Bra Boys And Belonging Essay

â€Å"Belonging is not simply about the well-being of an individual. Belonging allows humans to overcome great obstacles and moments of adversity†. Every human being possesses the urgent need to belong, to gain the strength of others and to fit into society. It is in our basic nature, our history supporting the human will to belong, as tribes were formed, urban environments assembled and modern societies bringing individuals into a group as one. A sense of belonging gives us the strength to move forward, the mental and physical support of others and allows us to feel accepted. Sunny Abberton’s documentary Bra Boys depicts the impact of belonging along with the obstacles his family and friends faced. A film conveying the struggles within the Maroubra area in the 80s/90s, that allows us to experience the connections made within the Bra Boys â€Å"surf gang† and the challenges that they are faced with. The Bra Boys demonstrate that a sense of belonging can in fact impact us to overcome great challenges, and that no matter how dire your situation, there will always be somewhere for you to belong. Humans are faced with tests throughout their lives, some more fortunate than others. In the Maroubra community it seemed most of the kids had grown up in uncomfortable situations, most of the Bra Boys parents being drug users, alcoholics, or violent. The Maroubra adolescent community seemed to have a dark lure hanging over it, violence and hardship following those who tried to belong. Gangs formed as a result and the streets became dangerous at night. â€Å"Growing up we had a lot of crazy things happen like guns held to our heads, chased down the street with people shooting at us, all sorts of things, but its good it turned us into what we are† admits Koby Abberton. One Bra Boys explains how he walked around the streets with a bat down his pants because you always had to be prepared for the worst when you were walking at night by your self. It was dangerous events like these that made Ma’s seem so safe, like nothing could ever hurt them there. Ma was the Abberton boys’ grandmother, a gentle and generous woman who opened her arms and home to all the young and struggling children associated with the Abberton boys. Most of these boys came from broken families, somewhere they  couldn’t really call home. Ma provided them with a place that was the next best thing to a home, a family of friends, somewhere that would bring the boys together into a brotherhood. They soon formed a group called ‘Ma’s hell team’ which was the beginning of it all, the beginning of the Bra Boys. Connections with people, places and the larger world can provoke a sense of belonging within ourselves, influencing where we search for meaning in our lives, and ultimately, where we belong. The Bra Boys forge connections amongst themselves by exploring each other’s passions and loyalty. It is ultimately the surfing community/beach life that brings the boys together. The beginning of the documentary presents the surfing culture, diving directly into the heart of these boy’s lives. The viewer is presented with live footage, magazine cover pages and newspaper articles to express the success and enjoyment the Bra Boys share towards the sport. Another scene featuring cross cutting strings together shots of the Bra Boy’s handshake, celebrating their literal connections to one another. The Bra Boys are all blessed with a passion of surfing, somewhere they could escape together, and without that place to free their minds and have fun sharing a hobby together, they may not have formed such sturdy bonds as they possess today. The connections we make determine how we grow and develop. Along with be being connected, acceptance has a large impact on our lives and wellbeing. Being a Bra Boy comes with responsibility, one being to accept your brothers and be there for them no matter what. Acceptance allows us to gain confidence in our lives. Without the fulfillment of fitting in human beings tend to grow lonely and feel as though they don’t belong. With that sense of approval, we can acknowledge ourselves and achieve more. Bra Boys is a documentary which greatly highlights the impact of being accepted within a certain community. Spending their days surfing and hanging out with friends, the bra boys allow us to appreciate the greater prospects of belonging. Koby Abberton, main Bra Boy, describes to the viewer how important their ‘gang’ is: â€Å"if one of the boys calls, no matter what you’re doing you come†. This depicts to us how strong and important their brotherhood is. The song â€Å"My Brothers Keeper† featured in the film, written by Jamie Holt, backs up a bond of brothers such as the Bra Boys. â€Å"My brothers, we are in  intertwined†¦. these ties shall bind us† is sung to describe the acceptance of one another and words how their ‘gang’ is literally bound to one another. â€Å"My Brothers Keeper† is also symbolized as tattoos across various Bra Boys chests. Bra Boys shows a great example of how important acceptance is in our lives and the pride it can bring to us. The Bra Boys demonstrate that that their group also accepts many multi-cultured or religious Australians. Cultural acceptance can be a huge issue within our society today. Cultures and religions can shape humans into what they believe to be their better self. There are many issues revolved around religions clashing or which god should be worshipped. No matter what you believe in or put your faith in we are all human beings and should find the strength to accept each other for who we are. Towards the end of the documentary an issue is displayed for the viewer, on such as the Cronulla race riots, brings to our attention a so-called â€Å"war† between Anglo Australians and Lebanese Australians. â€Å"One of the things ma taught us was to not judge people by how much money they had, or their skin colour, but by what type of person they were, perhaps it was ma’s wisdom that would prepare us for yet another dramatic turn in our beach community† say Sunny Abberton. Footage, images, narration and Police radio communication depict the violence that occurred. We are shown how the aggressive behavior in Cronulla makes its way to Maroubra, and how the Bra Boys gather to protect their community. After the attacks the Bra Boys decide to broker a peace deal between the warring factions. We are shown a 9 News interview where Sunny Abberton states â€Å"Maroubra’s had a very good relationship with the local Lebanese community here for around 10 years, we’re calling for calm on the beaches†. The Bra Boys wanted the ethnic community to feel accepted and wanted them to know that they did in fact belong at Maroubra beach, which is one of the most multicultural areas in Australia. The Bra Boys itself is filled with a number of different racial members, their powerful concept of belonging has transcended racial hatred. Bra Boys is a powerful documentary portraying many concepts of belonging. It shows us an authentic reality of how brutal life can be and that a group as strong as theirs can help to overcome such issues. No matter what they  faced, they had each other. They showed us how important a powerful bond is, and the positive impact a sense of belonging can make. Some of the Bra Boys say the surf saved them, some say Ma did, but ultimately, they saved each other.

Electronics Art’s (EA) competitive advantage Essay

Electronics Art’s (EA) competitive advantage from the perspective of the industrial organization view (I/O) is their choice of industry is very attractive. According to The 2013 Global Games Market Report, game revenues will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.7% to $86.1 billion by 2016. The number of gamers worldwide will rise from 1.21 billion this year to 1.55 billion. Next, we’ll have a perspective of resource-based view (RBV). Before the ages of digital game , EA’s resource based view in the past was great. They are just concentrated in making More than 100 titles games such as Battlefield, Madden NFL, FIFA Soccer, Rock Band, Need for Speed, and The Simpsons. SNS contents like monthly fee, partial monetization, facebook and on line services like web games, various portal sites or distributed contents have captured more than 40% of the market. It is widespread across the console game market through out total game market. And it will be take huge market share. Zynga that saw this opportunities and jumped in on the burgeoning social gaming revolution is nipping at the industry’s heels. On the contrary, EA that saw this opportunities and jumped in on the burgeoning social gaming revolution is come to a halt. And they seemed to have all the resources needed when they had their competitive advantage but Electronics Arts did not prepare themselves for the changes in the behavior of consumers and retailers or trends which is now causing them to loose their competitive advantage. And the existing game of EA Is easy to emulate.  From these, we can have one conclusion. eventually, ea exemplifies the challenges of this industry, where customers are fickle and demanding and competition is intense. But after that, EA introduces digital platform and comes in second.

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

Frederick Douglass - Essay Example ille Convention, Frederick Douglas presented some of his grievances against the government that were based on the political and social status of black Americans in the United States. His main complaint was that even after the abolition of slavery, the prejudice against black Americans was rampant and a norm in American society. He observed that the justice system and the clergy were also turning a blind eye towards the discrimination experienced by black Americans (Douglass, p. 2). In particular, he criticized the Lynch law which made the black American community increasingly vulnerable to hate crimes by prejudiced people (Douglass, p. 3). Douglas also stated his grievance against the prejudices demonstrated towards black people in seeking employment and justice. Another grievance that he held against the government was the disenfranchisement of the black Americans. The civil right of political participation was not being protected. He decried that the American government was not ensuring fair representation and that the electoral process was flawed. By disenfranchising the black population, the government was preventing them to be represented as political leaders in the states where they are in a majority (Douglass, p. 5). He argued for a fairer electoral system where the black population was given an equal right to vote and be elected. He stressed that it was the responsibility of the government to ensure that the law was applied uniformly without regard to the colour of the skin of the citizens. Douglas stated that the government was responsible to ensure that the freedoms and civil rights granted in the American Constitution were not denied to any citizen. In his struggle for racial equality in the United States, Martin Luther King practiced non-violence. He was a believer in dialogue and negotiation to create mutual understanding between the white and black races so that both could enjoy their civil rights equally in society (King, p. 3). Writing from jail

