Evolution of Folk Music

The Evolution of Folk Music Almost all of the music that we hear today can be traced back in one way or another to folk music. The evolution of folk music is rich in history and it is easy to see how the current events and the times created the changes that were to occur. Folk music got its roots from Anglo-American Folk Music and later evolved into what was known as the blues and continues to influence much of the music that is written to this day. Many artists have had major impacts on the music industry some of which are Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, Muddy Waters and B.B. King. Their individual styles were essential in the evolution of music. By taking a closer look at Anglo-American Folk Music and each of these artists we will be able to understand the role that each of them played in their specific genres. Anglo-American Folk Music occurred during the time that the original thirteen colonies were being created. It got its start from what was cal led Psalmody which is the rendering of the 150 psalms of the Old Testament; however they were present in the form of songs. Psalmody is one of the oldest traditions of western music.Psalm tunes were carried over from the old world through the found of the colonies by the English and Dutch. They were often kept in a psalter which is a book that contained psalm tunes. Pilgrims were the first to bring psalters to Plymouth when they arrived in 1620. The religious reform in the 16th century that started in Europe had the greatest impact on the subject matter of Anglo-American Folk Music which was mainly focused on communicating religious matters. Over the course of 100 years we find that two different styles of communicating the old testaments.One of those was in the written format and the other was in what was called â€Å"the usual way† which was through oral communication. The oral tradition is where the Anglo-American Folk style evolved from. It involved what was called  "lining out† which is basically one person singing or reciting lines of psalm tunes. There were many critics of the oral tradition who said that there was not enough variation in the tunes and that there were too many changes in pace. The answer to these criticisms was found in singing school during the American Revolution here we see an increase in the musical abilities of our new nation. Of course these schools mainly resided in more highly populated areas. Out in the country you would often find what were called singing masters and composers who often were no more than just common people like craftsmen or small business owners. It was in these singing masters that we found a return to the lack of variation in tunes which was given the name â€Å"strophic form† which simple means that the music is the same for all lines. Strophic form is very common in folk music.The American folk singer Woody Guthrie lived from 1912 to 1967. Woody grew up in Oklahoma and decided to t ravel out to California during the great depression in hopes of finding better opportunities. However, all he found was more heartache. The economy in California was no better than the rest of the United States. Many of Guthrie’s songs reflect the trials and tribulations of the people he met in his life and of his own life. He is one of the few artists that was truly able to connect to the common people in ways that other artists could not.His music is about the things that happen in people’s everyday lives. He sings about people packing up and looking for better opportunities in other places. His music also varied in its tone. Some of his songs are upbeat and cheerful while others have a more sobering tone to them. In addition to singing and performing Guthrie also had a passion for writing. It is said that he made use of his G. I. bill after the war and attended a college where he took philosophy and writing along with a few other classes. However, he decided to drop out before he finished because he decided he needed to hit the road.Woody Guthrie was unique in his style and lyrics. He never felt the need to alter his style in order to fit in with the changing fads. His style is the epitome of what folk music should sound like. We often hear him make use of the strophic form in his songs. He was an inspiration to many musicians that followed him, which included the well known Bob Dylan. Guthrie enjoyed working with other musicians as well like Pete Seeger. Many folk singers including Woody Guthrie had strong political views which often came through in their lyrics.Much of folk music emerged during times when people felt that government was being unfair in the way the common people were being treated and that changes needed to be made in order to bring equality back. I think this is perhaps the one commonality that many folk singers had in common when it came to their music and what was driving their lyrics. Guthrie, Seeger and Dylan were all ve ry popular during times of war which had major affects on their careers and the choices they made. A fellow folk artist who Guthrie was known to perform with from time to time is Pete Seeger.Like Guthrie, Seeger was another folk activist who often sang songs that called for changes in political matters and more equality for the common people. The Almanac Singers was the name of the band that Seeger was a member of. Seeger formed the group in 1941 which was made up of a group of left-wing New Yorkers. Although the group made drastic efforts to try to create a band where everyone was equal they had difficulty battling the media in attempts to keep Seeger out of the spotlight. The Almanac Singers often found themselves in the company of Woody Guthrie.The group got along easily because they had the same political views and shared the same musical style. Seeger and Guthrie were also known to write songs together. One of their most well known songs is â€Å"Pittsburg† which was a c ompilation of their feelings about the war, environment and corruption in the steel industry. The subject matter of Seeger’s music gave him the title of most boycotted performer in history. There have even been accounts of attacks by people at his performances because of the lyrics his band chose to sing.Right before the Nazi’s invaded Russia the CIO had approached the Almanac Singers to go on a national tour with them. The news of the attack was released the day before they were due to leave for their tour. Since most of their song were anti war people could not make the decision to continue to support their music when it was against something that was now a necessary evil. One journalist said that the grouped â€Å"lacked the true politicians facility for changing overnight and the group soon found themselves in trouble† (Dunaway 91). This came to be the end of the band.Another folk artist who came to be well known because of his songs of protest is Bob Dylan. It seems fitting that one of his major influences and all time idol is Woody Guthrie. Like Guthrie, Dylan wrote songs about â€Å"general human conditions such as poverty† (Lorenzo and Kingman 76). One of his most well known songs is â€Å"Masters of War† which was originally written because of the cold war. However, after the release of the song it was found that the feelings that the song was able to create within listeners was the same during the time of the Vietnam War and even later to the War on Terror.Accounts of a concert that Dylan performed at on Veterans day in 2002 said that the crowd had the same feelings and sentiments that was felt by people during the first release at similar performances. Unlike Guthrie who kept his style consistent throughout the years, Dylan was known to change up his style, sound, type and even material of his music. These changes often caused fans to feel like they no longer could relate to the music of Dylan because they had just grown accustomed to the latest styles of his music. Others were suspicious of his constant changing and often accused him of chasing trends.However, Dylan’s compositions usually stayed true to the original style of protest songs in that they used barrow tunes from older songs with an ostinato found in the accompanying guitar while Dylan did his best to show authenticity in his voice. Regardless of how people feel about Dylan he still is seen as one of the major players in the folk music industry. Another form of music that originated from folk music is the blues. While it is said to be related to Black folk music from the south it is safe to say that Black folk music was highly influenced by American folk music.Black folk music was well known for use of antecedents in the form of hollers and cries which was still present in some forms of blues. The blues relates very closely to folk music by means of their subject matter. It was common for â€Å"some blues to speak of a nam eless depression, work or lack of it, poverty† (Lorenzo and Kingman 76). While some blues tells of hardships it also speaks often of personal lament of the relationships between men and women. One of the best known blues singers is Bessie Smith who is often referred to as the â€Å"Empress of Blues. By the end of her first recording year she was said to have sold over 2 million records and at one point in her career was responsible for saving Columbia Records from going bankrupt. Bessie Smith is most famous for her performances in which she was able to master the use of idioms and delivery her songs with such forcefulness that there are not that could surpass her in the industry. Towards the end of Smiths career she refused to adjust to the more modern tones which eventually led to her falling out of the music industry.Even though she was one of the most highly purchased recording artists she managed to spend all of her earnings without saving anything for her later life. It is said that when she died in a car accident in 1937 that she died without a penny to her name. A major reason for her lack of financial stability could be attributed to her life long battle with alcoholism. Bessie Smith was lucky to have worked with and learned from the Mother of Blues, Ma Rainey. Ma Rainey got her start as a young child in the minstrel-show business. However her music was always closest resembled rural folk blues when compared to other blues artists.Many of Ma Rainey’s song were found to empower females, which was often the opposite of the image that was portrayed by Bessie Smiths lyrics. I think it is important to make a connection between more traditional folk music and the blues that were sung by Smith and Rainey. It is important to remember that many folk singers were inspired by the changing times and unfair poverty that was being forced upon the majority of people during those times. Similarly, the blues era occurred immediately following the abolitio n of slavery.Much of the blues was focused on the expression of individual emotional needs. Considering that blacks had just been given their personal freedoms they were still imprisoned by their social and financial standings. It seems to make sense then that the music would focus on the one thing that they really did gain freedom in which was their love lives and the ability to choose who they would have relationships with. â€Å"Freely chosen sexual love became a mediator between historical disappointment and the new social realities of an evolving African American Community† (Davis n. ag). Many of the songs by Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith were about the changes in what was believed to be the â€Å"place† of women in the world. They were singing for more equality and for people to realize that the sole purpose of a woman was no longer to please her husband and to care for a household but that she could be independent and earn a living and take care of herself and her family if need be. Both the blues and folk music had important messages to communicate in regards to the changes occurring in society. Another well known blues singer was Muddy Waters.He was actually born with the name McKinley Morganfield but he was given the nickname Muddy by his mother and later decided to legally change his name. Waters musical style helped blues to transform into the next style of music which would be names rock and roll. Waters was responsible for introducing amplified music to blues. He is often referred to as the father of modern Chicago Blues which would be in the urban blues category. Urban blues introduced the use of more instruments of which included the piano and drums along with many others. Waters was strongly influenced by the more traditional gospel tradition.However, his own style was not so traditional in any sense. He gained his notoriety by his mastery of a guitar style that is called bottleneck. When Waters was discovered a scout was sent to fi nd a man that worked in the same field that Waters worked in. When the man got there he found that the person he was looking for had passed away and instead he discovered Waters. Race records were common during this time and it is most likely that Waters was discovered during an expedition to record race records that would be able to turn some quick sales.Because Waters was a man with such great talent the scout came back looking for him again and eventually Waters moved to Chicago and make music his life. Waters did not find it easy for him to make a name for himself in the music industry. It was not until after he had toured in England that he was able to return to the U. S. and was finally being seen for what he really was by the American people. Waters has been a major influence on many of today’s artists. Another blues artist who helped to pioneer the change from blues to rock and roll is B. B.King. King experienced the loss of his mother at the age of four years old and has been said to have had the blues running through his veins ever since that day. Like many artists King was able to use the pain and hardships in his life as inspiration for his music. However, his music also covers issues of the Civil Rights Movement and even the complicated politics that surrounded the music industry. His greatest success would have to be the part he played in pushing the limits and finding huge success in changing over from blues to rock and roll.It is often a difficult task to get people to change from their old ways and try something knew but King was able to win over fans and help give birth to one of the greatest musical eras to this day. After looking back at the history of where folk music originated and then taking a closer look at some of the artists of various eras of music it is easy to see how even the songs we hear on the radio today can be traced back to folk music roots. The one thing that music seems to keep in common in all eras is that there w ill often be songs that relate to the current events of the time.Especially when there is an unusually hardship or major event that has shaped society. After the war on terror began there were many artists from all genres that began to sing songs about our soldiers and their families and the heartache and pain that people were experiencing from the loss of loved ones of loneness of being apart. I think that music will continue with this oral tradition of communicating events and problems for the rest of time. Works Cited Candelaria, Lorenzo, and Daniel Kingman. American Music: A Panorama. 4th ed. Schirmer:Cengage Learning, 2004, 2007, 2012.Print Cray, Ed. Ramblin’ Man: The Life and Times of Woody Guthrie. New York: Norton andcompany, 2004. Print. Danchin, Sebastian. Blues Boy: The Life and Music of B. B. King. Mississippi: University Pressof Mississippi, 1998. Print. Davis, Angela Y. Blues Legacies and Black Feminism. New York: Vintage Books, 1998. Print Davis, Francis. The H istory of the Blues: The Roots, the Music, the People. Cambridge: Da CapoPress, 2003. Print. Dunaway, David King. How Can I Keep From Singing? The Ballad of Pete Seeger. New York:Villard Books, 2008. Print.

