varies with each development. This field of expertise is large and far-reaching and will be discussed briefly in chapter 4 using case studies to highlight the various aspects. The study will also address physical as well as the environmental impacts of regeneration with past and current projects aiming to improve urban areas, with the aid of culture to deliver change. The environment aspect in particular is becoming increasingly important as the countrys social conscience continues to increase into the future. The paper will then draw together conclusions using arguments both in favour of and also against urban regeneration. It will also draw on why cultural regeneration is initiated and why these areas are finding the effects of cultural regeneration successful. The paper will also touch on areas that may have failed or where areas are finding the task of regenerating the physical but also the social and political aspects challenging. It will also be possible to discuss and argue the extent to which culture-led regeneration has moved away from the initial aims of improving an areas social and economic problems to also encompass the physical and environmental aspects of improving an area. This multi-faceted approach has continued to provide many obstacles for experts within the area but these are challenges that, if overcome, will ensure the longevity and economic well being of the project in question for a long time to come. The degree to which urban regeneration has affected the built environment in the UK is likely to be extensive due to well known case studies and examples, as well as visual evidence being clear in day to day life and also being reported in the media, however extracting the elements of gentrification to date and stating to what level they have been purely culture-led will prove more complicated due to difficulties in finding material that points to an area of culture as being the sole catalyst for the regeneration to begin. The essay proposes to demonstrate why cultural regeneration is successful Chapter 1 History History of regeneration Industrial revolution Early 20th century (1940s) Last 25 years (definition culture led detail) Castleford, Canary Wharf QUOTE The United Kingdom has a long history that has become synonymous with the manufacturing industry, dating back to the British Empire when the UK imported and exported many products from countries around the world. During the earliest phase of the Industrial Revolution the Bridgewater Canal was built in 1761, this halved the price of coal in Manchester due to decreased transport costs and ease of access. This triggered a period of canal building activity between 1760 and 1850, the canals provided the infrastructure by which trade could occur more easily and cheaply and it is along these waterways that many cities were developed, including Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Birmingham and London. Many industrial facilities were strategically located close to rivers, canals and estuaries, most notably Manchester and Liverpool being situated just 35 miles apart and joined by the Manchester Ship Canal, the North West became a fundamental destination for cotton and textiles and manufacturing as well as Liverpool becoming a central dock for trade due its global connections. The Industrial Revolution also witnessed a large growth in population, in 1695 the population of Britain was estimated to be 5.5million, by the early part of 1801, just over 100 years later, this had grown to 9.3million and 40 years later again, almost doubled to 15.9million people in 1841. These figures represent a 60% increase in just 40 years. (www.historylearningsite.co.uk) In the North West, Manchester alone experienced a dramatic six-fold increase in its population during this time. The development of cities during this period clearly meant that workers moved to these areas seeking jobs, stability and prosperity. By 1900, 80% of Britains population lived in urban areas, whilst the number of workers employed in the agricultural sector fell from eleven percent to just two percent. (www.statistics.gov.uk). There were various reasons for this to occur, but the main ones being the advances in technology and the closure of many farming and agricultural companies, hence reducing the number of those employed in this sector. This sudden surge in the migration of people from rural to urban areas, initially for jobs in the factories or mills, obviously meant that housing was required in these ‘super-cities, and it was needed quickly. The ever increasingly rich owners of the businesses saw the need to provide cheap housing for their workers, and so the now-famous back to back terraced housing associated with British industrial inner cities were born. The back-to-back terrace was the most popular addition to the city due to it being cheap and easy to construct, as well as durable and serving the purpose that it was required for. However, much of this housing was constructed without proper planning, adequate facilities or infrastructure for clean running water and waste disposal. Areas throughout the United Kingdom fell into a state of squalor and disrepair; serious efforts were made to reverse the ‘slum conditions resulting from the housing crisis over the next 100 years. During 1909, a Town Planning Act was formed, this act was to, ‘forbid the building of any more back-to-back houses, this highlighted the need for builders and designs to meet certain standards. During the First World War the slogan, ‘Homes fit for heroes (Crisp 1998) which