Discuss the role of political parties in contemporary democracies Essay

Discuss the role of political parties in contemporary democracies. Assess whether parties have retained their position or are in - Essay Example In this manner citizens have a scope of exercising their ultimate control over the government (Rush 1998). Nature of Democracy The concept of social democracy, as manifested through a social state can be attributed to Tocqueville who was very impressed by the prevailing equality of status, manners, and customs in American society when he visited that country in 1831. He felt the essence of democracy has effectively permeated every strata of American society. This view was also echoed by Bryce who was completely overwhelmed by the egalitarian ethos of American society and felt it represented true democratic setup where each citizen felt they are on equal footing with each other fellow citizen (Bryce 1959). This feeling of equality is the lifeblood of a democratic society where democracy is more a way of life and a part of national psyche. Thus, it might be said that social democracy is an essential prerequisite for political democracy to strike firm roots in a country (Holden 1974). A s a political dispensation, democracy has to channelize and concentrate the wills of millions of citizens through some framework to the hands of the ruling few. This in a sense possibly violates basic democracy that is observed in small integrated communities. But between one-on-one democracy observed in such miniature closely knit groups and large scale democracies, there is a huge gap and it took entire humankind more than two millenniums to partially bridge that gap (Powell 1982). It must be remembered that democracy undergoes a metamorphosis as it traverses the hiatus between the micro and macro and it would be rather unfair to expect all the characteristics of micro democracies to be equally manifested in macro democracies. We can, however, conclude that macro democracies, though far from perfect, are nonetheless target oriented experiments and are not random potshots in the dark or conceived by a one or a small group of individuals who consider them to be more concerned and mo re informed than others (Sartori 1987). The whole issue about relevance of political parties in a democratic dispensation can however be judged with respect to several contexts as these happen to differ widely in their nature and content. Does ascent of O’Donnell signify descent of Republican Party? A case that might be investigated is that of the ascent of Christian O’Donnell. The ascendance of a relative outsider in the conservative echelons of American politics and the gradual emergence of tea party activists who were politically insignificant earlier brings to mind whether conventional political parties are on their way out and also whether American democracy has transcended the well established bounds of an essentially two party democracy. Christine O’Donnell is a vociferous campaigner of what she perceives as Christian moral values and is not known to have any well defined economic or political agenda. Yet such people are not only winning primaries by defe ating established politicians but also getting substantial approval from electorate as is apparent when she could garner nearly 40% of the votes polled. That she eventually lost the election is not that important as the

Event project management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Event project management - Assignment Example It is in the interest of both the team and the clients for St. Patrick’s Day turns out to be a memorable event among Huddersfield habitat. Core values set the framework that all players in a given field work towards a common goal and harmoniously. The case still applies to the group for the event to be prosperous then each member is obligated to do due diligence. EMBOK has five core values that are believed to be the guiding principle for an event just like St. Patrick Day Parade. The values are creativity, strategic thinking, continuous improvement, ethics, and integration. The model identified the values should operate in a synergy. One value should lead to the other and vice versa. For instance, a creative idea should incorporate the needs of people affected by the idea. The team using the core values from EMBOK will make the goals for St. Patrick’s Day Parade successful. Creativity of the team is exhibited by the sourcing for funds to be used during the parade. St. Patrick had no charitable number and therefore, could not get any charity. This did not stop them from planning for the event, but motivated them to be more creative. Another creativity; is identified by the group when they identify the need for face painters and balloon blowers to entertain the children. EPRAS fails to identify the core values that will enhance the outcome of an event. EMBOK becomes resilient by this element in an event planning and management. Comparing EPRAS to EMBOK to this element leaves EMBOK to be a superb model in setting grounds for other stages/phases to be completed. The team selecting this element is for a good course in delivering the objectives for St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The core values will be the guiding principles for all stages and the next St. Patrick’s day. EPRAS cannot be regarded as irrelevant model in managing events in fact it is among the best in ensuring deliverables are met. The only deficit in it is that it does not identify values

Decriminalizing Drugs Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Decriminalizing Drugs - Essay Example Illegal drug use continues in the US despite numerous and aggressive enforcement strategies and legislation aimed at illegal drug sales and use (Reuter 512). In addition to illegal drugs, the rate of prescription drug misuse and addiction continues to rise, with Oxycontin being the most common of these drugs (Grau et al. 169). Regardless of whether the drugs are legal or illegal, drug use and addiction has many direct and indirect effects on society including health costs, crime rates, incarceration, rates, and high costs of enforcement and legislation (Reuter 514). However, as evidenced by the steady increase in drug use, current attempts at drug control do not seem to have any significant effect and are apparently not effective, making decriminalization a more effective alternative. An Argument against Decriminalizing or Legalizing Drugs In the article, â€Å"Against the Legalization of Heroin,† de Marneffe presents his argument as to why the United States should not legaliz e or decriminalize illegal drugs (34-40). The first reason he presents against the decriminalization or legalization of illegal drugs in the US is that it would surely lead to an increase in their use (34). While this premise is based solely on speculation and assumption, and not based on facts or evidence, it is the argument most commonly used by individuals opposing drug decriminalization or legalization in the US. De Marneffe continues the speculation by making the prediction that if drugs (i.e. heroin) were made legal in the US, all adolescents would begin their regular use which would have a detrimental effect on their achievement in the future and general wellbeing (36). This argument is based on the premise that life is especially difficult for adolescents and heroin use is pleasurable, so adolescents would use it regularly to deal with life in general (37). However, like the previously discussed argument, there are no facts or evidence to prove this. In the article, de Marneffe also argues that current drug laws and policies make using illegal drugs (i.e. heroin) more difficult and more expensive, make the drugs less available, reinforce the social norms against using them, and predictably reduce rates of illegal drug use (36). Again, as with his other arguments, there are no facts or evidence supporting this premise; and, the argument is based on speculation and assumption like the othe r arguments presented in the article (36-7). History of US Drug Laws Throughout the 19th century, illicit drugs such as opium, morphine, cocaine and heroin, were legal in the United States (Echegaray 1217). In 1914, the US Congress passed the first antinarcotics act, the Harrison Act, which was a law controlling the sale and distribution of certain drugs; however, the Harrison Act did not prohibit drugs entirely (1222). The Narcotic Drugs Importation and Export Act dealt with importing and exporting drugs and it was passed in 1922 (1223). By the 1950s, a number of laws were passed that prohibited or restricted using, selling or distributing drugs (i.e. cocaine, heroin) (1225). For example, the Boggs Amendment to the Harrison Act was passed in 1951, establishing a mandatory two-year sentence for convictions of first-time drug offenders; and, the Narcotics Control Act increased penalties for drug

Happiness in the Main Pursuit of Humans Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Happiness in the Main Pursuit of Humans - Essay Example The protagonists in both stories go through their life searching for their true happiness. Gatsby in Great Gatsby tries to gain happiness in searching for his lost love. Janie in Their Eyes Were Watching God tries to gain happiness in searching for a true love. Gatsby’s love for Daisy is very evident in his musings about her. He says that â€Å"once in awhile I go off on a spree and make a fool of myself, but I always come back, and in my heart I love her all the time (Fitzgerald, 251). But he begins to get entangled in his occasional sprees leading him to find temporary happiness in wealth and fame. When he felt that good feeling in being rich and famous, he began to veer away from his real pursuit. He begins to justify his clamor for wealth as a means to impress Daisy and to win her back. He starts to believe that his wealth is the key to get her love back and away from Tom, her husband. Yes, he succeeds in winning back the affection of Daisy, but it became a hollowed succe ss as Daisy realizes that Gatsby became strongly attached to his wealth. The luster of money and power blinds him and he begins to lose his grip of his true goal: to win back Daisy. Gatsby’s search for Daisy is analogous to anyone’s search for the American dream. ... The American dream is set on principles of success and possession of wealth. Daisy is the American dream. Gatsby’s migration from his birthplace to the town is actually an allusion to the mass migration to the United States, the land of opportunities, or so they say. But the American dream is not an easy thing to achieve as Gatsby finds it difficult to win back Daisy. He needed to work hard to achieve material success, which he wrongly believed would be the way to win back Daisy. Daisy was still a green light, â€Å"minute and far away†¦(like) the end of the dock† (Fitzgerald, 152). While Gatsby knew who his true love is, Janie in Their Eyes Were Watching God searches for the one. She begins her conquest of true love when she witnessed a bee pollinating a flower in her backyard pear tree. Her three marriages signify the different life lessons that made her conclude what true love really is. Her first marriage is pre-arranged by her grandmother. Her grandmother stro ngly believed that the marriage will ensure the Janie’s well-being and future. Unfortunately, Janie has a totally different perspective about love and marriage. She feels unhappy and trapped and so she breaks away from the first marriage only to find herself in yet another disappointing married life. This further proves that wealth and power can never guarantee one’s happiness. With Joe, she is the unappreciated wife, only the wife. Although she is at the peak of a great life, with great wealth, power and fame, it is only an illusion because it is not hers. It is her husband’s and she is not very keen on that. She wants to speak up but she is silenced. She strives to become an individual apart from just being the wife of Joe to no avail. Joe is always there to limit her and her

Social Responsibility and Business Ethics Assignment

Social Responsibility and Business Ethics - Assignment Example Being the owner of a manufacturing company which is involved in the business of producing goods and selling it in the market, the primary goal or objective of the company is to earn profits out of the products sold. However, social responsibility and business ethics are two vital tasks which have to be undergone by the company to create a perfect balance between the profit making motive and being a good corporate citizen. Critical analysis of these two aspects has been discussed in this study. CSR can be defined as the means operating a business by an organization which meets or even exceeds the legal, ethical, public and commercial expectations which the society has from the organization. According to the requirements of CSR, every company is needed to have some obligations towards its society and environment at large (Kotler, & Lee, 2008, p.3). CSR serves several purposes. It helps to ensure that the business processes are conducted by the organizations in an ethical way in accordance with the interests of the community. It helps in responding in a positive way towards the emerging priorities in the society. It serves for the purpose of developing willingness amongst the organizations to act beyond the regulatory confrontation. It also helps in maintaining a balance between interests of the shareholders of the company and the wider community. CSR helps in the development of the corporate organizations into good corporate citizens in the society. Social responsibility of the corporate organizations can be considered to have four dimensions. One is the economic perspective which is the responsibility of the organizations to earn profits and generate wealth for the owners of the company. Legal is another aspect of CSR which implies that all the business organizations have the responsibility to act in accordance with the existing laws and are to comply with those laws.  