Introduction of Tea Essay

Chapter 1 THE PROBLEM AND REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE Introduction Tea, however has been a beverage in China as early as 10th century BC. Many nations throughout history have savored it and some of them are China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Greece, India, Iran and Turkey. Also, aside from being considered as a run of the mill drink, tea presents supposed health benefits. Some authorities say that drinking tea allegedly helps in preventing cancer. Of course, there are detractors who say that drinking tea can also cause coronary disease. Some even say that the consumption of various forms of tea results in acute liver damage. Considering all of these, tea, therefore can be divisive. There is, however, another way that people uniformly view tea: it can ba a viable product or business. In fact, almost all restaurants in the country offer Ices Tea. Nestle makes money out of Nestea. Tea indeed is a profitable business venture. Nowadays, there is a new tea craze sweeping the metropolis. People line up to savor this new incarnation of tea. Some even spend more than 30 minutes just to drink this new fad. It is milk tea. ——— What’s your comfort indulgence? A warm cup of coffee at the start of the day?Or maybe a mug of hot chocolate after a stressful week? For those of you who have a taste for unique, rich flavors and are craving something new yet familiar, there’s a cozy little cafe that offers just the thing you need. Nowadays, beverages are one of the most popular hangouts among adults and young adults or those whom we call â€Å"yuppies† or young urban professionals. This is the place where they can have the opportunity to relax, unwind after an exhausting week of work. The emergence of new beverage establishments is also evident these days. As a result, tight competition arises among beverage establishment. Competition  among beverages should not be the only focus of attention of beverage managers. They also have to consider the effects of the continuing economical crisis that we are experiencing today and how they will be able to handle difficult situations up with it so that their business will continue it’s operation and not be affected. The uses of promotional strategies are very famous among beverage establishments. This helps them attract more potential customers. It is also a business strategy that they can use to be able to context the tight competition, face the continuous worsening of our economy and at the same time be able to give their customer’s satisfaction in the products and services they are availing. This study is focus on promotional strategies employed by the selected Happy Lemon branches. The establishment was chosen because of the interest of the researcher which is a field of study of the researcher. Similarly the topic promotional strategies are one of the practices, most popular and common among beverages establishments to attract their customers, which the researcher should be familiar with as future entrepreneurs. Review of Related Literature A. Milk Tea in The Philippines In the past year, tea shops are increasing all over the metro, effectively cementing its place as the biggest food/beverage trend of 2011. According to Bianca Consunji and RonnaCapili, Milk Tea is more affordable than cold designer coffee. B. Milk Tea As a Business Originally from Hong Kong, Happy Lemon was brought to the country by a group of Chinese-Filipino businessmen who have been friends since grade school and college: Kelvin Gaisano, Kristine Gaisano, Smart Gilas player/TV host Chris Tiu, Andy See, Wesley Pardilla, and Edward Go. The young entrepreneurs share a common love for milk tea. Since there are only a few restaurants which serve good quality milk tea in the Philippines, they went abroad in search for the best cup of milk tea. Then, Kelvin got an idea.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Why don’t we put up a milk tea business?† he suggested. All agreed. But finding the perfect brand to bring to the Philippines was the challenge. Chris Tiu related: â€Å"Filipinos, to some extent, have already been introduced to milk tea, but we want them to develop a deeper appreciation for it by offering quality beverages that boast of unique and delicious flavors, made from the freshest ingredients from around the world.† Kelvin Gaisano added: â€Å"We know there are risks involved. But we also believe that there is an under-served market for milk tea.† In their quest to find the best milk tea, the seven young businessmen went everywhere and tried different milk tea brands. One day, they chanced upon Happy Lemon, a Hong Kong-based milk tea business that has been in the market since 2006. As they waltzed inside the store and started looking at the menu, they knew they had found â€Å"The One.† They agreed to bring the brand home to the Philippines. However, it wasn’t an easy task. Tiu shared that they had to wait long before the franchise was finally granted to them. â€Å"It was a long process of courtship,† he said. â€Å"For one, we didn’t know who to contact for the franchising. Two, only one of us, Andy See, knows how to speak straight Mandarin.† They sent letter after letter. They followed up each letter with calls, but they received no reply at all until September 2009 when someone from the Happy Lemon headquarters in Hong Kong informed them that they were open to the idea of establishing Happy Lemon in the Philippines. In November 2010, Happy Lemon opened its door to Filipino milk tea lovers, including those who are curious about the brand. A quick look at the beverage menu is enough to pique one’s curiosity. Using the good quality tea leaves imported from China which are freshly brewed every day, Happy Lemon has several milk tea variants such as the Lemon Series, recommended for those who feel thirsty; the Rock Salt Cheese, their best-seller; the plain Milk Tea series; Mousse Spin, which is more popular among the younger ones; Cocoa & Coffee, which is more chocolate and coffee based with several toppings; and the exotic Specialty Drinks and Fresh Tea drinks, which are less sugary and specially made for health conscious individuals. For former King Eagle and current television host Chris Tiu, it was a love for bubble tea that led to joining the Gaisano family and their partners in bringing Hong Kong’s Happy Lemon brand to local shores.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"In Vancouver, Canada, the tea places are really packed. Here, it’s always been about coffee, so we think that there’s room for Filipinos to learn to appreciate tea,† he shares. ——- Happy Lemon is a Hong Kong-based drink shop brought to the Philippines by a group of friends from Ateneo, who have discovered it during their travels and grown to love it. Happy Lemon has over 100 branches worldwide, with the first local branch having opened at the Promenade in Green hills only last November. Due to its immense popularity, new branches are already being planned for Eastwood and Power plant Mall. But, what makes Happy Lemon different from all the other beverage hubs cropping up lately? Athlete and TV host Chris Tiu, head of Happy Lemon’s Marketing and Business Development, says, â€Å"First of all, everything is fresh. The products, they’re all made from freshly brewed tea, so the flavor is more distinct. Plus, the products are very unique. The company spends a lot in and research and development, so they’re really [high] quality. It’s not like other brands that are mostly powdered lang.† He explained that while most fast drink providers are for to-go orders only, the group wanted Happy Lemon to be more of a homey place with a warm, welcoming ambiance. â€Å"We want to make it a destination where people can go and hang out with their friends,† says Chris. â€Å"Instead of going out on gimmicks at night or drinking alcohol, go here na lang. Wholesome tayo, ‘di ba? Healthy pa!† CJ de los Santos, Cosmo.ph Staff Writer May 23, 2011 —— Occasion Based Marketing is an approach to connect when and why consumers use the product with how they shop for the product. Companies need to realize that their customers are not only different from each other, but are also different from themselves at different times. People have different needs when they are at work and when they are at home or socializing. The results of this study would mean that the consumer durable companies and  retailers are adapting various promotional strategies to attract deal prone, promotion liking customers. Consumers are bombarded with messages pitched through a growing number of channels: broadcast and narrow cast television, radio, on-line computer networks, the internet, telephone services such as fax and telemarketing, and niche magazines and other print media. In developing the product strategy, marketers strive for the right mix of promotional elements to make sure that their product is well received. One of the primary goals of a customer promotion is to entice the customer to take the final step and make a purchase; Advertising creates the interest and excitement that brings the consumer into the store. Marketers then use other tactics in conjunction with advertising programs. In addition to leading to the final decision to buy an item, consumer promotions programs can be highly effective in bringing traffic into a store and generating brand loyalty. (Stanley George June 30, 2012) Many marketers believe that behavioral variables – occasions, benefits, user status, usage rate, loyalty status, buyer readiness stage, and attitude- are the best starting points for constructing market segments (Philip Kotler, Keller, Koshy and Jha, 2007). Buyers can be distinguished according to the occasions they develop a need, purchase a product or use a product (Philip Kotler, 2002). Marketing managers and advertising agencies have realized that to make their communication programs effective, they have to rely on sales promotions, public relations, personal selling, and direct marketing, in addition to conventional advertising campaigns. In today’s markets it is no longer a choice between advertising or promotion; rather, it is a combination of advertising and promotion (Roberto and Roberto, 2005). Research has shown that advertising is most effective when used along with sales promotion, and sales promotions are more effective when communicated well through advertising so as to increase awareness of the promotional offers (Joseph and Sivakumaran, 2008) Statement of the Problem The study intended to determine the Effectiveness of the Promotional Strategies employed by the selected branches of Happy Lemon. Specifically, the study aims to answer the following sub problem. 1. What is the profile of the customers?  2. What are the reasons for customers patronage in response to the promotional strategies? 3. How do the customers perceive the Effectiveness of the strategies as promotional tool? 4. What are the common problems the customers encounter? 5. What are the comments and suggestions to improve their promotional strategies? Significance of the Study Industry Partners of SPUQC. The study enables the Industry Partners of SPUQC to know the preferred non-alcoholic beverages of students of SPUQC for them to manufacture more of those and to accrue more profit. Entreprenuers. The study enables the entrepreneurs to be aware of what are the popular non-alcoholic beverages in the present and for them to innovate and manufacture to accrue more profits. Students of St. Paul University Quezon City. This study enables the students to be satisfied with their preferred non-alcoholic beverages and for them to know the positive and negative effects of it. Future Researchers. The study enables the future researchers to make this research as their starting point and for them to have a reference to base on what are the preferences of students on non-alcoholic beverages. Scope and Limitation This study will deal with the Effectiveness of the Promotional Strategies of Selected Happy Lemon Branches As Perceived by the Customers The variables are non-alcoholic beverages which are soft drinks, juices, tea, coffee, milk, energy drinks, chocolate drinks. This study will only include random college students of all the courses in St. Paul University Quezon City and random customers of Happy Lemon.

