Create and maintain a safe environment Essay

It is utmost importance for learners to feel physically and emotionally safe in order for learning to take place. Safe in terms of physical safety but emotional safety too in order for them to feel emotionally safe enough to engage in the classroom. It is important to understand that the learning establishing a safe learning environment provides the key to the success of the teaching/training process. This environment should be a place that puts learners at ease from anxiety, prejudice, and fear of criticism. The role of the teacher is to create an environment where everyone is accepted and learning can take place freely with mistakes happening as well. Although the trainer/teacher has the lead role it is accepted that there are no experts and good valid contributions can be made by participants. This creates a good learning environment where learning can take place. Laying down ground rules at the start of each session helps to establish expected behaviour from the participants and helps the m feel safe. Any adverse behaviour/ disruptive behaviour should be dealt with swiftly in a way that makes everyone feel safe and respected. The learning environment should be physically safe and health and safety procedures need to be adhered to. Trailing wires should be clipped appropriately and trailed appropriately avoiding trip hazards. If physical active exercise consists of the course then appropriate mats /flooring should be made available Assessment Criteria 1.2.2 – EXPLAIN why it is important to promote appropriate behaviour and respect for others. EXPLAIN 3 types of learner behaviour that may hinder learning and suggest ways of overcoming these. Learner Behaviour How I could overcome this A learner may have a strong opinion about a subject matter and this might start to affect others who may not agree with him/her I would thank the learner for taking time to bring this up. Validate their point by saying it was an issue that was very debatable and I would invite them on a 1 to one session to discuss the issue further in order for the rest of work we need to cover on the session to progress. A learner may become very chatty with others. This distracts other learners and they miss important parts of the session. A learner may use inappropriate language. Other learners may find this offensive. I would use an activity that would engage the leaner as it may be possible that they may start getting bored. In the process I may mix groups and shuffle people about so people get to share different ideas and try and see things from different points of view. It would be important to address this by saying â€Å"We agreed not to use inappropriate language in this session, let’s all be respectful of each other† If the behaviour persisted I would request to have a word with the offender in private and explain that his behaviour was disruptive and how it was affecting others. If this failed I may have to follow policy and procedure and ask them to leave the course to avoid further disruption. A learner has disrupted my lesson when we were doing a needs assessment where all the participants say what they would like to gain/learn on the day. He said he wasn’t here to learn anything and didn’t want to be on the course. He said he was only here because his manager had told him to. His tone was harsh and quite aggressive. I arrived on to the next person and called a  quick coffee break for 10 minutes. During the break I spoke to Tony who became very tearful and explained to me that he was agro phobic and did not like to be in large groups of people. He also explained that he suffered from depression and although it was currently under control with his medication he had relapsed. He also explained to me that he had been threatened with a disciplinary and had come on to the course under duress. I then explained that he was free to go home and I was going to have a meeting with his manager to try and rectify the situation. When I spoke to the manager we arranged to facilitate the same training for this individual in a smaller session where he felt more comfortable and at a time when he felt his mental state was better. I carried on with the rest of the learners and apologised for the disruption earlier in the session. Reference list Gravells, A (2013) The Award in Education and Training Exeter: Learning Matters