Evaluation Plan Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Evaluation Plan - Term Paper Example The first step in my evaluation plan will involve assessing the background and framework of the evaluation. This step as elucidated by Holden et al (2009) will involve comprehension of the environment, framework, and circumstances surrounding the evaluation of the planned change. For instance, I will establish the relationship between individuals and specific bodies to involve in implementing the change to ascertain their level of commitment. During this initial step in addition, I will assess the range of the evaluation in terms of estimation of resources required for executing the planned change such as the cost and human resource. The second step of my evaluation plan will involve an in-depth exploration and identification of stakeholders and their level of association (Holden et al, 2009). In reference to the unmet need and planned change, stakeholders to be considered at this stage include nurses, physicians, patients, the local community, governmental organizations, and non-gov ernmental organizations. The relationship between these stakeholders will have an immediate effect on the outcome of the planned change. Thirdly, I will engage identified stakeholders in terms of requesting them to participate in designing strategies aimed at the implementation of change, and make sure each one of them understand their specific roles and responsibilities (Holden et al, 2009). Fourthly, I will exhibit and put all the processes of the strategic plan into context in order for the stakeholders to understand (Holden et al, 2009). The fifth step will involve formulation of wide-ranging question for assessing the outcome of the planned change (2009). During this step, I will assess the practicability and achievability of the planned change. This will be followed by data collection by means of observation, direct interviews, and structured questionnaires to establish whether the objectives of

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

Frankenstein - Essay Example † Apparently, it seems that Dr. Frankenstein is the real culpable since he has created it ugly. But a close analysis will reveal that the society which fails to accept and nurture the creature is the real culprit. Indeed, the Victor’s creature is initially a sociable one which yearns to have a companion, but he is betrayed by his creator. He is the one who helps a wounded peasant girl; but in return, he is beaten by other peasants. Finally, it turns into a revengeful being because of the ill-treatment of the society. In fact, the creature gives what he receives from the society. He is the product of the society. Though Victor’s creature is a fantasy being, the novel teaches the readers that even animals, who are endowed with humanly quality and who even look monstrously dangerous, should be treated good but carefully. If a tiger, even though it is dangerous, is killed, the ecological balance will be destroyed. In the article â€Å"All Animals Are Equal,† Pe ter Singer argues that man should give the same respect to animals, since all humans and non-humans are equal. He claims that a prejudiced view to other species makes men cruel to other animals, and, as he comments, the definition of a specie is â€Å"a prejudice or attitude of bias in favor of interests members of one’s own species and against those members of other species† (Singer 3). Indeed, what he means by this statement is that members of one species will put their interest on the members of other species, even though it is against the interest of the other species. For instance, if an interest can benefit a human being, man will do it to get the interest even if it is against other animals. Even Victor’s monstrous creature is assumed an animal, it should have not been treated badly. Also, Peter Singer defines equality as follows: â€Å"The principle of equality of human beings is not a description of an alleged actual equality among humans: it is a pres cription how we should treat human beings† (Singer 3). Singer essentially argues that human beings should have respect for other human beings. If Victor and his society acknowledged the creature either as a man or even as an animal, they would accept him and nurture him properly. But they have not accepted the creature; instead, they treat it badly only to arouse the monstrous behavior in it. According to Singer, animals also feel pain, as he says, â€Å"there are no good reasons, scientific or philosophical, for denying that animals can feel pain. If we do not doubt that other humans feel pain we should not doubt that other animals do so too† (Singer 7). If Victor and his society understood that the creature also has a mind and feel pain, they would not treat it badly. Mary Shelly’s effort to bestow the creature with human feelings, qualities and yearnings, basically, challenges the assertion that the creature is a really dangerous monster. The terrible look of the creature does not prove that the creature should be treated badly. Initially, the creature is as naive as a child. It yearns to love and to be loved. It wants a female companion to be accompanied. Frankeinstein could attempt to socialize it, instead of being horrified by the creature’s frightening look. Dr. Frankenstein is not only the creator of the monster. In a sense, he is also its father. He cannot end his responsibility only by creating it. He should have

The benefits associated with exercising Essay Example for Free

The benefits associated with exercising Essay 1. Exercising lowers your risk for disease There’s no question losing weight is good for your health, and kicking your fitness up a notch has even greater benefits. Regular exercise has been shown to boost mood and banish anxiety, and lower your risk for stroke, Type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer. It can also help you fall asleep quicker, and into a deeper sleep (just don’t exercise too close to bedtime). All great reasons to get your body moving on a daily basis! * It burns off blood sugar Recent Czech research showed that three months’ strength training improved insulin sensitivity in men with insulin resistance. A British study confirmed that exercise was linked to reduced metabolic syndrome—and that people who were unfit to start with benefited even more from the physical activity than those who were reasonably fit when they started. * It controls weight Exercise burns calories so you lose, or at least don’t gain, weight. A recent study showed that among people whose BMI averaged 41 (that’s morbidly obese) those who lost just 7 percent of their body weight through regular exercise regained healthy blood pressure and triglyceride levels, and the inflammation in their arteries dropped by between a quarter and a third, even though their BMI still averaged 38 (still too high). Numerous studies have confirmed that you don’t need to be skinny to be physically fit. * It cuts total cholesterol The major and most important effect of exercise is to raise levels of â€Å"good† cholesterol, thus reducing total cholesterol levels. An international review of multiple studies revealed that adding exercise to a weight-loss diet not only raised the good cholesterol but also increased the benefits of the weight-loss program and reduced triglycerides and blood pressure. * It reduces your heart rate Every 60 seconds, the average couch potato’s heart beats 70 to 75 times. An active person’s heart, on the other hand, is so strong that it can pump the same amount of blood in only 50 beats. That’s 36,000 fewer beats every day and 13 million fewer by the end of just one year. Exercise strengthens your heart and saves it having to work at a higher rate all the time. * It breaks bad habits In a study of 280 women, U.S. researchers found that those who gave up smoking were twice as likely to stay smoke-free—and gained half as much weight—as those who gave up without exercising. * It lifts stress and sadness The positive effects of exercise on mood were demonstrated in a British study where sedentary adults were randomly assigned to moderate intensity aerobic exercise, stretching exercises or none at all, for 12 weeks. Those in the moderate intensity group reported reduced tension, anxiety and confusion. The others did not. Additionally, a Berlin study revealed that just 30 minutes a day of exercise can be more effective than antidepressant drugs in treating depression. Exercise stimulates the brain to produce endorphins—the body’s â€Å"feel good† hormones. It has two other advantages: it acts immediately and has few harmful or dangerous side effects. * It could save your life According to the World Health Organization, inactivity causes 2 million deaths worldwide annually and is a major factor in breast and colon cancer, diabetes and heart disease. The World Hear Federation believes that inactivity is as bad for you as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day. 2. Be a good role model Child obesity is becoming a serious problem. Approximately 26 percent of Canadian kids aged 2-17 are overweight or obese. Even scarier, stats show that for the first time ever, today’s children will have a shorter life expectancy than their parents. With school gym programs being reduced and  screen time on the rise, we need to be our kids’ fitness role models. Encourage fitness by taking family walks after dinner, or trying out the Family Circus class. 3. Exercise boosts energy Winded by grocery shopping or household chores? Regular physical activity can improve your muscle strength and boost your endurance. Exercise and physical activity deliver oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and help your cardiovascular system work more efficiently. And when your heart and lungs work more efficiently, you have more energy to go about your daily chores. 4. Fully enjoy the things you love The more fit you are, the easier it will be for you to take part in the activities you enjoy. Whether it’s going for a hike and experiencing the outdoors, or playing with the kids, you’ll find yourself more able to keep up, and less short of breath. 5. Ease back pain and improve your posture A daily regimen of stretches and exercise can also do wonders for your back. By strengthening your core abdominal muscles, you’ll increase your overall strength, taking the pressure away from your back and helping to alleviate any existing back pain. 6. Take some time for yourself Whether it’s an early morning jog, an afternoon cycle class or a late night walk with the dog, solo exercise gives you the opportunity to have a few moments of peace and quiet, think about future goals, and take some much-deserved â€Å"you† time. It’s also the perfect excuse to listen to your favourite soundtrack while you work out!