Cellular Respiration and Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants, some bacteria, and some protistans use the energy from sunlight to produce sugar, which cellular respiration converts into ATP, the fuel used by all living things. The conversion of unusable sunlight energy into usable chemical energy, is associated with the actions of the green pigment chlorophyll. Most of the time, the photosynthetic process uses water and releases the oxygen. Cellular respiration allows organisms to use (release) in the chemical bonds of glucose(C6H12O6). The energy in glucose is used to produce ATP. Cells use ATP to supply their energy needs. Cellular respiration is therefore a process in which the energy in glucose is transferred to ATP. In respiration, glucose is transferred to ATP. Oxidized and thus releases energy. Oxygen is reduced to form water. In Photosynthesis, plants use the suns energy as light to transform carbon dioxide and water into glucose. In cellular respiration, glucose is ultimately broken down to yield carbon dioxide and water, and the energy from this process is stored as ATP molecules. The equation for photosynthesis is: 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy 6O2 + C6H12O6 and cellular respiration is: 6O2 + C6H12O6 6H2O + 6CO2 + energy The reactants in the photosynthesis process stay on the left, they are 6 molecules of water (H2O) and 6 molecules of carbon dioxide. The products are 6 molecules of Oxygen and glucose. In the cellular respiration the reactants are 6 molecules of Oxygen and glucose, and the products are 6 molecules of water + 6 molecules of carbon dioxide. As we can see the cellular respiration is the opposite equation of the photosynthesis. All life depends on these reactions because we need oxygen, and this oxygen comes from the plants that releases it from photosynthesis. And we all need energy to function. We get this energy from the foods we eat. The most efficient way for cells to harvest energy stored in food is through cellular respiration.

The iliad and the odyssey Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The iliad and the odyssey - Essay Example Composed in the dactylic hexameter poetic style, this too is a lengthy poem, stretching to 12,110 lines. The plot of Odyssey is centered on Greek war hero Odysseus and his beautiful wife Penelope. Although both these masterpieces of Western literature were written in pre-Christian times when the written tradition was still in its infancy, they still remain relevant today. Events such as war, love, betrayal, bravery, etc are universal human experiences than span centuries and continents. While some of the specific details of the two epic poems might be irrelevant in contemporary times, their essence remains highly relevant. What it shows is that Western civilization has not changed drastically since the beginning of recorded history; and that societies continue to be disturbed by greed, war, lust, betrayal, etc. In other words, some of the vices and failings displayed by characters in the two poems are still afflicting humanity today. In this respect, a careful study of the interpersonal, social and political aspects of the two epic poems can lead us to insights into human nature. Apart from this practical utility of the two great epics, the literary techniques employed by Hom er in composing the works are very instructive for current generation of writers. For example, the non-linear plot structure employed by Homer is a highly sophisticated narrative structure, which finds application in plays, motion pictures and novels of

Analysis of the Arabian Construction Companys Costs Essay

Analysis of the Arabian Construction Companys Costs - Essay Example ACC tries to minimize costs by cutting down on some of its expenditure. The expenditure on unnecessary variable costs is cut down to ensure efficiency. Analysis of the firm’s market structure Arabian Construction Company is operating in a perfectly competitive market, which has many buyers and sellers. The forces of demand and supply therefore determine the prices of the products offered by the company. Among the competitors of ACC, we have the Larsen & Toubro, which carries out large-scale construction projects and designs. The other is the DLF, which deals in the development of housing and retailing in property as well. The company has developed over 70 million square units of housing projects up to date. The firms in the construction industry do not deal on single products qualifying them to be in a perfect competition form of market. The industry is free to enter and free to exit with very few legal formalities placed by the government governing company registration hence no barriers to entry into the market. Any firm which feels can withstand the fierce competition in the field can enter the market. The firms are also not forced to stay in the market hence they can a lways leave at their pleasure most so if they are not able to compete favorably (Etro & Federico, pg.132). The firms in this market are therefore neither price takers nor price makers; the forces of market, which are the forces of demand and supply, dictate the prices of their outputs. Profits are therefore highly regulated.

Strategic Marketing-Forecast and Budget Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Strategic Marketing-Forecast and Budget - Essay Example The portable button will reduce cases of insecurity but the current challenge is to design. Product Development and Testing Hire expertise to develop product 45 Prototype development costs: 140 Labour 240 Materials 130 Subcontracting 210 Special Purpose Equipment 300 Miscellaneous 230 Fees for lab testing 212 Field Trial costs 125 Patent Application Fees 43 Legal Fees re IP 233 Additional marketing research activity 50 Development of technical manuals 65 Development of User training manuals 210 Packaging Design 65 Travel Costs 120 Staffing Costs 230 Update business plan 50 Search for Venture Capital 210 Other related costs: 250 The product marketing and promotion programs are not captured in the product development because they are under the marketing budget. These components are not part of the development process. The development of a gadget connecting security organization with the people demands that the bodies must understand how the system operates. The role of security organ i s to develop the necessary security structure support workability of the product. The success of the whole process depends on the ability to address pertinent issues affecting the product. The trial costs must be monitored because trials are very expensive to address or handle leading to serious challenge for the product development process. ... The product is an IT related programs that must be addressed in issues of communication and the issues of security of the communication practice Market Research & Technical Feasibility costs Product Management Training $100 Other HR training costs $100 Focus Group Costs $100 Brochure Development $145 Costs gathering market intelligence $350 Product mock-up costs $230 Staffing Costs $340 Consulting Costs (idea evaluation, marketing assistance) 210 Technical Review of Product Concept 120 Legal/Professional fees 120 End-user visits 230 Other related costs: 300 New product launch support services New product development and completion do not guarantee success of the product, unless the implementation process is undertaken in a way that will encourage the target market to try out the product. Several launching programs exist, but the company needs to engage in tactical launch of new products. During the process of planning of new product launch, support is required from the top management on the dates of launch, and the facilitation required, in the process to achieve success (Sandhusen, 2000, p. 34). In order to support the tactical and the strategic launch of products, market research must be conducted so as to determine the efficiency of the method chosen for the product launch. Market testing is vital throughout the new product development process. Market testing will allow the organization to finalize the planning process of the product launch. Additionally, the feedback collection process will be efficient if the customers are allowed to give their opinion during the product launch leading to the ease of product improvement in the process

The Mystery of Pain Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Mystery of Pain - Essay Example Rehabilitation trouble could be reduced if methods like virtual reality are adapted as in the case of "virtual reality for soldier's burn pain" where the patient's brain is diverted by means of cool virtual reality game, providing a sense of chill rather than heat of the pain. This alters the perception of sensory stimulation. In future the technique could gain advantage as it has potentials to calibrate neurons not to have sensation of pain. When human mind perceives the thought of suffering, pain is felt, eventually this very thought leads to enhanced discomfort and the individual recedes from cure because of distress. On the other hand animals do the reverse, they heal their injuries in a natural way. Thus, psychological focus plays an imperative role in sensing pain. It is established fact "little knowledge is dangerous". A person who himself is a physician knows the intensity of injury and is bound to feel more pain as compared to the individual who does not possess sound medica l knowledge, if both encounters the same degree of injury. Here again psychology plays the key role.