A Dirty Job Chapter 8

8 A STREETCAR NAMED CONFUSION Into the breech of the Castro district Charlie Asher charged, an antique sword-cane from the store on the van seat beside him, his jaw set like a bayonet, his visage a study in fearsome intensity. Half a block, half a block, half of a block onward – into the Valley of Overpriced Juice Bars and Outlandish Hair Highlights – rode the righteous Beta Male. And woe be unto the foolish ne'er-do-well who had dared to fuck with this secondhand death dealer, for his raggedy life would be fast for the bargain table. There's going to be a showdown in Gay Town, Charlie thought, and I am gunning for justice. Well, not really gunning – since he had a sword concealed in a walking stick, not a gun – more of a poking for justice – which didn't really have the avenging angel connotation he was looking for – he was mad, and ready to kick ass, that's all. So, you know, just watch out. (Coincidentally, Poking for Justice was the title currently second in popularity at Castro Video Rentals, closely edging out A Star Is Born: The Director's Cut, and outranked only by Cops Without Pants, which was number one with a bullwhip.) Charlie turned off Market Street and just around the corner on Noe Street he saw it: Fresh Music, the sign done in blocky, Craftsman-style stained glass, and he felt the hair at the back of his neck bristle and an urgency in his bladder. His body had gone into fight-or-flight mode, and for the second time in a week, he was going against his Beta Male nature and choosing to fight. Well, so be it, he thought. So be it. He would confront his tormentor and lay him low, as soon as he found a parking place – which he didn't. He circled the block, cutting between cafs and bars, both of which were in abundance in the Castro. He drove up and down the side streets, lined with rows of immaculately kept (exorbitantly priced) Victorians and found no quarter for his trusty steed. After a half hour of orbiting the neighborhood, he headed back uptown and found a spot in a parking garage in the Fillmore, then took the antique streetcar back down Market Street to the Castro. A cute little green, Italian-made antique streetcar, with oak benches, brass railings, and mahogany window frames – a charming brass bell and a top speed of about twenty miles per hour: this is how Charlie Asher charged into battle. He tried to imagine a horde of Huns hanging off the sides, waving wicked blades and firing arrows as they passed the murals in the Mission district, perhaps Viking raiders, shields fastened to the sides of the car, a great drum pounding as they rowed in to pillage the antique shops, the leather bars, the sushi bars, the leather sushi bars (don't ask), and the art galleries, in the Castro. And here, even Charlie's formidable imagination failed him. He got off the car at Castro and Market and walked back a block to Fresh Music, then paused outside the shop, wondering what in the hell he was going to do now. What if the caller had just borrowed the phone? What if he stormed in screaming and threatening, and there was just some confused kid behind the counter? But then he looked in the door, and there, standing behind the counter, all alone, was an extraordinarily tall black man dressed completely in mint green, and at that point Charlie lost his mind. â€Å"You killed her,† Charlie screamed as he stormed by the racks of CDs toward the man in mint. He drew the sword as he ran, or tried to, hoping to bring it out in a single fluid movement from the cane sheath and across the throat of Rachel's killer. But the sword-cane had been in the back of Charlie's shop for a long time, and except for three times when Lily's friend Abby tried to leave with it (once trying to buy it, when Charlie refused to sell it to her, then twice trying to steal it), the sword hadn't been drawn in years. The little brass stud that you pushed to release the blade had stuck, so when Charlie delivered the deathblow, he swung the entire cane, which was heavier – and slower – than the sword would have been. The man in mint green – quick for his size – ducked, and Charlie took out an entire row of Judy Garland CDs, lost his balance, bounced off the counter, spun around, and again tried for the single draw-and-cut move that he had seen so many times in samurai movies, and had practiced so many times in his head on the way here. This time the sword came free of the scabbard and slashed a deadly arch three feet in front of the man in mint, completely decapitating a life-sized cutout of Barbra Streisand. â€Å"That is un-unfucking called for!† thundered the tall man. As Charlie recovered his balance for a backhand slash, he saw something large and dark coming down over him and recognized it at the last instant, as the antique cash register slammed down on his head. There was a flash, a ding, and everything got dark and gooey. When Charlie came to, he was tied to a chair in the back room of the record store, which looked remarkably like the back room of his own store, except all the stacked boxes were full of records and CDs instead of all variety of used jetsam. The tall black man was standing over him, and Charlie thought at first that he might be turning to mist or smoke, but then he realized it was just that his vision was going wavy, and then pain lit up the inside of his head like a strobe light. â€Å"Ouch.† â€Å"How's your neck?† asked the tall man. â€Å"Does your neck feel broken? Can you feel your feet?† â€Å"Go ahead, kill me, you fucking coward,† said Charlie, bucking around in the chair, trying to lunge at his captor and feeling a little like the Black Knight in Monty Python's Holy Grail after his arms and legs had been hacked off. If this guy took one step closer, Charlie could head-butt him in the nads, he was sure of it. The tall man stomped on Charlie's toes, a size-eighteen glove-leather loafer driven by two hundred and seventy pounds of death and used-record dealer. â€Å"Ouch!† Charlie hopped his chair in a little circle of pain. â€Å"Goddammit! Ouch!† â€Å"So you do have feeling in your feet?† â€Å"Get it over with. Go ahead.† Charlie stretched his neck as if offering his throat to be cut – his strategy was to lure his captor into range, then sever the tall man's femoral artery with his teeth, then gloat as the blood coursed all over his mint-green slacks onto the floor. Charlie would laugh long and sinister as he watched the life drain out of the evil bastard, then he would hop his chair out to the street and onto the streetcar at Market, transfer to the number forty-one bus at Van Ness, hop off at Columbus, and hop the two blocks home, where someone would untie him. He had a plan – and a bus pass with four more days left on it – so this son of a bitch had picked the wrong guy to fuck with. â€Å"I have no intention of killing you, Charlie,† said the tall man, keeping a safe distance. â€Å"I'm sorry I had to hit you with the register. You didn't really leave me any options.† â€Å"You could have tasted the fatal sting of my blade!† Charlie glanced around for his sword-cane, just in case the guy had left it within reach. â€Å"Yeah, sure, there was that one, but I thought I'd go with the one without the stains and the funeral.† Charlie strained against his bonds, which he realized now were plastic shopping bags. â€Å"You're messing with Death, you know? I am Death.† â€Å"Yeah, I know.† â€Å"You do?† â€Å"Sure.† The tall man spun another wooden chair around and sat on it reversed, facing Charlie. His knees were up at the level of his elbows and he looked like a great green tree frog, crouched to pounce on an insect. Charlie noticed for the first time that he had golden eyes, stark and striking in contrast to his dark skin. â€Å"So am I,† said the evil mint-green frog guy. â€Å"You? You're Death?† â€Å"A Death, not THE Death. I don't think there is a THE Death. Not anymore, anyway.† Charlie couldn't grasp it, so he struggled and wobbled until the tall man had to reach out and steady him to keep him from toppling over. â€Å"You killed Rachel.† â€Å"I did not.† â€Å"I saw you there.† â€Å"Yes, you did. That's a problem. Will you please stop thrashing around?† He shook Charlie's chair. â€Å"But I wasn't instrumental in Rachel's death. That's not what we do, not anymore, anyway. Didn't you even look at the book?† â€Å"What book? You said something about a book on the phone.† â€Å"The Great Big Book of Death. I sent it to your shop. I told a woman at the counter that I was sending it, and I got delivery confirmation, so I know it got there.† â€Å"What woman – Lily? She's not a woman, she's a kid.† â€Å"No, this was a woman about your age, with New Wave hair.† â€Å"Jane? No. She didn't say anything, and I didn't get any book.† â€Å"Oh, shit. That explains why they've been showing up. You didn't even know.† â€Å"Who? What? They?† Mint Green Death sighed heavily. â€Å"I guess we're going to be here awhile. I'm going to make some coffee. Do you want some?† â€Å"Sure, try to lull me into a false sense of security, then spring.† â€Å"You're tied the fuck up, motherfucker, I don't need to lull you into shit. You've been fucking with the fabric of human existence and someone needed to shut your ass down.† â€Å"Oh, sure, go black on me. Play the ethnic card.† Mint Green climbed to his feet and headed toward the door to the shop. â€Å"You want cream?† â€Å"And two sugars, please,† Charlie said. This is really cool, why are you giving it back?† said Abby Normal. Abby was Lily's best friend, and they were sitting on the floor in the back room of Asher's Secondhand, looking through The Great Big Book of Death. Abby's real name was Alison, but she would no longer tolerate the ignominy of what she called her â€Å"daylight-slave name.† Everyone had been much more responsive to calling her by her chosen name than they had been to Lily's, Darquewillow Elventhing, which you always had to spell for people. â€Å"Turns out it's Asher, not me,† Lily said. â€Å"He'll be really pissed if he finds out I took it. And he's Death now, I guess, so I could get in trouble.† â€Å"Are you going to tell him you had the book?† Abby scratched the silver spider stud in her eyebrow; it was a fresh piercing and still healing and she couldn't stop messing with it. Abby, like Lily, was dressed all in black, boots to hair, the difference being that she had a black-widow's red hourglass on the front of her black T-shirt and she was thinner and more waiflike in her affected creepiness. â€Å"No. I'll just say it got misfiled. That happens a lot here.† â€Å"How long did you think it was you?† â€Å"Like a month.† â€Å"What about the dreams and the names and stuff it talks about, you didn't have any of that, right?† â€Å"I thought I was just growing into my powers. I made a lot of lists of people I wanted gone.† â€Å"Yeah, I do that. And you just found out yesterday that it was Asher?† â€Å"Yeah,† said Lily. â€Å"That sucks,† said Abby. â€Å"Life sucks,† said Lily. â€Å"So, what now?† asked Abby. â€Å"Junior college?† They both nodded, woefully, and looked into the depths of their respective nail polishes to avoid sharing the humiliation of one of them having gone from dark demigod to local loser in an instant. They lived their lives hoping for something grand and dark and supernatural to happen, so when it had, they took it more in stride than was probably healthy. Fear, after all, is a survival mechanism. â€Å"So all these things are soul objects?† asked Abby, as cheerfully as her integrity would allow. She waved to the piles of stuff Charlie had marked with â€Å"Do Not Sell† signs. â€Å"There's like a person's soul in there?† â€Å"According to the book,† said Lily. â€Å"Asher says he can see them glow.† â€Å"I like the red Converse All Stars.† â€Å"Take them, they're yours,† said Lily. â€Å"Really?† â€Å"Yeah,† Lily said. She took the All Stars off the shelf and held them out. â€Å"He'll never miss them.† â€Å"Cool. I have the perfect pair of red fishnets I can wear with them.† â€Å"They probably have the soul of some sweaty jock in them,† Lily said. â€Å"He may worship at my feet,† said Abby, doing a pirouette and an arabesque (remnants, along with an eating disorder, of ten years of ballet lessons). So I'm like a Santa's Helper of Death?!† Charlie said, waving his coffee cup. The tall man had untied his one arm so he could drink his coffee, and Charlie was baptizing the stockroom floor with French roast with every gesture. Mr. Fresh frowned. â€Å"What in the hell are you talking about, Asher?† Fresh felt bad about hitting Charlie Asher with a cash register and tying him up, and now he was wondering if the blow hadn't caused some sort of brain damage. â€Å"I'm talking about the Santa at Macy's, Fresh. When you're a kid, and you notice that the Santa Claus at Macy's has a fake beard, and that there are at least six Salvation Army Santas working Union Square, you ask your parents about it and they tell you that the real Santa is in the North Pole, and he's really busy, so all these other guys are Santa's helpers, who are out helping him with his work. That's what you're saying, that we're Santa's helpers to Death?† Mr. Fresh had been standing by his desk, but now he sat down again across from Charlie so he could look him in the eye. Very softly he said, â€Å"Charlie, you know that that's not true now, right? I mean about Santa's helpers and all?† â€Å"Of course I know that there's no Santa Claus. I'm using it as a metaphor, you tool.† Mr. Fresh took this opportunity to reach out and smack Charlie upside the head. Then immediately regretted it. â€Å"Hey!† Charlie put down his cup and rubbed one of his receding-hairline inlets, which was going red from the blow. â€Å"Rude,† said Mr. Fresh. â€Å"Let's not be rude.† â€Å"So you're saying that there is a Santa?† Charlie said, cringing in anticipation of another smack. â€Å"Oh my God, how deep does this conspiracy go?† â€Å"No, there's no goddamn Santa. I'm just saying that I don't know what we are. I don't know if there is a big Death with a capital D, although the book hints that there used to be. I'm just saying that there are many of us, a dozen that I know of right here in the city – all of us picking up soul vessels and seeing that they get into the right hands.† â€Å"And that's based on someone randomly coming into your shop and buying a record?† Then Charlie's eyes went wide as it hit him. â€Å"Rachel's Sarah McLachlan CD. You took it?† â€Å"Yes.† Fresh looked at the floor, not because he was ashamed, but to avoid seeing the pain in Charlie Asher's eyes. â€Å"Where is it? I want to see it,† said Charlie. â€Å"I sold it.† â€Å"To who? Find it. I want Rachel back.† â€Å"I don't know. To a woman. I didn't get her name, but I'm sure it was meant for her. You'll be able to tell.† â€Å"I will? Why will I?† he asked. â€Å"Why me? I don't want to kill people.† â€Å"We don't kill people, Mr. Asher. That's a misconception. We simply facilitate the ascendance of the soul.† â€Å"Well, one guy died because I said something to him, and another had a heart attack because of something I did. A death that results from your actions is basically killing someone, unless you're a politician, right? So why me? I'm not that highly skilled at bullshit. So why me?† Mr. Fresh considered what Charlie was saying, and felt like something sinister had crawled up his spine. In all his years, he didn't remember ever having his actions directly result in someone's death, nor had he heard of it happening with the other Death Merchants. Of course you occasionally showed up at the time when the person was passing, but not often, and never as a cause. â€Å"Well?† Charlie said. Mr. Fresh shrugged. â€Å"Because you saw me. Surely you've noticed that no one sees you when you're out to get a soul vessel.† â€Å"I've never gone out to get a soul vessel.† â€Å"Yes, you have, and you will, at least you should be. You need to get with the program, Mr. Asher.† â€Å"Yeah, so you said. So you're – uh – we're invisible when we're out getting these soul vessels?† â€Å"Not invisible, so to speak, it's just that no one sees us. You can go right into people's homes and they'll never notice you standing right beside them, but if you speak to someone on the street they'll see you, waitresses will take your order, cabs will stop for you – well, not me, I'm black, but, you know, they would. It's sort of a will thing, I think. I've tested it. Animals can see us, by the way. You'll want to watch out for dogs when you're retrieving a vessel.† â€Å"So that's how you got to be a – what do they call us?† â€Å"Death Merchants.† â€Å"Get out. Really?† â€Å"It's not in the book. I came up with it.† â€Å"It's very cool.† â€Å"Thanks.† Mr. Fresh smiled, relieved for a moment not to be thinking about the gravity of Charlie's unique transition to Death Merchant. â€Å"Actually, I think it's a character from an album cover, guy behind a cash register, eyes glowing red, but I didn't know that when I came up with it.† â€Å"Well, it makes perfect sense.† â€Å"Yeah, I thought so,† said Mr. Fresh. â€Å"More coffee?† â€Å"Please.† Charlie held out his empty cup. â€Å"So, someone saw you. That's how you became a Death Merchant?† â€Å"No, that's how you became one. I think that you may, uh – † Fresh didn't want to mislead this poor guy, but on the other hand he didn't actually know what had happened. â€Å"I think you may be different from the rest of us. No one saw me. I was working security for a casino in Vegas when that went sour for me – I have a problem with authority, I'm told – so I came to San Francisco and opened this shop, started dealing in used records and CDs, mostly jazz at first. After a while it just started happening: the glowing soul vessels, people coming in with them, finding them at estate sales. I don't know why or how, it just did, and I didn't say anything about it to anyone. Then the book came in the mail.† â€Å"The book again. Don't you have a copy around?† â€Å"There's only one copy. At least that I know of.† â€Å"And you just mailed it out?† â€Å"I sent it certified mail!† Fresh boomed. â€Å"Someone at your store signed for it. I think I did my part.† â€Å"Okay, sorry, go on.† â€Å"Anyway, when I got to the Castro it was a very sad place. The only guys you saw on the street were very old or very young, all the ones in the middle were either dead or sick with HIV, walking with canes, towing oxygen cylinders. Death was everywhere. It's like there needed to be a soul way station, and I was here, trading records. Then the book showed up in the mail. There were a lot of souls coming in. For those first few years I was picking up vessels every day, sometimes two or three times a day. You'd be surprised how many gay men have their souls in their music.† â€Å"Have you sold them all?† â€Å"No. They come in, they go out. There's always some inventory.† â€Å"But how can you be sure the right person gets the right soul?† â€Å"Not my problem, is it?† Mr. Fresh shrugged. He'd worried about it at first, but it seemed to all happen as it should, and he'd gotten into the rhythm of trusting whatever mechanism or power was behind all of this. â€Å"Well, if that's your attitude, why do it at all? I don't want this job. I have a job, and a kid.† â€Å"You have to do it. Believe me, after I got the book, I tried not doing it. We all did. At least the ones I've talked to did. I'm guessing you've already seen what happens if you don't. You'll start hearing the voices, then the shades start coming. The book calls them Underworlders.† â€Å"The giant ravens? Them?† â€Å"They were just indistinct shadows and voices until you showed up. There's something going on. Starting with you, and continuing with you. You let them get a soul vessel, didn't you?† â€Å"Me? You said there's a bunch of Death Merchants.† â€Å"The others know better. It was you. You fucked up. I thought I saw one flying over earlier in the week. Then today, I was out walking, and the voices were bad. Really bad. That's when I called you. It was you, wasn't it?† Charlie nodded. â€Å"I didn't know. How could I know?† â€Å"So they got one?† â€Å"Two,† Charlie said. â€Å"A hand came out of the sewer. It was my first day.† â€Å"Well, that's it,† said Fresh, cradling his head in his hands. â€Å"We are most certainly fucked now.† â€Å"You don't know that,† Charlie said, trying to look on the bright side. â€Å"We could have been fucked before. I mean, we run secondhand stores for dead people, that's sort of a definition of fucked.† Mr. Fresh looked up. â€Å"The book says if we don't do our jobs everything could go dark, become like the Underworld. I don't know what the Underworld is like, Mr. Asher, but I've caught some of the road show from there a couple of times, and I'm not interested in finding out. How 'bout you?† â€Å"Maybe it's Oakland,† Charlie said. â€Å"What's Oakland?† â€Å"The Underworld.† â€Å"Oakland is not the Underworld!† Mr. Fresh leapt to his feet; he was not a violent man, you really didn't have to be when you were his size, but – â€Å"The Tenderloin?† Charlie suggested. â€Å"Don't make me smack you. Neither of us wants that, do we, Mr. Asher?† Charlie shook his head. â€Å"I've seen the ravens,† Charlie said, â€Å"but I haven't heard any voices. What voices?† â€Å"They talk to you when you're on the street. Sometimes you'll hear a voice coming out of a heating vent, a downspout, sometimes a storm drain. It's them, all right. Female voices, taunting. I've gone years without hearing them, I'll almost forget, then I'll be going to pick up a vessel, and one will call to me. I used to phone the other merchants, ask them if they'd done something, but we stopped that right away.† â€Å"Why?† â€Å"Because that's part of what we think brings them up. We're not supposed to have any contact. It took us a while to figure that out. I had only found six of the merchants in the city back then, and we were having lunch once a week, talking about what we knew, comparing notes – that's when we saw the first of the shades. In fact, just to be safe, this will be the last time that you and I have contact.† Mr. Fresh shrugged again and began to untie Charlie's bonds, thinking: It all changed that day at the hospital. This guy has changed everything, and I'm sending him out like a lamb to the slaughter – or maybe he's the one to do the slaughtering. This guy might be the one – â€Å"Wait, I don't know anything,† Charlie pleaded. â€Å"You can't just send me out to do this without more background. What about my daughter? How do I know who to sell the souls to?† He was panicked and trying to ask all the questions before he was set free. â€Å"What are the numbers after the names? Do you get the names like that? How long do I have to do this before I can retire. Why are you always dressed in mint green?† As Mr. Fresh untied one ankle, Charlie was trying to tie the other back to the chair. â€Å"My name,† said Mr. Fresh. â€Å"Pardon?† Charlie stopped tying himself up. â€Å"I dress in mint green because of my first name. It's Minty.† Charlie completely forgot what he was worried about. â€Å"Minty? Your name is Minty Fresh?† Charlie appeared to be trying to stifle a sneeze, but then snorted an explosive laugh. Then ducked.