accompanied the revised Town Planning Act in 1919. This Act focused on implementing improvements to inner city slums on general housing conditions, in order to create space for new housing many of the workers were persuaded to move out to the suburbs which were ‘greener and ‘cleaner this coincided with the decline of the industrial revolution and again agriculture levels increased. Once many of the inner city areas had been abandoned, a prompt decision was taken to destroy many of the workers houses due to the overcrowded and poor conditions of them. During the post war-era employment in the city grew more slowly than in towns and rural areas, employment began to decrease in the 1960s and the decline spread to almost all cities in the 1970s. As the worlds first industrial economy virtually collapsed within a ten year period between 1970 and 1980, 55% of jobs were lost in cities during the recession. (Turok Edge) The former industrial cities of Newcastle, Glasgow, Liverpool and Manchester were left lifeless and devoid of jobs, whilst towns and rural areas saw a steady increase in the number of opportunities. The inner cities were left with polluted by-products from the factories whilst the movement of jobs and people to the country was actively encouraged with the aim of reducing over-crowding, in order to clean up the cities and plan orderly settlements for the future. This led to further social and economic problems such as crime and relative poverty as many areas sank in to depression. During the 1980s, Manchester and Liverpool along with the other industrial areas of Birmingham and Newcastle had lost their influential status, mills, warehouses and docks which had made the cities so successful lay abandoned and increasingly vandalised, whilst the river and canal networks lay polluted. The beginning of the ‘Information Age during the 1990s saw a sharp transition from primary manufacturing industries to a knowledge based, service industry. This was seen as an important driver for change, despite the ability for new industries and businesses to locate in rural areas, through the use of the digital medium of the Internet. However, financial services and the retail industry have increasingly relocated business to city centres once again, creating flagship stores that drew service sector workers back into the city centre in turn creating the need for additional services in the city. The end of the 20th century saw the start of a renaissance in the development of new and improved venues for cultural activity, from arts and media centres, theatres, museums and galleries, to less formal roles such as public art works and urban designs in the public domain. Many towns and cities were seen to be re-investing in the rich cultural heritage of the past, and complementing this with contemporary art projects and exhibitions. It was during this time that work within the creative industries was recognised as bringing a viable way of sustaining a business enterprise around the arts and crafts, later joined by digital media based work. Chapter 2 Culture-Led Models Major events 3 models e.g. Olympic games (London , Commonwealth, Capital of Culture, World Cup, Stadiums International context/differences Bilbao (Capital of Culture), Barcelona (Olympics) It has not only been traditional and historic cultural capitals or world cities, that have looked to install this new form of cultural energy into their urban centres, those seeking to transform their image, established industrial cities as in the case of Bilbao and Glasgow. These cities are undergoing re-imaging, through new and upgraded cultural facilities to try and appeal as cosmopolitan destinations for the first time. Towns and cities such as these, will undoubtedly be greatly affected through culture, not only on the built environment, but also in their social and economic development. The role culture can play in attempting to regenerate an area can be expressed through three different models of regeneration; cited in a report by the Department of Culture, Media and Sports, on the contribution of culture within regeneration in the United Kingdom. The three models include; Culture-led Regeneration Culture Regeneration Culture Regeneration The models which have been identified show where cultural activity can be incorporated, or incorporates itself into a regeneration process. The different models developed include defining culture-led regeneration, cultural regeneration as well as culture and regeneration. Although sounding similar, the models represent and explain three varied approaches to regeneration. Culture-led Regeneration often involves the use of physical and environmental improvements and more often results in the creation of new cultural facilities. This can be through the construction of new buildings, or the reuse of existing structures, examples of which might include Peckham Library, the TATE modern in Southwark, or the Sage music centre and BALTIC centre for contemporary art in Gateshead. Due to the nature of these highly visible projects, both in the public domain and through marketing and advertising, there can be a misinterpretation that some cultural facilities are solely responsible for the regeneration of an area, when in fact they may be a less significant element in a wider, longer term programme. (Evans 2005). This can be identified particularly where â€Å"flagship† projects are concerned. Bilbao is one example where the external image of the city has been dominated by a single building; the Guggenheim. In this case, far less attention