Anecdotal Record Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Anecdotal Record - Assignment Example Teacher Anthony walked up to Jane and asked,† What is happening here,† John replied by saying, â€Å"It is Jane who is bullying me around† Jane further stated, â€Å"Why doesn’t he take his problems to another place.† John further stated â€Å"I have a right to be in this center same as you; therefore I do not see a reason why I should not participate in the activity of my choice.† There was context in Jenifer’s dance as he was responding to the emotions she was feeling about her father’s death. Children are mostly attached to their parents while they are young and while they pass on, they are affected psychologically (Thomas, 2009). Jennifer is expressing her sadness because of her father’s death. It has been established that â€Å"one of the purposes of working with young children is to help them develop their social and emotional issues. When children are involved in independent activities the things they do are reflected in their actions.† By so doing, the teacher manages to establish issues affecting the child, which are then, take care of through counselling as in the case of Jennifer. There was context in Jane’s behavior when he dragged John of the stage. â€Å"In most case the behavior that is seen in children is a replica of what they are going through in their lives.† For example, Jane’s action reflect lack of attention at home from the parents and, therefore, taking out the anger on another student (Frydenberg, Deans & OBrien, 2011). Jane was expressing anger towards John because of the way her parent treats her at home. â€Å"The most significant thing while attending to children is to understand the underlying problem before reprimanding them to understand their social and emotional; problems. By so doing, such issues may be addressed woven if it means calling in the parents to discuss how to help the child.† Frydenberg, E., Deans, J., & OBrien, K. (2011). Developing

Introductory Economics (Macroeconomics) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Introductory Economics (Macroeconomics) - Essay Example If interest rates are forecasted to be low in an economy, then it makes productive investors believe that in the long run, cost of borrowing funds would be less. Under such circumstances, the rate of investments made in an economy would increase and level of economic productivity would also rise. Finally, a rise in the domestic product of a nation simply indicates a fall in unemployment rates. The Bank of England initially claimed under the regime of Forward Guidance Policy that it would not increase the lending interest rate above .5% in the long run, until the unemployment level in the country falls to 7% or below (BBC, 2014). Accordingly, such claims made by the Bank had succeeded in lowering the level of volatility in the market as well as enhancing the level of investments made in the country (BBC, 2014). Nonetheless, governor of the bank had mentioned that it was required to revise the Forward Guidance Policy because such forecasts would generate excessive job opportunities in the nation, that would automatically increase the amount of money and hence, demand in the economy; ultimately carving the path of inflation in the long run (Howker and Malik, 2010). The Bank also claimed that in its revised Forward Guidance Policy, it would forecast several macroeconomic factors, apart from unemployment and interest rate. The bank asserted that it would increase the interest rate to 2% to stabilize the unusual growth of employments in the nation. Although Mark Carney claimed that the country would experience high growth from 2.8% to 3.4% in the recent years, he also added that the growth was â€Å"neither balanced nor sustainable† and way below the pre-financial crisis levels (BBC, 2014). With reference to such revised estimates for future, the risk adverse attitude of investors in the nation would fall to some extent. They would realize that they had overestimated stability of the economy

Analysis of BRIC countries Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Analysis of BRIC countries - Essay Example The availability of abundant natural resources and growing mining, agriculture, manufacturing and service industries has taken the economy of Brazil to highest ranks among South American nations and has gained a commendable position in world economy. The fall in real wages during the period 2001 to 2003 slowed the economic growth of Brazil to 2.2 percent per year. Subsequently, it was affected by several internal and global economic crises. But the economy did not collapse because Brazilian economy has a strong foundation built by the economic programs and policies instituted by President Cardosa and taken forward by President Lula Da Silva. The Brazilian economy is undergoing a steady growth and development since 2004 that has given rise to the rate of employment and real wages. The economic system operates using floating exchange rate, adopts compressed fiscal policy and keeps the inflation rate on check. The Brazilian currency underwent a sharp depreciation which in turn resulted in extreme adjustment in current account during the period 2003 to 2006. Following this situation there was trade surpluses and the surplus agricultural production lead to increase in the rate of exports. However, Brazilian economy has certain weaknesses. The economy is mostly associated to debts. The rate of debts has increased during the period 1994 to 2003. The rise in debt was controlled in 2006 with the introduction of economic programs to increase public investment and control taxes. The current GDP of Brazil is 1.6 trillion with a real growth rate of GDP at 3.7 percent. The inflation is 3 percent and the rate of unemployment is 9.6 percent. Agricultural products that contribute to the economy are wheat, coffee, rice and sugarcane. Major industries include aircraft, textiles, chemicals, steel, shoes, motor vehicles, etc. (Brazil Economy) Official figures indicate that the GDP of Brazil has

Energy expenditure, intake and balance Essay Example for Free

Energy expenditure, intake and balance Essay Food is a source of energy intake as it contains carbohydrates; there main function is to store energy in the muscles. Carbs are a macronutrient and come in two different forms, simple which are foods like chocolate and sweets these release energy quickly, the other form is complex which are foods like pasta and rice they release energy slower so are better to keep energy for a sustained period of time. There are certain factors that affect energy intake for instance what gender you are affects how much energy you need, a male’s guideline daily amount is 2500 calories where as a female’s is only 2000 calories. Exercise is a form of energy expenditure; it uses up the energy that has been stored in the muscles and causes the body to lose fluids through sweat. There are also factors that affect energy expenditure such as basal metabolism; this is the amount of energy expended when at rest, the higher the metabolism the more calories you burn meaning that certain people will have to replace more energy than others. Climate is another factor that affects expenditure this is because people in hotter climates lose more energy through sweat than people in cooler climates. (200-300 words) Task 2 [M1] Explain why different nutrients have a differing effect on an individual’s energy intake. Different nutrients have a differing effect on an individual’s intake because each nutrient releases a unique amount of energy and also the speed the energy is released varies for each one. For instance the macronutrient carbohydrates are the body’s main source of energy intake therefore they release the most energy, but even carbohydrates are split in to two groups when determining the speed the energy is released. The two groups are simple carbs and complex carbs, simple carbs are foods like chocolate and sweets their energy release is very quick giving you a short sharp burst of energy but cannot be sustained for a long period of time. On the other hand complex carbs which are found in bread, rice and potatoes release the energy slowly over a longer period of time at a more consistent rate. When talking about other nutrients that release some kind of energy there are only two others, these are fats and protein, fats are like simple carbs releasing only small amounts of energy in quick bursts but their main function for the body is to protect vital organs and provide insulation. Protein is a last resort for energy intake as the energy has to be taken away from the muscles; this is only in rare cases where there are no carbs or fats in the body. (200 words) Task 3 [P4] Describe the following terms: Body Composition: Body Composition is used to describe the percentages of fat, bone and muscle in human bodies. Because muscular tissue takes up less space in our body than fat tissue, our body composition, as well as our weight, determines leanness. Two people of equal height and body weight may look completely different from each other because they have a different body composition. Fat Free Mass: Fat Free Mass is comprised of the components that have no fat in the human body. It can refer to any body tissue that does not contain fat; these include skeletal muscle, bone and water. (50 words) Lean Body Mass: Lean body mass is the mass of the body minus the fat (lipid). Some methods of working this out require specialised equipment such as hydrostatic weighing or DEXA (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry). Others are very simple such as skin callipers and bioelectrical impedance. (50 words) Task 4 [P4] Describe the following methods of measuring percentage body fat: Skinfold Analysis- This is a method of measuring body fat percentage by taking measurements of fat at 4 different points of the body using a set of skin callipers, they are taking at the bicep, tricep, waist and subscapular (shoulder blade) doing this finds out your fat layer thickness. These measurements are then converted into body fat percentage using an equation; a male should have around 15% body fat whereas a female should have 20-25% due to them having breasts etc. (100 words) Bioelectrical Impedance- Bioelectrical impedance measures the resistance of body tissues to the flow of a small electrical signal. The proportion of body fat can be calculated due to the current flowing through the parts of the body that are made up of mostly of water such as blood, urine and muscle this is not possible through bone, fat and air. By doing this it is possible to work out how much body fat the person has by combining the bioelectric impendence measurement with factors such as gender, age, height, weight, and fitness level. (100 words) Hydro densitometry- Hydro densitometry (which is also known as hydrostatic weighing) is weighing someone while they are in water, it is considered to be the most accurate form of measuring body fat. A very large tank of water is used for this test, firstly a comparison is made between the underwater weight and the dry weight of a person. Due to fat being less dense than the other tissues in the body, it floats more easily. The more fat a person has on their body, the greater the difference between the dry and wet weights. While this method of measuring is very accurate and considered the best way of measuring body fat, not many people use this method because the equipment and test is highly expensive. (100 words) Task 5 [M2] When comparing skin fold callipers and hydrodensitometry both have their advantages and disadvantages for measuring body composition. The cost of callipers is much less than hydrodensitometry, callipers costing around  £15- £20 whereas hydrodensitometry can cost anything up to  £400. The training needed to use the callipers correctly and accurately takes a minimum of 1000 tries but can be performed by anyone; on the other hand hydrodensitometry needs a qualified scientist to use the equipment correctly. Again skin callipers hold the advantage over hydrodensitometry when comparing the speed of measurement. Hydrodensitometry can vary from an hour to three hours due to travel time, changing time, time in pool and time for the results to be calculated. While callipers take only 5 to 10 minutes to get the results. Callipers are much easier to carry out in a field setting as the measurements can be taken anywhere, whereas hydrodensitometry testing has to be done in a specialist room with all the expensive equipment. The one advantage hydrodensitometry holds over skin callipers is the level of accuracy of the results. Callipers results are still very accurate but do not have the same precision of hydrodensitometry results, you also have to take in account human error as this could affect them and this isn’t possible in hydrodensitometry as computers conclude the results. (250 words) Task 6 [D1] How can knowledge of an athlete’s energy intake and expenditure and monitoring of their body composition be used by a coach/support team to aid an individual’s development with respect to sports performance? Knowledge of an athlete’s energy intake and expenditure and monitoring of their body composition can be used in many ways by a coach to aid an individual’s sport performance. If a coach knows exactly what body fat percentage his athlete has he can determine whether he thinks that is a suitable level for the sport his athlete participates in. For example if a coach of a sumo wrestler sees his athlete has low body fat percentage he can put him on a high calorie diet to give him a better chance of matching his opponent, on the other hand if a coach of a marathon runner sees his athlete has a higher body fat percentage that he’s competitors he can put him on a specialised diet and make him do more intense workouts. Looking at a player’s energy intake can also help out the coach in trying to improve his athlete; he can work out whether his athlete is getting enough energy in his diet and whether it has a suitable energy release time. For instance a sprinter may be eating complex carbs like bread and pasta before a race which wouldn’t be suitable as they release energy slowly, the coach can see this and change it to some simple carbs like chocolate as they release energy In a quick short burst which is much more suitable for a 10 second race. Finally a coach can take into consideration whether his athlete is expending his energy suitably, for example if a football player is going on a 5 mile run before a match the coach can suggest that he reduces the distance as he is wasting energy which he should be saving. Expending too much energy in training can also lead to the risk of injury and fatigue so the coach can keep his training at a suitable level for the athlete he is training. Fruit and veg should take up around 33% of your diet; they contain the micronutrient vitamins and minerals, the role of vitamins is to help maintain a healthy immune system to fight off illness and infection, whereas minerals are needed for body functions such as hair growth and to keep bones strong. Starchy foods such as bread, rice and potatoes should also take up around 33% of your diet; they contain the macronutrient carbohydrates which are required to store energy in the muscles for physical activity. Milk and dairy foods such as cream and cheese should take up around 15% of your diet and contain the mineral calcium which is key for maintaining strong bones and teeth. Non-dairy sources of protein such as meats and fish should make up around 15% of your diet these are rich in protein which is needed for the growth and repair of muscles. Red meats such as beef and lamb also provide the body with iron which helps prevent anaemia. Fats and sugars such as chocolate and sweets should only take up 8% of your diet as consuming to many can lead to health problems. They do however provide the body with insulation and an alternate energy source to carbohydrates.