Buying the Correct Health Insurance for You

Insurance plans in the market seem to be a good idea for insurance shoppers to find the best plan at a competitive price, but in reality there is the possibility of creating confusion and uncertainty. This article provides advice to individuals, small businesses, and large companies that may be helpful in making decisions when choosing insurance contracts. Individuals have no perfect choice for everyone. The best measure of the value you get is your 'willingness to pay' (Getzen, 2011). Last week, we wrote about what features to compare before purchasing a health insurance plan. As promised, today's versions compare some of the popular health insurance plans you can expect. As we all know, there are numerous health insurance plans in the market; some of them are good, and some of them are useless. Therefore it is difficult to identify which is the best and which should be considered for purchase. Open Registration You usually have to purchase health insurance during the annual public offering period. The open recruitment period is from November 1 to January 31 every year. Health insurance can be purchased only when there is a target life event such as marriage or divorce, childbirth, subscription to existing insurance or loss. Premium insurance fee is the way you pay insurance fee. When deciding on the premium, the insurer will ask your age, the place you live, whether you smoke or use cigarettes and whether the insurance you purchase is for one or one family I think only about it. They may not consider your health status, medical history, billing history, genetic information, gender, disability or other health factors Both of these policies encourage people to buy healthy 'insurance' only when people are sick. After all, why would you buy now if you are sick, if you can purchase it anytime? However, only those who are sick can purchase health insurance and lose all their aims, and the risk of getting sick is spreading to many people who can not know. In the fre e market of health insurance, most people buy naturally guaranteed renewable insurance when young and healthy; low premiums payable by everyone are sufficient to cover the cost of relatively small diseases is. . (This is the mechanism of life insurance.)

Theory and Practice of Ethics Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Theory and Practice of Ethics - Research Paper Example It cannot be achieved by advancements in science and metaphysics. There can be differences of opinion about what is good for the human beings collectively. It has given rise to many theories in ethics. This paper aims at studying the role of media and its responsibilities from the ethical perspective. With the advancement in technology the role and shape of media is also fast changing. Technological advancement has made information very much accessible to everyone via various means. With internet and telecommunication and other mass media sources information travels very swiftly and fluidly all over the globe. With this wide reach and access of mass media comes the responsibility. Thesis Statement: Is the media playing its role responsibly for the collective well being of human kind? The Importance of Media Media has a strong role to play in forming the opinions of the public. Hence it in a way moulds what is acceptable and what is not acceptable by the society. It has a strong influ ence in determining ethical boundaries of the society. Ever since its inception media has been a powerful tool in shaping and molding people’s perception but with the current mushroom growth of mass media its importance has increased manifolds. The outburst of internet has fueled it further taking it to new heights. Every individual now has access to loads of information and that too is so easily available just a click away. It has not only increased the role of media but also increased the importance of the opinion of the people. Now public opinion matters in almost all walks of life even in important policy decisions. Public opinion matters most in politics. This growth in mass media has made individuals very opinionated and now we have opinions about almost everything and that too is an informed one (Vivan, 2006). Ethical Issues Created by Media Media and politics are strongly interrelated. What we observe today is the emerging phenomena of mediatization of politics, growi ng role of E-Politics and governance. These days’ media is extensively used by governments, political parties and all other stake holders in forming opinion of the public. It includes traditional media as well as all the modern electronic forms such as twitters, websites, social networking channels etc. Recently we observed an example of the influence of media in politics in countries like Egypt, Jordan and Libya (Street, 2010). But the question arises here, is the media brought revolution justified? Is it ethical? Is it really in the interest of the citizens of the country? With this increasing trend of mediatization the important question is no more about assurance of independence of media from politics and society but the need is to ensure independence of politics and society from the influence of media. Mediatization is a two pronged process. At one hand media emerge as independent institution, with independent thinking based on its own logic with which all the other soci al institutions must adapt. On the other hand it has become an integral part of all the other institutions of society such as politics, work, religion etc. Increasingly all the activities of these institutions are performed with the interaction of the mass media. The impact of mediatization can be understood from the fact that a headline in the newspaper may change the voting behavior of the people in the elections. Is the media playing its role sensibly and responsibly? Are they raising the right

Healthy grief Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Healthy grief - Essay Example For them, grief is either something to be processed individually, or something to be left for God, in a process of unburdening oneself to Him. This essay compares and contrasts three models of grief: Judaism’s cycle of grief, grief from Job in the Bible, and Kubler-Ross’s grief cycle. It also compares it to joy, because grief and joy can be seen as two opposite sides of the same coin of human emotion. These grief models are different in how they define and organize the stages of grief, but they are similar in their final goal, which is to help people to come out of their bereavement and accept their new reality. These different models of grief assert that grief is a natural human response to death, although the religion-based models focus on leaving everything to God’s plans, in order to accept the loss. Kubler-Ross (1969) pioneered the studies on grief and bereavement and her findings led her to accentuate that there are five stages of grief: denial, anger, barg aining, depression and acceptance (Kessler, 2009). They are different responses to loss, and not a linear way of experiencing bereavement (Kessler, 2009). The five stages, denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance, are considered as constituents of a grief model, which help people understand and go through their grieving process. They are tools to help bereaved individuals â€Å"frame and identify† their feelings (Kessler, 2009). ... Kubler-Ross provides five stages that help people deal with their loss. Denial refers to not believing that a loved one has truly died, and people feel shock and numb (Kessler, 2009). Denial is important to grieving, because it is a protective mechanism that allows people to take in only what they can process and accept (Kessler, 2009). Anger is another stage of grieving and it can be directed to anyone or anything, including God, the dead, and the loved one (Kessler, 2009). It is an important emotion that helps uncover underlying feelings (Kessler, 2009). Kubler-Ross (1969) believes that anger reconnects people to the world, because from feeling nothing, they feel something (Kessler, 2009). It affirms that something is lost, and so its loss is fully felt (Kessler, 2009). Bargaining pertains to asking what could be changed or done to get back a loved one (Kessler, 2009). Depression is also a common response to death. Kubler-Ross (1969) asks the bereaved to not even consider this as a mental illness, because it is a fitting reply to a great loss (Kessler, 2009). After one or more of these responses is felt, acceptance can be attained. Acceptance does not refer to feeling that everything is alright, but accepting that a loved one is physically lost. It refers to realizing that the present reality is tolerable and that they must go on with their loves (Kessler, 2009). Judaism’s view of guilt has its cycles too. The first stage covers the death and the funeral, where mourners are relieved from their duties and responsibilities (Mallon, 2008, p.97). The second stage concerns mourning after the funeral, where the family has more time to feel their grief, although friends and other kin can visit and

International Trade and NAFTA Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

International Trade and NAFTA - Research Paper Example International trade revolves around many Disadvantages as well which are given below:1. International Trade can sometimes increase your expenses for Example, in certain cases you will have to hire additional staff for the procedure of import and export 2. Can result in trade deficit (negative balance in balance of trade) this takes place when there are more imports and comparatively less exports3. In certain cases create conflicts between two countries 4. In case of exporting/importing goods it increases the additional cost of Packaging and traveling 5. In certain cases discourage the local manufactures and prove to be unjust for them. For example, a local manufacturer produced 500 shirts and they are available in market for $ 40 each, where as someone imported 500 shirts and the marginal cost of each shirt was lesser than the local manufacturer because of Comparative Advantage and hence the imported shirts are available for $ 30 each in the market. Because of this the local manufact urer will face great loss and might get discouraged.6. Create unemployment in the country, if you start importing more then there will be less industries, mills, and factories in the country this might result in unemployment7. Increase dependency on other countries  NAFTA was created to make trade and investment easier and more accessible between United States, Canada and Mexico and to encourage free trade.   1.  One of the major positive effects of NAFTA was increase of trade between United States,Canada and Mà ©xico.

