Are Neuroscientists Able to Explain Human Consciousness Essay

Are Neuroscientists Able to Explain Human Consciousness - Essay Example The essay "Are Neuroscientists Able to Explain Human Consciousness?" talks about the different aspects of neuroscience in the context of human consciousness studies and how these studies have changed with the time. It would be an exaggeration to say that neuroscientists have no clue whatsoever to how consciousness is possible. In fact, neuroscientists have certain facts at hand to give them a hint. As whatever consciousness ultimately might be, it is somehow based on the workings of the central nervous system. This is something humans have not always known: For Aristotle, it was the heart, not the brain that was the seat of human mental life. In fact, Aristotle explicitly denied that the brain could be the sensory center. Before the advent of modern neuroscience, consciousness was a subject for philosophical debate or qualitative psychological descriptions based on introspection. In some schools of psychology, such as behaviorism, it was placed outside of the scientific program, and considered to be a kind of epiphenomenon. More recently, cognitive psychologists have taken certain functional aspects of consciousness as an unanalyzed basis for their studies on human perception and even with a certain degree of success. Such a position does not go far enough, however. Any attempt to account for higher brain functions in terms of the physical organization of the brain itself and of its constituent neurons is confronted sooner or later with the need for a detailed analysis of consciousness based on brain structure.

History Behind Moulin Rouge the Movie Essay Example for Free

History Behind Moulin Rouge the Movie Essay It was 1899 in Paris, France, it was the time of the Bohemian Revolution, and it was the summer of love. Christian, played by Ewan McGregor, was a writer and came to Paris to experience this revolution and be surrounded by the artists, singers, and dancers of this new Bohemian world. Little did he know that he would experience something he had never felt before but always believed in: love. Moulin Rouge, directed by Baz Luhrmann, is an exquisite movie musical based off of a real life cabaret called Moulin Rouge in Montmartre. The movie tells the story of the love triangle between Christian, Satine aka the â€Å"Sparkling Diamond† of the Moulin Rouge, played by Nicole Kidman, and The Duke. Although Christian and Satine are fictional characters, the story includes real life characters such as Harold Zidler, the co-mastermind of the Moulin Rouge and Toulouse-Lautrec, a famous French artist. Moulin Rouge is a great look into what life was like back in Paris in 1900, but also adds in the love story between Christian and Satine to make for a great movie musical. In the beginning of the movie, Christians optimistic love shines some light into Satines dark materialistic reality. To make a living, Satine became a courtesan at the Moulin Rouge. She gets paid for making men believe what they want to believe, so she sells her body to make money. She mistakenly became attracted to Christian for his pure and optimistic belief in love. Seeing that Christian did not have a lot of money, she becomes hesitant of loving him because he would not be able to support her and her dreams of being an actress. With Christians pure and optimistic belief of love, he captures Satines heart by loving her for who she really is, not for what she is. Although Satine dies in the end of the movie, Christian learns that true love lasts forever even through death. Harold Zidler, who is not a fictional character, is the man who helped to run the real Moulin Rouge cabaret. In the film, and in real life Paris, Zidler was the man who was, â€Å"a ‘brother’ to the artists and the man in the shadows who watched over the dancers and the rest of the personnel with a benevolent eye and ruled with an iron fist† (History). In the film he is the one who is in charge of making sure everything goes perfectly at the cabaret and makes sure all his dancers, especially Satine, know what they are supposed to do and who they should impress that night. Not only did he run the Moulin Rouge he was also a showman and performed with his dancers in the shows. Toulouse-Lautrec was also an important person when it comes to the cabaret in Paris. In the film he does not have a huge role other than help Christian get inside the Moulin Rouge and find a way for him to meet Satine. In Paris in the 1900’s, though, he is said to have been â€Å"the eyes of the Moulin Rouge.† Toulouse-Lautrec attended every evening show when the cabaret opened; and as mentioned before he was an artist, so every night he would sit in a corner and draw the dancers accompanied by a glass of absinthe (History). The fact about the absinthe is also in the movie; Toulouse-Lautrec, Christian, and a few others take a shot of absinthe before they head to the Moulin Rouge one night and the next few minutes of the film are just filled with pure craziness and hallucinations. His artwork, though, was extremely important in the success of the Moulin Rouge. â€Å"In 1891, he drew the first advertising poster for the Moulin Rouge, which today remains the best known image of the Moulin Rouge around the world† (History). His work is still famous today and without him the Moulin Rouge in Paris would not be as well known as it is today. The dancers of the Moulin Rouge were masters of the â€Å"cancan.† One of the stars and also known as â€Å"Queen of the Cancan† was Louise Weber, but her nickname was â€Å"La Goulue.† She is not specifically in the film, but in a biography about her, it states that, â€Å"one evening when she was dancing a frenetic cancan, between two cartwheels she spotted the Prince of Wales, who had come to spend an evening on his own at the Moulin Rouge, and called out, with the Parisian cheek for which she was well know, ‘Hey, Wales! The champagne’s on you?’† (History). La Goulue is relatable to Satine in the film, because Satine was also the star and best dancer and she spotted Christian the first night he was there and while she was dancing called him out in front of everyone who was in attendance at the Moulin Rouge that evening. Moulin Rouge is one of Baz Luhrmann’s best films. The movie came out in June 2001 and has won many awards and is one of the best movies in the musical genre. The set design, costumes, casting of roles, and music all is so perfectly put together to create this brilliant film. Luhrmann, who also co-wrote the movie with Craig Pearce, traveled to Paris with Pearce and the production designer to conduct historical research and write the synopsis for the movie. â€Å"To find ways to depict 19th century Paris and the Moulin Rouge as it may have felt to its audience then at the cutting edge of sex, music, dance, theater and modern thinking the filmmakers immersed themselves in the neighborhood, venues and culture of their story† (Luhrmann). Through their research and learning about the culture, they came to understand that the Moulin Rouge was a club that brought all different classes together and Pearce quotes that is the equivalent of â€Å"Studio 54 in New York in the late 70’s; a place where the rich and the powerful can mix with the young, the beautiful and the penniless† (Luhrmann). This is shown in the movie because we see the powerful, such as The Duke, and then Christian who is just a writer, come to the same club to experience th e same thing, women and entertainment. The first half an hour of the movie is nonstop music, dancing, lights, and just absolutely craziness. Audiences are not given a chance to â€Å"relax† and just slowly take the movie in; it is fast paced and keeps the movie viewer on their toes just waiting for what will come next. In a movie critique, shortly after it came out in 2001, the movie reviewer describes Moulin Rouge as â€Å"grandiose, glorious, absinthe-soaked excess.† When filming, Luhrmann wanted everything to be over the top and wanted more out of the production; more songs, more sound, more color, more everything (Kaplan C.D.). This is what it was like in the real cabaret, the dancing and songs were all so intense and crazy so the men would be fully entertained and never get bored. There was a lot going on in Paris in the late 1880’s and 1890’s. The Eiffel Tower was built, the first cinematographic screening was shown by the Lumiere brothers, and the most famous cabaret opened its doors. â€Å"The public came in mass to discover this extravagant place with its huge dance floor, mirrors everywhere, and galleries that were the last word in elegance, to mix with the riffraff and girls of easy virtue† (History). The Moulin Rouge was a place for the rich and poor men to come for dancing, music, and entertainment from the ladies; it is said to have been an atmosphere of â€Å"total euphoria.† This was a time where workers, aristocrats, artists, and the middle-class could all gather together to experience cabarets, music-halls, and other night time activities. As mentioned before, this movie takes place during the Bohemian Revolution. This revolution was not a revolution of fighting, but a revolution of art and culture. It was a time for artisits, poets, writer, singers, dancers, and anyone else who wanted to express themselves to show off their talents and be recognized. These were the â€Å"children of the revolution† (Moulin Rouge). In the beginning scenes of Moulin Rouge, Christian is told that to really be a child of the revolution, he has to believe in beauty, freedom, truth, and most importantly love. Which of course he believes in love, it is what he lives for and as stated earlier, he is given the chance to experience love for the first time. Not only is the movie based off of the real cabaret in Paris, but it is also partly based on the Greek myth of Orpheus and partly on the opera La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi (IMDb). The Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice is somewhat like the story between Christian and Satine. Orpheus is said to have been the best musician that ever lived and until he met Eurydice, he lived his simply and carelessly. Orpheus and Eurydice fell in love and it meant everything to both of them but someone else wanted Eurydice’s beauty and wanted her but she did not care for this other man. To make a long story short, she ends up dying and Orpheus tries to get her back from the underworld but could not save her; all he had left was the love they once had (â€Å"Orpheus†). For Christian, he lost Satine and would never get her back again but what he got from her death was a story of true love that he has to share with the world. Satine was already dying before she fell in love with Christian, but at least she was able to die knowing what it was like to be in love. The opera La Traviata is another love story that ends tragically. Violetta, who is a courtesan, claims that love means nothing to her until she meets a young man named Alfredo which makes her then wonder if he could be the man that she could love. In the end of the story, though, Violetta is diagnosed with tuberculosis and does not have long to live and dies at Alfredo’s feet (â€Å"La Traviata†). This opera, the myth of Orpheus, and Moulin Rouge, are all similar in the way that the woman never really believed in love until they met that one man that changed their views on love, there are challenges to face one the man and woman fall in love, and then it is the woman who dies in end leaving their lovers all alone. Each story is a little different but the same basic idea, from the opera and Greek myth, are apparent in the film. From twentieth century Paris, the Bohemian Revolution, the myth of Orpheus, Harold Zidler, and other historical moments, Moulin Rouge is a one of a kind musical film that is an amazing piece of work put together by Luhrmann. Knowing the history behind the film makes it exciting to watch and understand what it was like back in Paris in 1899. Works Cited â€Å"The History of the Moulin Rouge and its Shows.† Moulin Rouge.fr. Le Bal du Moulin Rouge, n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. Kaplan, C.D. Rev. of Moulin Rouge, by Baz Luhrmann. Louisville Eccentric Observer, Louisville, Ky.: 30 May 2001. Vol. 11, Iss. 30; pg. 21 â€Å"La Traviata.† The Metropolitan Opera. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2011. Luhrmann, Baz,, and Craig Pearce, commentary. Moulin Rouge. Dir. Baz Luhrmann. Perf. Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor. Twentieth Century Fox, 2001. Film. Moulin Rouge. Dir. Baz Luhrmann. Perf. Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor. Twentieth Century Fox, 2001. Film. â€Å"Moulin Rouge.† IMDb. IMDb.com, Inc., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. â€Å"Orpheus and Eurydice.† Paleothea Myths. N.p., 10 Jan. 2008. Web. 18 Nov. 2011.