has been given to the preparation of infrastructure, such as improvements to roads and metro systems as well as the improvements to housing, with new residential developments, with the redevelopment of existing cultural facilities that may also have contributed to the regeneration of the city. Castleford, in West Yorkshire, has a population of around 38,000. The restructuring of the mining industry in 1997 meant that the number of employees had fallen to under six hundred. The closure of the mines, and other redundancies has led to unusually high levels of unemployment, poor health and low education achievements. The residents are unusually committed to improving the quality life, The Castleford Project is a programme of improvements supported by a collaboration between Wakefield, key regeneration agencies and the community; to improve the town centre, health care, bring safety within the neighbourhoods and local communities and give opportunities to the younger demographic.. The successful approach to the Castleford project shows that culture-led can support regeneration of the former West Yorkshire mining town. Just a few years prior many felt that towns on the outskirts of Yorkshire such as Castleford were in terminal decline following pit and factory closures that put thousands out of work. A strong community spirit led the changes in the area which saw the development of a visionary 25 year urban renaissance programme, this large scale project covered Castleford and four other local towns. The Castleford project has been unique in the sense that it was designed to empower local people to improve their area and develop their own vision and identity for the future. It involved a partnership between the council, the local community, and Channel 4 television which invested one hundred thousand pounds, as well as regional and national organisations; as a result local people have a sense of pride and care over their community. The initial catalyst for the regeneration of Castleford was the development of the Xscape leisure and shopping complex, this boasts the largest indoor ski slope in Europe, it is said to attract more visitors than anywhere else in Yorkshire, which has also led to the creation of many jobs, more than previously available when the pit was in existence. Considerable investment is being put into the area with one single firm staking  £55m. There is good quality house building, a new hotel, supermarket and plans for a heritage centre. By being rooted in the community and having the local peoples full support this regeneration programme has proved a success, if a project such as this is not deeply rooted in the community then it is not guaranteed to be successful or sustainable. Barcelona is a true example of Cultural Regeneration, where a Cultural City, was a successful host of the Olympic Games in 1992. Barcelona took the initiative with the early approach to urban design and culture planning. The design of creative quarters which span between the old city and the Olympic village site, this often meant refurbishing and reviving derelict industrial areas. This form of Urbanism in Barcelona has been characterised by the forming of cultural and public squares linked by avenues and promenades that promote the form of culture. A major feature of Barcelonas regeneration programme involved the expansion of the city centre to encompass the former industrial areas situated on the citys periphery. This allowed the redevelopment and expansion of the commercial sector along the waterfront. In 1999 the RIBA presented its Royal Gold Medal to Barcelona, the first time a city has received the award. It was given the award for its dramatic and successful transformation whi ch is now widely accepted as a model for cultural regeneration on an international scale. Barcelona proved itself through the successful bid and hosting of the 1992 Olympic Games; other examples of this cultural regeneration model include the European Capital of Culture programmes (ECOC), the international Expositions (EXPO) along with the annual celebrations such as the Edinburgh festival. Host cities have used these international events to increase their cultural profile and in turn these events to help initiate a long term regeneration programme. Glasgow became the first city to become European Capital of Culture in 1990 having had more than three years to plan for the event. This award was seen as an important opportunity as a catalyst for urban regeneration through the form of culture; Glasgows legacy as the first city with ECOC status 16 years ago has sustained this development; similar effects to Barcelona which has been recognised as a success internationally. Seville (EXPO 92), Lisbon (ECOC 94 EXPO 98) and Rotterdam (ECOC 01) are cases where large-scale regeneration programmes have been combined with these cultural events. Liverpool has been nominated as ECOC in 2008 and has chosen to build up to this event by hosting themed years. Liverpool was a major participant in the national celebrations of Sea Britain, with special relevance to 2005, The Year of the Sea. Hosting the start and finish of the 2005-06 2007-08 Round the World Clipper Race. 2008 the year of the Capital of Culture will see Liverpool hosting major events highlighting different aspects of the citys unique culture including The Tall Ships Race which has a significant connection with the cities maritime heritage. One event can have wider and far lasting cultural benefits, whilst attracting further investment and increased visitor numbers. Liverpool