Time Capsule: The Renaissance and the Age of Baroque Essay

The European Renaissance was a time of cultural transition in Europe from a society rooted in religious focus and compliance to humanism and artistic expression. Although the majority of Europe remained loyal to the Papacy and Catholicism, the Renaissance brought about scholars that encouraged human artistic expression and self-fulfillment. Prior to the Renaissance, devout Catholics led simple lifestyles, with few amenities or luxuries. They believed worldly pleasures were offensive to God. Renaissance Humanists did not believe this to be true. They encouraged the enjoyment of music and other forms of art, well prepared foods, and the pursuit of a more secular lifestyle (Fiero, 2011). The Age of Baroque, meaning irregular shaped pearl, which took place from 1550 to 1750, was an era filled with much scientific and technological exploration and discovery, as well as a reformation of the Catholic Church (Fiero, 2011). The advent of Protestantism brought about a great deal of religious t urmoil throughout Europe, which led to The Catholic Reformation. Throughout history, religion influenced the arts, architecture, and philosophy, but The Age of Baroque brought about more human creativity filled with grandiosity and elaborate design. Time Capsules Cultural Anthropologists have made many extraordinary discoveries throughout history. Many of these discoveries are emblematic of the contents that might comprise time capsules from various periods of recorded human history. Although various forms of art, philosophy, and literature were produced during each era, there are distinct differences between the ordinary and those that represent or capture the essence of each respective period. With regard to the arts, philosophy, and literature, The Renaissance and The Age of Baroque share similarities, but also exemplify the effects of humanism and how The Humanities influenced change from one period to the next. The Renaissance Art and architecture. As Italy was the birthplace of the Renaissance, Italian art seems an appropriate choice for Renaissance art to be placed in a time capsule, but Jan van Eyck’s painting â€Å"The Virgin of Chancellor Rolin† stands out among Renaissance paintings. The columns in the painting reflect classical influence, while the scenery beyond the columns is indicative of  linear perspective painting. It also captures the artist’s reverence for religion without disregarding Chancellor Rolin’s status. Van Eyck also uses detail in the piece to enhance the portrait’s aesthetics. Leonardo Da Vinci’s â€Å"Embryo in the Womb† reflects the joining of artistic expression with scientific depiction, which became increasingly relevant during the Renaissance. Music also changed significantly during the Renaissance. It became more secular and geared toward human enjoyment, rather than religion. A very popular type of vernacular song during t he sixteenth century was the Madrigal, which was a type of song suited for three to six voices. â€Å"Matona mia cara† (â€Å"My lady, my beloved†) was a very popular among Madrigals (www.allmusic.com, 2013). Flemish composer, Ronald de Lassus, composed this song at the age of 18, and went on to compose more than 2000 songs, 200 of which were madrigals. Architecture of the Renaissance was nothing short of remarkable. The architects of the era, with their limited resources and capabilities found ways to produce miraculous structures that are difficult to fathom even by today’s standards. Such a design is the dome atop St. Peter’s Basilica, the design of which was initially contrived by Michelangelo Buonaratti. Although he died before the completion of the Church, he is credited with the design. The discovery of such a design in a time capsule would likely be venerated and studied with amazement. Philosophy. Among Renaissance philosophers Francis Bacon, an English philosopher, is one of the most famous of his time. His works as a philosopher in the field of scientific methodology was instrumental during the transition from The Renaissance to the early modern era (Plato.stanfor d.edu, 2012). To have deprived the world of Bacon’s writings on his â€Å"Theory of Idols and the System of Sciences† (Plato.stanford.edu, 2012) may have left a crucial piece of philosophical fabric from his era, and upon which to continue to build, but it certainly would have been fascinating to compare his writings to similar works upon discovery. Literature. Literature and the distribution of literature made enormous stride and advancements during the Renaissance, due in large part to the invention of the printing press. Many of the great literary works leading up to the Renaissance were very limited in distribution and availability, as they were mostly written by hand and rarely widely distributed or made available to commoners. The printing press made an immediate impact on the  availability of literature. One of the most influential of writers of the Renaissance was Niccolo†² Machiavelli. His work, â€Å"The Prince† advocated the necessity of strong rule and the s elective exemption of morality for the greater good as justification for perceived evils or transgressions. The Age of Baroque Art and architecture. The Age of Baroque was filled with many incredibly talented artists. Among them was an artist by the name Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, not to be confused with Michelangelo Bounarroti, who is famous for painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Caravaggio was one of Italy’s most active and distinguished painters of the early seventeenth century. One of his most notable works was â€Å"The Crucifixion of Saint Peter†. It is a remarkably detailed piece that captures the strength and vulnerability of Saint Peter (Fiero, 2011). Artemisia Gentileschi was a female follower of Caravaggio, and an extremely talented painter. Although, as a woman, she was not permitted to use nude male models, she did not allow her artistic prowess to be