Public Relations in Insurance Industry

Public Relations in Insurance Industry There are various definitions of Public Relations. Lee Edwards emphasize that there is no universally agreed definition of PR due to the fact that PR is used in a huge range of industries and in each one slightly different skills and competencies have emerged among practitioners (Tench and Yeomans, 2009:4) Overall we can distinguish between academic and practitioners public relations definitions. For the academic point of view, Harlow offered the next definition: Public relations is a distinctive management function which helps establish and maintain mutual lines of communication, understanding, acceptance and cooperation between an organization and its publics; involves the management of problems or issues; helps management to keep informed on and responsive to public opinions; defines and emphasizes the responsibility of management to serve the public interest; helps management keep abreast of and effectively utilize change; serving as an early warning system to help anticipate trends; and uses research and ethical communication techniques as its principal tools (Tench and Yeomans, 2009:4). It is a definition that covers most aspects of PR. On the other side practitioners use PR to substitute terms like corporate communications or organizational communication. During the first World Assembly of Public Relations Associations, in August of 1978 that was held in Mexico City the definition of public relations was developed as the art and social science of analyzing trends, predicting their consequences, counseling organizational leaders, and implementing planned programs of action, which will serve both the organization and the public interest. (Tench and Yeomans, 2009:6) What is insurance? If a layman needs to be explained what insurance is, it is all about managing risks on behalf of others. One of the most popular forms of insurance, life insurance, the insurance company makes an attempt to manage the death rates of its clients. The insurance company charges premiums from the policyholders and then invests the money in other low risk investments. The money, along with benefits is paid to the policyholder on maturity or to the beneficiaries in case of death of the policyholder. Insurance companies use demographic data to make life estimates of policyholders. Characteristics like age, sex and smoking and drinking habits are taken into consideration to decide on the premium amount. Shorter the life estimate, higher is the premium payable. For other forms of insurance like health, property, automobile etc., the same rule applies. In the year 1999 in the United States, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act legislated that banks, insurance and brokerage firms and various other types of financial institutions can join together and offer their customers more varied and complete range of services. As a result of this act, especially in the insurance industry, there have been some major mergers and acquisitions. In the past some years, the majority of the liability insurance underwriting in the US insurance industry has been through the bigger firms while these firms have been busy acquiring other smaller insurance firms. (The Industry Handbook: The Insurance Industry) Why PR: Insurance companies are not charitable organizations. While managing risk, they also look to make profits. The industry is one of the most competitive in the world with multiple companies vying for a place in the market. It is not uncommon to find new entrants coming in from time to time. To maintain their foothold, existing insurance companies are required to come up with new products very now and then. Insurance companies are also governed by strict rules and legislations and are required to publish their financial results as and when the law states. It is also common knowledge that the insurance industry receives a lot of flak from policyholders, former employees and the media. Hence, the role of public relations in the insurance industry is of utmost importance. Unlike other fields in insurance, PR requires specialization in this field because it is a critical job in the industry. Social and economic impact of PR: The social impact of public relations is quite clearly visible. This line of job is totally concerned with communicating with the public and the media. The power exerted by public relations as a socially-embedded profession is a focus for increasing numbers of scholars in the field. Critical approaches to public relations examine the manner in which the profession sustains or generates social inequity and include theoretical critiques of scholarly work by industry frontrunners like Aldoory and Pieczka. In addition to these and other works focusing on specific aspects of public relations, there have been broader analyses of public relations and its influence on society and the discussion is still evolving. (Bridgen Liz, Emotional labour and the pursuit of personal branding:   Public relations practitioners use of social media) The economic impact of public relations has received less attention that it deserves because it has always been looked upon as a service industry. The economic impact of PR from induced economic output of PR vis-à  -vis buyer and seller transactions is completely different from the reliable figures. Till now, the calculation of economic impact of PR was done in the same way as it was done for the advertising industry. Both were considered as capital intensive activities but the fact is that PR is more of a labor intensive activity. In order to calculate the economic impact of PR, a three step process is required Identify the number of professionals in the industry. Estimate their annual CTC. Adopt an economic multiplier which accounts for the increased productivity delivered by those professionals, as it would seem senseless for an organization to invest resources in activities whose final value is considered equal to or lower than their gross costs. Falconi Toni M. (2006) Public Relations and the Insurance Industry Scope From the findings stated already, it seems quite natural that the insurance industry needs PR specialists. There are many companies that outsource their PR to professional PR firms but there are many more that have an in house team of PR specialists. PR is a specialized job that can only be handled by professionals who have done a specialized course in this field. While a PR professional has the potential to make it big in the insurance industry and earn good money, there are some social and economic contexts that must be cleared right in the beginning. The social impact of PR is difficult to measure in monetary terms but given the volatile publicity that insurance companies receive, it is vital for them to employ PR professionals who can handle the outside world well. The inner workings of the insurance industry are always under the scanner and speculations are always rife about what happens and what does not happen. It is the job of a PR specialist to handle the public, the lawmakers and the media. The insurance industry, considered by many as a faceless, giant behemoth, needs a human face to show the world. What the world likes to see is a smiling, confident face that can handle the accolades as well as the accusations. As for the economic impact, the calculations can be done but again, monetary terms matter less in PR. Some people may question the amount paid to PR professionals but the fact remains that these are specialized people who are the face of the industry. Whether it is disseminating information, getting the publicity done or handling the pressure from the people outside the industry, it is the PR professionals who do the work for the insurance industry. As stated above and reiterated, specialization is the key. Public Relations What is required and what is expected? Important requirements for PR professionals: Public relations is all about interaction and communication of various forms. There are some basic qualities that are required by PR professionals. Effective communication Effective communication is a must for PR professionals. One must be able to think on your feet and respond. There is no scope for reaction. It is important to remember that speaking the truth bluntly may not be the best policy in a PR job. One needs to be honest but tactical at the same time. What is important is a strong vocabulary and body language. Assertion is a key and it is important to know where to draw the line. It is important to remember that people out there are ready to pounce and being an extrovert and a charismatic personality is very useful. A PR professionals job is not to alienate people even in the most trying circumstances. If you cannot endear them, at least dont make enemies out of them. Effective communication in PR means reaching out and touching people of different age groups, different demographics and different social strata. Depending on the PR announcement one is making, the language needs to be fine tuned according to the audiences capability. For example, a group of bachelors would not be interested if the PR professional kept harping on the fact that insurance is for families. They need to be told about savings that could help them in future. A degree A professional Bachelors degree is a must for a PR job. One cannot expect to find a job in PR just because he or she can speak clearly. There are intricacies associated with a PR professionals job and only a professional degree can teach the tricks of the trade. Some people also opt for a Masters degree in PR and further enhance their knowledge and skill. Starting from the beginning One needs to be a go getter to become a PR professional and the learning starts from the college. People usually fritter away time during long vacations. Those who want to make PR a career spend their time doing internships with professional PR firms so that learn the skills needed for this industry. It is common to see future PR professionals getting engaged in college fests and annual events. It is here that the learning starts and it helps massively in ones future career. Industry knowledge When someone is applying for a PR job in the insurance industry, a knowledge of the industry is a must have. When appearing for an interview, the incumbent is expected to know about the insurance industry and the role of PR in the industry. As mentioned above, PR is very important in the insurance industry and only those who exhibit adequate knowledge are chosen. There is no honeymoon period even during the interview. The role starts right inside the interview room. (Gaikwad R. Education PR Know the Skills and Qualifications That Make a Successful PR Professional. Singleton A. How Do you Get a Graduate Job in Pr? Spring D. Pr People Stand Out From the Crowd.) Qualities of PR professionals: As a PR professional, one needs to meet the expectations and demands from both the employer and the audience. A PR professional cannot afford to endear someone and alienate someone else. It is said that it is not possible to make everyone happy and this is precisely the challenge that a PR professional faces. Often there is a dilemma should I keep my employer happy or should I keep the press people happy? Those who manage both sides do well as PR professionals. Be optimistic What a company looks in its PR professional is optimism. The situation may be at its worst but the PR professional needs to maintain a steady and professional demeanor and go ahead with the job. A never say die attitude is a must for someone working in the PR department. Walk the walk and talk the talk Practicing what one preaches is important in a PR role. It is important to remember that a PR professional is the face of the company and if the company does not follow what it states, the PR person faces the music. As a PR professional, it is important to be clear about everything, policies and practices, before facing the world outside and communicating. Be assertive and extrovert PR is such a job that one cannot afford not to be assertive and extrovert. The former quality allows one to draw the line as and when required while the latter quality helps one maintain good relations with the company as well as the media and the public. Be honest Honesty is a very good policy. Blunt truth does not always work in a PR role but dishonesty is a complete no-no. What is required is effective communication skill and the ability to play around with words. Be helpful Going that extra mile is a great quality for PR professionals. A helpful attitude always helps, especially when communicating bad news. Be knowledgeable The employer will expect its PR professionals to have knowledge about, well, almost everything. Knowledge about current affairs and global news is a must. One never knows which question to expect during a press conference. Even if the PR professional is not aware of some or the other topic, the communication has to be tactful. (Henderson J. Ten, Essential Qualities for Success as a Freelance PR Consultant.) Meeting the demands: What the employer demands from its PR professional is a lot of tact and inter-personal skills. The PR person communicates all types of news and a professional demeanor along with a pleasing personality is what the employer expects. As for the outside world, a PR person is expected to be honest and open and an affable person. When someone has these qualities along with a professional degree, a PR job is tailor-made for that person. As Bill Prickett of APR says that during meltdown of US economy when unemployment is out of control it is only the profession public relation experts and executives who would be able to provide the much-needed expertise and support in critical business areas like Encourage the employees Employ constant, consistent communication Embody the conscience (VandeVrede L., A bad economy demands great PR) PR: When and why is it used? Public relations covers many areas, but there are three important fields where public relations is really important. Financial public relations The role of PR here is to provide company information to business reporters and analysts. The insurance industry is one of the largest in the world and handles a lot of money, money belonging to the policyholders and money belonging to the shareholders. Like any other industry, companies in the insurance industry need to publish their financial results at times specified. A PR professional is often given the job of making the financial announcements and handle questions from the audience. Product public relations PR here is used as an alternative to advertising. This area mainly covers publicity for new products and services. Unlike advertisements, the role of the PR professionals is not to come into the limelight. A PR persons job is to make the announcement and handle the questions from the audience. Publicity and branding are important criteria in this part of a PR professionals job. Insurance companies often need to come up with new products because of the intense competition in the market. Before the advertisements blitz the media world, the PR team makes a quiet entry and makes the announcement to those who matter. Crisis public relations This is one of the most challenging areas in PR. This area covers the response to any negative publicity that the company faces. Insurance industry as a whole receives a lot of negative publicity from people who are not associated with the industry. There are lawsuits filed almost every day and the press tends to highlight even minor issues. The job of a PR professional is to act as a cushion and blunt all these attacks. As stated by Bob Kelly, a former DPR of Coca Cola and a PR expert public relations indeed packs a punch, but only when its based on a solid foundation. According to him it is the very fundamental premise of PR. He says as generally people act on their own observation of the facts and behaves accordingly in different situations one can handle the situation on the basis of the perception. It is therefore very important for the PR executives to create, modify or strengthen the clients opinion by reaching, convincing and moving-to-desired-action in a way that helps the organization in achieving its goal. According to Kelly this ensures that à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ the public relations mission is accomplished. (Kelly Robert A. Why PR Packs a Punch.) PR: Key Tactics When it comes to PR in the insurance industry, there are some key tactical areas one needs to focus on. Insurance as a product is quite complex for the layman. As a PR professional, one will find different types of people in the audience. Some people will be absolutely ignorant and others will have varying degrees of knowledge about the industry. As a PR person, it is important to be able to reach out and address all the different people in the audience. This is where the skill comes into the picture. The goals of the PR campaign must be identified in advance. Setting a goal may sound a little tough when one is fresh in the insurance PR job but gradually, the idea will set in. When the goal is planned in advance, it makes life much easier. The PR person can then keep the goal in mind and work towards achieving it. All the paths to the goal will gradually fall in place and the entire process will be smooth. The second tactic is to totally understand the objectives of the PR campaign. Before one faces the audience, absolute knowledge of the topic and associated ideas should be well within ones grasp. From the venue to the audience to the speech everything needs to be planned well in advance. Invitations need to be sent out and the press release has to be marketed. This is when a PR professional is supposed to have done a good job. The message that is sent to the public, lawmakers and the media must be clear and concise. It is important to remember that a PR persons job is not to hog the limelight. The PR person should ideally deliver the message, answer questions and then gradually fade away. If the PR campaign is about disseminating the financial information of the company, the finance people can then take over. If it is about declaring a new product or service, the advertisements should do the follow up. If it is about communicating some bad news or handling some negative publicity about the company, the lawyers should take over. What the PR person needs to do is present facts and data honestly and ensure that the audience is not alienated. There are some innovative PR persons who dwell into the social fields that earn a name for the company. It is very common to see insurance companies partner not for profit and charitable organizations to take up social causes. The job of the PR professional is to advertise and publicize any such campaign and put the insurance company in a positive light. As has been mentioned again and again, insurance companies are often held in negative light and it is important to highlight the good deeds as much as possible. Of course, being in PR and having a good contact list always pays. If a PR person has good media relations, it works wonders for the insurance company. PR professionals are often invited to participate in TV debate shows and are asked to write columns in newspapers and magazines. Through these channels, PR professionals can publicize their company. The insurance company on the other hand gets free publicity without spending a dime. Social and ethical implications of PR in the insurance industry Customer relationship management Customers of insurance companies are spoilt for riches. There are simply too many options to choose from. And it is common knowledge that retaining customers is any day less expensive than acquiring customers. While it is important for insurance companies to acquire new customers, much more important is retaining existing customers. It is the existing customers that give new business either by buying new policies or by referring others to the insurance company. A PR professionals job is to keep customers happy. There are many ideas about how this can be achieved. What is absolutely important is connecting with customers. Whether it is about disseminating information or bad news, a PR person has to connect to customers in such a way that they actually feel proud to be associated with the organization in good times and feel accountable and empathetic during bad times. Promotion One of the key social implications of insurance PR is marketing and advertisement. Insurance companies today engage in various social activities by partnering with charitable organizations. The PR person must ensure that any such activity is publicized. A social cause attracts more attention than some glitzy ad that showcases a new product or service. Through positive visibility, insurance companies get the required attention and are put in a positive light by the public. There are some critics who continue to raise their brows and comment that all the social work is a gimmick. But the majority of the public tends to think high of any insurance company when they see the company associated with some form of social cause. Ethics Any company that is ethical tends to do well. Contrary to what some part of the outside world thinks, insurance companies dont earn their bread by cheating policyholders. There have been some instances over the years where people have felt cheated but those cases are a flash in the pan. Most insurance companies have their policies in place and they try their level best to help people by staying within the policies. Insurance companies have a profit motive in mind. They earn their bread by giving service to people and taking risks on their behalf. It would be unfair to brand them as anything but honest. As a PR person, it is vitally important to project this image of the company. And to achieve this, the PR person needs to be ethical himself or herself. PR codes of ethics Codes of ethics may be established by employers or by professional organizations. There are various codes of ethics but adoption of a code of ethics does not automatically bring morality to a calling. Generally, having a code reflects a sincere desire to raise standards of ethical practice and to provide criteria to guide and judge individual behavior (Cutlip and Centers, 2009:152). Ethical Public Relations is not an Oxymoron The companys conscience most often determines the role of the PR desk. It is a very important job albeit not the most popular one. (Van Hook Steven R. Ethical Public Relations: Not an Oxymoron) Praise of Secrecy Peter OMalley asks us to stop the deception that is completely muddle headed. When it comes to honesty, truth, integrity and accuracy, this is not PR ethics are grounded. (OMalley P. In Praise of Secrecy) PR Disasters The Truth Gerry McCusker says that public relations jobs these days just perpetuate PR disasters while earlier on, public relations professionals were supposed to fix them. (McCusker G. The Truth About PR Disasters) It is also said that the prevailing state of ethics in PR practice depends greatly on codes of ethics practiced by leading professional PR associations. One can voluntarily join these associations or groups to practice this concept of ethical public relations. Here you need to abide by a code of conduct that may include a set of forbidden activities and some ethical principles. (Bowen Shannon A. Ethics and Public Relations.) Summary: One cannot deny the importance of Public Relation today. With new industries coming up everyday this specialized field is evolving at a fast rate. As PR executives in an insurance company you will be facing government organizations and personnel, nonprofit or nongovernment organizations, educational institutions, athletic teams, industries, corporations, entertainment companies, and even nations. So, under the broader umbrella of the term PR you may have to work as a publicist, analyst, media specialist, as well as communications specialist. The insurance industry has always needed PR professionals ever since PR as a profession came into being. The insurance industry has the tendency to stay in the limelight for right as well as wrong reasons. Whether it is about garnering positive publicity or dousing negative publicity, PR professionals, over the years, have been the face of the insurance industry and handled the general public, lawmakers and the media. PR is the human face of the insurance industry and it is the PR professionals that act as customer service representatives, corporate communication specialists and media sources. Data shows that the demand for the number of PR professionals in the insurance industry is still higher than the supply. For fresh graduates who earn their degree in PR, there is immense opportunity in this industry. This is one profession that needs specialists and ordinary graduates are not really wanted in the PR field. Very few people choose PR as their discipline and fewer still are really able to make it big. Those who are smart and suave, have excellent communication skills, have great contacts with the outside world are cut out for PR jobs. If you are someone who has all these qualities and have the ambition to make it big in the insurance PR field, then we wish you all the best. If you have reached this portion of this manual, we hope you now have a fairly good idea about this industry and what you really need to have and need to do.