suffered a vast industrial decline leaving large areas of Brownfield sites derelict which caused economic and social problems. The ECOC will be a vital aid in reshaping and reforming Liverpool to revive the city back to its former successful status, with the regeneration of its famous waterfront known as the Albert Docks. In the third model, Culture and Regeneration, cultural activities are not fully integrated at either the development or planning stages. This is primarily due to the responsibilities for cultural provision and regeneration being often handled separately, within different departments. This means that any provisions for leisure or culture are likely to be small and implemented after any physical regeneration has taken place, as normally the primary focus was to develop housing and commercial space, the main and sure-fire reasons for bringing money in to an area. This model suggests that in terms of physical and environmental regeneration, the visible signs of any cultural activity or improvements may be small, but this does not mean that cultural activity is absent. This indicates that the cultural element has not been used to promote the regeneration programme. This type of regeneration has distinct connections with community groups, local groups and councils which may not exist in la rger flagship programmes, These three models Culture-led Regeneration, Cultural Regeneration and Culture Regeneration, highlight the different scale of regeneration projects and the level of cultural activities which can differ greatly, from whole â€Å"cultural cities† to redeveloped waterfronts, to community orientated public art programmes. The nature of the culture element in each model may vary, it is clear that culture can contribute to the regeneration programmes whilst also interacting with the physical, social and economic aspects that help to revive areas. The physical and environmental improvements, delivered within a cultural context are the visible signs of progression that ultimately promote the success and image of the city. Chapter 3- Case Studies Case Study 1 Salford Quays Case Study 2 Albert Docks Case Studies Albert Docks The Albert Docks is situated on the waters of the Mersey. The former docks comprises from five blocks of five storey warehouses, which provided 1.25 million square foot of storage space, surrounding by a quadrangle of water. Traditionally, the port had relied on privately owned warehousing in the town to store cargo from the dock. Since the decline in the city between 1970 to 1980, Liverpool has experienced more urban regeneration than virtually any other city in the UK. Since 1971 the city had to respond to a reduction in its population of about a quarter and a loss of more than half of its manufacturing industry. Over this period Liverpool has experimented in a variety in Urban regeneration schemes. The first government response to the emerging â€Å"inner city problem† came in 1968 with the launch of the Urban Programme small amounts of short term funding to support local community development projects in the inner city. Liverpool was amongst the first to benefit from 50 schemes supported by the programme including nursery, class, sports and community facilities. In 1969 the Home Office established a series of Community Development Projects (CDPs) including the Vauxhall CDP in addition to supporting a number of local projects, community education programmes, community centres etc. Researchers on the project concluded that the areas problems had structural roots and resulted from external economic change and restructuring (Topping and Smith 1977) In 1979, the new government established Urban Development Cooperation (including the Merseyside Development Corporation) central government agencies with the power and resources to reclaim large amounts of urban dereliction and to return them to beneficial economic use. Other areas of derelict land developers were offered more relaxed planning permissions and tax breaks. Through the 1980s British regeneration policy put a lot of emphasis on supporting local economic development by increasing the supply of land and buildings in inner cities. The first response of the government was to introduce City Challenge; a programme that allowed local authorities to lead local partnerships in bidding for central government money to support local regeneration projects, Liverpool was one of the first successful cities receiving 37.5million in the first round of bidding. By the 1980s Liverpools central area was in decline, few people lived in the City Centre, office and Commercial employment was falling and shopping centres were losing trade. The start of the programme to transform the waterfront commenced in 1986 the project saw the conversion of the existing warehouses into a complex of retail, restaurants, cafe, and a series of office units and business headquarters. Also there are a number of unique visitor attractions;- Tate Liverpool, the Beatles Story, Merseyside Maritime Museum, the International Slavery Museum, Liverpool Ghost Tours, and The Yellow Duckmarine. This development includes a number of luxury apartment, hotels and a state of the art conference / exhibition centre. The importance of the Albert docks to Liverpool is vast as it continues to attract visitors and has helped to re brand Liverpool from a declining and poor city. This in turn has led to the millions of pounds of investment reshaping the heart of the city centre with the development of Paradise Street. In the new millennium there are new challenges for planning