Counter Terrorism Strategies in India

Counter Terrorism Strategies in India Freedom at the Helm: Strategic Framework for a Secure India Rebecca Sayres Abstract The three-day attack on Mumbai sought to undermine the liberty of India. Indians now stand more united than ever in protecting our way of life. In an effort to strengthen methods currently used to combat terrorists, a counterterrorism strategy has been implemented. The Strategy calls for additional anti-terrorism methods, organizational changes, as well as partnerships between the central and state governments. Citizens need to be vigilant and willing to work with their local government. India however cannot go this alone. The international community must act as partners to hinder recurring acts of violence by Pakistan-based extremists. Cumulatively, measures outlined in this Strategy make for a stronger India. Implementing a Strategy The objective of implementing a national counterterrorism strategy is to protect India, Indian citizens and Indian interests abroad as well as at home. The Strategy will serve as a blueprint of guiding principles, priorities, and direction for law enforcement, as well as government agencies. Those who were avidly against The Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) should be reassured that measures outlined in the Strategy will not encroach on the fundamental rights of Indian citizens. The government seeks to work with its citizens in promoting awareness of the evolving challenges of modern day terrorism. Together we can work to abolish those radical individuals who seek to harm our way of life. Pakistan-Based Islamic Extremist Groups Pakistan-based extremist groups pose the greatest threat to India’s national security. Specifically, groups Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) can be linked to numerous recurring acts of violence against India. In a coordinated effort in 2001, the groups launched an attack on the Indian Parliament House in New Delhi. The well-orchestrated Mumbai attacks in 2008 were also LeT linked (Rath, p.63-69). Violent jihadi terrorism strategically aims to damage India economically and stir up religious hatred between Hindus and Muslims. Due to this overwhelming threat, India will base its Strategy around countering the threat of Pakistan-based extremist groups through improved organizational structures within government agencies, and partnerships throughout the international community. Countering Threats Thwarting terroristic activities is complex; it requires diligent information gathering on individuals, objectives, capabilities, and planning. Domestically, counterterrorism encompasses many state and federal agencies. In regards to intelligence gathering, the Indian military, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), as well as the Intelligence Bureau (IB) lead operations and analysis for detecting terrorist related activities under the central government (Gordon, p. 117-118). Police forces operate under the jurisdiction of state and Union territories to enforce laws, conduct criminal investigations, and respond to local threats (Gordon, p. 117-118). As counterterrorism measures enhance, interagency collaboration will be amplified in a sustainable fashion across all jurisdictions. Intelligence agencies have been successful in identifying potential terrorist attacks (Mahadevan, p.98). What we learned from the attack on Mumbai is agencies need to be able to act swiftly in a jointly coordinated effort to deny terrorists the means of carrying out their activities (Staniland, p.1). For that reason, an independent fusion center has been established to analyze and integrate intelligence relevant to national security collected by the military, CBI, RAW, and IB. Pertinent information will then be disseminated to those who need it at local levels. Agencies also have to be operationally sound. Police forces need capabilities to follow up on intelligence warnings. This requires proper manpower, weaponry, training, communications, and transportation facilities. These tools permit police forces to take preemptive measures while shortening response times (Staniland, p.1). In order to accommodate these needs, agencies will be appropriated additional funding to acquire the necessary assets for safeguarding national security. Inclusive of this funding is the Border Security Force (BSF), responsible for guarding India’s land borders (Matthews, 2011). Volatile areas like Jammu and Kashmir require additional security protocols to prevent terrorists from slipping through Indian entry points. Battlefield surveillance radars, long-range reconnaissance and observations systems will be added to the agencies arsenal (Matthews, 2011). Terrorists, smugglers, and pirates regularly threatened Indian coastline and regional waters (Matthews, 2011); therefore more emphasis will be placed on securing this area and reducing vulnerabilities. Protection of our seas is a priority; BSF will be provided additional vessels and surveillance mechanisms required for the coastline. Domestic Policy In the past, Indian officials have faced challenges reaching political consensus in countering terror. For the greater good of India, political leadership will place partisan matters aside in a joint effort to formulate timely policies to counter terrorism. In 2004, the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) was repealed (Prevention of Terrorism Repeal Act, 2004). To indemnify, the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) was amended to further include crimes associated with terrorism (The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Ordinance, 2004). In an effort to improve on legislation that was perceived as infringing on Indian liberties, national security was exposed to vulnerabilities. India now operates under new legislation that is aggressive on susceptibilities while safeguarding against misuse. Under UAPA confessions made before a police officer were not admissible as evidence (Toughing the Law, 2009). Now, committees have been put into place to asses each case individually and the admissibility of the confession in court. This ensures confessions are made within the parameters of Indian law, while allowing the government to utilize key evidence in cases relevant to terrorism. Additionally and similar to POTA (Toughing the Law, 2009), new law has established special courts for terror related cases. Cases involving terrorist activities, including fund raising and recruitment will be fast-tracked. Failing to expedite these cases constitutes a threat to the security and stability of the state. Extraordinary circumstances require extraordinary measures. There is a distinct difference between ordinary crime and terrorism. UAPA does not differentiate standards for bail between the common criminal and terrorists (Singh, p. 402). Therefore, bail provisions specific to activities related to terrorism have been passed into law. Bail is now set in a way which is proportional to the charges. The onus lies with the judge not to grant this privilege unless there is confidence that the accused is not guilty of terrorist related offenses. Toughening these laws ensure terrorists do not walk away free after being caught in the act. They will not however, deter an individual from committing atrocities. Terrorism has to be dealt with in the context of its growing threat to India. This starts with better governance. Elected officials at all levels must share the same objectives on terrorism. Partnerships between the central government, states, as well as Union territories are essential (Athana, p.15-16). Likewise, a partnership between the government and its people is imperative. This requires mutual trust and respect. Citizens cannot hesitate on reporting suspected terrorist activities to appropriate officials or law enforcement. Through these partnerships, we stand united in fighting violent extremist. International Cooperation India has one of the world’s highest levels of terrorist violence. In 2012, the Global Terrorism Index ranked India 4th among countries most affected by terrorism (Global Terror Index, 2012). Numerous attacks can be directly attributed to Pakistan-based extremists. The international community is well aware of the forces surrounding the tumultuous relationship between Pakistan and India. UN resolution 39 established the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP) attempting to mediate on-going conflicts (General Assembly, 1948). As the UN has condoned Pakistan to continue to blatantly support and harbor terrorist activities, the resolution has lost relevance. Terrorism is not isolated to India, it is a global quandary. The international community is more interdependent than ever in countering these types of threats. The UN, along with allied nations must place additional pressure on Pakistan to further oblige its commitment on fighting terrorism. Rapprochement is unfeasible without the support of the international community. Pakistan must send the message that it will not export transnational terrorism by refusing to act aggressively against those who seek to commit heinous crimes against India. Furthermore, Pakistan must cooperate with the Indian government in extraditing those associated with crimes carried out on Indian soil. Bilateral peace discussions cannot resume until this occurs. The United States and India have held an amiable relationship. Following the 9/11 attack, India offered the U.S. unlimited support including the use of specific air bases (Fair, p. 76-77). Further, we have collaborated on counterterrorism endeavors. The Federal Bureau of Investigation worked diligently with Indian security services after Mumbai (Staniland, p. 3). India recognizes that the United States is deeply engaged with Pakistan in regards to aid and operations surrounding Afghanistan (Asthana, p.17). This empowers the U.S. to impose unrelenting pressure on Pakistan regarding transnational terrorism (Asthana, p.17). Additionally, the U.S. should continue assistance to Indian security forces. India could greatly benefit from increased anti-terrorism courses for police and domestic intelligence forces. Conclusion The 11/26 attack on Mumbai reaffirmed that transnational violence carried out by Pakistani extremist groups remains a leading threat to India’s national security. In addition, numerous terrorist attacks in recent years have been linked to the on-going conflicts in Jammu and Kashmir (Gordon, p.111). India is not immune from the dangers that both domestic and foreign terrorists pose. It is foreseeable that terrorists will continue to target Indian interests globally. The Strategy outlined will serve as a guide to counter those threats. As a society, we must continue to live our lives without forfeiting the liberties radical extremists seek to demolish. Terrorism cannot intimidate or bend the will of the people. Citations Asthana, Vandana. (2010, June 1). Cross-border terrorism in India: Counterterrorism strategies and challenges. Department of Government and International Affairs East Washington University, 1 June 2010. Retrieved from https://ideals.illinois.edu/bitstream/handle/2142/27703/CrossBorderTerrorisminIndiaCounterterrorismStrategiesandChallenges.pdf?sequence=2 Fair,C.C. (2004). The counterterror coalitions: Cooperation with Pakistan and India. Retrieved from Rand website: http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/monographs/2004/RAND_MG141.pdf General Assembly resolution 39, The rule of law at the national and international levels, S/654 (20 January 1948), Retrived from http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=s/res/39(1948) Global Terrorism Index: Capturing the Impact of Terrorism for the Past decade. (2012). Retrieved from Institute For Economics and Peace website: http://www.visionofhumanity.org/sites/default/files/2012_Global_Terrorism_Index_Report.pdf Gordon, S. (2008). Policing terrorism in India. Crime, Law Social Change, 50(1/2), 111-124. Mahadevan, P. (2012). The politics of counterterrorism in India: Strategic intelligence and national security in South Asia. London: I.B. Tauris. Mathews, N. (2011). Guarding Access. Defense Technology International, 5(1), 32. Parliament of India. (2004). PREVENTION OF TERRORISM (REPEAL) ACT 2004 (14). Retrieved from https://www.unodc.org/tldb/showDocument.do?documentUid=6920node=docscmd=addcountry=IND Parliament of India. (2004). The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Ordinance, 2004. Retrieved from http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/document/actandordinances/the_unlawful_activities__amendord2004.htm Rath, S. (2013). South Asia’s future security: The danger of terrorism from Pakistan. Social Research Reports, 2563-89. Singh,U.K. (2007). The state, democracy and anti-terror laws in India. New Delhi: Sage Publications. Toughing the Law. (2009, January 9). India Today Bureau. Retrieved from http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/Toughening+the+law/1/24801.html