Oil And Energy Industry In UAE

Oil And Energy Industry In UAE The UAE is a rich source of natural resources and it has substantially developed itself as a major player in the oil and gas industry. UAE is one of the member countries of OPEC and has been given a remarkable position in oil and gas industry all over the world by having 10% holding of total oil reserves of the world in the federation (Hellyer). The central theme of the report is to analyze the oil and gas industry of UAE country so as to analyze the contribution and impact of oil and gas industry to the GDP and economic development. Fundamentals of the Oil and Energy Industry: Historical Development of the Oil Sector around the World: The UAE is a member of the OPEC since 1967 and holds superior position in terms of the oil and gas industry with the federation holding of 10% of the total oil reserves of the world. The future holds lucrative prospects in the natural gas sector as it would cater to the manufacturing industry, generation of power and petrochemical industry by providing a source of fuel. Abu Dhabi and Dubai are the two prominent emirates responsible for the success and growth of the oil and energy sector in the U.A.E. (Energy and UAE) Importance of Oil in the UAE: The UAE is essentially an imperative provider of oil to global energy markets, by making around 10% of the overall global supply of crude oil reserves. In terms of oil exports, UAE accounts for nearly 30% of its gross domestic product becoming a mainstay in the economy. Also, UAE is emerging as a relevant consumer of energy in addition to being an important global supplier of energy. The UAE will continue to maintain its long convention of being responsible energy stewardship owing to its diversification and development of economy; acceleration of growth of additional hydrocarbon reserves and contributing significantly towards the implementation and development of other alternative sources of energy (The UAE and Global Oil Supply). Production and Reserves: Production: S.No Particulars Capacity (2011) Oil Production 3,096.34 (Thousand Barrels Per Day) Crude Oil Production 2,687.67 (Thousand Barrels Per Day) Natural Gas Production 1,811 (Billion Cubic Feet) Electricity Production 81.08 (Billion Kilowatt-hours) Source: http://www.eia.gov/countries/country-data.cfm?fips=tc Reserves: S.No Particulars Capacity (2011) 1. Oil proved reserves 97.8 (Billion Barrels) 2. Natural gas proved reserves 214 (Trillion Cubic feet) Source: http://www.eia.gov/countries/country-data.cfm?fips=tc OPEC: Background of OPEC: The Oil Producing Exporting Countries (OPEC) has been established with the sole purpose of stabilizing the prices of oil in the member countries and also to impose quotas so as to prevent the wrong and over usage of natural resources which result to their extinction sooner than expectation. As per the current information, OPECà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s combined reserves accounts for 1190 billion barrels of oil. According to the 2008 agreement, the production cut was imposed on the existing quota and continuing to till now. Facts reveal that the OPEC countries produce 2 million barrels a day in excess of the permitted capacity of 24.845 million barrels per day(Alternative Energy Sources Synthetic Fuels Renewable Energy). Source: (OPEC share of world crude oil reserves) Effectiveness of OPEC in achieving its Objectives: OPEC was primarily formed to keep a check on the oil prices and bridging the gap of demand and supply in the global oil market. But still the quota implementations are not followed by various countries resulting in the production of oil more than the permitted quota. According to the claims of OPEC, the fluctuation in the prices is not due to the changes in demand and supply but due to the overproduction oil other than the allotted quotas (Sousa). OPEC and Oil prices in the last 4-5 years: The following figure shows the fluctuations in the global oil prices with the adherence of OPEC rules associated with oil production: http://gailtheactuary.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/world-oil-supply-and-brent-oil-price.png Source: (Why oil prices are so high: Production shortfall, Iran concerns, and low interest rates) OPEC Quota and how it has changed over time: The OPEC quota for the production of oil for UAE is 2.23 million barrels per day. It had joined OPEC in 1967 and is the Full Member country. It produces 2798000 barrels of oil and exports 3.32% of oil in all over the world. It is ranked as the 6th largest country for the oil reserves in the world. The OPEC aims at providing the stabilization of the price of oil as regards the member countries and also the imposition of quotas as will prevent overuse of the resources which could lead to finishing up of oil reserves sooner than expected. OPEC decides the production quotas for its member countries as per the global requirement of oil which could be changed by the OPEC as per the strategic decisions pertaining to conservation, preservation, demand and supply of the oil globally (Sousa) . Source: (Sousa) Role and the influence of the UAE within OPEC: UAE become the member of OPEC countries in 1967 and acts as an active member since 1974. Since then it act as a major contributor of oil and gas industry among OPEC members. It provides the constant source of oil to the consumers of OPEC by providing approximate 2.3 million barrels of oil per day. In addition to the supply of traditional sources of energy, UAE also contributes to provide new alternatives of energy through substantial development. (UAE contributes to global energy sector: OPEC) Effect of a quota cut by OPEC: The quota cut by OPEC will affect recovery of economy in the global market. As per the evidences, the quotas cut is not helping in controlling the price issues of the oil and gas industry rather it is increasing the problem as countries tends to produce oil other than the permitted quota. The hikes in the prices of oil will increase the prices of other commodities resulting increase the rate of inflation and slowing down the economic development. (Pirog) Analysis: According to the data obtained from the Journal of Oil and Gas, the UAE is an important producer of oil, holding significantly seventh position in terms of proven resources globally. The UAE has been able to sustain its global reserves owing to the advanced enhanced oil recovery technology, EOR being implemented that leads to increase in extraction rates of several major projects in oil sector. The technology combines with high oil prices eventually to make reserves more commercially viable (United Arab Emirates Energy Data, Statistics and Analysis) The policies and procedures of oil in the UAE is primarily carried out by the government under the flagship of the Supreme Petroleum Council, through ADNOC operating at every level of oil and energy sector in UAE. The government has pushed back several its plans to increase capacity in order to increase the production capacity of crude oil (United Arab Emirates Energy Data, Statistics and Analysis). UAE economy, underpinned by its wealth in oil, has recorded a steady growth over the last couple of years. In terms of oil GDP, the figures have doubled from AED 387.8 billion to AED 934.3 in last assessment year. Recent Development in Oil Sector of UAE: With the advent of Habshan-Al-Fujairah pipeline for the purpose of carrying oil from oil fields of Abu Dhabi to the exporting port has been essentially proved as a strategic and economic advantage for the overall sector of the country. The pipeline extending 350 kilometers from oil fields and with this the country will be able to export 1.5 million oil barrels in a single day. (Asoomi) Alternatives to Oil Industry: Keeping in mind the limited availability of fossil fuels and to prevent its overuse to meet the worldà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s growing energy demands, various alternatives to energy sources have been identified. Unconventional alternatives Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is the upcoming form of natural gas which provides an excellent alternative to conventional natural gas usage. GTL is not only a beneficial alternative but is also environment friendly as there are no harmful emissions on its combustion. Oil sands also provide a source of the extraction of oil from it and its use is significantly increasing with time. The only limiting factor is the increasing cost of setting up the required infrastructure and cost of mining and extraction of oil from it. However the oil sands are accompanied by noxious fumes which are contributing to the global warming issue (Alternative Energy Sources Synthetic Fuels Renewable Energy). Bio-fuels have been the outcome of recent developments in scientific researches. In this the organic matter is used to derive hydrocarbon based fuels such as Biodiesel, ethanol, etc. The conventional sources of energy include solar, wind and hydro energy all of which are renewable and 100% environment friendly. (Alternative Energy Sources Synthetic Fuels Renewable Energy) . Recent Developments: UAE has been involved in many new projects including increase in crude oil production to 4 million barrels per day by 2020. This would results to the increase in 40% from current capacity. The major upcoming projects include Bourouge complex expansion projects and the Habshan Gas Complex Expansion. UAE is planning to invest $ 6 billion to develop the infrastructure of oil and gas industry. Abu Dhabi government is planning to invest $ 20 billion in Masdar to develop alternative energy resources to oil and gas industry. (Oil Gas Directory Middle East) Future Scenarios: Future plans of the OPEC and the UAE Oil sector and their effect on the Economy: To promote fair and stable oil prices and strategies of capacity expansion. To examine the technological, economical, political growth and development pertaining to the oil energy and other important sectors. To encourage the oil consuming nations for the enhancement of investment associated with downstream sector. To promote the technological development in order to addressing the issues pertaining to the climate changes. To minimize the bad impact of environmental issues on the developing countries which exporting fossil-fuel (OPEC Long-Term Strategy). Impact of Oil and Non-Oil Alternatives on the future of the UAE: Oil sector is one of the essential components contributing towards the countryà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s economy with special economic consequence on rate of inflation, consumer spending and eventually auto sales of the country. The boom in the oil sector is bringing a gradual shift from trading and fishing to oil sector, making UAE depending heavily on petroleum and crude oil as a main source of foreign exchange earnings. The real output growth of the country is increasing owing to the rising hydrocarbon production and other non oil sectors, especially trade, logistics and services eventually bearing a relative economic growth revival. Recommendations: It is recommended to grab the opportunity from joint ventures to develop the sources not only in Dubai but also all over the UAE. Need to pay attention to other prevailing sectors such as banking, real state, telecom and aviation in order to increase the GDP and economic development. Identification of better source of material and labor should so as invest in major projects along with the implementation of Green initiatives Conclusion: Oil and Energy is a certainly a very important sector of the world that nourishes and contributes as a largest part to the GDP of the country. The production of oil leads to the production of various by-products and therefore the oil producing and exporting companies in UAE earns great revenue. At the same time, country earns most of its export earnings from oil and gas sector. On the other hand, due to emergence of other non oil sectors and slow economic growth, the sector is now facing several challenges including the challenge of diversification and privatization.