How Mercantilism Helped to Shape the American Nation :: American America History

How Mercantilism Helped to Shape the American Nation In the Middle Ages, the definition of wealth was based on the amount of productive land. According to this definition, France was the wealthiest and therefore the most powerful of the European nations. During the sixteenth century the definition of wealth began to change. As the ability to conduct profitable foreign trade increased, so did the amount of cash. Thus, the new definition of wealth came to mean the gain of cash or specie. Specie included gold, silver, or bullion. The wealthiest nation became the one with the most cash, and therefore, the most powerful nation. As the redefining of wealth took hold, there was an increased desire and ability to conduct foreign trade on a larger scale as cash became the new medium of exchange in contrast to bartering. Mercantilism began to take hold of the countries of Europe. Mercantilism was characterized by the governmental regulation of industries, trade, and commerce. This was especially true with foreign trade, and was determined more b y national aims rather than individual or local interests. This new quest for trade began the Age of Expansion in the early fourteen hundreds. This era ushered in a search for new sources of revenues, and focus turned toward the colonization of the New World. The Portuguese, Spanish, and English directed many efforts of colonization and development toward this new land in an attempt to establish themselves as the economic leaders of the world. As mercantilism began to change, so did the power flux of the European countries. Thus began the shaping of North America as we know it. The Age of Expansion brought many changes to medieval Europe. During this period, the countries of Europe began to look beyond their borders. In Europe, there was nowhere to grow. This being the case, the only place to turn was west. Portugal came into existence in the early 1400's. It is a small country bordered on one side by the sea, and by Spain on the other. Out of necessity the Portuguese became the masters of the sea. They began to acquire a great knowledge of the sea and advanced in navigation, sailing, and map-making. They also founded an academy of navigation in Lisbon. In the early 1400's, the Portuguese began exploratory voyages. The Portuguese wanted to establish themselves in large-scale international trade. The four things most desired by the people of Europe were spices, sugar, precious metals, and silk.

Cola Wars: Profitability of the soft-drink industry Essay

Historically, the soft drink industry has been extremely profitable. Long time industry leaders Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola largely drive the profits in the industry, relying on Porter’s five forces model to explain the attractiveness of the soft drink market. These forces allowed Coke and Pepsi to maintain large growth until 1999, and also explain the challenges that each company is currently facing. The relative duopoly that Coke and Pepsi share in the industry allows for higher profits, while also maintaining enough competition to promote firm improvement. The first of Porter’s forces is the threat of new entrants. Coke and Pepsi have been largely successful because of many barriers to entry that limits the risk of entry by potential competitors. Coke and Pepsi both have strong brand loyalty, made possible by their long history and adherence to tradition. When Coke strayed from its Coca-Cola Classic formula, its customers demanded a return to the original recipe. Pepsi and Coke also share an absolute cost advantage over others in the industry. They developed superior production operations by buying up bottling companies and performing the service in-house. These companies also have large economies of scale, as they both operate internationally and together control 84% of the market worldwide. Additionally, government regulations have prevented competitors from mimicking Coke’s secret formula, as evidenced by their relentless defense of their brand in court. All of these factors have made it difficult for competitors to enter the soft drink industry. The second of Porter’s forces is rivalry amongst established companies. The competitive structure of the industry has allowed Coke and Pepsi to sustain high profits. The industry is essentially an oligopoly, with Coke and Pepsi dominating the market. The firms are hurt by having similar products that are relatively undifferentiated. However, diversification of product lines into carbonated and non-carbonated beverages has created some product differences. High industry growth from 1975 to 1995 also provided a reprieve from the competitor pressure. Franchising and long-term contracts created higher switching costs, historically limiting the effects of rivalry on the two firms. Porter’s third force is the bargaining power of buyers. This has always been low in the industry, and continues to diminish over time. The low number of suppliers does not afford buyers much room to negotiate. Furthermore, the abundance of distributor options prevented the bottling plants from applying pressure on Coke and Pepsi. Exhibit 8 also shows that both Coke and Pepsi were among the top five consumer brands most important to retailers, suggesting that they were on the losing end of the transaction relationship. Porter’s fourth force is the bargaining power of suppliers. Coke and Pepsi have always set their price. Bottlers were forced to buy concentrate at set prices, usually negotiated in the favor of Coke and Pepsi. The small number of suppliers limited alternatives that could provide the necessary concentrate to bottling groups. Coke and Pepsi have continuously renegotiated contract terms to decrease their costs and enhance profitability. These contracts eventually eliminated marketing cost obligations for concentrate producers as well. Suppliers became so powerful that they eventually bought their own bottling plants. Porter’s fifth force is the threat of substitutes. Initially, other products that could fulfill the same objective of soft drinks (quench thirst) were very weak. According to exhibit 1, carbonated soft drinks were the most-consumed beverage in America through the 1970s and 1980s. Since then, bottled water has become increasingly powerful, cutting into U. S. consumption. A growing health awareness has led to higher demand for non-carbonated soft drinks. Coke and Pepsi have largely met this threat by diversifying into other product lines such as water, juice, tea, and sports drinks. A significant factor that has also allowed the soft drink industry to prosper is the success of the fast-food industry. By partnering with restaurants such as Taco Bell, McDonalds, Burger King, and Pizza Hut, soft drinks have become a complement to this other profitable sector. Pepsi has taken advantage of this trend in its merger with Frito-Lay. While these five factors all contributed to making the soft drink industry very profitable, the industry is more recently facing challenges that could lead to declining profitability. Industry demand is steadily decreasing, as the United States – the largest consumer of soft drinks in the world – becomes more health conscious. Furthermore, buyers are now threatening to produce soft drinks themselves, such as in-store brands at Walmart. This has increased the bargaining power of the buyer. Though the future profitability of the soft drink industry may be declining in America, Coke and Pepsi have taken substantial actions to spread their brands worldwide. Each has a long-term growth strategy to saturate new markets, whether domestically or abroad. Coke has already taken control of many international markets, while Pepsi claims that its progression to the snack industry provides synergy in its business. It is undeniable that the competition between Coke and Pepsi has resulted in a multitude of strategies employed by both sides.