and regeneration schemes in response to changes in social trends (cultural and political) with an increase in environmental issues, economic changes and associated with globalisation and the drive for developments to be more sustainable. However Liverpool has recognised the value of culture to aid in transforming a failing city, with the help of this development it will ignite many other opportunities for the city. Case Study Salford Quays Located in the former Docks area of Manchester and Salford, recently labelled as Salford Quays, The Lowry Centre is widely recognised as being key in the regeneration of Salford, Manchester and adding to the improvement of the North West as a region. As a national landmark in the Millennium Project for â€Å"The Arts† this comprises of galleries, theatres, bars, shops and restaurants. The Lowry Centre opened in April 2000 and has since been credited, along with its associated projects, with the creation of 6,500 jobs in the local economy. It is predicted that 11,000 new jobs will arise as a result of the regeneration of the Quays as a whole [Goodey 2000]. These associated cultural projects include The Designer Outlet shopping centre, the Imperial War Museum North (IWMN) and the latest development of the Mediacity:uk which will house the BBC; it also includes other leisure orientated facilities such as a multi screen cinema complex and a water sports centre. Although a culture-led scheme, the Lowry project was conceived as the final part of the regeneration of Salford Quays, a process that began in the mid 1980s, following the purchase of the Docks from the Manchester Ship Canal Company by Salford City Council in 1983. A development plan was prepared, which sought to â€Å"create a new quarter of the city which has a unique character derived from the way in which all parts of the development are related to water; and where people would be encouraged to work, live and play in a high quality environment† [Salford City Council, 1985]. However, despite the great potential that existed in the development of the waterfront, the site was not ideally located in terms of attracting residents, businesses or visitors; â€Å"The Docks were three kilometres from the city centre, enclosed by walls and filled with polluted water† [Struthers 2003]. At that time there was very little infrastructure existing prior to the plan. The adjacent Trafford Park Industrial Estate, was littered with derelict warehouses that had little access to the road network and no public transport provisions. Consequently, a reclamation programme was directed at three vital aspects of the site; water, roads and services, in addition to public access and landscaping. Following concerns that the site may be developed purely for housing and offices, a development strategy review was prepared and published in 1988 and set the context for future proposals with an emphasis on a mixture of uses and their relationship to the water, providing opportunities for leisure and culture based activities [Salford City Council, 1988]. This reflected the idea that both physical and environmental improvements had to be made in order to fully exploit the potential of Salford Quays. It took five years to close the main water basin which allowed the water itself to be treated and cleaned whilst the surrounding areas were cleared ready for the private sector development that was to follow. The access roads were developed to link the Quays internally, this initially meant the improvement of bridges, paths and walkways. There were also connections made to the major road networks into Manchester and beyond. This was all carried out in conjunction with landscaping the area and installing lighting and street furniture before any major building work could be carried out. The success of the Lowry Centre was entirely dependent on the infrastructure that was laid before it, in order to carry the number of visitors, workers and residents that would be required for it to be a success. The presence of the Lowry itself was a main drawing point for the Imperial War Museum which is now located directly opposite and is linked by the Lowry pedestrian bridge. The Imperial War Museum, a major tourist attraction in its own right was opened in 2002 and was designed by renowned architect, Daniel Libeskind, the imposing design aimed to depict the â€Å"world as a globe, shattered by war and mans self-destruction† [Libeskind, 2001]. Along with Old Trafford, the Imperial War Museum and the Lowry signify the cultural landmarks known as The Quays. The decision to extend Manchesters tram link to the Quays from Manchester City Centre as well as Bury in the north and Altrincham in the south of the city meant that the Quays was now open to a greater number of visitors, commuters and also residents. Chapter 4- Regeneration Sustainable regeneration Environmental effects of regeneration Physical regeneration Arguments against Regeneration social and environmental (rich people/poor areas and the infrastructure) Environmental / Physical effects The appearance and environment of towns and cities are clear representations of their history as well as indicators of their present ability to provide a quality of life to residents and business owners or workers. The built environment has always performed a wide range of functions, the main theme being initially shelter, social enablers and also trade. All of this f

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Air Pollution :: essays research papers