Queen Victorias Effect on Britain

Queen Victorias Effect on Britain Did Queen Victoria leave her subjects in a better condition in 1901 than when she found them in 1837? The Victorian era was principally a time of change, of transience: the translocation of a people, challenged morally, socially and in their religious beliefs, as never before. Standing majestically above all this was the image of stability which Queen Victoria symbolised. The shift from the rural life of the eighteenth century and the Romantic Movement in the Arts which accompanied it was displaced and the population in the industrial towns and cities swelled to the point of overflowing, producing slums and sweatshops rather than the wealth and security that had been sought, with ‘the Age of the Novel’ involved with social issues as well as establishing a new literary genre. In 1837, when Victoria came to the throne, these changes had already begun and by the time her reign ended, in 1901, more was ahead particularly if one considers the ‘long nineteenth century’ which encompasses the pre-war years up to 1914. How far her people were in a ‘better condi tion’ by the end of Victoria’s reign will be the subject of this essay, looking at the idea via the different media of change evidenced in religion, literature, politics and related social issues as well as the Imperialism which the establishment of the British monarch as the first Empress of India established. In many ways, it is true to say that Victoria presided over a Renaissance which had not been seen since her antecedent, Elizabeth, had been on the throne. The coincidence that a female monarch should have been in place at both times of regeneration does not, however, imply a connective: conditions were very different during Elizabeth’s reign, particularly in the area of social mobility and religious imperatives. The Victorian era saw the greatest challenges to both of these that had ever been seen. The movement of the peasantry to the towns saw an enormous shift in both the physical location of the population and its imperatives. Much was lost, in terms of tradition and permanence when the move to the cities occurred because most of those who did relocate in the hope of increasing their meagre incomes had never been farther than the next village before they moved and this had been the case for generations. Indeed, as early as the mid-nineteenth century novelists were using the idea of the rural idyll to exemplify an ideal existence now lost[1]. This is evident in novels such as George Eliot’s Adam Bede (1859) which was set some fifty years before it was written: As he reached the foot of the slope, an elderly horseman, with his portmanteau strapped behind him, stopped his horse when Adam had passed him, and turned round to have another long look at the stalwart workman in paper cap, leather breeches, and dark-blue worsted stockings.[2] The mounted, unidentified and detached observer (a connective with the contemporary reader) takes a ‘long look at the ‘stalwart workman’ in an elegiac emblem of the author’s intent within the novel to show a time now lost and the changes that were about to take place. Adam as a type of workman has been displaced and is no longer to be found and which represents a longing for a return to old times and old days associated with the countryside which can be traced to the present day and certainly becomes a primary informative, present in works such as Flora Thompson’s enduringly popular Larkrise to Candleford (1945) and further evidenced even in the work of such ‘scientific’ novelists as H.G. Wells in his novel, The History of Mr Polly, and the character of Leonard Bast as well as the evocative, mystical rural setting in E.M. Forster’s Howard’s End, both written in 1910. The novel also introduces the character of a female preacher, a ‘Dissenter’, in other words a Methodist, and by combining the two, Eliot shows that despite the loss of the life portrayed in her novel, there were positive challenges which changes such as the growing desire for the emancipation of women, at the forefront of which was J.S. Mill[3], and the need to find new ways of expressing religious sensibility. The ultimate challenge to religion, of course, was presented by the theories of evolution which were being formulated in the 1860s. Although Charles Darwin is credited with having discovered this, the work of such as Herbert Spencer, who actually coined the term ‘survival of the fittest’ in his Principles of Biology (1864) which Darwin incorporated into a later edition of his own work, were also significant. Within his seminal The Origin of Species, first published in 1859, Darwin introduced to the wider public the then profoundly disturbing notion that man was not created entire and complete as the Bible relates but evolved and thus dispossessed an entire generation who had previously felt secure in the knowledge of God as their Creator (though Darwin uses this term himself many times within the work and does not deny the idea of a Creator directly[4]). It is a mistake, however, to assume that Darwin’s ideas had much immediate effect on the population at large. R ather, its immediate aftermath may be discerned in the literature of the time, George Eliot, a close friend of Spencer, amongst these. Moreover, his published theories were simply an affirmation for many of a growing generic scepticism, such as Thomas Hardy shows: On the last day of the year [1901] he makes the following reflection: ‘After reading various philosophic systems, and being struck with their contradictions and futilities, I have come to this: Let every man make a philosophy for himself out of his own experience. He will not be able to escape using terms and phraseology from earlier philosophers, but let him avoid adopting their theories if he values his own mental life. Let him remember the fate of Coleridge, and save years of labour by working out his own views as given him by his surroundings.’[5] However, just as the move from the towns to the cities subsequently produced a sense of loss, the disconnection with the certainty of divine creation also saw the longing for a mystical element to life once ‘the divine’ had, in a sense, been removed from it: seeking ‘an oasis of mystery in the dreary desert of knowledge’[6]. The disconnection resulted in the burgeoning of interest in Spiritualism which was witnessed at the end of the century, with personages as eminent and respected as Rudyard Kipling not only interested and involved with this but also writing about it in stories such as the mysterious ‘They’[7] and imagination came to be seen as connected to the divine and dislocated by Darwin’s discoveries, Forster wrote in 1910: ‘They collect facts and facts and empires of facts. But which of them will re-kindle the light within?’[8] However, the connection of facts with the denial of imagination had been discussed much earlier by the man who is above anyone the voice of the nineteenth century, Charles Dickens. In his novel of 1854, Hard Times, he demonstrates the denial of the importance of ‘fancy’ in Utilitarian educational methods and the pre-eminence of ‘facts’[9]. This he extends to the teaching methods used to train the teachers themselves: He and some one hundred and forty other schoolmasters had been lately turned at the same time, in the same factory, on the same principles, like so many pianoforte legs. He had been put through an immense variety of paces, and had answered volumes of head-breaking questions. [†¦] He had worked his stony way into Her Majestys most Honourable Privy Councils Schedule B, and had taken the bloom off the higher branches of mathematics and physical science, French, German, Latin and Greek. [†¦] Ah, rather overdone, MChoakumchild. If he had only learnt a little less, how infinitely better he might have taught much more![10] Dickens the radical is less appreciated now than in his own time, as in subsequent centuries he has come to be seen simply as a master-story teller, which of course he was. However, this is to deny the way that Dickens, as evidenced in this satirical swipe at the Utilitarian movement, used his immense popularity in the cause of social reform. Indeed, in the early years of Victoria’s reign, he published his second and third novels, Oliver Twist (1837-9) and Nicholas Nickleby (1838-9). The first of these was concerned with the effects of the infamous ‘Poor Law’ and the 1834 amendment. It was widely believed that the abuse of this injured rather than helped the poor and Dickens’ novel was intended to bring that to the notice of those who had the power to do something about it, as well as reaching the newly literate lower echelons and letting them know they had someone who would speak for them, that their story, as Dickens remarked in his Preface to the 1867 ed ition, from thieves to prostitutes, was a ‘TRUTH’ that ‘needed to be told’[11]. As his friend and first biographer remarked: His qualities could be appreciated as well as felt in an almost equal degree by all classes of his various readers.[12] Thus, as the novelist is known to have said, by making people care about one child, he might make them care about the many and this emanated from his own sufferings as a child alone in London when his father was imprisoned for debt in the infamous Marshalsea (which was to provide the setting for his later novel, Little Dorrit, 1857, though the six hundred year old prison closed in 1842) whence he was accompanied by his wife and younger children[13]. Dickens never spoke of the experience, save through his fiction, nor did he ever forget it. In Nicholas Nickleby and the creation of Dotheboys Hall, Dickens continued to exercise his creative power to bring to the attention of his readers the appalling social evil of the Yorkshire schools, whose abuses he remembered hearing of as a child and then investigated (whilst wearing a disguise) as part of his research for the novel. As the author said in his fragment of autobiography, ‘we should be devilish careful what we do to children’[14]. Dickens had a long memory and an acute social awareness and both are evident in Nickleby, as is the sheer exhilaration and appetite for life which had proved so popular in his first novel Pickwick Papers (1836-7). Moreover, Dickens was a successful reformer, commenting in his preface to the 1848 edition: This story was begun, within a few months after the publication of the completed Pickwick Papers. There were, then, a good many cheap Yorkshire schools in existence. There are very few now.[15] The fact is stated simply but the achievement was immense. The obverse of these schools, of course, was seen in Arnold’s pioneering work in reforming the public schools, as evidenced in Thomas Hughes’, Tom Brown’s Schooldays (1857). The issue of social and educational reform was one with which many novelists were concerned at this time, engaging with both the needs and desires of the weakest in society. Engels had identified this as ‘the social war, the war of each against all’[16] and he applied this as a generic to the multiplicity of industrial towns and cities: What is true of London, is true of Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, is true of all great towns. Everywhere barbarous indifference, hard egotism on one hand, and nameless misery on the other, everywhere social warfare, every mans house in a state of siege, everywhere reciprocal plundering under the protection of the law, and all so shameless, so openly avowed that one shrinks before the consequences of our social state as they manifest themselves here undisguised, and can only wonder that the whole crazy fabric still hangs together.[17] Engels’ work was published between September 1844 and March 1845 and had an immediate effect on not just those who were, if one may term it so, ‘declared radicals’, like himself, but also those like the deeply ‘respectable’ and widely respected writer Elizabeth Gaskell, whose first novel, Mary Barton, written in 1848, partly to assuage the pain of losing her child, deals largely with the poverty experienced by the poor in Manchester. Gaskell, encouraged by both her husband, the Ereverend William Gaskell, and Dickens, researched the conditions of the city in which she and William were then living. What she found horrified her and the reality of expression present within the novel can be seen in her powerful descriptions of the slum dwellings she had seen: Our friends were not dainty, but even they picked their way, till they got to some steps leading down to a small area, where a person standing would have his head about one foot below the level of the street, and might at the same time, without the least motion of his body, touch the window of the cellar and the damp muddy wall right opposite. You went down one step even from the foul area into the cellar in which a family of human beings lived. It was very dark inside. The window-panes many of them were broken and stuffed with rags, which was reason enough for the dusky light that pervaded the place even at mid-day. After the account I have given of the state of the street, no one can be surprised that on going into the cellar inhabited by Davenport, the smell was so foetid as almost to knock the two men down.[18] The importance of setting such descriptions in the context of fiction might be thought possibly to lessen its reality in the eyes of contemporary readers but nothing could be farther from the truth, as though few would be drawn to the admirable tracts of Engels, many were attracted to the vivid stories of such as Dickens and Gaskell. Indeed, Gaskell was careful always to ensure that her work did not offend those in power to the extent that she will qualify a passage on the uncaring attitude of the rich as perceived by the poor by adding placatory comments such as: I know that this is not really the case; and I know what is the truth in such matters: but what I wish to impress is what the workman feels and thinks.