suppressed. An example of her work is â€Å"Judith Slaying Holofernes†. It is incredibly graphic and powerful, as it illustrates the beheading of an Assyrian General by a widow (Fiero, 2011). This would be a we lcome addition to a time capsule, and would likely draw many interpretations. The Age of Baroque brought about the birth of opera, which is a style of entertainment, much like many other forms of art, that originated from Italy. It combined music with theatrical performance to fulfill multiple entertainment appetites simultaneously. â€Å"Orfeo†, which was composed by Monteverdi in 1607 was one of the first operas ever composed, and would serve as a fitting representation of music from the Age of Baroque. Architecture was also very prominent and influential during the Age of Baroque. The Palace of Versailles, at the time of its construction, possibly the largest residence in the world, is a marvel of architecture. The detail and magnitude of The Palace of Versailles is nearly unimaginable. This is yet another great work of the Age of Baroque that would likely influence architecture of any age. Literature and philosophy. Baroque philosophy seemed to be inseparable from Baroque literature. As European society continued to advance, and benefit from the printing press, philosophers wrote with more creativity and metaphors, as if to combine the  two arts. Axioms and allegory became a staple of Baroque writing (www.newworldencyclopedia.org, 2013), which seemed to provide perspective for the reader, as well as thought provoking reflection; often with no right or wrong interpretation, but rather an open-ended finish, to be concluded by the audience. Although the works of William Shakespeare are not regarded as great philosophical works, he is arguably the greatest writer, not only of the Age of Baroque, but of all time. He was a creative genius that wrote with a great deal of philosophical meaning. Any of his works would be an priceless addition to any time capsule. Conclusion The Renaissance and The Age of Baroque are extraordinarily influential time periods in the history of not only the west, but the world. The advancement of human intelligence and technology is absolutely astounding. The two periods works of art and creative expression continue to shape the modern world and serve as the standard for The Humanities. To fill a speculative time capsule seems almost impossible, as the options for the selection of creative genius are too numerous to count. References Fiero, G. K. (2011). The Humanistic Tradition (6th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw Hill. Plato.stanford.edu. (2012, December). Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved from http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/francis-bacon/ www.allmusic.com. (2013, May). Orlande de Lassus. Retrieved from http://www.allmusic.com/composition/matona-mia-cara-villanelle-for-4-voices-s-x-93-mc0002361487 www.newworldencyclopedia.org. (2013, May). New World Encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Baroque_period

Native American Medicine Essay

The medical cures and healing traditions used by the Native Americans are rather interesting and different compared to modern day Anglo Saxon cures. Native Americans, using their basis of ideas and beliefs, have developed a general idea of naturalistic cures and healing processes. Although the cures and healing processes are much different than Anglo Saxon ideas of curing and healing, the Native American processes tend to work well and even better than many Anglo Saxon cures. Native American medical and healing beliefs and processes are generally based on a more natural curing or purification process than the processes of modern day Anglo Saxons. Many Native American healing processes have been practiced for around 40,000 years. Different Native American healing traditions have appeared to share roots with different cultures, such as ancient Chinese traditions. Although many of the Native American healing traditions appear to share roots with ancient Chinese traditions, the greatest influence on Native American healing is the environment in which they have lived. The different plants and animals around them influenced their healing practices to be all natural. Another influence on their healing practices was other tribes. The migration of tribes around them allowed the tribes to share their knowledge of natural cures. Trade was also very helpful in Native American healing practices because many of the natural remedies required herbs from surrounding environments or long distances, and being able to trade with traveling tribes saved much travel time and risk. Although Native American healing practices have proven to be successful, a lot of their traditions have been lost. Many of the practices were driven underground and lost because they became banned or illegal in many parts of the United States. After 1978, the American Indian Religious Freedom Act was passed, and the Native Americans were once again allowed to practice their healing traditions. The long gap without practicing certain healing processes resulted in the loss of many of their practices, however. Even today, there are still difficulties with Native Americans being allowed to perform different ceremonies and rituals because the land serves other purposes. (www.cancer.org). Native Americans have successfully lived for many years by using their own idea of natural cures and purification. Native American healing is a broad term that includes different healing beliefs and practices of hundreds of indigenous tribes or North America. It combines religion, spirituality, herbal medicine uses, and purification rituals that are used to treat the indigenous people either medically, emotionally, or behaviorally. According to Lakota Sioux, the basis of natural beliefs and connections comes from the story of the white buffalo. The story begins with a woman appearing during the time of famine. She was wearing a white buffalo skin and carrying