Business law Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 6

Business law - Assignment Example (Harpwood, 2009). However, in the case if Donoghue v Stevenson the court established significant principles to guide in the determination of the duty of care person owed another and the range of duty of care a person can owe another. In a contractual relationship, one party owes the other a duty of care whose breach can result to legal consequences on the party in breach (Harpwood, 2009). However, in tortuous liability a person can be guilt of negligence for the person or persons are not contract parties if only there is evidence that the person in breach owed the other duty of care and they breached that duty which consequently caused the person they owned duty of care recoverable damages or loss (Steele, 2014). When determining whether the duty of care existed between the parties or whether it did not exist depends on type of claimant, type defendant, the nature of damage caused to the claimant and the nature of conduct of the defendant (Harpwood, 2009, P. 229). In Donoghue v Stevenson [1932] UKHL 100, the plaintiff had been bought a bottle of ginger-beer by her friend from a retailer. As she was about to clear the content of the beer, she discovered a decomposing snail in the bottle. The sight of the decomposing snail was nauseating so that it caused the appellant to suffer from shock and severe gastro-enteritis. The bottle was opaque such that neither the trader nor the customer could realize the content in the bottle unless by emptying the content of the bottle. She was unable to sue the seller either under breach of contract or for negligence, but she could sue the manufacturer of the ginger-beer. The manufacturer had a duty to ensure the goods sold to the consumers are of the right quality and provide efficient system that would detect any fault in the products. When issuing the verdict the court developed the â€Å"neighbor principle† whereby the defendant will be held responsible

Law of european union Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Law of european union - Essay Example Consequently, the European Parliament has gained sufficient power to be equal in power, with the European Council. The latter consists of representatives from the Member States2. The Amsterdam Treaty of 1993, served to further increase the power of the EP, in respect of its decision – making process. These reforms were initiated, in order to address democratic deficit in the law – making procedures of the European Commission. In 1993, the Maastricht Treaty was adopted, in the meeting of the Intergovernmental Conference. This Treaty is also known as the Treaty on European Union. It introduced the complex co – decision procedure and provided the right of veto to the European Parliament, which it can exercise, under certain circumstances3. In the 1996-1997 round of the Intergovernmental Conference, the issue of democratic deficit was once again taken up for discussion and it was decided to make efforts to address it. This meeting resulted in widespread reforms to various aspects of the European Community, and the role of the European Parliament was also discussed in this meeting. Moreover, these changes supplanted the decisions taken under the cooperation procedure, with the new and simplified system of co-decision procedure4. The European Parliament can now determine the drafting of EU budget and statutes. The EP has enacted the legislation relating to the free movement of persons, goods, services and capital within the EU. It has also acquired the power to enact laws that protect the environment and consumers. Furthermore, the European Parliament is empowered to approve or dismiss the European Commission5. Subsequent to the first direct elections in 1979, the European Parliament took up the onerous task of institutional reform. The purpose behind this initiative was to realise the dream of the founding members of the ECSC and the EEC. These founders had aimed at establishing an international entity that would truly

The effect of using learning styles with young learners Research Paper

The effect of using learning styles with young learners - Research Paper Example It is the innovation that is never ending; constant improvements can bring dramatic improvement in the performance of students and bring good results in terms of developing a conceptual learning with deep understanding. This model provides assessment to determine individual’s learning style. Any student will definitely understand with one of the four styles of learning- accomodating, converging, diverging and assimilating (Kolb, 1984). Basic learning begins at home and therefore parents involvement is also essential in making a child develop an understanding for the environment he/she is exposed to learning syles. Each child has own psychology some kids are fast learners while others take time to understand. For children, following metods work well: 2. Auditory learning: some children they learn things by listening to them. They are capable of keeping the data what they hear. In addition, they listen to music and respond very well, they learn while lisening especially rhymes and songs. They develop an understanding for various tunes and thus can develop a sense of distinction between different notes of sound. It is observed that children belonging to this category rely more on sound and they tend to commit mistakes in spellings as they are more phonetically oriented rather than visualizing things. 3. Kinesthetic or manipulative learning: this methodology incorporated performing activities. This is the best method to build confidence in children as when kids do the activity they have visualization and also they develop confidence to do the work all by themselves. This builds an independence in them and they become self reliant. A class has varied students and each student has a particular background and psychology. If a teacher is teaching with a style which a particular group of students is not able to follow then

Issues in International trade Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Issues in International trade - Essay Example They include consultancy and tourism among others. A product sold in the international market is an export while a product bought from the same market is an import. Trade issues often dominate and are a continuing theme in the international market. The issues include NAFTA, embargoes, sanctions, and the environment, trade deficits, The Euro, tariffs and WTO among others. Some of the issues are discussed as follows: A reduction in trade barriers allowing for integrated global economies and permitting international trade will affect the environment through the expansion of economic activities. It alters the composition and make-up of economic activity by bringing about a change in the techniques and means of production. The course of consideration and for environmental protection was raised by environmental groups on the potential North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). This was just the first of a far cry to other voices opposing international or regional trade on the possible effects it may have on the environment. It is seen that an increase in international trade is detrimental to the objective of preserving a clean, healthy and sustainable global environment. It has been argued that any expansion of market to a global scale, ultimately leads to the environmental pollution and faster depletion of natural resources. These natural resources are scarce in nature. For example, international trade of coal has made it easier for countries to acquire it for economic activities. Coal has been known as a leading environmental pollutant. International trade has facilitated the growth of industries whose primary objective is the export of goods to the international market. For example, the United States has promoted several of such agreements such as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the NAFTA. These agreements have led to the rapid growth of industries that have little government oversight and control. These

Axia College of University of Phoenix Essay Example for Free

Axia College of University of Phoenix Essay The purpose and meaning of life, is to live it in the most meaningful way a person can. I work hard on this daily, and try to show the younger generation that life can be so beautiful in a lot of positive ways if you lead it the way you want it. My personal narrative will be away to express myself like I have not done before by using theories in my readings. I am a thirty-year-old man who is very energetic, outgoing, hard working that not only values my life, but everyone else’s as well. The past five years of my life have been a five-part movie that could have big as the Lord of the Rings series. I started school, two businesses, regular job I got promoted, and bought a new house. I have had to take a back seat on being there for all my family, and friends like I am use to, because for once I had to utilize time for myself. My meaning of life stayed the same thru out these years; I think these things have made me more mature on things, and to love myself a little more. The major thing that made me really evolve in the past 5 years I believe is starting school. Six years prior to me starting at UOP I dropped out of college, because I had no clue what I wanted to use my skills for, I was very lost, unhappy, and I was doing nothing for myself it was for everyone else. That single event by enrolling back in school changed my personality over night for the better. The next day I started weeding people out of my life that where imputing nothing but negatives in it. That was defiantly the turning point for me without a doubt. This event came at the right time also in my life since I was in a very dark place at the time, so I guess you can say it was meant to be. Then I started two business ventures that I had wanted to start which proved to me that I could do something for myself to benefit my life and stability. I now have more than enough responsibilities that I did not have before, like keeping my business in order supplies to maintaining my customer relationships. My new house has been the biggest ordeal and not in a bad way it has been extremely difficult to get it to my standards, and since I am so busy I have not taking time just for my house. These challenging changes in my life now are very hard to deal with, but I would not make any changes at all, because this is the happiest I have been. I have been hard on myself, but not to the point of stressing. Happiness proves to be an interesting window through which to view continuity and change in personality (McAdams, 2006). With that said it shows in my everyday life that no matter what I am faced with today my life is a lot better now than then. I took a lot growing up without a father from not being able to afford things I wanted to not having the self-confidence in myself to make change. When you receive that unexpected high grade on a tough assignment, you are likely to feel good, and your well-being shoots way up (McAdams, 2006). Starting my businesses, buying the house, and getting promoted where some very tough assignments in the past five years, but I feel so much better about who I am with a better well being. What roles have religion, race, culture, family, and gender played in the development of my personality, well the major thing that played a role was family. My family pushed me so much to a point where failing would not be expectable in any manner. My girlfriend has never stopped believing in me she always said I will be somebody, and no one can take that from me. My race, and religion beliefs did not have a huge factor in any part of this, but my personality got me sixty percent of what I have today. Looking back on the past seeing the transition that has taking place in my life from five years ago is something in itself to boost my ego. Five years ago without UOP I can honestly say that there is no way I would be where I am now. Life is a wonderful thing to have, we make our own destiny, and being rich or poor should not make us who we are, but being in love with life and our good talents that we possess should play a huge part of what we are. McAdams, D. (2006). The person: a new introduction to personality psychology. (4th ed. ). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley Sons.