[19] The implied separation in comprehension may appear patronising by today’s standards but it must be remembered that Gaskell was truly attempting to do as she proclaimed, ‘impress’ the thoughts and feelings of ‘the workman’ on those in power in the hope it would aid reform. If she had been too directly challenging, they would simply not have read her works which would have defeated the object. Gaskell faced similar opposition in her second novel, Ruth, published in 1853, when she addressed the topic of an unmarried mother sympathetically, much too sympathetically for the liking of many, who felt she was undermining the perceived moral and religious mores of the time. The novel was thought to be based upon the true story of a girl called Pasley: In 1850 she took up the cause of a girl called Pasley whom she had come across in the New Bayley prison. In a long letter to Dickens, at that time involved in his emigration project for fallen women, she gives details of the case. Pasleys career exemplifies the dangers facing even a girl of respectable parentage who was neglected. The daughter of an Irish clergyman who had died when she was two, she had been neglected by an indifferent mother, and then placed in an orphanage, before becoming a dressmakers apprentice. Following a series of misfortunes for which she had not herself been responsible she had been seduced by her own doctor. The consequence had been first the Penitentiary and then a career of petty crime; finally, by an appalling stroke of coincidence, the poor girl had been confronted when in prison by her very seducer, now acting as prison surgeon.[20] Certainly, there are many similarities between the case of Pasley and that of Ruth and Gaskell’s clear intent is to show how difficult was the plight of girls in Ruth’s and Pasley’s situation. Gaskell successfully persuaded Dickens to intervene for Pasley and she emigrated but clearly the case was not forgotten by her as emblematic of the vulnerability of young girls in nineteenth century society. Indeed, she had already addressed the idea that prostitution was the usual fate of such girls in Mary Barton and the ‘petty crime’ to which she refers might certainly be euphemistically describing prostitution. Attitudes towards prostitution were far from sympathetic and much of the reforming work done at the time concerned not only changing conditions for prostitutes but also in improving the notorious double-standard which operated towards it, both then and now. The Contagious Diseases Acts of 1864, 1866, and 1869 to some extent reflect this. The Act was established to protect soldiers but had the coincidental effect of advancing the cause of women’s liberation: [†¦] legislation intended to protect members of the British armed forces from sexually transmitted diseases ended up galvanizing a major Victorian feminist movement in which working- and middle-class women worked together for a common cause.[21] Thus, it can be seen that Gaskell’s pre-emptive strike truly reflected the feelings of many that Victorian laws operated for the protection of men rather than women and that even though there were exceptions, such as Mill and Dickens, the latter of whom set up Urania Cottage as a refuge for ‘fallen women’, the vast majority of the population preferred simply to ignore the suffering and anguish of girls on the streets. Somewhat ironically, compassion towards prostitutes was stirred by the infamous ‘Whitechapel Murders’ of 1888-91, perpetrated by the still unidentified ‘Jack the Ripper’. Even for the so called ‘respectable’ working classes, indeed, in general conditions were appallingly bad, especially in the factories and sweatshops[22] which abounded both in London and elsewhere in the country: ‘The nineteenth century saw the Englishman turn town dweller and by 1900 three-quarters of the nation lived in towns’[23]. Bearing this in mind, it seems inevitable that conditions in these towns would be at best difficult and at worst unbearable (the infamous employment of children as, for example, chimney-sweeps, being evident in the work of such as the reformer Charles Kingsley who wrote The Water Babies in 1863 to expose this abuse). Thus, approaching the end of Victoria’s reign, the population was generally in a state of crisis. However, there was a discernable exception to this, in part, in the beginning of what we would now take to be an upwardly mobile meritocracy. Consisting largely of those persons concerned with ‘white-collar work’, the clerk for example, this section of society knew a growth and freedom such as never before. Possibly the best example of this is to be found in George and Weedon Grossmith’s The Diary of a Nobody, first published in Punch as a series of articles during 1888-9, in the form of a diary of the fictional Mr. Pooter. The highly amusing work is also an invaluable record of a new type of man emerging in Victorian society: My clear wife Carrie and I have just been a week in our new house, â€Å"The Laurels,† Brickfield Terrace, Holloway—a nice six-roomed residence, not counting basement, with a front breakfast-parlour. We have a little front garden; and there is a flight of ten steps up to the front door, which, by-the-by, we keep locked with the chain up. Cummings, Gowing, and our other intimate friends always come to the little side entrance, which saves the servant the trouble of going up to the front door, thereby taking her from her work. We have a nice little back garden which runs down to the railway. We were rather afraid of the noise of the trains at first, but the landlord said we should not notice them after a bit, and took  £2 off the rent. He was certainly right; and beyond the cracking of the garden wall at the bottom, we have suffered no inconvenience.[24] The Pooters encapsulate the image of a new class, living in their own home, employing a servant, having a garden and yet still retaining their parsimonious connective with their humbler origins; in many ways, the Pooters are the future. In conclusion, it may be remarked that the Victorian era saw the greatest period of change that had ever been seen. Industrial development saw riches and poverty in unequal measure; improvements were made in nursing and social concerns but the population mostly remained in poverty and both ill-nourished and inadequately cared for in terms of health; the trains united the country but the rural population was fragmented and the urban largely in dire circumstances; schooling was expanded and literacy improved but the standard of education was at best questionable; the Empire flourished but its members across the seas were mostly downtrodden, subjugated and rebellious: in short, to quote Dickens’ famous opening to A Tale of Two Cities (1859), ‘it was the best of times and the worst of times’. It is extremely difficult to assess, in the final analysis, whether the end of Victoria’s reign saw her people in a better or worse condition than when her reign began but certainly, the single most important development seen was the opportunity for change. In this sense if no other, the population was better off at the end of the long nineteenth century than at the beginning of it. However, the war that was about to devastate Europe brought apocalyptic changes which could never have been envisaged and certainly Tennyson’s famous reference in ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ (1854) to the fact that ‘Some one had blunderd’ would take on a profoundly disturbing resonance from which the world over which Victoria presided would never recover. Truly, 1914 brought more than just the end of an era it brought the end of Victorian mores and the expectations of the population would alter radically, with revolution, such as occurred in Russia in 1917, a perpetual possibility, especially with the growth of the unions and the Socialist Party, which wiped out the Liberals. Victoria’s reign was not just one age but many and as such, like most eras, was both good and bad. Bibliography Ackroyd, Peter. Dickens. London: Guild Publishing, 1990. Beer, Gillian. Darwin’s Plots. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000. Davis, Philip. The Victorians. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002. Cobbet, William. Rural Rides. New York: Cosimo Classics, 2004. Darwin, Charles. The Origin of Species. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1996. Dickens, C. Oliver Twist. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999 Dickens, Charles. Hard Times. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1989. Eliot, George. Adam Bede. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998. Eliot, George. The Lifted Veil. London: Virago Press, 1985, Englels, F. The Condition of the Working class in England (1844) http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1845/condition-working-class/index.htm> Forster, E.M. Howards End. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1987. Forster, J. The Life of Charles Dickens in Two Volumes. London: J.M. Dent, 1980. Hardy, F.E. The Life of Thomas Hardy. London: Macmillan, 1962. Hughes, Thomas. Tom Browns School Days. New York: Harper Brothers,1911. Gaskell, Elizabeth. Mary Barton. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1993. Gaskell, Elizabeth. Ruth. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998. Grossmith, G M. The Diary of a Nobody. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998. Kipling, Rudyard. Kim. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1918. Kipling, Rudyard. Traffics and Dicoveries. New York: Charles Scribner Sons. Langland, Elizabeth. Nobodys Angels: Middle-Class Women and Domestic Ideology in Victorian Culture. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1995. Lawrence, D.H. The Rainbow. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997. Lightman, Bernard, ed. Victorian Science in context. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1997. Maltus, Thomas. Essay on the Principle of Population (1798), 29.11.08. http://www.marxists.org/reference/subject/economics/malthus/index.htm> Mathias, P. The first Industrial Nation. London: Routledge, 2001. Mayhew, Henry. The Unknown Mayhew. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1971. Mill, J.S. The Subjection of Women. New York: Prometheus, 1986. Roberts, F. David. The Social Conscience of the Early Victorians. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2002. Smiles, Samuel, Self Help. 29.11.08 http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext97/selfh10h.htm> Smiles, Samuel. Industrial Biography: Iron-Workers and Tool-Makers. Boston: Ticknor and Fields,1864. Sturt, George. Change in the Village. London: Caliban Books, 1984. Thompson, Flora. Lark Rise to Candleford. London: Penguin, 2008. The Victorian Web. accessed 30.11.08. http://www.victorianweb.org/gender/contagious.html> Worthen, John. D H Lawrence. The Early Years 1885-1912. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1991. 1 Footnotes [1] For more on the idea of changes and loss of traditions see: Sturt, George. Change in the Village. London: Caliban Books, 1984. (First published in 1912.) [2] Eliot, George. Adam Bede. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998, p. 12. [3] See: Mill, J.S. The Subjection of Women. New York: Prometheus, 1986. [4] Darwin, Charles. The Origin of Species. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1996. [5] Hardy, F.E. The Life of Thomas Hardy. London: Macmillan, 1962, p. 310. [6] Eliot, George. The Lifted Veil. 1878. London: Virago Press, 1985, p. 26. [7] Kipling, Rudyard. Traffics and Dicoveries. New York: Charles Scribners Sons, 1904, p. 337. [8] Forster, E.M. Howards End. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1987, p. 43. [9] Dickens, C. Hard Times. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1989, pp. 8-9. [10] Dickens, C. Hard Times. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1989, p. 10. [11] Dickens, C. Oliver Twist. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999, Preface, p. xx. [12] Forster, J. The Life of Charles Dickens in Two Volumes. London: J.M. Dent, 1980, vol. I, p. 83. [13] Forster, J. The Life of Charles Dickens in Two Volumes. London: J.M. Dent, 1980. [14] Forster, J. The Life of Charles Dickens in Two Volumes. London: J.M. Dent, 1980. [15] Dickens, C. Nicholas Nickleby. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1990, Preface to the 1848 Edition, Lii. [16] Englels, F. The Condition of the Working class in England (1844): 29.11.08. http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1845/condition-working-class/index.htm> [17] Englels, F. The Condition of the Working class in England (1844): 29.11.08. http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1845/condition-working-class/index.htm> [18] Gaskell, Elizabeth. Mary Barton. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1993, pp. 79-80. [19] Gaskell, Elizabeth. Mary Barton. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1993, p. 49. [20] See Alan Shelston’s introduction to: Gaskell, Elizabeth. Ruth. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998, pp. vii-viii. [21] See: ‘The Contagious Diseases Act’, accessed 30.11.08. http://www.victorianweb.org/gender/contagious.html> [22] See: Mayhew, Henry. The Unknown Mayhew. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1971. [23] Mathias, P. The First Industrial Nation. London: Routledge, 2001, p. 226. [24] Grossmith, G M. The Diary of a Nobody. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998, p. 3.