Air Pollution CFish Mr. Nollen Biology 2B 8 May, 1996 The Problem Contamination of the atmosphere by gaseous, liquid, or solid wastes or by-products that can endanger human health and the health and welfare of plants and animals, or can attack materials, reduce visibility, or produce undesirable odors. Among air pollutants emitted by natural sources, only the radioactive gas radon is recognized as a major health threat. A byproduct of the radioactive decay of uranium minerals in certain kinds of rock, radon seeps into the basements of homes built on these rocks. According to recent estimates by the U.S. government, 20 percent of the homes in the U.S. harbor radon concentrations that are high enough to pose a risk of lung cancer. Each year industrially developed countries generate billions of tons of pollutants. The level is usually given in terms of atmospheric concentrations or, for gases in terms of parts per million, that is, number of pollutant molecules per million air molecules. Many come from directly identifiable sources; sulfur dioxide, for example, comes from electric power plants burning coal or oil. Others are formed through the action of sunlight on previously emitted reactive materials. For example, ozone, a dangerous pollutant in smog, is produced by the interaction of hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides under the influence of sunlight. Ozone has also caused serious crop damage. On the other hand, the discovery in the 1980s that air pollutants such as fluorocarbons are causing a loss of ozone from the earth's protective ozone layer has caused the phasing out of these materials. Current information about the problem The tall smokestacks used by industries an utilities do not remove pollutants but simply boost them higher into the atmosphere, thereby reducing their concentration at the site. These pollutants may then be transported over large distances and produce adverse effects in areas far from the site of the original emission. Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions from the central and eastern U.S. are causing acid rain in New York State, New England, and eastern Canada. The pH level, or relative acidity, of many freshwater lakes in that region has been altered so dramatically by this rain that entire fish populations have been destroyed. Similar effects have been observed in Europe. Sulfur dioxide emissions and the subsequent formation of sulfuric acid can also be responsible for the attack on limestone and marble at large distances from the source. The worldwide increase in the burning of coal and oil since the late 1940s has led to ever increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide. The resulting "greenhouse effect", which allows solar energy to enter the atmosphere but reduces the remission of infrared radiation from the earth, could

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Abusive Relationships and Domestic Violence :: Violence Against Women Essays

Domestic violence describes a situation where one person in a relationship is using violence to control and dominate another person. Domestic violence victims and their batterers cut across all socioeconomic, demographic, and professional lines. It is an epidemic that is emphasized particularly with the female gender. While physical assault is often times the most common form of abuse, it is important to acknowledge that other forms of abuse are just as detrimental. Often times, fear and isolation are particularly powerful in preventing women from leaving a violent relationship.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Domestic violence is a common crime in America, especially amongst the female gender. Studies indicate that nearly one-third of American women (31 percent) report being physically or intimately abused by a husband or boyfriend at some point in their lives (Commonwealth Fund Survey, 1998). Domestic Violence towards women is a problem in the United States that is usually over looked and almost always not noticed by Society today. Violence is defined by the Riverside Webster's Dictionary (p.755) as: 1. Physical force employed so as to damage or injure. 2. As an instance of violent action. If this is the case than why is it that so many women are beaten by loved ones each year and little or nothing is done to correct this violent and hostile situation?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The battered woman is pictured by most people as a small, fragile, haggard person who might once have been pretty. She has several small children and is frequently assumed that she is poor and from a minority group. She is accustomed to living in violence, and her fearfulness and passivity are emphasized above all. Although some battered women do fit this description, research proves it to be false stereotype(Walker p.18). In fact most battered women have highly lucrative jobs such as doctors or lawyers, Corporation executives and nurses. Battered women are found in all racial, religious and ethical backgrounds as well as age groups and educational levels.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Statistical information on domestic abuse commonly notates that women in intimate relationships are amongst the greatest risk. Statistics also revealed that domestic abuse is the leading cause of harm amongst females of all races that usually involve a weapon. "Approximately one in four attacks involved the use of a gun or knife,† according to a studies. Young, black and Hispanic women were especially vulnerable, as were poor single women with low education levels who lived in inner cities.