Mills The Power Elite Analysis

Mills The Power Elite Analysis   Rudenko Viacheslav   The ruling elite consists of people occupying such positions that give them the opportunity to rise above the environment of ordinary people and make decisions that have the greatest consequences. Whether they make these decisions or not- it is less important than the fact of owning such key positions; their avoidance of known actions and decisions is in itself an action that often entails more important consequences than the decisions they make. This is due to the fact that they command the most important institutions and organisations of modern society. For us, it is important that the activities of the elite not only can provide a stabilising function for the whole society or its subsystems, but can also destabilise its condition. In the work The Power Elite, Mills carried out an institutional analysis of Americas contemporary. As he points out, among all spheres of the life of the society, there are three most important: economic, political and military. It is here where we must look for the roots of the real elite of society. Mills concluded that at the head of America more or less permanent group of families. Representatives of this ruling elite have so much in common (beginning with religion and education and ending with membership in the same clubs) that they represent a single group that gradually concentrates in their hands full power. Although these people consist in different parties, they also have similar interests and views. Because of this, it leads to that the election of the president or congressmen, in fact, a fiction that has no significant meaning. Thus, the country is governed by a narrow ruling elite, which occupies the highest level in the power structure. The lower level in this structure is occupied by the majority of citizens who allegedly are the reliance of democracy, but in reality, they are subordinate to the will of the elite. The single rule of the ruling elite, as C. Mills asserted, not only poses a threat to democracy, but can also provoke a third world war. Sharply criticising the dominance of the elite, Charles Mills posited positive hopes for intellectuals, which, in his opinion, should become the core that will strengthen American society, returning it to democratic origins. The book The Power Elite contains a comprehensive analysis of the American ruling elite:   Ã‚   its composition and main characteristics; mechanisms of its formation; its place in society; its historical evolution; etc. The research itself is a visual example of how a practical embodiment of the style of thinking should look like, which called by Mills as sociological imagination,. The ruling elite: consists of people occupying positions that give them the opportunity to rise above the environment of ordinary people and make decisions that have the greatest consequences. C. Mills believed that there are three distinct levels of power. The first the highest level is occupied by the ruling elite, which formally and informally accepts the most important political decisions and removes the popular masses from governing the country; The second level is an intermediate level of power reflecting group interests in local and regional authorities, whose influence on the adoption of fundamental decisions is limited; The third level is the level of the actual lack of rights of the masses, on which the main part of society is located, which does not exert any influence on the decision-making. This naturally leads to the conclusion that in fact American democracy and peoples democracy is nothing more than a deception. The main fact: the possession of command positions in the social system, in which effective means are concentrated, providing power, wealth, prestige, fame. The ruling elite has a national character:Analysing the provincial upper classes of the old and new formations and the upper strata of the central cities (the so-called layer of four hundred families), and Mills showed that their power capabilities are limited, and their decisions do not have a decisive influence on social processes. Higher positions in local hierarchies have lost the importance they had before. This is due to the institutional development of society, its enlargement and the formation of national social networks. Many members of the ruling elite came out from the local tops; But those who occupy the highest positions in the local hierarchies do not belong to it. The key to understanding the power of the elite must be sought in the social structure of modern society, its most important institutions. That is: (1) economic institutions: corporations; (2) political institutions: the state; (3) military institutions: the army. These institutions in American society dominate and subordinate all other institutions (school, family, church, science, etc.), turning them into tools for the realisation of their goals. There have been processes of enlargement and centralisation in these three areas: Economy: instead of a lot of small entrepreneurs 200-300 large corporations; Public administration: instead of a decentralised structure of state and municipal governments, a centralised government; Military: instead of a decentralised structure of means of violence, a centralised military department that has become the largest and the most expensive government agency. The ruling elite is effectively closed from foreign: through the working mechanisms of selection and recruitment, predominance of appointees and the role of subjective evaluation in appointments. Staying in the elite gives you direct access to the valuable benefits of life: wealth, power, prestige. Access to these benefits depends not so much on the personal qualities of a person, but on the positions in power. Disappearance of the public: The questions that determine the fate of people are not put and are not solved by the general public. Key decisions for society are made by the elite, often without any regard for the public. Also, there is a growing gap between the elite and the managed population. A huge role here is played by the media: in place of democratic discussion and decision-making, authoritarian decision-making mechanisms based on the technologies of propaganda processing and the formation of public opinion come. The market of opinions is monopolised: several large monopolists came to the place of numerous independent producers of opinions. Outcome: universal spiritual ignorance, stupor, loss of life guides and criteria, the triumph of immorality, the collapse of the mind, the general atmosphere of insecurity and impotence. A similar function is also performed by the education system. Immorality at the top: a structural problem. The society itself is arranged in such way that to achieve success person must drop moral. Moral orientations are often become disastrous for a career. In the lower classes a similar structural problem is philistine Machiavellianism. In a society where money is the only indisputable measure of prosperity (and human value), it cannot be otherwise. The main Elite-forming sign is not outstanding individual qualities, but possession of command positions, leading positions. The ruling elite, writes Mills, consists of people, occupying such positions that give them the opportunity to rise above the environment of ordinary people and make decisions that have major consequences. This is due to the fact that they command the most important hierarchical institutions and organizations of modern society. They occupy strategic command posts in the social system, in which effective means are concentrated, ensuring the power, wealth and fame that they use. It is the occupation of key positions in the economy, politics, military and other institutions that provides power and thereby constitutes the elite. Such an understanding of the elite distinguishes left-liberal concepts from Machiavellian and other theories that lead to elitism from special qualities of people. Group cohesion and the diversity of the composition of the ruling elite, which is not limited to the elite of the political, directly taking state decisions, but includes the leaders of corporations, politicians, senior civil servants and higher officers. They are supported by intellectuals, well-established within the existing system. The unifying factor of the ruling elite is not only the common interest of the constituent groups in preserving their privileged position and the social order that provides it, but also the proximity of the social status, educational and cultural level, the range of interests and spiritual values, lifestyle, and personal and family ties. There is also profound difference between the elite and the masses. Natives of the people can enter the elite only by occupying high positions in the social hierarchy. However, they have few real chances for this. The possibilities for the influence of the masses on the elite through elections and other democratic institutions are very limited. With the help of money, knowledge, the sophisticated mechanism of manipulating consciousness, the ruling elite controls the masses virtually uncontrollably. The recruiting of the elite is carried out mainly from its own environment based on acceptance of its social and political values. The most important criteria for selection are the possession of resources of influence, as well as business qualities and a conformist social position. The first and main function of the ruling elite in society is to ensure its own domination. Exactly this function by which decision of administrative tasks is subordinated. Mills denies the inevitability of the elitism of society, criticizes it from consistently democratic positions. Mills comments on the popular ideas about the managerial revolution, according to which, the power in the enterprises passed to the managers from the bottom, rational managers who care about both the profits for the owners and the dignity of the workers. Mills argues that in fact, managers are divided into two classes: those who are engaged in executive organisational work, and those who make key decisions. So, the second, higher class of managers is not separate from the owners of the group. As a rule, they have part in the shares of the enterprise. In fact, their interests do not differ from the interests of owners, as in their position they make money. At the very top of the social structure of the United States is the ruling elite, and below it is a politically formless inert society. If you look at it objectively, there is not so widely praised by the liberals the public, which discusses various issues, and then implements decisions directly or through representatives. The place of a reasonable and free personality envisaged by such a model is now occupied by the crowd man, and a mass society takes the place of a politically active organisation organised into grassroots associations of civil society. As We see large corporations instead small shopkeepers today, and instead of communicating between the buyer and the seller, we see mass advertising, as well in politics: instead of exchanging views, we see mass ideological processing. From what has been said it is clear that an inert society is the result of the influence of the mass media. The basis of resistance to them may be the comprehension of their experience, but the problem is that even our experience we perceive through the prism created by the mass media. Also, these media divert us from knowing the world through communication with loved ones. Probably, this function is performed by the TV bursting into the kitchen? Media does not only form our view of the world, but also our view of ourselves, imposing desires, dreams, and a vision of our position in society. The way out of this situation is to create and maintain alternative media that are not monopolised by the powers that be. This will allow us to see a real clash of opinions and analyse them. The education system has an effect similar to the mass media. In modern educational institutions, instead of political goals (the ability to link personal experience with social processes and to be active in public life), dominate market goals (the desire to become a steep specialist and move along the career ladder) which go together with ideologic propaganda of ruling class. The structure of an inert society is this: we are alienated from each other and closed in our own world, to which we look through the prism created by the mass media and the education system. We cannot relate our position to a real social structure. As a result, we become non-initiative and politically inert. Above the mass of such disunited people rises the organised elite, making the most important decisions, concerning all. Such pessimistic picture drawn by Mills. Pessimistic, because it does not contain a hint of a strategy of liberation. Perhaps Mills simply did not set the goal of this book to reflect on liberation strategies, or maybe he did not really see the opportunity to change society for the better, who knows? The concept of elite within the framework of the proposed cultural-institutional approach which historically defined (along with aristocracy and nomenclature) as a form of existence of power groups that define institutional boundaries. In other words, the elites are groups that perform, first of all, stabilising functions on the scale of the whole society, as well as its individual subsystems. And within the framework of this function, the elites consider the limits of the existence of other institutions and individuals. In this sense, they are institutionalising institutions. The existence of the elite is connected with the bourgeois industrial society. This means that they are the product of the social relations of this particular society. In this context, there are three characteristics of the modern society which are important: openness of the society, openness of power and openness of politics. In connection with these changes, the elites are institutionalised. The study of the ruling elite of the US did not go unnoticed. Later, the conclusions of C. Mills were reflected in the ideology of the new left throughout the world. In addition, the modern English sociologist A. Giddens who has convincingly shown that the term ruling elite, invented by C. Mills in relation to the United States, can rightly be attributed to the Soviet Union. Mills carried out an institutional analysis of Americas contemporary. He pointed out that among all spheres of the life of society the leading place is occupied by three economic, political and military. Mills believes that power elites represent only their own interests, which include maintaining an eternal economic war to control American capitalism, and masking manipulative control of social and political order with the help of the mass media. Mills concluded that at the head of America is more or less the permanent group of families. This leads to the fact that the election of the president or congressmen is a fiction, which has no essential meaning. The lower level in this structure is occupied by the majority of citizens who allegedly to the reliance of democracy, but in reality they are subordinate to the will of the elite. Mills saw the main social danger in increasing rationality without reason, that is, in using ruling elite rational means ,developed by scientists, to achi eve irrational goals.