Kraft Foods, High Performance Work Systems (HPWS) Essay -- Case Study

In 1995, Kraft was created through the reorganization and merger of J. L. Kraft, Oscar Meyer, and C. W. Post into one operating company. For the reorganization the Operations Division chose to use the High Performance Work Systems (HPWS) change management tool because they believed it was the best way to include all of the necessary elements that would contribute to the vision of undisputed leadership. They also liked the HPWS tool because of its strict structure and because it was a good platform to create and communicate a consistent management philosophy. HPWS allowed them to monitor all of their plants, new and old, for efficiency and effectiveness of the reorganization. Strengths of the Change Intervention Kraft Foods, Inc. approached their change initiative by researching and testing before implementing. The High Performance Work Systems (HPWS) was first implemented into three start-up plants. The HPWS method was successful and adopted by the new plants. HPWS helps determine factors such as total inventory, cost of production, and measurement of productivity. Once the HPWS method proved to be successful it was then implemented into the existing plants to help gain control of costs, waste, and productivity. Kraft was able to provide quality examples to the existing plants of how this method improved productivity and profits. Employees were able to embrace the change plan easier when they could actually see the possible improvements. Kraft had a bonus because the employees were able to see the method working in similar situations, which helped build trust and acceptance in the change plan. This method also empowered the employees giving them an opportunity to increase their skill levels and an opportuni... ...ecause of the communication tools provided through HPWS. â€Å"By consistently applying the tools across Operations, Kraft was assured that people and work systems were aligned† (Carter et al, p.37). In fact, most of their Champions became so adept at HPWS that they are now internal consultants for the company. That level of knowledge, commitment, and motivation among their people will surely allow Kraft to sustain momentum and realize future success. References Bridges, W. (2009). Managing Transitions: Making the Most of Change. Philadelphia, PA: Da Capo Press. Carter, L., Ulrich, D., & Goldsmith, M. (2005). Best Practices in Leadership Development and Organization Change: How the Best Companies Ensure Meaningful Change and Sustainable Leadership. San Francisco, CA: Pfeiffer. Kotter, J. P. (1996). Leading Change . Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press.

Eve’s Food Preparation: Art and Experience in Eden :: Research Papers

Eve’s Food Preparation: Art and Experience in Eden The arts of the first couple before the Fall have been extensively written on. It seems that most critics view prelapsarian art as congruous and natural to Eden, as evidence of prelapsarian splendor. Ann Torday Gulden states that art in Eden is socially neutral: â€Å"Surely art is innocuous [in Eden], an integral part of paradisal bliss† (18). Indeed, Eve’s artistic activity makes Eden seem all the more delightful to the reader. However, with a careful examination of how Eve’s art is perceived by the poem’s male characters, it becomes evident that Eve’s aesthetics do not quite fit. It is tempting for the reader, who lives in a â€Å"fallen† world, so unequivocally in favor of artistic culture, to praise Eden for examples of cultural activity within it. However, just about every example of Eve’s artistic activity is characterized by an aloofness from divine discourse. The male authoritative characters of Paradise Lost primarily ignore Eve’s examples of talented artistry, giving neither praise nor disapproval. But while the lack of recognition speaks volumes about her low status, it allows her an expansive autonomy from the divinely recognized modes of Edenic worship and devotion which serve to revere God. If the authoritative male characters regard her creativity as inconsequential, then there is almost no limit to the degree of autonomous creativity she can have within that localized sphere of artistry; no one is watching her or correcting her. The way in which Eve prepares food for the dinner guest, the angel Raphael, is a prime illustration of both Eve’s removal from the divine discourse and her expansion of a cultural, creative realm in which she can act, rather than follow. The first thing to recognize about the scene of Raphael’s arrival to instruct Adam and Eve is that Eve is excluded from proximity to the divine by Adam. To some degree, Adam actually forces her removal. The first one to see Raphael coming is Adam, of course. He says: Haste hither, Eve, and, worth thy sight, behold Eastward among the trees what glorious shape Comes this way moving; seems another morn Risen on mid-noon. Some great behest from Heaven To us perhaps he brings, and will vouchsafe This day to be our guest. But go with speed, And what thy stores contain bring forth, and pour Abundance fit to honour and receive Our heavenly stranger... (5.308) Adam’s language is unquestioning. It is clear that he knows a guest from Heaven is on his way. The speed with which he recognizes that the thing on the horizon is from Heaven shows that he has an intuitive

5- HTP- Myth or Miracle? :: Chemistry Chemical Papers

5- HTP- Myth or Miracle? The neurotransmitter, 5-hydroxy-tryptophan (5-HTP)is a compound created in the body which is used to regulate serotonin levels in brain and central nervous system. (www.medquestpharmacy.com). According to the web sites used, a supplement of 5-HTP is said to regulate moods, help treat anxiety and aid in weight loss (www.biosynergy.com/5htp.htm). They also stated that 5-HTP helps with insomnia and lower the risk of heart disease. The risk of heart disease is supposed to be lowered as a result of less anxiety and a more peaceful state of mind (www.biosynergy.com/5htp.htm). However, according to medical journals and reviews it is only proven that 5- HTP helps improve moods of depressed patients and may aid in weight loss, improve sleep patterns and help panic attacks. In the medical articles which were read, it was indicated that more research should be conducted on 5-HTP before any claims were made regarding the effects on sleep patterns or weight loss. Within these articles there was little to no mention of the effects of 5-HTP on heart disease. However, in a clinical trial Schwarcz, Young, and Brown (1989) performed, there was evidence to show that 5-HTP combined with a diet high in carbohydrates does lower blood pressure. How 5-HTP Works: Serotonin is a "neurotransmitter which is responsible for mood, hunger sleep" (www.herbsnow.com/sotm.htm). The website, medquest pharmacy claims that 5-HTP works by increasing the amount of serotonin produced in the brain. And in fact, according to Gastpar and Wakelin (1998), 5-HTP is a known precursor to serotonin which has been proven in many studies. Serotonin levels are supposed to have a direct effect on a persons mood (www.medquwestpharmacy.com/5-htp.htm). In fact antidepressant drugs approved by the FDA, such as Prozac, are said to work by increasing the amount of serotonin available to the brain(www.biosyenrgy.com/5htp.htm). Effectiveness of Treatment: It is said on medquest pharmacy’s web site that when 100mg of 5-HTP is taken three times a day for an extended period of time showed a 50 % improvement in depressed patients. In addition the patients are said to have had no side effects(www.

What I Believe In †Beliefs that Frame My Outlook on the World

We humans are entitled to have our own beliefs. These beliefs serve as our guiding principles in living our lives. They also help in building and framing our outlook towards the world we live in and towards our relationships with other people. Our beliefs can determine our character and can give reasons as to how we should live our lives every single day. What I personally believe in is actually very simple and basic. I believe in the power of doing something good to other people. For some reason, I grew up believing that if I do an act of goodness, life would be good to me as well.It is not as if I am asking or expecting for something in return every time I do something good. It is not that way. I just believe that showing an act of kindness and concern to others adds meaning into my life and it helps me feel good as well. This belief had helped me gain a better outlook in life. It feels good to receive a sincere smile from other people and even strangers whom I try to help – whether it is just a tiny gesture of offering a seat in the bus or picking up something that they have dropped.For me, an act of goodness – whether great or small – makes life more fulfilling. It warms the heart and makes the world seem happier and safer. I believe that a person can never be wrong if he chooses to do whatever is good. There are many opportunities for us to show an act of goodness every single day if we just look around – helping an elderly cross the street, donating something to the charity, participating in an environmental project, volunteering at a community centre and offering our companionship to someone who is in need of a friend; and many others.Even without exerting any conscious effort, I know that there are still a lot of ways for me to do something good like being patient while waiting in line at the fast food counter, being nice to the waiters and waitresses in restaurants, saying â€Å"thank you† to that security guard that opens and closes the door for me at the bank and by simply saying â€Å"I’m sorry† and â€Å"Please† all the time. I consider patience and good manners as virtues that I need to practice everyday in order to instil them in my character.Imagine if every person on earth would attempt to do an act of goodness everyday. There would probably be lesser troubles for people. The world can become a better place and we can set good examples to the younger generation. Whether we accept it or not, choosing to do what is good and showing kindness to others can go a long way. By doing so, we are already uplifting, inspiring and helping others in ways we can never quite expect. It is like touching other people’s lives and giving them hope that goodness still exists and there are ways to spread it out to the others.From another perspective, I believe that doing something good everyday of my life will help me have a good life as well. I have this idea in my mind that doin g acts of goodness all the time has its paybacks. As I have mentioned earlier, this is not associated with me asking for something in return. It simply means that I believe that there is such a thing as good karma. It is like leaving the rest to the forces of nature that exist or to fate; or to our Creator. It does not really matter which, what or who is responsible for the payback.All I know is that in life, goodness has its own price. As long as I am a good person, I can expect pleasant things to come my way. Life has its own twists and turns and this is something that is known to all of us. Sometimes, things do not always turn out as expected. I have experienced this to a great extent. While I am at my life’s mission of spreading goodness to others, one of the people whom I helped had betrayed me. This person has hurt me and despite of the good things I have done for him, he chose to pay me back with betrayal and deception.Another instance was when I decided to join a very worthy cause. I ended up being accused of something I did not do. I became a victim of injustice. Despite of all the help and effort I exerted for that particular project, I was accused of being on the negative side. Indeed, both experiences had been extremely disappointing and yes, painful to some extent. I would be a hypocrite if I would say that these specific events in my life did not shake my belief. In fact, there were days when I asked myself if I should continue being good to those who had hurt, betrayed and accused me.Is it still worth it to believe in the power of goodness? Should I continue believing that goodness can conquer all the negative things in this world? I was taken aback at how people can easily use and judge others. However, later on, I came to a realization that every person goes through several challenges and trials in his lifetime. That is the essence of living. My beliefs are my guiding principles on how I would live my life; but I should not expect other people to also believe whatever it is that I believe in; or expect them to follow my principles.Each person is unique and has his own beliefs. There will be times when the act of goodness that I do will not be reciprocated. That is my challenge and it is something that I should learn to accept. I also have to acknowledge the fact that people do not act and think alike all the time. Things will not always go my way or turn out as expected. The outcomes of my beliefs can either be favourable or unfavourable. Still, there is nothing wrong with believing that â€Å"goodness equates to goodness† regardless of everything. Thus I still believe in the power of doing good things to others.In conclusion to this personal insight, I simply want to state that our belief gives meaning to our existence and moulds our character. In my case, I find fulfilment and pleasure in doing something good to others – like showing some concern, expressing love or extending an act of kindness. I know that there will be times when my belief will be tested or challenged and I can easily lose my grip. However, as long as I know that what I believe in is right and just, life will find a way to pay me back. References http://www. npr. org/templates/story/story. php? storyId=4538138&ps=sa