Storge Art History Essay Essay Example for Free

Storge Art History Essay Essay Storge, the Greek word for familial love, is the title of the art exhibition. Consisting of six works of art, of varying mediums, all but one from the modern era, this art show is meant to project love of family, and the feelings it may bring, whether they are joy or anguish. All the pieces in the show are meant to evoke maternal or paternal feelings in the viewers, and when combined, the pieces are meant to show the journey of parenthood. The duality of the show should be clear with the contrast between some of the happier pieces, such as The Bath, by Cassat, or The Cradle, by Morisot, and some of the darker works, like Migrant Mother, by Lange, and the very famous Pieta, by Michelangelo. The exhibition is also supposed to demonstrate the timelessness of storge, that no matter what century it is, feelings of parenthood are always powerful. Each piece will be placed on its own in a large plain room, and the viewers will walk from one room the next in a sort of chronological order, illustrating the journey of a child’s growth, and how it may affect their parents. The first work shown is The Cradle, and was painted in 1872 using oil on canvas, by Impressionist artist, Berthe Morisot. The piece is of Morisot’s sister Edma gazing at her sleeping baby daughter, and is a beautiful depiction of true motherly love. Morisot used her sister Edma as a model in several other works, like Young Woman Seated at a Window, however, the most powerful works, I found, were the depictions of motherhood, of Edma with her children, such as Hide-and-Seek or On the Grass. The Cradle instills a maternal sense in most viewers, which, after closer inspection seems to be due to the way Morisot had positioned her sister. Edma’s hand drawing the curtain over the cradle, partially obscuring the baby from view creates a feeling of intimacy, and shows the traditional protectiveness a mother has for her child. While the colours that Morisot chose create a somewhat somber feeling, the piece isn’t quite sad. It projects a sense of contentment and serenity, especially coming from the mother’s expression. Some have detected a slight sense of longing in the mother’s eyes, possibly wishing to be able to keep her child safe like this forever, but overall, Morisot creates a peaceful atmosphere evoking motherly sensations in the viewers. The Bath (1892), by Mary Cassat, is another oil on canvas Impressionist painting, also depicting a mother and child. The child in this piece is a few years older than the baby in Morisot’s The Cradle, demonstrating the show’s idea of a child’s growth. Some have described Cassat’s series of pieces showing mother and child as â€Å"largely unsentimental†, however, there is an undeniable feeling of closeness between the two figures, a mother and a daughter. The body language of the mother shows tender care for her daughter, as she gently washes her child’s toes during bathtime. The child, mostly naked, sitting on her mother’s lap is a picture of innocence and vulnerability. The mother cradling her child, holding the girl on her lap with an arm around her hip, creates an image of quiet protectiveness similar to The Cradle. The effect of putting The Bath after Morisot’s piece symbolizes the strong love that mother’s have for their children, because they are both pieces that show the strong bond between parent and child. The painting in the next room after The Bath, is The Banjo Lesson, painted using oil on canvas in 1893, by Henry Ossawa Tanner, a prominent African-American Impressionist painter. This piece shows a black father or grandfather with a young boy on his lap, teaching the boy to play the banjo. Compared with the two works that came before it, The Banjo Lesson shows an even closer bond between parent and child. The closeness of the two figures shows a strong familiarity between them, and again, a feeling of intimacy and protectiveness. The child stands between the man’s legs, leaning against his knee and torso, studiously trying to play a banjo, that’s too big for him, emphasizing his youth and frailty. The man, old and weather, intently watches the child’s delicate fingers, while supporting the neck of the instrument. This painting symbolizes the sharing of knowledge between parent and child, which is a big part of the parental journey. Though there are heavy shadows on the figures’ faces, the concentrated expressions are obvious, and despite that Tanner used mostly darker colours for the foreground, the lighter background, suggesting a fireplace off to the side, creates a feeling of physical warmth, combined with the heartwarming feeling the piece brings. The next three pieces of the Storge show shift the feeling from maternal or paternal warmth, to a slightly sadder sort of feeling. Coming after The Banjo Lesson, is a series of black and white photographs, taken in 1936, Nipomo, California, by Dorothea Lange, called Migrant Mother. The photos all show a poor pea picker, Florence Owens Thompson, the mother of seven children, wearing looks of worry and extreme sadness. All the photos in the set are extremely powerful, because of the feeling of desperation and heartache they generate in viewers of the pictures. At the time, Thompson and her kids had been existing off of frozen vegetables from the field and any birds that her children could kill. The children are positioned differently from photograph to photograph, but the expression on the mother’s face remains the same. It is a mixture of different emotions: disappointment, that she was unable to give her children a proper home; deep concentration, trying to find a way to make a better life for her family; serious concern, about how to make ends meet, where their next meal would come from; and tiredness, physically and mentally exhausted. In most pictures, she cradles her infant, while her other children lean on her. The body language of all the figures represents how a parent is a support system for the child, no matter how exhausted they are. The next work in the Storge exhibition is Arrangement in Grey and Black: Portrait of the Painter’s Mother, painted by James McNeill Whistler, in 1871. The oil on canvas, Impressionist piece shows, as the title dictates, the artist’s mother. At first glance, I had assumed, as did many others, that the mother was at her child’s funeral. It is a very somber picture, the woman wearing all black, clearly old, seeming vulnerable and sad. With some research, I learned that is definitely not what happened. Whistler’s mother had, apparently, sat in on for the portrait when the model became sick. It’s interesting how this piece shows a different sort of familial love. Rather than parent to child, it’s child to parent. Whistler managed to really evoke his mother’s Protestant character with the pose, expression, and colours that he used. There is exceptional attention to detail when it comes to his mother’s face, which kind of symbolizes their relationship. He would have to be very close to her to capture her character in his art, and even to physically recreate her face. I also detected a slight feeling of worry on Whistler’s part, with his mother aging. She had been standing at the start of the portrait, but she had to sit down due to her frailty. So while I did detect, after learning of Whistler’s intentions, a feeling of peace and contentment in the painting, I also felt the feeling of sadness that a child has when the realize they don’t have very much time left with their parent. The last piece, though it breaks from the vaguely chronological order of the show, is arguably the most powerful depiction of mother and son, not just in the show, but ever. Michelangelo’s Pieta, carved from Carrara marble, completed in 1499, depicts every parent’s worst nightmare, the death of a child. Mary holds Jesus’ lifeless body on her lap after the Crucifixion, cradling him in the same way she has been shown cradling Jesus as an infant. Her palms are turned upward as if asking why God would take her son from her, especially in such a violent way. Her face, a picture of numbness and vulnerability, combined with the body language of the two figures creates a sense of a very natural relationship, and shows the bond that was shared between Mary and her son. This piece evokes a very strong reaction in all viewers, of despair and empathy. Regardless of religious background, people have been known to break down into tears at the sight of Pieta, struck by what it would feel like to lose a child. Storge is meant to elicit a strong reaction in all viewers, not just parents. The pieces chosen for this exhibit were meant to show the best and worst events that could occur during parenthood, from cradling your toddler, to cradling your slain child. Viewers should go from craving the bond of parent and child at the beginning of the show, to feeling the loss of a child by the end of it. The artists chosen for this were mostly Impressionist, but I find the most powerful pieces, Migrant Mother by Lange and Pieta by Michelangelo, came from opposite ends of the time spectrum. This shows the timelessness of the journey of parenthood.

Literature review on Critical and Reflective learning

Literature review on Critical and Reflective learning The following literature review will focus on the concept of critical and reflective learning. Critical and reflective learning is used the world over in various academic institutions and in professional practice. Firstly it would be imperative that critical reflection is defined. Following on from this a discussion shall take place around the various frameworks and theories offered by various theorists on the subject. Finally a critical review of the underlying thinking which underlies much of the policy making process in Ireland will be undertaking. There are various definitions used to explain the process of critical reflection. At a very basic level, critical reflection (CR) occurs when and individual questions either their own ideas or the ideas of another. However as Van Woerkom (2010) suggests there are many different schools of thought on what is involved in the critical reflection process. For example the ideological form of critical reflection would focus on challenging and questioning dominant or unjust ideologies. The psychoanalytical school of CR is focused more on the individual and involves the reframing of personal issues or problems. The analytical model of CR is the process of mentally analysing arguments in the hope of guiding ones beliefs or actions. Finally the pragmatist constructivism school of CR relates to the evaluation of various forms of information in an attempt to provide a solution, while at the same time recognising that the solution itself is open to further questioning (Van Woerkom, 2010). What se ems obvious from these definitions is the fact that the questioning and reflection of a perceived reality at both a societal and personal level are fundamental in each process. Furthermore it seems apparent that the issues that each school is addressing can all impact upon one another. For instance it could be argued that the psychological wellbeing of an individual could be greatly influenced by the dominant ideology within a society. Addressing only the psychological issues with the psychoanalytical approach may prove fruitless, if societal influences causing psychological distress are not addressed. Various theorists have dissected the critical reflection process on a much deeper level. Dewey in ((1933, in Boud et al,1994)suggests that reflection is the process of an individual recapturing their experience, thinking about it and assessing it. He believed that reflection was initiated by an inner uneasiness caused by an individual becoming disillusioned with their current reality. Reflection may also be instigated by a positive experience. The individual may wish to learn what worked in the positive experience, in order to repeat the behaviour that brought about the positive experience. Deweys main focus was centred on the notion that reflection is a highly rational exercise which is based in an evidence based approach which focused on skills and attitudes. However as various authors suggest Deweys focus on skills and attitudes is limited and fails to allow for the affective (emotional) element involved in the learning process ( Boud et al, 1994, Rawson, 2000). Another limiting aspect of Deweys theory was the presumption that one would first have to make a mistake in order to learn from it. Kolb Fry (1975) believed that for effective learning to occur the learner would have to complete a cycle of learning, broken down into four stages: Concrete experience, observation and reflection, forming abstract concepts, testing them in new situations. In essence, an individual begins the learning process by becoming involved in a new experience, which they then reflect upon internally in order to make sense of the experience. The individual then hypothesises about different theories and then applies such theories in new situations. It should be noted that an individual may start in any stage and switch between these stages. And many learners may only use two of the stages, depending upon their learning style (Kolb Fry 1975 ). Donald Schon (1995) has built upon Deweys concept by introducing the idea of double looped learning. He suggested that the majority of learning in everyday life occurred at a level where individuals used previous held values and assumptions to inform their present action (single looped learning). However Double Looped learning involves a deeper level of reflection where individuals question these values and assumptions and subject them to critical investigation. . Agryis (1999) uses an analogy of how a thermostat responds to room temperature by turning on the heat if the room gets to cold and turning it off when it gets to warm. The thermostat responds by receiving signals from the room temperature. He contended that this equated to a human being receiving positive or negative signals about their actions and then changing their actions (Single loop learning). Going back to the thermostat analogy, double looped learning would ask the question, why the room got too hot or cold in the f irst place. The same goes for human beings when they question the underlying assumptions which informed their actions in the first place. Such learning is not limited to the individual and such learning could be applied to organisations and society (Agryis, 1999), However as Rawson (2000) suggests, many institutions seem to treat intellect as absolute and dont allow for the questioning necessary in the critical reflection process. He goes on to suggest that society works on a basis of having power over, rather than power with. He believed that such an approach was evident in many educational institutions. He advocates the notion of learning to learn where the relevance of various aspects of knowledge continued to be questioned and challenged. Rawson argues that knowledge is not a final product and contends that the meaning and understanding process is more important than the end product. His analysis is closely linked with the teachings of Paulo Friere. Frieres (1998) CR theory was rooted firmly in the ideological school of thought. He believed the educational system served to reproduce the status quo which was influenced by the dominant ideological discourse. He was of the opinion that educators should challenge the status quo through challenging students to question the dominant discourse, which he believed served to reproduce inequalities. He stressed the importance of dialogue within the education system, as he believed without dialogue; true education could not take place. Hooks (1994) captures the notion of education without dialogue when she speaks of her experience as an undergraduate and graduate student. She suggests that the majority of lecturers used the classroom as an avenue to exert their view of the world upon students. Friere (1998) did not advocate a non directive approach to education, however he did stress it should be the process and not the student that should be directed. Friere (1998) recognised that each stu dent had their own unique life experience and contended that the students experience was invaluable in the learning experience. Very basically Friere (1998) was of the opinion that education was more about enabling students to question and challenge the commonly held knowledge within society. Meizrow (1994) also spoke about reflection in terms of transformation. Mezirow (1994) described reflective learning as a process in which the learner has to consider or reconsider certain assumptions they may hold about themselves or the world. He argued that the most effective reflection occurred when the learner discovers their assumptions to be in some way weakened. It causes the learner to look at reasons why their assumptions have caused them to reach decisions or to react in a certain way and to maybe re-evaluate their assumptions. He explained that when the learner accepts that their past assumptions may have been incorrect they have created a transformative space and within that space they can be open to engaging in new-found knowledge. This, he believes, can lead to a deeper level of reflective practice. As mentioned earlier emotions can play an important part in such a process Boud et al (1994) suggest that past experiences can greatly determine an individuals ability to learn in new situations. If learning was only centred in the transfer of knowledge from one individual to another, learning would be a smooth occurrence and each individual would take in knowledge with minimal difficulty. However emotions such as anxiety can cause difficulties for those who are participating in new learning experiences. The majority of individuals will experience anxieties when faced with new learning. However for some the anxiety can be overwhelming and deeply affect the learning process. So how individuals learn is greatly influenced by emotion (Boud et al, 1994). In conclusion it can be seen that there are many areas of both personal and societal life which could benefit from the process of critical reflection. The whole notion of learning to learn seems to be an approach which encourages independent and self-directed learning. While there are many schools of thought on the process of CR, they all seem be directed at questioning the underlying assumptions and discourses which inform both individual and societal actions. It seems obvious from the various readings that critical reflection is often frowned upon as something which upsets the status quo of organisations. Reflection The subject that I have chosen to reflect on is how the Irish society continues to apply past solutions to present problems. If we look to the recent recession it is clear that the Irish government continue to take the approach of promoting competition and neo liberal policies as a solution to the current economic conditions. As Coulter Coleman (2003) argue the dominant discourse in Irish society suggests that  the economy is the mechanism which will bring about the greatest good for everyone concerned.  Ã‚   They contend that such a discourse is constructed by everyone within society.   Some discourses are so dominant that they almost seem to be natural and many fail to question them.   If we look to the Celtic Tiger in Ireland, there were various commentators suggesting that the country was in danger of a serious financial and economic crisis. Back in 2007 Bertie Ahern famously made the remark, that those who were moaning and cribbing about how the economy was being run sh ould commit suicide (Stafford, 2010).   The moaners and cribbers he was referring too were economists who were warning about the economy not being stable and the future crash of the economy.   Even though these economists were correct in their predictions the majority of Irish society sided with Bertie Ahern. As Friere (1998) suggests, the need to question dominant knowledge is a must, however in the Irish case when the dominant knowledge was questioned the individuals were ridiculed.  Ã‚   This fundamental aspect of Irish society needs to change.   Even in the current recession the government continues to suggest that the only way recover from the economic downturn is to remain competitive in the global world.  The dominant thinking involved here is just returning to the dominant thinking of the past which suggests the economy is going to correct all the ills of the country.   Even the EU/IMF bailout underwent very little critical analysis. The same commentators who were warning of the economic crisis during the Celtic Tiger collapse were all suggesting that there were alternatives which could have being taking. However just like the Celtic Tiger era, the government chose to follow a path without considering the long-term consequences. As Storey (2010) argues IMF bailouts in other countries have had disastrous consequences for those countries. By nature these bailouts seem to be extremely undemocratic. For example the IMF (an unelected external body) has a major influence on the development and implementation of national po licy. There was no referendum on this bailout and the general Irish public had very little say on whether or not the bailout was applied for. The presence of undemocratic rule seemed to be evident in Ireland a number of years before the IMF arrived in town. For instance the first referendum on the Lisbon Treaty was rejected by the Irish people, however the Irish government held a second referendum asking the question in a different way. Compared to other countries there was very little protest in relation to the bailout or austerity measures which were been implemented. Even when it was apparent that the government were lying for a number of days in relation to applying for a bailout, there was very little public outcry. While pole ratings suggested that the government were dropping in popularity, the level of protest was minimal. The question has to be asked, why the Irish public are so passive in relation to situations which will have serious consequences for their lives. One expl anation could be the lack of social solidarity. For instance Bauman (2000) argues that in modern society individuals are now defying their identity through the consumption of various goods and products. He argues that this creates a lack of social solidarity and creates a more individualistic society. It could be argued that the Celtic Tiger has created a society of consumers who are only concerned about their own needs. The Celtic Tiger period in Ireland is often seen as a period where individuals and groups were living extravagant and affluent lifestyles. It seems as though individuals in society are now more worried about their own needs and have very little concern for others. This may change once the true impact of the austerity measures hits home for various groups and individuals. It seems very evident from the recent budget that the most vulnerable in society are going to pay the highest price for the mistakes of the elite. It seems apparent that it is the underlying thinking and ideology in Irish society which needs to undergo a critical reflection. Both those in power and society as a whole need to consider what kind of society they want for both themselves and future generations. If the lack of protest in Ireland is anything to go by it seems as though individuals in Irish society have become self-interested and have very little concern for the more vulnerable in society. It may be worth introducing the process of critical reflection at an earlier age in schools in an attempt to create independent thinkers who are capable of challenging dominant discourse at both organisational and political level. However from my own experience of various social care settings and the education system such an ideal does not seem high on the agenda. It may suit those at the top to have a society which follows and does not question. Or it may be, that those at the top do not question their own motives. Either way, if I reland wishes to learn from the mistakes of the past, some form of questioning needs to occur at a societal, governmental and individual level. The recent recession provides a space for such questioning. Whether such questioning materialises at the level suggested in this reflection remains to be seen.