261 Ginsberg and Howl Professor Ramos Blog

261 Ginsberg and Howl Allen Ginsberg (1926 1997) Quick Write Allen Ginsberg (1926 1997) Howl (1956)

Educated Person in America Essay Sample

Educated Person in America Essay Sample Educated Person in Todays America Essay Example Educated Person in Todays America Essay Example Nowadays, many people argue that high school is not as effective as it should be and fails to create an educated person who would become successful in adult life. Hence, an educated person is commonly associated not only with the diploma of higher education, but the achievements in life. However, as the world and society changes, the way to success also gets altered. What Does It Mean to Be an Educated Person in America? In such a way, it is necessary to understand that the features related to a successful person are to be closely interrelated with the trends of the contemporary world. At the same time, education and high school in particular need to develop an understanding of such issues by a person. High school plays a crucial role in shaping people’s worldview and peculiar features throughout generations. Hence, it is necessary to understand the role of the school system in making children understand these trends and the role of exterior social influences and world change in providing them with the ability to adapt to changes, communicate with representatives of different cultures and perceive information critically. Therefore, the current paper argues that perception of an educated person is based on a number of features, which a public school often fails to provide. It suggests that the school curriculum should become more corresponding to the aim of developing critical thinking of peopl e instead of making them equally limited by the social norms of the consumers’ society. Who Is an Educated Person? This question is crucial for analyzing the effectiveness of the American education system because explanation of this notion will provide an understanding of the real goals of education. Hence, it will give an understanding which goals are met and which ones are neglected. An educated person has to possess a variety of competences. However, not all of them are effectively studied at school. In the modern society, each person has to possess a multicultural competence that would ensure effective communication with other people, technologies awareness, ability to adjust to a variety of situations rapidly and some other qualities. It is obvious that these competences are only partially taught at school and often are obtained not during the learning process but due to communication in the society. Instead, in order to bring up responsible, aware and educated people, schools have to consider all of the above mentioned aspects. The religious beliefs and cultural peculiarities can be discuss ed a lot. However, the social experience and direct communication are more effective in teaching nowadays. Hence, public schools should be oriented to providing information from various perspectives in order to let children understand the complexity and manyfacetedness of life problems. Such approach can be effective for creating qualified workforce. Instead, dictating the only correct decision can lead only to educating workers who can perform tasks without any possible innovations or optimized decisions. Active Learning Each person has to be an active learner. Freeman et al. have provided the research on active learning to prove that education is reflected in the performance level of people (8410). The ratings in Science, Mathematics, Engineering and other subjects show how educated or not educated a person is (Freeman et al. 8410). However, the same writing emphasizes the idea that active learning is more effective than passive lectures perception. The same tendency can be observed in life. Thus, a person who has learned to get knowledge and analyze it is more likely to solve various problems. As a result, one can argue that either problem-solving skills or abilities to reproduce information are more important to be perceived as a proof of an educated person. In the modern rapidly developing world the first issue is more important, and mainly the ability to think critically leads people to success. However, it is still closely interconnected with the basic competences one should have. Education and Success The connections between education and success is quite complicated and primarily predetermined by the personal abilities to choose between more and less important information. The existing educational standards are not oriented towards success of a person. Such idea is based on the realities of life and can hardly be denied with regard to a great number of congressmen and other public personalities who fail to answer easy questions about American history. For instance, Moore’s â€Å"Idiot Nation† provides quite interesting evidence of discrepancies between school education and what is necessary to become a valued member of the society. The examples of presidents and other people who could not respond to the questions of the high-school level not only prove that human success and achievements are hardly dependent on the existing school programs, but also suggest that the education curriculum is not very effective in making people remember things (Moore 138). At the same time, the examples of public people show that there is no necessity to do so. The main aim of education is usually associated with getting a good job and becoming successful. In the same way, understanding of what is important in education changes along with demands to a person who wants to be successful. However, with a great amount of information, it is not possible to remember everything. Hence, understanding what exactly is more important to study is also an important step on the way to success and profound understanding in some sphere. Moreover, â€Å"getting involved into the community† is one of the most effective ways to develop a personality and become successful (Moore 140). Hence, if one associates education with future success, the current education system fails to educate students effectively. Teachers’ Influence Not only public people, but primarily the teachers are those who may increase or decrease students’ interest in subjects. A number of teachers who do not work for inspiration fail to set a proper example to students and enhance qualities that are obligatory for an educated person. Gatto’s story outlined how studying can turn into a boring and ineffective learning process due to the teacher’s behavior (Gatto 145). At the same time, the writer represents how teachers who blame kids for being not interested much in their work fail to provide decent education. If a teacher is not interested in learning new things and developing, analyzing, he or she can hardly teach students to do so (Gatto 146). According to Gatto, the features that must be learnt at school include curiosity and adventure (146). Consequently, one can see that the ability to think critically should be highly appreciated and valued. Children should not become solely employees and consumers with limite d knowledge and abilities beyond the standard school programs. In case school does not provide abilities to analyze various phenomena more deeply, parents should become those who do that. To a great extent, modern technologies provide possibilities to study without anyone’s help. In such a way, the lack of a proper teacher’s example can make school unnecessary at all. However, it is not completely so because school communities and classes are necessary to develop an understanding of social roles and develop abilities to adopt among other people. Such skills are also an important part of education process as far as students should definitely be prepared to become decent members of the society who can communicate with others effectively and differentiate themselves among others (Gatto 150). As far as such features are positive for people’s future success, Gatto also defined some negative aspects of the public school system. Among them, integration into a large group that can be easily manipulated, being obedient regardless of how boring the material can be, labeling and diagnosing future life, division of students into poor and elite groups (Gatto 1 51). Theory and Practice The current education system also fails to provide an ability to draw parallels between theoretical knowledge and real life. For example, the existing K-12 system does not combine subjects properly to provide various analytical and problem-solving skills. On the one hand, each subject can provide a person with skills that should be applied in the real life. Thus, Math provides people with an ability to think and reason abstractly and quantitatively (Stage et al. 276). At the same time, it lets people use structures and understand them, be precise and express some regularities. Science contributes to analytical abilities and explanation construction (Stage et al. 276). Language and Arts contribute to communicative abilities and cultural understanding. In general, these competences form a good background for solid education. On the other hand, the current curriculum does not ensure a proper understanding of all spheres. Thus, the work by Stage et al. provides evidence that CCSS is more than the existing K-12 school system oriented to success of a person not only in studying but also in the future career. Technological Impact Globalization and development of technologies are probably the major factors that have widened the worldview of students as well as their possibilities. At the same time they have contributed to the understanding of education and an educated person. Nowadays, one can hardly imagine an educated person who cannot use Internet, uses handwriting instead of printing or cannot work with the widely spread soft or hardware. Nevertheless, it is highly important to understand that far not always electronic, audio and visual devices are helpful in developing proper skills. They are often used improperly and lead to entertainment rather than studying. Moreover, the same advances can help to improve the education process in class as well as provide new opportunities. Picciano et al., who have examined the possibilities of online learning in the existing K-12 system, explained that online learning at high school can become a bridge to career building and college education (132). Such type of education is effective in rising student’s responsibility and the level of independence. Such features are crucial for any success-oriented person. Standardized Testing does not Let Students Think Critically According to Mann, universality is one of the most valuable features of school (113). It provides people with equal opportunities to learn the basic truths of life and get prepared to future work. To some extent, it is true and there are a number of useful life skills that children get while studying. However, the opportunities are far not always equal. Firstly, tagging and labelling children according to some abilities or disabilities is a common practice (Gatto 151). Secondly, social status is a crucial factor to define the possibilities of a student and especially his or her right to higher education (Strauss). Finally, globalization and multinationalism of the American society are also essential issues that destroy equality at schools and often predetermine future perspectives even before graduation. At the same time, standardized testing, which is aimed to provide unbiased and equal attitude to students, does not support the â€Å"spirit of justice† that was emphasized as important by Mann (114). On the contrary, it limits creativity of students and does not allow estimating their critical skills. High Schools Are Effective in Preparing Children for College One the greatest advantages of American high schools education is that students have the right to choose the class with some advanced learning of the subjects that might become a basis for the choice of future profession. However, in reality, it is not so. Ability to choose subjects does not contribute to success in college. The problem of high schools’ level of preparation to future college challenges seems two fold. The quality of training depends on various constituents. Thus, school program usually includes too many subjects, a great number of which are often unnecessary due to the narrow specialization at college. Although, the American system of education is considered to be one of the best arranged in terms of future prospects, there are some disadvantages claimed to lessen its effectiveness. To improve the situation, schools include active teaching with involvement of technologies, online sources and visual aids aimed at achieving a high level of professional skills necessary for future education (Freeman et al. 8411). However, researchers estimate that due to a huge number of remediate courses at colleges, the level of high school preparation is not enough to comply with the demands not only for colleges but for future jobs as well (Gerber). Despite being prepared for entering a college after high school graduation, students face numerous disadvantages such as entrance fees, which are rather high for middle- and low-income families. Hence, high schools should keep up with the latest demands of the labor market in order to prepare students for obtaining future professions and being ready for what expects them in college or at workplace. High Schools Are Effective to Prepare the Workforce The task of the government is to encourage the professional preparation of specialists. Moreover, there exists a definite number of people with creative thinking and a definite number of leaders. Hence, educational establishments have to be effective in training specialists. Otherwise, there would be no proper work in any business. However, it is arguable whether high school education is proper for future professions if it does not provide sufficient preparation for college. Our SamplesThe best way to know how to write good essays is by getting a sample of an essay from competent experts online. We can give you the essay examples you need for future learning. Free Essay Examples are here. In fact, the sectors of education and labor have to cooperate in order to provide the market with a sufficient number of qualified and trained personnel. The institutions and establishments of â€Å"private and public sector must work together to fix the deficit of technical skills and knowledge† (Gerber). However, the presence of such deficit shows that trainings are not effective to ensure the necessary skills. Moreover, low-income families, whose children study at â€Å"inadequately funded schools with the largest class sizes and lowest paid teachers† get little to no possibility to become good specialists (Strauss). The reason is that social class is highly important to shape the worldview of people and the views on the personal possibilities. The majority of such professionals are those, who had a good higher education. In such a way, inability to provide education to the lower classes leads to inability to make them good professionals and confident leaders. Hence, the education system is ineffective due to the lack of the equal possibilities. To sum up, the research paper has proved that the current education system has a number of failures that do not let the country get well-educated people. Moreover, sometimes high schools are less effective in educating children than the family or social influence. With regard to cultural, technological and other competences, an important feature of any educated person is the final success in career and communication with people. With this in mind, adapting ability, active learning and critical thinking are inseparable characteristics of such people. Hence, the problems of the current education system are predetermined by inability of high schools to provide active and inspiring examples represented by teachers, failure of the existing K-12 system to combine subjects properly in order to provide various analytical and problem-solving skills to students, globalization and technological development that predetermines the necessity of some skills that are rarely learnt at school. There i s a view that school provides equal opportunities to students. However, a number or evidences shows that such idea is erroneous. Some opponents argue that the existing education system is effective in preparing children for college and future profession. However, the truth is that a person who is not able to analyze effectively and learn quickly can do very little with high-school level knowledge. Instead, the above mentioned skills are the main tasks of education and the basis for future success.