Models of American Ethnicities Essay

How does Fredrickson distinguish between race and ethnicity? How and under what circumstances can ethnicity become racialized’ (para.2)? Fredrickson says that â€Å"It can be misleading to make a sharp distinction between race and ethnicity when considering intergroup relations in American history† He means that these terms do not have clear distinctions and have evolved over time. In paragraph 2, he writes that ethnicity can become racialized â€Å"whenever distinctive group characteristics†¦are used as the basis for a status hierarchy of groups who are thought to differ in ancestry or descent.† What does Fredrickson mean by â€Å"the burden of ‘otherness’†? Summarize the ways in which racial categories and definitions of â€Å"whiteness† have changed during the course of American history.   Fredrickson means that throughout the course of American History being labeled as an â€Å"other,† has changed. From the 1860s to the 1920s there were different kinds of race quotas on immigration. Definitions of â€Å"whiteness have changed drastically as we can observe in Fredrickson’s writing. In the late 19th and early twentieth centuries the ideas of euguenics, scientific racism, and social Darwinism, all accumulated in different definitions of â€Å"whiteness.† Fredrickson writes that â€Å"In the minds of many(during the period of the 1860s to the 1920s) true americans were not merely white but also Northern European†¦.some even harbored doubts about the full claim of â€Å"whiteness† of swarthy immigrants from southe rn Italy.† What are some of the ways that ethnic hierarchy has been eliminated? In what ways does it persist, according to Fredrickson? What evidence can you think of that would support or challenge this contention? Ethnic hierarchy was almost wholly eliminated after WWII among White people of different European background as well as Jews. The ethnic hierarchy shifted from ethnic background to color. After the civil rights movement in the 1960s, most of the ethnic hierarchy had been eliminated. Fredrickson says that it still persists in the ghettos, indian reservations, and barrios. I agree with Fredrickson on the assertion that Ethnic hierarchy still exists in America  today. For example, Unequal treatment by law enforcement and the ethnic targeting among the African American community is still present today. Fredrickson writes that â€Å"assimilationist thinking is not racist in the classic sense† (para. 9) — thereby implying that such thinking may be racist in some other sense. What does he mean by this? Do you agree? Fredrickson means that assimilationism tries to force one culture into accepting the â€Å"superiority, purity, and unchanging character of the dominant culture.† He gives an example of the â€Å"Native American cultural genocide† in regards to assimilationism. I agree, Assimilationism can force a culture to throw away part of its identity, values, and traditions. How does Fredrickson distinguish cultural pluralism from assimilation? How did earlier forms of pluralism differ from the current concept of multiculturalism? Fredrickson writes â€Å"†Unlike assimilationists, cultural Pluralists celebrate differences among groups, rather than seek to obliterate them.† According to Fredrickson, pluralism differed from Multiculturalism, â€Å"Multiculturalism operated on assumptions that were similar to those of the cultural pluralist tradition, except that the color line was breached and the focus was shifted from the cultures and contributions of diverse European ethnic groups to those of African Americans, Mexican Americans, Asian Americans, and Native Americans. Why does Fredrickson reject the claim that an emphasis on ethnic identity threatens the unity and stability of American society? Why does a Euro-American backlash against ethnic diversity pose a greater risk in his view? Have you observed any recent examples of either divisiveness or backlash? Compare your observations with those of classmates. He rejects the claim that emphasis on ethnic identity threatens the unity of American society because American society is made up of different ethnic backgrounds. backlash against ethnic diversity poses a greater risk because it provides more room for racism or discrimination.

Western Borrowed Muslim

The Muslims have been a part of the American History ever since the Pre-Columbian times. The Early explorers used maps that were made by Muslims. At the time, the Muslims had advance Geographical and Navigational information. Also, aside from this, during the time when African slaves were imported in the Americas, half of the slave population could be estimated to be Muslims. The Msulims arrived in Europe in different ways, these were through, Muslim Explorers, Muslim Armies, Traders, and through Scientific Research and Arabic Manuscripts. Europe being influenced by Muslim Culture was famous for exploring the Western Continent. These are some instances in History that could usher a great influence in Culture. Islamic Science In 750 AD, Abbasid caliphs of Baghdad, helped Science not only to thrive, but also spread towards the West(Spain) and East(Central Asia) in a period of over six hundred years. Influenced by Greek, Indian and Persian Culture, the early Arab Muslim scholars were able accrue an insurmountable amount of scientific knowledge. In doing so, they were able to make it flourish through their own innovations and discoveries. Astronomy and Mathematics were two of the bodies of knowledge which the Muslims paid attention to. Astronomy was particularly important to them specifically because of their religion. In Muslim Religion, one must pray towards a specific direction, specifically towards Mecca. Wherever a Muslim follower is, he must pray towards that direction, and at the time, they did not rely on any instruments such as a compass, but simply relied on the stars. Mathematics is relatively important to them as well with regards to dividing their property with regards to Inheritance in the Islamic Law. Although Science developed with the help of Islam’s, there are no active figures in Science that were Muslims. But during the 12th and 13th Centuries, the Research paper done by these people were translated from Arab to Latin and was passed to the western continents. Medical Arts A book that may be found in on-line, Islamic Medicine, Proviedes studies and various essays pertaining to different Physicians and scholars which would contain chapters on Islamic Medical Ethics, euthanasia and AIDS. The advance stages of Arab Medicine came in 12th and 13th Century, wherein we can find entries pertaining to Medical Schools flourishing in the Muslim Society. Some achievements of Arab medicine that were overlooked by the west was Muslim(Arab) roots of European Medicine, and the Discovery of how Pulmonary Circulation works in the Body. In fact it was discovered later by two doctors in the U. S. that the Pulmonary Circulation was indeed discovered by a Muslim that goes by the name of Ibn Nafis. This proves that the Pulmonary Circulation was not discovered in the 16th Century by the Europeans, but by Ibn Nafis who was actually a famous physician of the 13th Century. Alchemy and Chemistry Alchemy is often related to magic. It is described as the Magical transformation of different kinds of metal, specifically; Lead, into gold which is the most precious metal of the time. Alchemy in reality is the precursor to Modern Chemistry as we know it. A record from the 14th Century of the Arabs maid by Abu al-Qasim Muhammad Ibn Ahmed al-‘Iraqi, pertained to a book which was about the cultivation of Gold. Literature and Poetry An Arab named Al Biruni, born in Khawarizm(Caspian Basin), who lived in 1050’s was a man of letters and words who gave the Arabic Culture a universal dimension. Al wrote in the Persian and Arabic languages. He said, â€Å"I was brought up in one language (that of Khawarizm) †¦ I learnt Arabic and Persian later, and I therefore come as an outsider to both these languages, my command of which I strive to perfect. But I must confess that I would rather be insulted in Arabic than praised in Persian. † In the 8th Century, the first Arabic Literature that could be called a masterpiece was â€Å"Ibn Al-Muqaffa's Kalila Wa Dimna†. This was an indication to the nature of this epoch and also it was a collection of Indian Fables translated in the Arab language. These Indian fables may it be the Persian or the original Sanskrit version is now lost. Arab grammarians were able to establish rules for the language which was developed to be pure and as much as possible, close to its origins. This was the time that the first Arab dictionary was created. During this time, the paper industry developed and the rulers began to take a liberal approach with regards to arts. Soon after, the aristocracy supported and patronized the evolution of Literature. Literary genres such as the Epistle, the short story(risala) and the maqama(a mix of diction and reality in a form of a rhythmic prose, where in the action is centered towards one character), prospered. It was at this time that the champions of Reason started to debate against the conservative majority, whether to keep their native tongue or propagate diversity. The Arabian Nights, Alf Layla Wa Layla, or the World famous â€Å"A Thousand and One Nights† is an essence of ‘peddlers’ literature’. Peddler’s Literature in laymen’s terms would mean a form of public speaking. In Muslim countries, public speaking is a form of entertainment or communication that is loved by all. Public Speeches are done in city squares and is often used to deliver poetry, which comes with gestures. The Public speaker must have a god command of the literary piece and must also command the public to continually gain their attention. Geometrical Ornamentation Because of the Geometrical style of Ornamentation, the art of Muslims moved towards pure abstraction. Art of Astronomers and Mathematicians would be described by the series of modifications and superposing of star like shapes with six, eight, ten, or even twelve points. With these kinds of designs which has countless foci, constitutes an invitation to meditate. Moral System Islam has done a really good job of creating foundation for Human rights all through out the world which is not only observed but respected as well, what ever the circumstance may be. Not only do Muslims provide legal safeguards but they also provide and effective moral system. This moral system can be discussed as such: Anything that would lead to the welfare of an individual or the welfare of the society is morally good, and such, whatever provides to be injurious to the society and its people may be considered as morally bad. Muslims have never claimed the right to call their Moral system to be one of its kind, or a breakthrough when it comes to other moral systems, nor did it ever seek to minimize or exaggerate the importance of other moral systems. They address the well known moral virtues with equal importance with regards to its role in the scheme of life. The Muslims wanted to ensure that their sense of morality overcomes one’s selfish desire. May it be literature, science, medicine, astrology, geometry or Alchemy; Muslims have indeed made a mark in History. Their culture is rich and has done a great job of influencing other nations, specifically the Western Nations. The Influence was neither forced nor was it intentional. It was the inevitable outcome of two civilizations meeting, mixing and taking the best from each other at the boundaries of the Muslim encroachment on the Christian Civilization in Europe.