Are Blacks Too Cool For The We :: essays research papers

Do less blacks than their fellow white Americans use the web? According to the Pew Study on Internet Usage , the answer is yes, but this study is also quick to point out that it’s not merely color, it’s a mixture of things. However, according to Leonce Gaiter , author of Is the Web too Cool for Blacks, “the web mocks…our fundamental beliefs, our core desires. (p 643)'; Gaiter flatly states that the majority of white Americans have an ignorance for black culture. He does not take the time to address the other legitimate reasons accounting for the black deficiency, but continues to rattle on about prejudice and racism, not even stopping to document proper sources. Have morals and values changed in America and left blacks behind? According to Gaiter, the web can’t help us achieve our ‘50’s and ‘60’s ideals (p 643).'; Blacks still want the traditional “American Dream.'; Well, what is the “traditional'; American Dream? Perhaps, the dream is to have a nice car and house, and a good job. But in contrast to Gaiter, I believe that these are the same things we want today. Nothing has changed except for the fact that entrepreneurs have emerged with the growth of the Web. People are finding ways to make money from avenues they never dreamed of. The “American Dream'; as we know it has not vanished or been left behind, it has simply been revised to include family time and personal goals. Although racism has decreased in society today, it still is a threat to getting people on the Web. Nowadays, blacks are not the only one being discriminated against-it’s all minorities. In studies conducted, of the online community, only 23% are non-white. Because of this, non-whites are uncomfortable with the fact that they may converse with those who under normal circumstances would show prejudice against them. President Clinton stated that his goal was to have a computer in every home by the end of his term. But how many people will want to access the web if it is considered “white?'; Gaiter stated that the web is considered “white'; and therefore people stay away to avoid trouble, even if they are offered the opportunity. The only problem that Leonce Gaiter did not fully address is economics. With the amount of people on government assistance growing everyday, economics poses as a big problem. Studies have shown that of the majority of those who do not use the web at least 35% were at an economic disadvantage.

The Genre of Cyberpunk :: Literature Science Fiction Essays

The Genre of Cyberpunk Cyberpunk is, as its authors would have it, a revolutionary new genre. The Movement is made up of radical new authors breaking from traditional SF ideology and prose. The style evokes a sense of fear and paranoia while overloading the reader with information. Aside from these indefinable feelings evoked by the genre, cyberpunk contains several concrete, identifiable themes in every story. The central theme is about fringe characters -- outsiders -- living in a grimy, seedy world ruled over by huge, all-encompassing megacorporations. The megacorps permeate the world of these characters with an impersonal, hopeless aura. One can either work for them as a wage-drone in mediocrity, or against them as against gods in a pitiful fight to outwit them. The cyberpunk world is completely overwhelmed, infused, and inundated by corporate technology such as decks, the Matrix, "prosthetic limbs, implanted circuitry, cosmetic surgery, genetic alteration" (Sterling xiii), and artificial intelligences . The megacorporate philosophy that everything can be bought and sold, like the technology that is bought and sold, makes human life cheap and worthless. Technology has replaced humans, much like machines today have already replaced workers on the assembly line. The Girl Who Was Plugged In is an exquisite example of cyberpunk, although it was published about a decade before the Movement. The story examines characters on the fringe of society; characters who are unaccepted and unaccepting of mainstream society. In the tradition of Gina and Rickenharp the rock-and-roll dinosaurs, Mona the prostitute, and Case the burned-out decker, P. Burke is a prime example of such an outcast. In her original and final form, Burke is "the ugly of the world" (Tiptree 45). She does actually worship the corporate gods and comes to love living in the luxury of society, but she would gladly throw it all away for Paul. Although born into the corporate hierarchy/family, Paul is as much an outsider as Burke. He's a revolutionary fighting the good fight against the megacorporate entity of GTX with the corp's own equipment, making shows "pregnant with social protest. An underground expression" (Tiptree 66). This fits with Sterling's comment that cyberpunk is due to th e "overlapping of worlds that were formerly separate: the realm of high tech, and the modern pop underground" (Sterling xi). If Burke and Paul constitute the punk archetypes of the story, then the high tech, the cyber, elements of the story are everywhere to be seen. The Genre of Cyberpunk :: Literature Science Fiction Essays The Genre of Cyberpunk Cyberpunk is, as its authors would have it, a revolutionary new genre. The Movement is made up of radical new authors breaking from traditional SF ideology and prose. The style evokes a sense of fear and paranoia while overloading the reader with information. Aside from these indefinable feelings evoked by the genre, cyberpunk contains several concrete, identifiable themes in every story. The central theme is about fringe characters -- outsiders -- living in a grimy, seedy world ruled over by huge, all-encompassing megacorporations. The megacorps permeate the world of these characters with an impersonal, hopeless aura. One can either work for them as a wage-drone in mediocrity, or against them as against gods in a pitiful fight to outwit them. The cyberpunk world is completely overwhelmed, infused, and inundated by corporate technology such as decks, the Matrix, "prosthetic limbs, implanted circuitry, cosmetic surgery, genetic alteration" (Sterling xiii), and artificial intelligences . The megacorporate philosophy that everything can be bought and sold, like the technology that is bought and sold, makes human life cheap and worthless. Technology has replaced humans, much like machines today have already replaced workers on the assembly line. The Girl Who Was Plugged In is an exquisite example of cyberpunk, although it was published about a decade before the Movement. The story examines characters on the fringe of society; characters who are unaccepted and unaccepting of mainstream society. In the tradition of Gina and Rickenharp the rock-and-roll dinosaurs, Mona the prostitute, and Case the burned-out decker, P. Burke is a prime example of such an outcast. In her original and final form, Burke is "the ugly of the world" (Tiptree 45). She does actually worship the corporate gods and comes to love living in the luxury of society, but she would gladly throw it all away for Paul. Although born into the corporate hierarchy/family, Paul is as much an outsider as Burke. He's a revolutionary fighting the good fight against the megacorporate entity of GTX with the corp's own equipment, making shows "pregnant with social protest. An underground expression" (Tiptree 66). This fits with Sterling's comment that cyberpunk is due to th e "overlapping of worlds that were formerly separate: the realm of high tech, and the modern pop underground" (Sterling xi). If Burke and Paul constitute the punk archetypes of the story, then the high tech, the cyber, elements of the story are everywhere to be seen.