How to Count Above 10,000 in Chinese

How to Count Above 10,000 in Chinese Mandarin numbers up to 9,999 follow the same basic pattern as English numbers, but numbers 10,000 and higher are quite different. In English, numbers larger than 10,000 are stated in terms of thousands. However, large numbers are written and read as divisions of 10,000 in Chinese. Ten Thousand The Chinese character for 10,000 is è  ¬ / ä ¸â€¡ (traditional / simplified), pronounced wn. Any number higher than 10,000 read in terms of the number of 10,000s. For example, 20,000 would be å… ©Ã¨  ¬ / ä ¸ ¤Ã¤ ¸â€¡ (liÇŽng wn), or two ten-thousands. 17,000 would be ä ¸â‚¬Ã¨  ¬Ã¤ ¸Æ'Ã¥ Æ' / ä ¸â‚¬Ã¤ ¸â€¡Ã¤ ¸Æ'Ã¥ Æ' (yÄ « wn qÄ « qiÄ n), or one ten-thousand seven thousand. 42,300 would be å››è  ¬Ã¥â€¦ ©Ã¥ Æ'ä ¸â€°Ã§â„¢ ¾ / å››ä ¸â€¡Ã¤ ¸ ¤Ã¥ Æ'ä ¸â€°Ã§â„¢ ¾ (sà ¬ wn liÇŽng qiÄ n sÄ n bÇŽi), or four ten-thousand  two thousand three hundred.   So on and so forth, any number from 10,000 up to 100,000,000 is constructed by the following pattern: number of 10,000snumber of 1,000snumber of 100snumber of tensnumber of ones If there is a zero in the hundreds, tens, or ones place, it is replaced by é› ¶ là ­ng. If there are a series of zeros, as in 21,001, they are replaced by a single é› ¶ là ­ng. Examples of Large Numbers Here is a list of more large numbers. Audio files are available and marked with ââ€" º to help with pronunciation and listening comprehension skills. See if you can say the number out loud without looking at the Chinese version. Or, listening to the audio file and see if you can write out the number. 58,697ââ€" ºwÇ” wn bÄ  qiÄ n lià ¹ bÇŽi jiÇ” shà ­ qÄ «Ã¢â‚¬â€¹Ã¤ ºâ€Ã¨  ¬Ã¥â€¦ «Ã¥ Æ'å… ­Ã§â„¢ ¾Ã¤ ¹ Ã¥  Ã¤ ¸Æ'ä ºâ€Ã¤ ¸â€¡Ã¥â€¦ «Ã¥ Æ'å… ­Ã§â„¢ ¾Ã¤ ¹ Ã¥  Ã¤ ¸Æ'950,370ââ€" ºjiÇ” shà ­ wÇ” wn sÄ n bÇŽi qÄ « shà ­Ã¤ ¹ Ã¥  Ã¤ ºâ€Ã¨  ¬Ã¤ ¸â€°Ã§â„¢ ¾Ã¤ ¸Æ'Ã¥  Ã¤ ¹ Ã¥  Ã¤ ºâ€Ã¤ ¸â€¡Ã¤ ¸â€°Ã§â„¢ ¾Ã¤ ¸Æ'Ã¥  1,025,658ââ€" ºyÄ « bÇŽi ling à ¨r wn wÇ” qiÄ n lià ¹ bÇŽi wÇ” shà ­ bÄ Ã¤ ¸â‚¬Ã§â„¢ ¾Ã©â€º ¶Ã¤ ºÅ'è  ¬Ã¤ ºâ€Ã¥ Æ'å… ­Ã§â„¢ ¾Ã¤ ºâ€Ã¥  Ã¥â€¦ «Ã¤ ¸â‚¬Ã§â„¢ ¾Ã©â€º ¶Ã¤ ºÅ'ä ¸â€¡Ã¤ ºâ€Ã¥ Æ'å… ­Ã§â„¢ ¾Ã¤ ºâ€Ã¥  Ã¥â€¦ «21,652,300ââ€" ºliÇŽng qiÄ n yÄ « bÇŽi lià ¹ shà ­ wÇ” wn liÇŽng qiÄ n sÄ n bÇŽiå… ©Ã¥ Æ'ä ¸â‚¬Ã§â„¢ ¾Ã¥â€¦ ­Ã¤ ºâ€Ã¨  ¬Ã¥â€¦ ©Ã¥ Æ'ä ¸â€°Ã§â„¢ ¾Ã¤ ¸ ¤Ã¥ Æ'ä ¸â‚¬Ã§â„¢ ¾Ã¥â€¦ ­Ã¤ ºâ€Ã¤ ¸â€¡Ã¤ ¸ ¤Ã¥ Æ'ä ¸â€°Ã§â„¢ ¾97,000,000ââ€" ºjiÇ” qiÄ n qÄ « bÇŽi wnä ¹ Ã¥ Æ'ä ¸Æ'ç™ ¾Ã¨  ¬Ã¤ ¹ Ã¥ Æ'ä ¸Æ'ç™ ¾Ã¤ ¸â€¡ Even Larger Numbers After ten thousand, the next largest number unit used in Chinese is one-hundred million. One-hundred million in Mandarin Chinese is å„„ / ä º ¿ (ââ€" ºyà ¬). It can also be expressed as è  ¬Ã¨  ¬ / ä ¸â€¡Ã¤ ¸â€¡ (wn wn). Following are the series of numbers larger than one-hundred million. Each number is 10,000 times larger than the previous one. åž“ / å…† zho 1012ä º ¬ jÄ «ng 1016åž“ gÄ i 1020ç § ­ zÇ  1024ç © ° rng 1028æ º  / æ ²Å¸ gÃ… u 1032æ ¾â€" / æ ¶ § jin 1036æ ­ £ zhÄ“ng 1040è ¼â€° / è ½ ½ zi 1044 Learning Tips Using numbers units like è  ¬ / ä ¸â€¡or å„„ / ä º ¿ can be confusing at first. Here are a few tips for quickly knowing how to read large numbers out loud. One tip is to move the comma one place to the left. A number is usually separated every three digits by a comma. For example: 14,000. Now, lets move the comma over by one digit. By seeing a number 1,4000, it becomes easier to read numbers in terms of ten-thousands. In this case, it is  Ã¤ ¸â‚¬Ã¨  ¬Ã¥â€ºâ€ºÃ¥ Æ' /  Ã¤ ¸â‚¬Ã¤ ¸â€¡Ã¥â€ºâ€ºÃ¥ Æ', or one ten-thousand four thousand.   Another tip is to simply memorize a few large numbers. How do you say one million in Chinese? What about 10 million?

Paleo-discharge of the Maumee floods Research Paper

Paleo-discharge of the Maumee floods - Research Paper Example The results positively indicate the extent of the damage and predicts the next step in solving the problem. Introduction The problem is finding ways of restoring the watershed to a state that would be useful to the inhabitants living in the surrounding. This study is aimed at identifying opportunities and issues in the process of establishing the viability of the study. The main subject of the study is the deposits that were formed by the glacial activities. They include the Fort Wayne Moraine, and the Wabash. The Wabash was formed as a result of the activities that followed the melt water that into the St. Joseph and St. Mary’s Rivers. The two streams converged at the western edge of Fort Wayne Moraine. They drained a bigger discharge that created a valley that was called the Wabash Erie Channel. On a personal observation of the site there is feasibly in the thickness of disjointed deposits that are in the southern and the northern sides of the Maumee River watershed. The hei ghts go from 50 to 100 feet above the ground. This evidence of the occurrence of glacial activity in the northern part of the Maumee River. The bedrock holding these features is controlled by the Cincinnati Arch on the southern part and the Michigan Basin the northern area. The study tries to measure the magnitude of the water discharge that has been impacted by the Maumee River. Methods A task in the lab is to figure out the flood elevation from topographic maps and imagery near Lafayette, Indiana. In order to do this, I make 5 cross sections (Battleground, Americus, upstream of Delphi, Purdue and Lafayette, and Independence) from the topographic maps, with a vertical exaggeration of 10X. The scale of my cross section is, horizontally 1cm = 800ft, and vertically 1 cm = 80ft. There are two different ways I used to estimate discharge to complete this project. The first one is using Manning’s equation, and the second one is using the equation in dam breakout floods. In this par t, I am going to give detailed explanations for each of the equations, and explanation of flood reconstruction. Method1: Discharge estimations, whether of modern floods or ancient floods, requires that you determine both the average velocity of the water as well as the cross sectional area. The overall equation is: Q = u * A Where Q is the estimated discharge, u is the average velocity of the flow, and A is the cross sectional area. The average velocity can be estimated using Manning’s equation: u = RH2/3 * S1/2 * n-1 Where the RH is the hydraulic radius, S is the water surface slope, and n is the channel roughness coefficient. The cross-sectional area (A) is the area of flowing water as measured from bank to bank. Requires both a channel cross section, which I constructed, and an estimate of water depth (d) for calculation. The hydraulic radius (RH) is a physical characteristic of a streambed. It is the cross-sectional area (A) of the channel divided by the wetted perimeter. The wetted perimeters the length of the wetted edge of a channel cross section containing flowing water (i.e. the total perimeter minus the water surface). The water surface slope is the angle of the water surface relative to the horizontal. This angle can be found by measuring the change in water surface elevation between two points along the stream. Roughness coefficien