Friday, October 11, 2019

Defining Culture Essay

How can you define culture? What is intercultural communication? How much does the same language used by native and non-native speakers vary? This paper would attempt to answer. Three sources on the subject matter will be used. These are: Jan Blommaert’s â€Å"How much culture is there in intercultural communication? †, â€Å"Talking a Person into Interethnic Distinction: a Discourse Analytic Case Study† by Volker Hinnenkamp and â€Å"Rapport Management Theory and Culture† by Helen Spencer-Oatey. In the first article, Blommaert focused on what theory or theories in the science of linguistic would be most useful to obtain an accurate analysis of intercultural communication as well as the role to the study of linguistics plays in the study of intercultural communication. The author began the article with the thesis that the study of intercultural communication will pose challenges in the science of linguistics due to two reasons. One of these reasons is that each communication by two parties from two different cultures would have certain features that would make it unique that it would need a specific methodology and theory to be elaborated for every communication that occurs. The second reason is that the study of intercultural communication would need the knowledge of other branches of the social sciences such as social psychology and anthropology for it to be properly analyzed (13). Two concepts were used by the author in order to answer the questions stated in the article. The first is that culture is fundamental in the study of intercultural communication, and the primary cause for communication conflicts that may rise in intercultural communication. The author coined this as the â€Å"culture collide perspective. † This is because when two parties belonging to different culture groups meet, their cultures also come across and eventually collide with each other. One example provided by the author to support this is the conflict present in politics. The author considered this perspective as a crude approach in understanding intercultural communication since this concept follows that intercultural communication only occurs when conflict is present in the process and in order for the communication to be successful; the culture of any one of the parties involved would need to be managed. The concept is also seen by the author as ethnocentric in nature in that it assumes that one culture in the intercultural communication process is more superior to the other. Furthermore, it fails to take into consideration the fact that one or both parties involved will try to adjust to the situation prevent intercultural communication conflicts (Blommaert, 14, 17-20). The second concept analyzed in the article is that culture is incorporated into the communication process, depending on the circumstances surrounding the parties involved and represented clearly and without reservation during the process. This makes culture as not only a vital component to the identity of the parties involved, but the situation surrounding the communication in general (Blommaert, 21-22). Based on the information obtained, Blommaert concluded that the non-objective approach is the most appropriate linguistic method to be used in the analysis for intercultural communication. Furthermore, the study of linguistics in intercultural communication should be able to represent a collaborative accord between parties from different cultures (30). The second article is a case study an intercultural communication scenario between a Turk and a German. The case study aimed to show how communication problems arise when two parties communicate using a language which the native to one party and foreign to another as a result of on how the experiences of each party affect how they interpret the message being sent (Hinnenkamp, 91). According to Hinnenkamp, the culture of an individual affects various aspects of the communication process such as the degree of interaction permitted, how often will an individual will allow the other to respond, what topics to discuss, how direct he or she can be in addressing or questioning the other party, and their obligations in reference to their status. Should any of these aspects are not met; one or both parties would attempt to â€Å"repair† the communication by neutralizing and restoring the normative order as dictated by culture who considers the language being used as its native language. This is most exemplified in intercultural communication when an individual speaks in a language that is not native to him or her where the individual tries various methods like mimicking in order to make himself or herself understood (106, 108). The third article focused more on the reactions of the receiver of the message in a communication process. The article aimed to identify factors that affect the judgment of an individual involved interpersonal communication (Spencer-Oatey, 336-337). Spencer-Oatey defined culture as an indistinct collection of attitudes, beliefs, assumptions and values shared by a group of people which influence an individual’s behavior and how the individual views another’s behavior which has a major impact in scenarios where intercultural issues are present (338-339). Contrary to Blommaert’s statement, the author believes that culture is not always manifested depending on the situation when intercultural communication is present. She stated that on some occasions, certain very deep-seeded cultural traits will manifest itself in the intercultural communication process regardless if the situation makes it conducive or not (340). This is because individuals have the freedom to choose whether to uphold, modify or abandon his or her cultural practices when communicating. Culture, then is not manifested in a single encounter. Rather, it becomes only apparent when patterns in communicating develop (342). She did, however, agree that what goes on in an intercultural communication cannot be accurately predicted (345). In the article, John Gumperz specified the variation that occurs in intercultural communication between a native and non-native speaker are the â€Å"different conventions of communication, different speech styles, narrative patterns, in short, the deployment of different communicative repertoires† (qtd. in Spencer-Oatey, 343). The author concluded the article stating that more research is needed in order to fully understand intercultural communication. Unlike Blommaert who recommended that further research must concentrate in being able to gain an agreement between parties in the communication process to occur (30), Spencer-Oatey stated that in order to understand the process, the research should be continuous since intercultural communication occurs in relationships that have spanned for a long period of time (346). To summarize, intercultural communication refers to the interaction between two parties belonging to two different cultures where the culture of each party is manifested in the communication process depending on the length of time the interaction has been taking place and the situation surrounding the communication activity. Culture was defined in the texts as a vague group of attitudes, beliefs, behavioral principles, assumptions and values shared by a group of individuals that influence their conduct as well as how they interpret the behavior another. Finally, certain variations occur in intercultural communication between a native to the language being used and a non-native using the same language in order to be understood by the other. These variations include mimicking, speech styles and narrative patterns. Works Cited