Sodium Thiosulphate & Acid :: GCSE Chemistry Coursework Investigation

Sodium Thiosulphate & Acid Planning To ensure that this experiment is safe, I have taken some precautions. I wore goggles at all times, made sure not to spill any chemicals such as the acid onto skin or clothes, and to be aware of glass. I have used various different apparatus, including two measuring cylinders, one 25ml, and the other 50ml. I used a 150ml chronicle flask and a stopwatch. Here is a few diagrams of these apparatus. What I Will Vary, Not Change To Keep A Fair Test & What I Will Observe & Measure I will vary the amount of Sodium Thiosulphate (10-50ml), but keeping the same amount of Hydrochloric Acid (25ml) to make it a fair test. Also when I vary the amount of Sodium Thiosulphate, I will always keep the same total volume of the mixture, therefore topping it up to 75ml every time. I will be observing the reaction of the two chemicals, and measure how quickly the sulphur is produced. I will also keep the start temperature the same. What Will I Try To Find Out I am going to find out how long it takes for Sodium Thiosulphate ( ) to react wit Hydrochloric Acid (HCL) to produce Sulphur so you can no longer see through it (opaque). To do this I will use paper with writing on, and wait until I can no longer read it, because the solution will turn 'milky.' My Prediction The stronger the solution, therefore the more Thiosulphate particles, the quicker the reaction because; there will be more particles in the solution to react with the Hydrochloric Acid, with a bigger percentage chance of reacting/hitting it. This is because if there is more particles in the total substance of 75ml, there is less surface area free. Twice the amount of particles, in the same total volume, means twice the chance of collision therefore in theory half the time on reaction, due to a high concentration. This is the 'Collision Theory.' This means that my overall prediction is that when the strongest amount of Sodium Thiosulphate is added to the Hydrochloric Acid, it will react faster. This also, proved above means that I will not need to add water, so preventing dilution. Diagram Proving Prediction Method 1. Measure out 25ml of Hydrochloric Acid (Hcl) - keep the same every time. 2. Measure out the needed amount of Sodium Thiosulphate ( ) in a cylinder 3. Pour ( ) into a chronicle flask 4. Place paper with writing on under flask 5. Add Hcl, as soon as it mixes with the ( ), start the stopwatch 6. As soon as the solute has finished reacting, and the writing is no

Kinship and the Inuit People

It takes a certain type of person to be able to survive the harsh freezing climate of the Arctic. The Inuit, descendants of the Thule have been surviving along the shores of the Arctic Ocean, Hudson Bay, Davis Strait, and Labrador Sea for over 1,000 years. The kinship relationships among the Inuit people are very important to their way of life and survival. Every family unit consists of the nuclear family. This is the most common type of unit in a foraging society, such as the Inuit. The nuclear family is the mother and/or father and their children. Occasionally, the Inuit nuclear family will include a spouses’ widowed mother or father or a single adult sibling. The village will contain several other households sharing kin members. This is important because they participate in generalized reciprocity. Generalized reciprocity is a form of exchange where there is no expectation for the immediate return of an item or service in exchange for something else. The different households visit each other, share food, and work together to complete everyday tasks. During the seal hunting season, about 15 different households come to work together. This is very important because seals are used for more than just their meat. They use the sealskins for various things such as boot liners, waterproofing clothes, houses, and kayaks, and the blubber for household lighting. However, â€Å"whenever food was abundant, sharing among non-relatives was avoided, since every family was supposedly capable of obtaining the necessary catch. In situations of scarcity, however, caribou meat was more evenly distributed throughout camp† (Laird & Nowak, 2010, p 3. ). This generalized reciprocity helps to ensure the survival of the people in times of need. However, because it is not done all the time, there is little conflict. During times of scarcity, the Inuit people have practiced infanticide. One of the reasons they do this is so the older children or adults do not starve. However, it has been noticed that they prefer female over male infanticide. This is most likely because the boys will grow up to be the hunters. A few women do hunt, but it is considered the men’s responsibility. Women do contribute to the food by gathering grasses, berries, tubers, stems, and seaweed. However, because there is very little vegetation in the Arctic, women are not the main contributors of food. They process and prepare the meats the men bring home. Women are expected to take care of the children and the house. This is one of the closest similarities between our culture and theirs’. In our society, women are still considered the primary caretaker of children and elder family members. Women are expected to come home from work or â€Å"berry gathering† and prepare dinner. Women run the household chores such as cleaning and laundry. Inuit women clean and sew for the children and men, except when the men go away to hunt and have to do it themselves. In our culture, men sometimes help with household chores, such as cooking, although they have the option of ordering in. Our culture also practices generalized reciprocity. Families gather together to share meals and everyday chores. We go to visit other households to enjoy holidays and birthdays. Family members exchange gifts, foods, and just enjoy being together. Some families gather to help one another out like when we moved. My father-in-law helped by lending us his truck. There was nothing expected in return. The one thing we do not share with the Inuit culture is infanticide. Although I understand why they do it, I would not be able to. In our culture, the parents would end up in prison. We also do not place as much importance on the sex of the child. The only benefit of a boy would be the passing on of the family name. However, today women can decide to keep the family name and add on their husbands, instead of giving up theirs for his. Although our cultures have many similarities, they are also very different. Kinship relationships are important in every society, including ours and the Inuit. However, our survival is not dependent on these relationships, whereas the Inuit are. Without the kinship of the Inuit, they would not be able to survive the harsh winters of their environment. It does take a very special type of people to survive the Arctic. The Inuit have proved to be one of them.

Leningrad Cemetery, Winter of 1941 Analysis

Matt Cingari E 110 February 11, 2010 Sharon Olds’ â€Å"Leningrad Cemetery, Winter of 1941† is a very sad and dreary poem. This is because Olds writes about the Battle of Leningrad, a 900-day siege of Leningrad during World War II, and the lifelessness that is going on afterwards. Olds’ word choice throughout the poem is very important to the meaning of this poem. The way that she writes about this battle paints a very clear picture in my mind of what she is describing. Many times thorough the poem, Olds compares life and death many times with different comparisons.Olds starts off the poem by saying: â€Å"That winter, the dead could not be buried. †Ã¢â‚¬â„¢(1) This creates a sad tone for when the rest of the poem. She then talks about the atmosphere of the aftermath of the battle with words that help you create a very vivid picture in your head of what she is talking about. She says things like â€Å"the ground was frozen†(2), â€Å"sub-zero airâ € (5), â€Å"dark cloth† (6), and â€Å"their pale, gauze, tapered shapes†(9). To me, these descriptive words help me create a visual of what is written down because these words are sad and dark descriptive words.Olds also says: â€Å"So they were covered with something/ and taken on a child’s sled to the cemetery/ in the sub-zero air. †(3-5) When Olds says this it makes me think whether she put the word â€Å"child’s† in the poem on purpose. I think she put this in because a child’s sled is used in the winter to have fun; however, Olds says that they are using it as a way to transfer dead bodies to the cemetery. This is because she is comparing life and death by using a sled, which is supposed to be used for fun in the winter, as a transportation device of corpses.When Olds says â€Å"stiff as cocoons that will be split down the center/ when the new life inside is prepared;†(10-11) Again, Olds is comparing life and death by comparing the stiff corpses to cocoons. The ambiguity in this comparison is that the poem says that the cocoon will split down the center bringing new life when it is ready. I think she says this because when she says that when the cocoon splits to start a new life, it could mean that their new life is not here on earth, but in heaven.Though, the cocoon comparison could also mean that the battle was a turning point in the war. This is because Russia gained momentum against Germany with that victory, which did start a â€Å"new life† in the war. â€Å"A hand reaching out/ with no sign of peace, wanting to come back† (15-16) is another comparison of life to death. Olds is saying that the lifeless corpse is still making a gesture saying that the dead would return if they could at any price.She says that those people who died in the battle, the corpses, would do anything â€Å"even to the bread make of glue and sawdust, / even to the icy winter, and the siege. † (1 8-19) I think that the moral of this poem is that life is precious, and that life should never be taken for granted. I think this is because the whole poem is comparisons between life and death, and because she says that the people who have passed away would do anything possible to come back to life, even under the worst conditions, to be loved, to love, and to be with the people they love.

Desperate Housewives and Its Portrayal

My interviewee, Karen, grew up in the Philippines and has recently just migrated to the United States. She is a 24-year old ESL teacher who admits to pondering over the meaning of life yearly when her birthday is nearing. She was then enthusiastic to sit down with me to answer my questions about the meaning of life. For Karen, life does have an ultimate purpose or significance. She cites as proof of this belief the fact that bookstores and libraries currently carry a lot of books that help people find the meaning to their lives. â€Å"There has got to be a purpose to our lives. Will authors of self-help and ‘find a purpose in life' books be raking in a lot of money if people do not think that their life amounts to something? And that's another thing, actually. People are always in search for a purpose in their lives. This clamor for life to actually mean something is, I think, the ultimate proof that people come packaged with significance in life,† Karen says Being Catholic, Karen admits to always thinking that her life is meant to have purpose. She explains, â€Å"I have always attended Catholic schools where â€Å"religion†, specifically Catholic faith, is a constant in our list of subjects. Since pre-school days, my teachers would always emphasize the fact that I am meant to serve God. They always tell me, my classmates, that we should live our lives according to God’s will.† Asked what God’s will is, she answers, â€Å"Exactly what it is, my teachers haven’t actually defined. They did tell me, though, that I need to always be good. I need to be kind to my fellow men. That everything I do should be in accordance to God’s law, which is of course comprised of what the Bible says, what the commandment says, etc. Basically, life’s purpose is to be good and do good so that I will be welcomed in heaven. And in way, I still believe that is the purpose in life. I cannot accept that I’ve been put here on Earth for nothing. Something better must be waiting for me at the end of the line.† Karen confesses that even though she’s been reared in the Catholic upbringing, there was a time when she felt like serving God was not really her purpose in life. She says that although she believed in the existence of a higher being, she defied the fact that all the laws and commandments she’s been following are all dictated by human beings like her. â€Å"Who can say that what the Catholic Church outlined is really the ultimate truth? And that what they’re teaching is not made to serve their own purpose? And that what they want is also what God wants? I got to think this way when I started taking Philosophy classes in the University. My teachers imparted in me the habit of not taking everything in stride, of questioning everything that is being handed out to me. I also had a class, advertising I think, where the teacher had a great influence on me. He taught us about self-actualization. He always insisted on us trying to make something for ourselves just because we want to be something and not because somebody told us to do. That was the point when I got to question what the Church told me: that everything I do is for His glory,† she quips. But a few years after her University life, Karen admits that she started to soul-search and she realized that ever since she put God out of her life, her life started to feel meaningless. She explains, â€Å"There was this hollow part of me that neither friends nor a high-paying and glamorous job just cannot fulfill. I started to have this feeling that everything I’m doing is for no special reason. When I started to pray and go to Church again, I suddenly felt whole. That’s when I realized what was missing.† Karen’s opinion regarding the meaning of life was highly-influenced by her faith. Though she came to a point when she asked about the things she has always believed in, she still made a turnaround and accepted what her faith has outlined for her.