Freedom of Speech in Cyberspace -- Internet Web Cyberspace Essays

Freedom of Speech in Cyberspace Since the public has logged onto the internet there has been vast amounts of information available. Since the 1990s more and more countries have entered into the information age. Due to the lack of freedom of speech in several countries, censorship has now taken on a prevalent role in the suppression of information. Many countries view a great deal of information as a threat if put into the wrong hands and as a consequence attempt to reduce its availability. However, unlike many of its other counterparts, the United States takes a very liberal stance towards the access if information on the Internet, which is protected by the First Amendament. In contrast to this philosophy, the Saudi Arabian government, in an act to suppress and censor the prevalence of the information on the internet, has established laws and regulations that prohibit public access to the internet for religious and social reasons. The United States has had internet access for over a decade now and information and usage has flourished. The technology development over the last five years has promoted internet access across the country with internet access in homes and businesses increasing exponentially. With any ISP a person decides to use there is no censorship or filtration system which limits their access to any part of the internet. ISPs and multiple companies’ offer software which helps restrict children’s access to pornographic sites or sites that parents deem harmful to their children, but the companies to explicitly filter the content that is received at a personal computer. There have been laws that have been revoked by the Supreme Court or regional courts which have tried to regulate or filter Internet access[i... ...4/22/2004) [iv] McCarthy, Martha. (2003). Internet Censorship: United States v. American Library Association. (4/22/2004) [v] Committee to Protect Journalists. (2003) Attacks on the Press 2003: Mideast (4/22/2004) [vi] Human Rights Watch. (1999) The Internet In the Mideast And North Africa – Country Profiles-Saudi Arabia (4/22/2004) [vii] Zittrain, Jonathan and Edelman, Benjamin. (2002) . Documentation of Internet Filtering in Saudi Arabia. (4/22/2004) [viii] Human Rights Watch. (1999) The Internet In the Mideast And North Africa – Country Profiles-Saudi Arabia (4/22/2004) [ix] Committee to Protect Journalists. (2003) Attacks on the Press 2003: Mideast (4/22/2004) [x] Committee to Protect Journalists. (2003) Attacks on the Press 2003: Mideast (4/22/2004) [xi] Jehl, Douglas. (1999). The Internet’s ‘Open Sesame’ Is Answered Warily. (4/22/2004)

The Contempt and Bitterness of Virginia Woolf Exposed in A Room of One

The Contempt and Bitterness of Virginia Woolf Exposed in A Room of One's Own Virginia Woolf refuses the role society prescribes her. She stands up against glass ceilings, separate spheres, and double standards-cultural institutions that create and uphold a weaker sex. In her writing, specifically "A Room of One's Own," she manifests her contempt and bitterness by advocating "it is necessary [for women] to have five hundred [pounds] a year and a lock on the door if you are to write fiction or poetry" (769). However, to break and step above the institutions she criticizes, Woolf knows she cannot simply complain about her brothers' years at Oxford while she stayed home with tutors-that would lead an audience to believe "she has an axe to grind" (quoted in Bartholomae and Petrosky, 750). Rather, she must strive for the calm collectedness of her male academic counterparts. This presents a problem for Woolf: how does she convey the oppression of women-the passion behind her work-through an objective and level voice? She needed a vehicle that could be neutral yet em otional, provocative but wise. Ultimately, Woolf needed a mask: one that mimicked the reserved quality of men, yet allowed her to bare the thoughts of a woman subjected to society's mechanisms. Woolf found her solution in the persona "Mary Beton, Mary Seton, Mary Carmichael, or byanynarneyouplease"(751). Mary,Mary,orMary,quitecontrarytoWoolf, is a superb ballerinas prima donna of the highest caliber-she was sent to the front of the class not for punishment, but to set the par. She learned earlier than the other girls to stay quiet for her superiors and to please them, even at the risk of pain Through years of training, conditioning and practice, performing en pointe h... ... the lobby with such a confident air because she knew she was the best-the purse her mother gave her proved that. On a less frequent basis she remembers one girl who was in her class for a short time. This girl-the name Virginia sounds familiar-always had a sloppy bun and leaned to the left in her pirouettes As Mary gets ready for a grand gala (that society has told her to attend) she wonders what ever happened to that girl. Works Cited Bartholomae, David and Anthony Petrosky, eds. Ways of Reading: An Anthology for Writers, Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 1999. Rich, Adrienne. "When We Dead Awaken: Writing as Re-Vision." Ways of Reading. Eds. David Bartholomae and Anthony Petrosky. Bedford/St. Martin's, 1999. 603-620. Woolf, Virginia. "A Room of One's Own." Ways of Reading. Eds. David Bartholomae and Anthony Petrosky. Bedford/St. Martin's, 1999. 750-778,

Art versus Pornography Essay -- Argumentative Persuasive Topics

Art versus Pornography   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Her head rests on her left knee, with her hands clasped on her ankle.   Locks of hair are thrown about in an auburn blaze.   Her tight rosy lips are as red as her cheeks.   Her dark-blue eyes reveal a half-seductive, half-submissive look.   Her legs are in a subdued spread-eagle formation, leaving her crotch area quite visible.   Her white panties leave little to the imagination. The sexual overtones are more than just a coincidence.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Suspend your imagination for a minute and ask yourself if the description formed in your mind a work of art or, instead, a photograph of softcore pornography, found in such magazines as Hustler or Playboy?   Where this description is taken from will be disclosed later, but let us concern ourselves with a problem that this... ...ed them.   A person at the time looking at his works would recognize them as prostitutes, a fact that is less distinct today.   His display of the "product" in some cases, could be seen as propaganda against prostitution.   Hence, he had an intellectual, not a pornographic intent.  Ã‚   This debate will continue, and perhaps no end may come of it until viewers have understanding of the artist's intent.