Design for manufacturer Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Design for manufacturer - Coursework Example Stereomicroscopes are used to examinespecimens under bothreflectedandtransmittedlight. Stereomicroscopes are used for imaging three-dimensional objects1. A Stereomicroscope providesgoodgroundsfor three-dimensional visualization of thesamplebeingtested, in thiscase, theprototype Acrylic displayhence an excellentqualitycontrolinspectiontool. Reducing complexity of the Acrylic displayunit is a costeffectiveproductionmethod. Unnecessary complexity is a majorcause of hiking costs of production. Production of standardunits would seetherealization of mass production at a lowcost. Reducingprototypedevelopmenttime is also a costeffectiveproductionmethod. Thedevelopmenttime can be reduced by putting 3-D digital prototyping technology at work that will speed up the prototyping process and foster more innovation. More technology can also be offered to reducethecost of production. Technology allowsdesignersandotherproductionpersonnel to work as teams, interactingquickly. Cooperation and working as a team give room to the achievement of the best possible solution. According to Evans & Lindsay (2013), surface hardness is the measure of how a material is resistant to changepermanently in shapewhenapplied a compressive force. Classification of surface hardness measurement can be into three methods, includingscratch, indentation, and rebound. Scratch is themeasure of howresistant a material is to permanent deformation due to friction from a sharpobject. Themostcommontestforscratch is Mohs scale. Mohs scalecharacterizesthescratchresistance of variousmaterialsusingthe sclerometer. Indentation hardness measurestheresistance of a material to deformation due to a compressioneffect of a sharpobject. Rebound hardness is themeasurestheheight of the rebound of a materialwhen an objectis released from thehigherground onto thematerial. A stereoscope is the device used to take measurements for the rebound2. Elasticity is thetendency of a material to return

Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 18

Marketing - Essay Example strategies need to be formulated or optimally oriented as part of marketing orientation, so that organisation can reach maximum customers, entice them and importantly build long-term relationship, thereby retaining them. As the above mentioned country specific aspects need to be mainly analyzed in relation with the product that is going to be launched, the product’s profile should ‘fit’ with the consumer of that particular market. Although, it applies to all product range, it is of utmost importance to luxury brands including luxury handbags. A luxury brand is a lifestyle concept that is mainly designed for an exclusive consumer base, even while enticing a wider consumer base. Vickers and Renand (2003) observe that luxury goods are adapted versions of base products which are manufactured according to consumer needs and tastes, and there are three dimensions to these products, and it applies to luxury handbags as well. The three levels of luxury products are, first, the inaccessible luxury products, which are only or mainly for the elite or affluent, as the other classes will find it difficult to buy it. Then, comes the intermediate luxury products, which for the professionals who are financially equipped to buy those products and thereby fulfil their desire to attain the status of the affluent. Finally, there are accessible luxury products for the middle class, which will be set in a feasible price range. Prospective customers in each of these levels have to be enticed through level-specific marketing strategies. So, on the whole it is necessary to grasp the consumer behaviour regarding particular products, along with other environmental forces. So, from the above understanding, it is clear that, to launch the new range of luxury handbags in UK, the macro and the micro environment as well as the consumer behaviour in the UK market has to be analyzed, based on which consumer and market oriented relationship marketing strategies can be formulated. The

Business Law Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Business Law - Assignment Example In order to protect one’s self from the risk of increased personal liability outside the realms of the business, it is important to avoid situations that lead to the piercing of the corporate veil. These situations are broadly, three in number. First, piercing of the corporate veil is attributed to the establishment of a compliant corporation that fulfills the statutory schemes like social security and compensation for the unemployed. Secondly, fraudulent behavior like having a third party enter a contact believing that the corporate debt is in fact personal liability forces the courts to impose liability on the shareholders to legitimize the action. Lastly, inequitable power and asset transfer at the time of bankruptcy or financial distress to support opportunism also encourages the legal system to disregard the corporate nature of the firm to include personal liability (Macey and Mitts). It is imperative to comply by the legal system if the country of operations whether the business ownership is LLP or LLC. Limited liability partnership is the safest form of partnership that restricts the personal liability of the shareholders to a great extent. The board of directors of every firm is entrusted by the shareholders to work in the best interests of the company. As the property of the corporation is an asset whose sale or exchange can greatly alter a business’s operations and profitability, it is imperative that the board of directors mutually agree on the feasibility of the action before entering any contract (Kansasstatutes.lesterama.org). As in the case if Grocery Corp. even if the president was fulfilling his fiduciary duties to act in the best interest of the business, she overlooked the important procedure of gaining the consent of the complete board before entering a contract for a major sale of the corporation’s assets. Section 3a (11) of the securities act, also known as the intrastate offering exemption allows

The sun also rises Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The sun also rises - Essay Example Even though the generation following the war was usually referred to as â€Å"The Lost Generation†, the title of the book and its closing content is quite optimistic. Of course there may be many reasons why Hemingway chose this title and this paper will review his reasons for why he chose it. Jake Barnes, the main character and the narrator of the novel, was a veteran of The World War I, who later worked as a journalist in Paris. This book is a narration of the problems he had faced following the war and how he finally recovered from them. The author probably takes this as the theme behind the title. The initial pages of the book, recounts an injury that had caused many troubles to Jake, one among which included his inability to have sex. This had made Jack feel insecure about his masculinity and that he is less of a man that he was before. The fact that Brett, who was the love of his life, refused to enter into a relationship with Jake because of his impotency had made him feel very unhappy and depressed and had added to his insecurity. In many ways Jake was a typical member of what Gertrude Stein called â€Å"The Lost Generation†, which referred to the generation that experienced the grueling effects of World War 1, and when people had lost their belief in moral ity, faith and justice. The people of the Lost Generation lived an aimless life and spent their time engaged in worthless activities like boozing and dancing. In the early chapters of the book Jake’s character reminds the reader of the people of the Lost Generation, as he spent most of his time in the bar getting drunk. However, in the later chapters of the book and true its title, the sun does begin to shine on Jake. It narrates how Jake learned to find a solution for his problems, and how he no longer considered his impotency as a major issue. One realizes this for the first time when Jake goes out fishing in Burguete with his friend Bill Gorton. There, Jake truly enjoys his

How Modern Business Can Remain Competitive Essay

How Modern Business Can Remain Competitive - Essay Example The concept of adopting Best Practices has ensured that many organizations, in varying degree have incorporated means of addressing above areas successfully, copying from the pioneers and thus nullifying the competitive advantages, which was developed by these early developers. In today’s globalize scenario, the competitive advantage lies in the manner an organization manages itself and specifically derive a competitive advantage through its human capital. Therefore, it is of crucial importance that companies develop their remuneration strategies to reward performance that will drive the organizational success. Evidence that the business environment is increasingly competitive is everywhere. Greater Free Trade has facilitated the movement of not only the traded goods but the factors of production as well. Organizations seeking competitive advantages are increasingly seeking out global locations, which offer a comparative advantage in terms of their factor endowment (Hill 2004). More and more companies from the developed world are moving its labor-intensive production facilities to low labor cost countries in the developing world. This is also facilitating an unprecedented level of technology transfer and facilitating the competitiveness of these developing nations’ products in terms of quality, efficiency, and productivity. Today developing countries like China, India, and Mexico pose cost competitions on an unprecedented scale for the world players, especially those who are operating in high wage cost in developed nations.   Thus it is of paramount importance that organizations in developed nations adopt their own strategies in managing their organizations, specifically the human capital to seek out areas of competitive advantage. This involves increasing productivity, efficiency and reducing costs through numerous aspects of Human Resource management involving better selection and recruitment, development and training, fostering of learning environments, fostering innovation, performance management and implementing effective rewarding strategies to drive performance.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

Business Law Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Business Law - Assignment Example In order to protect one’s self from the risk of increased personal liability outside the realms of the business, it is important to avoid situations that lead to the piercing of the corporate veil. These situations are broadly, three in number. First, piercing of the corporate veil is attributed to the establishment of a compliant corporation that fulfills the statutory schemes like social security and compensation for the unemployed. Secondly, fraudulent behavior like having a third party enter a contact believing that the corporate debt is in fact personal liability forces the courts to impose liability on the shareholders to legitimize the action. Lastly, inequitable power and asset transfer at the time of bankruptcy or financial distress to support opportunism also encourages the legal system to disregard the corporate nature of the firm to include personal liability (Macey and Mitts). It is imperative to comply by the legal system if the country of operations whether the business ownership is LLP or LLC. Limited liability partnership is the safest form of partnership that restricts the personal liability of the shareholders to a great extent. The board of directors of every firm is entrusted by the shareholders to work in the best interests of the company. As the property of the corporation is an asset whose sale or exchange can greatly alter a business’s operations and profitability, it is imperative that the board of directors mutually agree on the feasibility of the action before entering any contract (Kansasstatutes.lesterama.org). As in the case if Grocery Corp. even if the president was fulfilling his fiduciary duties to act in the best interest of the business, she overlooked the important procedure of gaining the consent of the complete board before entering a contract for a major sale of the corporation’s assets. Section 3a (11) of the securities act, also known as the intrastate offering exemption allows

How Modern Business Can Remain Competitive Essay

How Modern Business Can Remain Competitive - Essay Example The concept of adopting Best Practices has ensured that many organizations, in varying degree have incorporated means of addressing above areas successfully, copying from the pioneers and thus nullifying the competitive advantages, which was developed by these early developers. In today’s globalize scenario, the competitive advantage lies in the manner an organization manages itself and specifically derive a competitive advantage through its human capital. Therefore, it is of crucial importance that companies develop their remuneration strategies to reward performance that will drive the organizational success. Evidence that the business environment is increasingly competitive is everywhere. Greater Free Trade has facilitated the movement of not only the traded goods but the factors of production as well. Organizations seeking competitive advantages are increasingly seeking out global locations, which offer a comparative advantage in terms of their factor endowment (Hill 2004). More and more companies from the developed world are moving its labor-intensive production facilities to low labor cost countries in the developing world. This is also facilitating an unprecedented level of technology transfer and facilitating the competitiveness of these developing nations’ products in terms of quality, efficiency, and productivity. Today developing countries like China, India, and Mexico pose cost competitions on an unprecedented scale for the world players, especially those who are operating in high wage cost in developed nations.   Thus it is of paramount importance that organizations in developed nations adopt their own strategies in managing their organizations, specifically the human capital to seek out areas of competitive advantage. This involves increasing productivity, efficiency and reducing costs through numerous aspects of Human Resource management involving better selection and recruitment, development and training, fostering of learning environments, fostering innovation, performance management and implementing effective rewarding strategies to drive performance.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus Essay Example for Free

Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus Essay According to John Gray, men and women completely differ in their style of communication which corroborates the illusion that they are from different planets. However, their communications style differs and they work and be trained to become accustomed to these communication perspectives to live and work together in harmony. Women are more emotional than men and hence men used to mock the girls irrelevance talks. Actually women are termed as a weaker sex as they always want men to respect to their feelings more particularly about relationships, other personal problems and about family matters. In such matters, women expect that men will respect their feelings by extending emotional support and understanding. Relationships end in catastrophic disaster when each other does not understand each feelings and emotions. When the relationship ends in serious disaster, the women have to understand that man is completely diverse from everything and she has not accustomed to and tried to adapt to the differences in her relationship. Communication between men and women are so diverse that it takes many years for a complete understanding in a relationship. Even insignificant resemblance in communication style that binds a couple together while one tries to iron out the larger differences. In ordinary life, it is an established fact that men wants to be respected and women wish to know whether they are being truly loved by men. A successful couple is one who is able to achieve this and in such cases no doubt, good communication will be the end result. Thus, John Gray’s assertion that men and women are from different planets in terms of communications is really a convincing one. Thus, communication between men and women are pursued through two languages. The male language is used as a general warning that he is in a cave or on his path to the cave. Gray here uses cave to describe the ways and means men use to iron out their differences or to deal with an issue. When men face some problem, they wish to be alone or in his cave in complete solitude. [Gray, 1993, p. 22]. However, the reaction of a women will be completely different if they face with issues and when communicating with their spouse. As per Gray, women employ metaphors, superlative and poetic licenses to express their feelings. Moreover, there are chances that men may misunderstood this poetic licenses expressed by women. [Gray. 1993, p. 17]. It is the exact scenario where men and women ignore to appreciate the exact significances of the each other expressions and due to this, Gray has introduced Venusians / Martian dictionary in his book. This dictionary could be much help to iron out these misunderstandings in associations and relationships. According to Gray, men and women communicate in different languages and hold opposing views. Many common people are of the view that Gray’s metaphor is having more relevance and match their very own experiences on the subject. According to Gray, women have to gain knowledge of men before fostering a successful companionship. [Gray, 1993. p. 21]. Likewise, when men are disturbed or strained, they automatically keep silent and return to their cave to sort the things out. [Gray, 1993, p. 21]. Women at this juncture understood that his spouse wants to be alone to sort out things by himself without her interruption. Further, Gray is of the view that there is a need for men to know that women like to share and communicate things through in a more non-solution and in a complex way. [Gray, 1993, p. 35]. There is a complete need on the part of men to aware that women also long that their feelings and emotions are to be honored when they are upset, depressed and troubled and it is duty of the men to make her more comfort and to assuage her feelings in such scenarios. [Gray, 1993, p. 35]. As Gray details it, his book is for the people who wish to have an appreciative feature of gender associated with their counseling. Gray’s objective is to assist women to appreciate men and to take the ignominy out by counseling and by assisting men to have a more constructive approach to therapy as ‘even healthy relationships need a counselor. Gray longs to be a worldwide translator between Venusians and Martians. He has not indulged in the argument that one is superior to the other but stresses that they are dissimilar. Thus, Gray summarizes his views: â€Å"It is time to appreciate and authenticate gender variances. Do not try to change the attitude of one’s partner. Men have to seize the situation and understand and women should acknowledge and appreciate the things which men does and if he feel appreciated, he will no doubt listen. Gray is of the view that even though the customary function of contributor and nurturer may be often changing, women and men still have fundamental hormonal variances. However, due to rapid transformation, women have crossed over in the man’s world and hence the two worlds have come together now. If one has great appreciation of how these people in different world imagine and act, one will have a real harmony but not a friction. According to Gray, men and women have varied and complimentary emotional requirements. One can define a man’s sense of self through his capability to get results while a female’s sense of self is explained through her feelings and eminence of her relationships. Hence, women expect that her feeling shall have to be respected and honored while men demand that his feelings have to be appreciated and respected. Gray is of the opinion that rubber band theory well explains the metaphor of male intimacy cycle. As men experience the need for autonomy or independence, they draw away as rubber bond do when it is stretched to the limit. Men will pull back with power and spirit as rubber band do if they are given opportunity to move back to their positions or caves. If women demand that men should be intimate and close all of the time, they will become flaccid and limp, by losing their power and strength. [Gray, 1993, p. 35]. Gray book emphasizes diverse of theory. Gray could not able to offer no more plausible explanation other than his planet metaphor on men and women relationships. Gray tries to illustrate the basic differences that exist in men and women characteristics. Gray has cited examples like men disgust to demand for directions as it would put them down while women not at all prefer it. Men longs to talk in public as an exposure of their sound knowledge remains mum at home whereas women tries to express their feelings in home rather than in public places as their main objective of their intimacy. CONCLUSION: The reader of the book will understand that men and women communicate in different languages and hold opposing views. Readers will appreciate that Gray’s metaphor is having more relevance and match their very own experiences on the subject. No doubt, communication plays very significant role in men and women relationship. If one tries to honor and respect the feelings of spouse, there will not any marital issues at all. I would recommend that all who in the phase of establishing relationship and those are already tied their marital knots should read the book to lead a pleasant, happy married life. The readers of the book will understand that â€Å"It is time to appreciate and authenticate gender variances. Do not try to change the attitude of one’s partner. Men have to seize the situation and understand and women should acknowledge and appreciate the things which men does and if he feel appreciated, he will no doubt listen. Gray is of the view that difference between men and women are consistent and are of more biological and natural. Thus, Gray book seems to emphasize and respect the male and female differences. REFERENCES Gray, John. [1993]. Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus: A Practical Guide For Improving Communication and Getting What You Want in Relationships. HarperCollins