Bulgaria country

The principle of Bulgarian foreign strategy is to carry on defining the international priorities and tactical orientation of their country, being accountable to its citizens and to their associates and partners. Bulgaria aims at clearness and predictability in resolution making and completion of foreign policy and applies an unbiased approach in foreign policy behavior and initiatives. (Seymore B, 1993, p. 70) Bulgaria is a staunch backer of the universal self-governing and humanitarian values and ensues from their defense and promotion as a structure for its foreign policy.Bulgaria’s EU association has created new opportunities for enhancing the country’s task and reputation in the international neighborhood. (Blankson A, 2007, p. 92) How Bulgaria uses its ‘Instruments of foreign policy’ to influence the international community Bulgaria is building great efforts to endorse peace, security and constancy especially on a local scale, and globally as well, gui ded by the sympathetic of the indivisibility of intercontinental security and by its loyalty to universal democratic and human principles. (Stone W, 2002, p. 87)Bulgaria as a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) associate, continues its hard work towards adequate and effective participation in the policy and decision making procedure of NATO and for the triumphant integration of the nationwide interests. (Stone W, 2002, p. 88) Bulgaria pursues vigorous foreign policy that takes full explanation of the challenges of globalizing contemporary world. The country continues to triumph recognition as a dependable partner in fighting terrorism and other intimidation to international safety. (Brzezinski W, 2002, p. 98)Moreover, Bulgaria focuses on the expansion of the existing intercontinental forms of efficient counteraction and prevention of the propagation of weapons of mass obliteration and of ensuring effective sell abroad control. (Brzezinski Z, 1997, p. 100) Amongst the main prio rities of Bulgarian foreign policy are the fortification of human rights and elementary freedoms and the adherence of the generally established international standards. Bulgaria supports the improvement of the accessible system of intercontinental mechanisms and bodies for human rights monitoring and fortification in order to improve their effectiveness.(Stone W, 2002, p. 89) Bulgaria has been an active partaker in military operations outside its boundaries. Currently, it has corporation sized units running with alliance forces in Afghanistan and Iraq and has maintained little contingents of troops urbanized with international military in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. It deployed a frigate to Lebanon with UNIFIL in late 2006 and has more than a few military observers helping in support of United Nations missions in Ethiopia, Liberia, and Kosovo. (Cronin K, 2004, p. 61) Bulgaria’s association with its neighbors has in general been good.Bulgaria has verified to be a produc tive force in the county and has played a significant role in promoting local security amongst the international community. (Stone W, 2002, p. 89) According to the World Bank, in 2006 Bulgaria engrossed the uppermost levels of foreign direct investment as a share of GDP among the Eastern European countries. However, a growing current account shortfall estimated to have reached 20% of GDP and extreme reliance on foreign assets inflow rendered the financial system vulnerable to exterior shock.Nevertheless, to attract supplementary foreign investment, the Bulgarian administration lowered company tax rates to 10% which was the lowest fee in Europe. A flat duty rate of 10% for individual income would further decrease domestic effort costs and help decrease the share of the gray financial system. As a result, the assembly passed fiscal devolution of municipalities giving way authority over compilation and administration of some levies, therefore further enhancing local monetary stability among the intercontinental community.(Brzezinski A, 1997, p. 99) Bulgaria is making stable efforts to toughen its national security for which the chief military and political assurance stems from the county’s association in NATO. Bulgaria is concerned both in preserving NATO’s principle role associated with the communal defense of its Member States, and in the expansion of the Alliance’s capabilities for adequate comeback to the new intimidation and challenges. (Seymore B, 1993, p. 75) HOW THREE INTERNATIONAL STRATEGIES APPLY TO BULGARIAThe closing stage of the Cold War era of bipolarity has raised numerous important questions regarding the function of the United States in the Balkans. The United States and its NATO associates have made diverse commitments regarding the security challenges that have arisen in that area since the early 1990’s. (Blankson A, 2007, p. 93) The United States affirmed its support for political and economic reorganization in Bulg aria and committed its awareness and resources to endorse Sofia’s engagement in Western safety institutions.(Seymore B, 1993, p. 80) The three international strategies include drug trafficking, struggle against crime, corruption and terrorism. Bulgaria recognizes the solemn threat of drug trafficking within and throughout the country. Domestic and international structured crime groups, numerous of which involved in prohibited trade in other possessions and in financial crimes, frequently alter the tendencies and models for use of the region of the country for storage space and shipment of prohibited drugs.The arrangement and methods used by these groups are under steady surveillance by law enforcement agencies with a scrutiny to preventing allotment of drugs and their effect on political, social, economic and culture spheres of our life. (Stone W, 2002, p. 91) Bulgaria is geologically well placed to play a momentous role in enhancing the international anti-drug attempt. Over the current years Bulgaria has a foremost position amongst European countries in terms of heroin seizures and the intercontinental community’s aim is to carry on to contribute considerably to curbing and counteracting illegal drug trafficking.(Blankson A, 2007, p. 98) Having in mind the long-time obligation to international labors against illegal drug trafficking and to the struggle against international violence, the Republic of Bulgaria is resolutely resolved to make stronger its actions for reducing those illegal activities on the region of the country and internationally. (Cronin K, 2004, p. 66) U. S FOREIGN POLICY OBJECTIVES TO BULGARIA In May 2005, the United States and the Republic of Bulgaria signed a Defense Cooperation Agreement which gives the United States armed right of entry to and shared use of numerous Bulgarian military amenities.The United States military intends to use this right of entry to facilitate joint preparation with the Bulgarian and Romanian milit aries. (Blankson A, 2007, p. 102) Moreover, in February 2007, Bulgaria and the Unites States signed an agreement on evasion of double taxation that is anticipated to further endorse U. S. investment in Bulgaria. (Seymore B, 1993, p. 83) The most important U. S. interest in Bulgaria is to uphold the region’s constancy and security so that conflicts do not have an effect on U. S. welfare in Western Europe and the Middle East. (Cronin K, 2004, p. 71) HOW FOREIGN POLICY OF BULGARIA AFFECTS THE UNITED STATESBulgaria foreign policy precedence number one is to make sure full membership of their state in the European Union from 1 January 2007. The labors of all authorities at all administration levels will be mobilized to make certain the completion of the commitments undertaken in the negotiation procedure, and the triumphant ratification by EU Member States of the Accession Treaty, signed on 25 April 2005 and ratified by the Bulgaria National Assembly on 11 May 2005. (Stone W, 2002 , p. 92) Bulgaria pursues a dynamic foreign policy that takes full explanation of the challenges of a globalizing modern globe.The country continues to triumph recognition as a dependable partner in skirmishing terrorism and other threats to intercontinental security. An active strategy aimed at establishing working mechanisms for intercontinental cooperation and harmonization of counterterrorism labors will be implemented to support the U. S. (Brzezinski Z, 1997, p. 98) Moreover, the expansion of the obtainable international forms of effectual counteraction and avoidance of the propagation of weapons of mass obliteration and of ensuring effectual export control also assists United States in dealing with terrorism.Bulgaria upholds its associations of strategic joint venture with the U. S. in the context of transatlantic collaboration and will aspire to further make stronger the monetary relations. (Cronin K, 2004, p. 78) Bulgaria’s companionship with the U. S. has to be put i n the context of how it has affected the balance of power and nationwide interests amongst other local states. A close Washington-Sofia relationship comes at a moment when there is a main change going on in the Russian Federation. Currently oil and gas revenues united with Vladimir Putin’s tough management, have managed to put Russia back in order.Putin is beginning to look to his foreign policy and his armed forces in order to project Russian welfare abroad and reinstate Russia’s customary spheres of influence. (Brzezinski Z, 1997, p. 105) The foreign policy of Bulgaria has led to coalition U. S. -Bulgarian alliance. For instance; throughout the Cold War, Bulgaria was extensively seen as a staunch Moscow satellite under the management of Todor Zhivkov. Fifteen years later following the fall of the Soviet Union, it is on its way to joining the West through N. A. T. O. and European Union membership.(Seymore B, 1993, p. 86) Bulgarian foreign policy is the fortification o f human rights and elementary freedoms and the observation of the generally accepted intercontinental standards in this field. The country supports the view that individual rights are worldwide, interdependent, indivisible and interconnected. In this context, Bulgaria supports as an issue of principle the improvement of the existing scheme of international mechanisms and bodies for individual rights monitoring and fortification in order to improve their efficiency towards United States.(Stone W, 2002, p. 94) Conclusion Bulgarian foreign policy is based on the worldwide approach and indivisibility of safety both in general and within NATO and the EU, and it’s intended at attaining equal amount of security for all associate States. The standard of solidarity on the other hand is articulated in the country’s involvement within its potential in the international assistance for growth as well as all along the lines of promoting democracy. REFERENCE LIST Blankson. A (2007) N egotiating Democracy: Media Transformations in emerging,Sunny Press. ISBN: 0791472337. Brzezinski. Z (1997) Russia and the Common Wealth of Independent States, M. E. Sharpe Publishers. ISBN: 1563246376. Cronin. K (2004) Attacking Terrorism: Elements of a Grand Strategy, Georgetown University Press. ISBN: 0878403477. Seymore. B (1993) International Affairs Directory of Organizations, ABC-CLIO Publishers. ISBN: 0874366860. Stone. W (2002) Lending Credibility: The International Monetary Fund, Princeton University Press. ISBN: 0691095299.