How to Lose Belly Fat and Get a Flat Stomach Essay

In this article we provide a series of diet rules that you must follow if you wish to lose weight and get a flat stomach. Then we have some specific advice for men, women, teens and seniors and finally cover the lifestyle factors and exercises which are needed to maintain a healthy weight. We then review some of the weight loss advice from major publications over the last decade. At the end of the article you will find links to several of our fitness workouts that will help you to lose weight. Knowing how to lose belly fat is the first step in gaining that flat stomach that so many people aspire to. Once the fat is lost you are only one step away from attaining the ultimate dream, six pack abs. However, even a thin layer of loose belly fat can be hard to shift. If you are looking for advice on how to lose stomach fat then following these tips and tricks will help you to lose that gut quickly. Combined with a fitness plan, these tips to lose belly fat will speed up weight loss and get you in shape in no time. Not everyone wants a washboard abs, but if you just want to trim down some inches around the waist and get a flatter stomach, these tips can really help you. Remember that central obesity is bad for your health and that losing belly fat reduces risks of developing more serious health issues in the future such as diabetes and heart disease. Diet Rules To Reduce Visceral Fat / Belly Fat Say Goodbye to Belly Fat! 1. Throw Out The Junk Food – Reduce Sugar and Saturated Fat To lose stomach fat you have to throw out the junk food! You are what you eat, so don’t eat junk. Do not keep junk food like cookies, chips, sweets and other similar products in your house. Junk food and addiction to sugar is considered to be the greatest cause of belly fat today. There are some foods that burn belly fat which will help you, but you still have to control calories. If you do not have these bad foods lying around, you will not think about them and after sometime, you will break the bad eating habits. Most weight loss plans provide great nutrition advice and motivational tips to help you keep your healthy diet on track and this is essential for losing belly fat. But, why is junk food so bad? Mostly it is due to the high sugar content of junk food. Most junk food consists of refined carbs and sugar, which when eaten quickly raise blood sugar levels, leading to reduction in fat burning and increase in appetite. 2. Carbohydrates and Losing Belly Fat – Low GI Carbs are Best Consumption of carbohydrate is essential for losing belly fat, but there are good carbs and bad carbs. Refined flours and the foods that they create, such as white bread, pasta, donuts, cakes and biscuits (yes, biscuits cause weight gain) should be avoided. They can cause bloating, poor digestion, and lead to accumulation of fat, which is the opposite of how to lose belly fat! â€Å"Good carbs†, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, should be eaten instead. Slow release carbohydrates are also beneficial, such as oats, brown rice, some pulses and sweet potato. A diet that takes most of its carbs from fruits and vegetables, as opposed to refined flours, is healthier. Read our Low GI Diet eBook to learn how the glycemic index help you to lose weight. Ideally granary or wholemeal bread should be eaten instead of white bread, and biscuits / cookies and cakes should be avoided. Consuming too much carbohydrate can bump up your insulin level, which can slow down your metabolism. Your body cannot metabolize too much carbohydrate at once because the body does not need so much energy at once. The excess sugar from the carbohydrates will just turn into stomach fat. Much research has shown that adopting the Atkins Nutritional Approach, i.e. a high fat/protein diet, is the way ahead to lose weight fast. Avoiding carbs increases the fat burning metabolism (lipolysis), which helps to reduce belly fat to get a flat stomach. Combine your meals with a good mixture of protein, carbohydrates and vegetables. Your source of protein should be in the size of a deck of cards; the carbohydrates in the size of your palm and the major bulk of your meals should come from vegetables, ideally low GI vegetables. (advertisement) 3. The Natural Way to Lose Belly Fat – Eat Like a Cave Man Following a natural food idea is a great way to lose belly fat as if combines the rules above, that is you avoid all junk food and all processed food, sugar and saturated fats. Following a Caveman Diet or a Low GI diet are two ways to lose belly fat the natural way. It is important that you avoid gimmicks and pills when try to lose weight. You need to make a lifestyle change and carry on eating a healthy diet and exercise after you lose weight. Systems such as the HCG Diet and Lemonade Cleanse / Maple Syrup Diet may aid fast weight loss initially but in the long-term there is a much greater risk of putting the weight back on again. 4. No More Late Night Snacks – Stop Comfort Eating Try not to have late night snacks. The main problem with late night snacking is that there is not much activity done afterwards. People go straight to bed right after the late night meal because they are tired. So, this will cause high sugar levels in the blood stream and no energy spent after that. The excess sugar will just turn into belly fat very quickly. You can reduce you hunger and food cravings by following a low glycemic diet. Fluctuations in blood sugar causes increases in appetite. Losing stomach fat requires a strict diet so avoiding hunger is essential. Late night snacking is often emotional eating and not eating to nourish. 5. Drink Less Alcohol To Lose Weight Decrease alcohol consumption. If you drink a lot, you will accumulate fat around your waist. Excess alcohol consumption can really give you a belly. Have you seen people who are slim all over but have a beer belly sticking out? Well, that is the effect of excess alcohol consumption. Alcohol does not contain any nutrients at all. So, all the energy consumed through alcohol will be stored as belly fat! If you want to lose weight fast then you need to stop drinking for a while. You do not need to give up alcohol completely, but just drink in moderation. Do not drink everyday and limit yourself to just one glass of wine or one bottle of beer. (advertisement) Lifestyle Changes To Help Lose Weight Get Faster Results: Free Weight Loss Guide Super Fitness Plans Low GI Diet Plan 31 Day Fat Loss 1. Turn Out The Lights Before Bed Sleep research has shown that sleeping with a light on, even just a dim night light, is enough to cause changed to appetite. Researchers found that subjects that sleep with a light on gain more weight. 2. Exercise for Weight Loss – Burn Fat With Cardio and Weights Exercise is vital for weight loss and long-term health. Exercising has an immediate effect on weight, in that as you exercise you burn energy (mostly glycogen stored in muscle tissue). The body replaces the lost energy by breaking down sugar reserves in fat cells. This is why we lose weight (fat) when we exercise. Exercise also helps build muscle and this means that your metabolism is raised permanently. Finally, the more exercise you do, the fitter you get. The fitter you are, the more you can exercise and the more calories you burn. If you do not know how to get started, find a fitness class, hire a personal trainer or learn from or guides. If you want to exercise by yourself then books exercise can help (there are some old but free books on gymnastic exercises here). We have a growing selection of advice and articles to help you get fit here at MotleyHealth.com. 3. What is the Best Exercise to Lose Belly Fat? The question that is so often asked has finally been answered by sports scientists. Researchers from the Duke Uni Medical Center have found that aerobic exercise is more effective at burning visceral (belly) fat than weight training. Visceral fat is the least healthy of fat too. It causes diabetes, heart disease and some forms of cancer. â€Å"Resistance training is great for improving strength and increasing lean body mass. But if you are overweight, which two-thirds of the population is, and you want to lose belly fat, aerobic exercise is the better choice because it burns more calories.† – Dr. Cris Slentz, Duke University Medical Center, 2011. How to Lose Belly Fat with Exercise The key to losing belly fat is to exercise often. We suggest exercising at least 7 times per week. If you can fit in 2 workouts a day all the better. Although sports research has indicated that intensive exercise is most effective, this new research suggests that really it is just a matter of burning more calories. So whether you spring or walk makes no difference, so long as you do the work. Sprinting obviously burns calories quicker than walking but if you can only walk that just means is that you have to exercise for longer each day. There are many exercise routines that will help you to get a 6 pack once you have lost all your belly fat. However, the most important thing is to combine different workouts. Weight training is essential, as building muscle speeds metabolism. Intensive exercise, such as interval training and circuit training burns fat fast. Keep it varied, and you will lose weight. Remember that although stomach exercises will not help you to lose belly fat, they will help to tone the mid-section and develop your abdominals. If exercise is simply not an option for you then you should read the section on How to Lose Weight which explains the role of food, hormones and fat loss. Although diet plays the most important role in losing weight and belly fat, exercise really is essential. Fortunately there are some fitness and weight loss plans that are tailored to help people lose belly fat. We have many workouts in our fitness section.

School Violence In Virgin Islands

School violence poses a great risk in the development of any nation but not only in the US as a whole or the Virgin Islands. School violence is a very serious problem especially in the public schools and it is both found in urban and sub urban areas of the Virgin Islands. It would a wasted effort to try to improve the quality of education without taking school violence as a serious problem, thus looking for ways to solve it no matter the quality of teachers we employ or the curriculum since violence makes learning difficult. School violence comes in very different forms which include; o Intimidation o Gang activity Use of guns and other dangerous weapons o Theft of lockers o Assault or o Anything that will cause a victim Victims of school violence could be teachers, students and members of non teaching staff and ranges from planned attacks to unintentional murders of by standers. There are nearly three million robberies and acts of violence happening in or in the neighborhoods of sch ool campuses yearly according to the National Crime survey of May 2001. This is about sixteen thousand occurrences per school per day and also almost all crimes against teenagers happen in schools or in the neighborhoods (Hurwitz, Menacker, Weldon, 1987 p5). The chances of a violent incident occurring in a school are increased if there is a student with a gun. Possession of guns by students while in school is a common occurrence and many parents are constantly worried about the safety of their kids who are in school. Around 15% of students in the Virgin Islands report the presence of gangs in their schools and many fear of being attacked while in school or on their way to the school and 61% of all crimes are committed by students (Boyer, 2008, p334). There is various prevention measures put in place in the Virgin Islands for controlling school violence. School safety is treated as a priority within each campus and the neighborhood. Programs encompassing parents, students, teachers, police officers, religious leaders, the courts and any other leader who is in charge of ethnic and racial balance in the community. These people help in determining case of planned violence and also setting up plans for stopping acts of violence before they happen. The school environment is set up in such a way that it creates a positive climate for the students. All employees in each school are encouraged to participate in creating this welcoming environment so as to eradicate any negativity in the students, since this goes a long way in reducing cases of violence. Schools have also established a procedures for tracking crimes and for record keeping, it records crime types, when, where and why they happened and any other important data. The data is then examined to determine the trends, the persons involved and any new patterns so as to come with measures of countering it (Furlong, Bates, Smith, 2004 pp240-263). Establishment of communication centers using the latest technologies for that is capable of getting in touch with the appropriate administrators in case of an emergency. These allows for quick response so as minimize chances of aggravating the injuries which might occur during the violence. Students who have the tendency of bringing weapons to school should be counseled, given the necessary support or referred to the suitable resources in the community and where necessary transferred to other schools. Probation officers are placed in campuses in communities experiencing severe cases of violence so as to give the students thorough supervision. Some of the above programs might fail to work in some communities but work in others because school settings are different from one school to the other. Students have formed groups which report any violence acts and the culprits. The youth contact patrols in their campuses and neighborhoods and are provided with adequate security without causing confrontations with those they find engaging in crime (United States District Court (Virgin Islands), 1982 pp290- 296). There is amicable solution of grievances which is done by using dialogue to end conflicts thus making sure that cases of revenge are minimized. This is because if some of these problems are not solved once and for all it might cause planned attacks which can happen even outside the school. Students are encouraged to engage in extra curricular activities during their free time so as to reduce the chances of getting themselves in to drugs, since this is a major cause for violence. Students who are found to be in drugs are counseled and advised to visit rehabilitation centers so that they quit these habits. Some of the traditional methods for crime prevention particularly in cases of indiscipline are limited either by the legislature or the judiciary but parents have the powers to determine the types of punishments to be administered to their children even if it is corporal punishment. It is also difficult to establish the measures that work best due to the fact that schools are of different settings. Some of these measures are limited in public schools since the government has the mandate to ascertain that power is not abused in cases where learning is a must and attending given schools is compulsory. This limitation on public schools makes them more violent as compared to private schools and this encourages the establishment of the private schools since most parents want the best for their children. Some of the legislations are kind of encouraging violence in public schools. But it is advisable for school administrators to keep on innovating new methods for countering this problem and to keep on trying the old ones as well as the established. Parents are also encouraged to take an active role in the up bringing of their children so as top ensure that they grow up in to responsible adults. It is also advisable to break up large schools in to small ones because supervising a small number of students is easier. There should be different schools for boys and girls since there seems to more violence in mixed schools than there are in boys or girls’ only schools. The government should also relax some of its legislations so as to allow teachers and parents of public schools to make their own measures for different types of indiscipline in the students (Preventing School Violence: Top Five Ways To Build Stronger Student-adult Relationships, available online).