Research On First Nations Addiction Sociology Essay

Research On First Nations Addiction Sociology Essay Addiction is the continued use of a mood altering substance or behavior despite adverse dependency consequences, or a neurological impairment leading to such behaviors. Addictions can include, but are not limited to, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, exercise abuse, pornography and gambling. Classic hallmarks of addiction include: impaired control over substances/behavior, preoccupation with substance/behavior, continued use despite consequences, and denial. The First Nation people in Canada or The Aboriginal tribe are found to have these addictive problems more when compared to other community in Canada and this has created a drastic change in the survival of their community. First Nations are the various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Metis. There are roughly 630 bands of first nation people spread across Canada, and the majority of them are found in Ontario and British Columbia. Under the Employment Equity Act, First Nations are a designated group along with women, visible minorities and persons with physical or mental disabilities. Founded in the 19th century, the Canadian Indian residential school system was intended to force the assimilation of Canadian Aboriginal and First Nations people into European-Canadian society. The purpose of the schools, which separated children from their families, has been described by commentators as killing the Indian in the child. Funded under the Indian Act by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, a branch of the federal government, the schools were run by churches of various denominations about 60% by Roman Catholics, and 30% by the Anglican Church of Canada and the United Church of Canada, along with its pre-1925 predecessors, Presbyterian, Congregationalist and Methodist churches. The attempt to force assimilation involved punishing children for speaking their own languages or practicing their own faiths, leading to allegations in the 20th century of cultural genocide and ethnocide. There was widespread physical and sexual abuse. Overcrowding, poor sanitation, and a lack of medical care led to high rates of tuberculosis, and death rates of up to 69%. Details of the mistreatment of students had been published numerous times throughout the 20th century, but following the closure of the schools in the 1960s, the work of indigenous activities and historians led to a change in the public perception of the residential school system, as well as official government apologies, and a (controversial) legal settlement. Colonization had a significant impact on First Nations diet and health. According to the historian Mary-Ellen Kelm, inadequate reserve allocations, restrictions on the food, fishery, overhunting, and over-trapping alienated First Nations from their traditional way of life, which undermined their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. First Nations peoples face a number of problems to a greater degree than Canadians overall, many of their living conditions are comparable to developing nations like Haiti. They have higher unemployment, rates of incarceration, substance abuse, health problems, fetal alcohol syndrome, lower levels of education and higher levels of poverty. Suicide rates are more than twice the sex-specific rate and also three times the age-specific rates of non-Aboriginal Canadians. Life expectancy at birth is significantly lower for First Nations babies than for babies in the Canadian population as a whole. As of 2001, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada estimates First Nations life expectancy to be 8.1 years shorter for males and 5.5 years shorter for females. Self-government has given chiefs and their councils powers which combine those of a province, school board, health board and municipality. Councils are also largely self-regulating regarding utilities, environmental protection, natural resources, building codes, etc. There is concern that this wide-ranging authority, concentrated in a single council, might be a cause of the dysfunctional governments experienced by many First Nations. Gangs consisting of Aboriginals are becoming an increasing problem, across Canada, due to the poor living conditions. Most of them are found in Winnipeg and Manitoba. One of the most acrimonious issues to result from the Treaty process is the dark legacy of the residential school system. The purpose of the residential schools in Canada was to educate and civilize or westernize the First Nation peoples in order that they adopt a more western that is European lifestyle. Separating the children from their parents and forcing religion on them, it was believed, was the only means by which to achieve this civilizing of the First Nations people. Residential Schools: The Legacy The story of and continuing debate around the topic of Residential Schools in Canada is highly contentious. The residential school experience continues to haunt First Nations peoples and, according to some, has led to a general indifference towards the education of many First Nations youth today. Many of the people who experienced a residential school education are now parents and grandparents and many possess deep biases against education for their children because of what they experienced. It is a difficult subject for many to understand because the residential school experience was not the same for everyone involved. Clearly, some schools were better maintained than others while some staff members more benevolent than others. Although a difficult subject to broach, the story of the residential schools has become an important part of not only First Nations history but of Canadian history. Separated from their family, friends, and in many cases the only home they had known, First Nations children were taken together, according to age level, to the residential school in the fall of each year. Once at the school, they were not permitted to speak their native tongue and the supervisors spoke only English to them, punishing them if they reverted to their own language. In many cases, the children knew nothing of the English language upon their arrival and this meant that many spent several years in silence until they were even able to express their needs. The school environment was a stark contrast to the home environment where aboriginal children were important contributing members of their family expected to help with the work of day to day life tending the nets, feeding the dogs, cutting and hauling wood, cutting up meat and fish for drying. The school demanded very little in comparison. A child had no responsibility for the well-being of others. At residential school, the aboriginal child became no ones keeper, not even his own as, in many cases, all movements were monitored and children were expected to adhere to strict guidelines of conduct. The schools were very difficult and lonely places for many children but they affected the entire family. If children returned home for the summer months in many cases, their parents found that they had significantly changed. They were no longer interested in helping the family with daily tasks and rather than spending time with their families, who were no doubt becoming more foreign each passing year, most preferred to spend time with children their own age who also attended residential school. Perhaps the most detrimental effect of the schools was the childrens loss of all ability to speak their own language effectively breaking the means of communication and traditional knowledge sharing between parents and their children. Furthermore children were taught at school that their culture was somehow inferior and not worth preserving. As a result, the residential school disrupted the passing of traditional beliefs, skills, and knowledge from one generation to the next, and deliberately separated the children from their heritage by encouraging them to resent it and embrace a more European outlook and belief system. While the cultural shock was immense without the residential schools, most First Nations youth would never have learned to read and write, or learn about the world and other ways of life. By the 1950s, the Canadian government began to realize the residential school policy was a failure. The last residential school in Canada was closed some 30 years later. Today, Aboriginal people want recognition of what was done to their communities as a result of the residential schools. Aboriginal people have demanded, and received, official apologies from the Anglican, United and Roman Catholic churches which operated residential schools. As more and more former students of residential schools come forth with stories about the sexual and physical abuse they experienced, several religious authorities who administered the schools are being charged criminally. Aboriginal Mental Health and Substance Use Aboriginal people make up only three per cent of Canadian citizens, but this population is one of the fastest growing in the country. It is also the youngest. The average age of Aboriginal people is 25. This is 10 years younger than the average age of the general population. There is great variety in languages, beliefs, traditions and cultures among Aboriginal peoples. In British Columbia alone there are 203 First Nations bands. About 30 different First Nations languages are spoken in this province. Unfortunately, there are also high rates of mental illness and problem substance use in some Aboriginal communities. This is due to a number of factors, including a history of cultural trauma. Still, a 2002-03 survey indicated that about 70 per cent of First Nations adults living on reserves felt in balance physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Also, Aboriginal people suffering from mental health problems have been shown to be more likely than the rest of Canadians to seek professional help (17 per cent as compared to eight per cent). This is a positive step towards healing for Aboriginal communities. The Rates of Mental Illness and Substance Use Problems among Aboriginals Aboriginal people have higher rates of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression than other groups: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢About 16 per cent have faced major depression, which is twice the Canadian average. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢More Aboriginal youth suffer from psychiatric problems than non-Aboriginal youth. Suicide is the leading cause of death among Aboriginal people under 44 years old: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Rates of completed suicide are higher among Aboriginal males than females and peak among young adults between the ages of 15 and 24. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢According to the Regional Health Survey in 2002-03, three in 10 adults (31 per cent) reported having had suicidal thoughts and one in six (16 per cent) had attempted suicide at some point in their lives. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Among First Nations communities, suicide rates are twice the national average, and show no signs of decreasing. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢The rates among First Nations youth (between 15 and 24 years of age) were from five times (among boys) to seven times (among girls) higher than the Canadian population between 1989 and 1993. Aboriginal people are less likely to drink than the general population. Only 66 per cent of aboriginals drink alcohol. Still, among those who do drink, problem substance use is a serious concern: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢More than one quarter of Aboriginal Canadians have a substance use problem. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Aboriginals are more likely to smoke than people in the general population à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢First-time use of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs tends to occur at younger ages in Aboriginal populations. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Aboriginal youth are at a two-to-six times higher risk for every alcohol-related problem compared to other young people. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Aboriginal youth are more likely to smoke, use inhalants, and use marijuana regularly. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Substance use is a leading factor in teen pregnancy among Aboriginals. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Aboriginal women have higher rates of substance use during pregnancy than other women. This means they are more likely to have babies born with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and other problems. Why are the rates of mental illness and substance use so high among Aboriginals? A HISTORY OF ABUSE AND DISCRIMINATION Aboriginal people in Canada have been treated unfairly for centuries. Until 1970, many Aboriginal children were forced to go to residential schools. At these schools their culture, language and dignity were taken away from them. Some were abused physically and sexually. Because of these attacks on identity and culture, Aboriginal students and their families found residential schools traumatic, even when school personnel were kind and educational benefits occurred. As a result, a high percentage of residential school survivors suffer from mental or behavioral problems. The last residential schools closed in the 1980s, but their effects can still be seen in Aboriginal families and communities. The trauma felt by students and their families has been passed down through successive generations. BARRIERS TO HEALTH CARE There are many obstacles that stand between Aboriginal people and quality health care. Some of these include: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢lack of access to service à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢discrimination among health practitioners à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢lack of appropriate care à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢cultural barriers (i.e., lack of experience mixing traditional and modern medicine) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢geographic isolation A CYCLE OF DIFFICULT FAMILY CIRCUMSTANCES Newer generations of Aboriginals are still at higher risk for mental health and substance use problems than the general population. This is partly because of the stress factors that continue to occur in many Aboriginal families. Oftentimes poverty, ill health, educational failure, family violence, problem substance use and other difficulties reinforce one another, perpetuating a cycle of dysfunction and despair. 1. Early Childhood: Some Aboriginals live in overcrowded houses in isolated environments run by single parents who survive on very low income. As a result, some Aboriginal children fail to receive the attention they need to develop socially and emotionally. On reserves, there are often many generations living under one roof. In these situations children may be exposed to alcohol and other drug use from a young age. This puts them at higher risk for substance use in their teen years and later. Higher than average rates of family violence, including physical and sexual abuse, also put Aboriginals at higher risk for mental health and substance use problems. 2. Adolescence: Young Aboriginals are at high risk for harms caused by substance use. In comparison to youth of the general population, Aboriginal youth experience: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢more difficulties in school and higher high-school drop-out rates-this is often due to culture and language barriers. Some youth also experience discrimination from teachers and peers related to Aboriginal values à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢confused ethnic identity-it can be challenging for youth to identify with their heritage while being raised and educated in a non-Aboriginal society à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢lower self-esteem and self-confidence à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢higher rates of sexual abuse-especially among females (nearly one quarter of female sexual-assault victims are younger than seven) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢more psychiatric problems Unplanned teen pregnancy is an important factor that plays a role in the cycle of mental health and substance use problems among Aboriginals. Added to this issue is the fact that Aboriginal youth often start using drugs and alcohol to fit in with peers and boyfriends/girlfriends. Young women sometimes feel pressure to continue using substances after they become pregnant because they fear others will find out. This is one cause of the high rates of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in the Aboriginal population. These rates suggest that some young women are addicted to alcohol, or they may not understand the risks of using alcohol and other drugs during pregnancy. This is a big problem because many expectant teen mothers also have poor eating and exercising habits. All of these factors work together to create a high risk for delivering a child with problems. 3. Adulthood: Aboriginal women often have particularly stressful, hard lives because of physical abuse and a lack of support from their partners. Some use substances to manage stress or to cope with anxiety, depression and other mental health problems. Research has shown that there is a higher incidence of intimate partner abuse in Aboriginal communities than elsewhere. The use of substances by men has been shown to be an aggravating factor for violence within Aboriginal families. Some of the consequences of male violence against Aboriginal women include: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢diminished self-esteem and sense of security à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢damage to physical and emotional health à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢negative impact on children (nurturing a sense of fear and insecurity and the intergenerational perpetuation of the cycle of violence) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢negative impact on financial security à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢loss of matrimonial home and sometimes relocation outside the community à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢self-blame PROMOTION OF RESILIENCE IN ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES It is important to note that some Aboriginal communities have fewer problems than others. There are indeed factors that serve to protect some First Nations people and communities from the cycle of difficulty. For example, in the past, Aboriginals had very strong cultural practices that promoted healthy connectedness and forms of conflict resolution that encouraged reconciliation. This and other similar strengths have helped Aboriginals to survive despite the great obstacles they have faced, and still face today. Some other examples of strengths include: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢the traditional value that is placed on sharing, humility and not hurting others à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢the value that is placed on cooperation and non-competition à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢the traditional value placed on community conscience and a shared sense of responsibility à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢a history of spirituality, religious practices and rituals à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢a deep-seated belief in living in harmony with the Earth and all other creatures Traditional strengths have sheltered some Aboriginal communities more than others. It is possible that these protective factors could be called upon to promote and assist the healing that is so needed today both within Aboriginal Communities and in Canadian society at large. Aboriginal people tend to consider mental wellness holistically. Good mental health means being in balance with family, community and the natural environment. Family and community have an important role in helping individuals regain their sense of balance. Therefore strong families and communities also promote resilience in Aboriginal communities. Why is it important to address mental health and substance use problems in Aboriginal populations? Social responsibility It is said that the measure of a civilized society is how it treats its most vulnerable citizens. Many Aboriginals are vulnerable and treated poorly. Canadian society needs to find ways to connect with all people who are struggling and help them overcome issues that challenge families and communities. At the same time, society must recognize that lasting healing for Aboriginal populations must come from within. Many of the difficulties Aboriginal people face today are a result of the contempt that was shown for their culture and identity in the past. Therefore, it is very important that healing processes for Aboriginal communities draw on and support the resilience embedded in traditional Aboriginal culture. Economics Canadas Aboriginal population is relatively small compared to the general population. Yet the problems and difficulties Aboriginals face are extreme, resulting in great expense to the whole country. A disproportionate number of Aboriginal people live in poverty, are homeless, or lack appropriate education. First Nations people experience more challenges related to FASD, trauma and other developmental factors. A disproportionate number of Aboriginals are incarcerated or involved with the justice system. High rates of mental problems and substance use among Aboriginals strain the health care system. All of these imbalances taken together with poor health, loss of productivity, lack of social cohesion and other problems add up to significant economic cost to society. A HEALTHIER FUTURE Aboriginal populations have unique patterns and consequences of mental illness and substance use. In order to address these, a wide range of cultural, environmental and historical factors must be considered. It is now widely accepted that psychosocial factors play an important role in individual and social development. A call has been made for the recognition of the influence of culture on health as well. When considering the substance use and mental health issues of Aboriginal people, it is important to acknowledge that Western culture has its own difficulties in these areas. Therefore the Western model may not be appropriate for Aboriginals. In addition, the influence of modern-day Western culture on Aboriginal populations may be seen as the root of some on-going substance use problems in these communities. It may be that taking part in the journey as Aboriginals rediscover and strengthen their communities based on certain traditional practices could actually help mainstream society to understand the importance of practices like connectedness and reconciliation in healing. This could help the general population to better deal with its own mental health and substance use problems. Adopt a culturally appropriate attitude Lessons from the work that has been done in healing related to residential schools should be remembered and used in the context of healing in Aboriginal communities. Some of the key findings in research done by the Aboriginal Healing Foundation (AHF) around the healing from the legacy of residential schooling include: 1. Community healing is connected to individual healing. Rebuilding family and community support networks will help stabilize the healing of individuals have experienced childhood trauma and family disruption. 2. Culture is good medicine. Culture-based outreach and healing mediated by survivors, local personnel and Elders has proven successful in reaching individuals who had previously resisted interventions. 3. Resilience in individuals and communities can be tapped. Healthy individuals in distressed communities were found to be good at promoting change. 4. It takes time to heal. AHF funding was limited to a few years, which proved to be enough to get the healing process started in many of the communities where projects were conducted, but not enough to see complete healing. 5. Services must be put in place and kept in place to encourage individual healing and help communities with their healing journeys. Typically, programs are short-term and project- based, but research indicated that services using local capacity and Indigenous knowledge are effective and economical. 6. As individuals and communities heal, the depth and complexity of needs can be seen, creating generating demand for training. Some of the most successful activities conducted to date by the AHF include healing/talking circles, interacting with Elders, one-on-one counseling, and participating in ceremonies. Support sex education and contraception for teens If Aboriginal youth are not educated by their parents or schools, they learn about puberty, sex and relationships through their friends and the media. Education should be provided by both Elders and young First Nations role models who youth can relate to and trust. Many Aboriginal communities are isolated. This means that youth must travel to get to clinics for information, contraception, and counseling. Health services should be provided within communities and they must be confidential. Teens must feel sure that their use of such services will not result in labeling or negative judgment by others. Advocate for targeted, culturally relevant programs All programs that serve Aboriginal people should include screening for substance use and mental disorders. They should also target the communities most vulnerable citizens, like children and young women. Parent-education and family-support programs that are culturally sensitive could help lower violence and problem substance use. Programs for pregnant teens could feature cultural myths and be developed to focus on FASD prevention strategies. (Some studies show that Aboriginal youth are more likely to pay attention to cultural myths about the effects of eating strawberries or crabs during pregnancy than to avoid using drugs and alcohol. Adapting cultural myths to include warnings about drinking alcohol during pregnancy may help to reduce the risky behavior of pregnant teens.) We owe the Aboriginal peoples a debt that is four centuries old. It is their turn to become full partners in developing an even greater Canada. And the reconciliation required may be less a matter of legal texts than of attitudes of the heart. (http://www.searchquotes.com/search/Aboriginal_People/)