a sacred pipe. After appearing to the tribe, she explained to them that the wooden stem was for the trees and everything growing on earth. Her red bowl was to symbolize the flesh and blood of all people and the smoke was the breath of their prayers going to Wakan Tanka, the creator. The woman then presented the pipe ceremony to the tribe, which included offerings made to the four directions while drums were played and sacred songs were sung. The people then began to understand the connection between sky and earth and the unity of all life. Before leaving, the woman said she would return when the time was right and turned into a buffalo, changing colors several times. Finally, she became a white buffalo calf and disappeared. The people followed her teachings and were no longer hungry. Years later, a white buffalo calf, very rare, appeared and changed colors throughout its life. The calf is believed to be the woman. (www.native-americans-online.com). Through this story, many indigenous tribes have believed nature to be the cures and purifications needed for the soul to become whole. There are many types of Native American healing practices, and they are promoted to help with a variety of ills. Some of the most common aspects of Native American healing include the use of herbal remedies, purifying rituals, shamanism, and symbolic healing rituals to treat illnesses of both the body and spirit. Herbal remedies are used to treat many physical conditions. Practitioners use purifying rituals to cleanse the body and prepare the person for healing. Shamanism is based on the idea that spirits cause illness, and a Native American healer called a shaman focuses on using spiritual healing powers to treat people. Symbolic healing rituals, which can involve family and friends of the sick person, are used to invoke the spirits to help heal the sick person. (www.cancer.org). The Native American belief in spirituality caused the Native Americans to believe that diseases are caused by an object piercing the soul through sorcery. A disease can also be believed to be the complete absence of a free soul. Their naturalistic beliefs allowed them to believe that even diseases are considered natural occurrences, and because they occur naturally, they can be cured naturally as well. By using natural remedies, â€Å"medicine men† attempted to cure diseases that have invaded tribal villages. Natural remedies used by the medicine men included different concoctions of plants, fungi, or animals that could be eaten or rubbed on a certain area of the body to cure the illness. Before Europeans invaded Native American land, Native Americans had not had an extreme amount of experience in the treatment of disease. However, after the Europeans invaded their land, they (the Europeans) brought many diseases with them. Some of the deadly diseases included smallpox, measles, scarlet fever, typhoid, influenza, and pertussis or whooping cough. At the first sign of the diseases, the indigenous people continued trying their natural remedies, but after many failed attempts at curing the diseases, the people would often avoid the sick and leave them to die because they believed that evil spirits had taken over their soul. With the Europeans bringing many diseases to the indigenous land, the indigenous people believed the Europeans to be evil spirited and deadly. The many diseases brought by the Europeans caused a major Native American depopulation. In order to try to cure these diseases or other illnesses, Native Americans relied on the use of what they referred to as t he â€Å"medicine man† or â€Å"healer†. The medicine man was very well educated on the surrounding nature and knew what natural remedy would cure the illness. Often times, the medicine man would have to travel to other lands in order to find a certain plant or a fungus that was needed in the remedy. Medicine men were very effective at curing illnesses because of the knowledge they had of nature. Not only did the Native Americans use natural remedies to cure illness, but they also used natural purification processes in order to purify or cleanse their soul in an emotional healing process. The purifying ritual is a ceremony known as a sweat lodge, where the indigenous people would sit in extreme temperatures and sweat out the evil in them which allowed them to be cleansed. To begin the sweat lodge process, one must offer a pouch of tobacco to the medicine man. The tobacco is used to represent the spirit of the person presenting it. By offering the tobacco to the medicine man, one is asking him to work on their behalf in the spiritual world. When presenting the tobacco, one would also bring forth their specific desire such as an alcohol or drug problem. The sweat lodge process begins with the passing of what are known as tobacco ties. Many tobacco ties are hung around inside the sweat lodge and each tobacco tie represents a prayer. The four sacred herbs, sage, sweet grass, cedar, and tobacco, are used in order to help purify the room and allow the spirits to work. Then rocks, primarily lava stones from volcanoes, are heated using a fire until they are white hot. Once the rocks are white hot, they are brought into the lodge in order to begin the sweating process. To keep the rocks hot, water is poured onto them making an immense amount of steam and heating the lodge. Now that the purification process has finally begun, everyone sits in a circle and goes around, one person at a time, offering prayers. After all prayers have been given, the medicine man blends them all together in a mystical process altering the state of mind to something beyond the physical form. This is where the real healing takes place. As the purification process comes to a conclusion, a new ceremony known as wopela begins. Wopela is simply giving thanks. All participants bring in gifts for the medicine man in order to thank him for leading them through the purification process. The medicine man begins a prayerful state and takes the prayer ties and sets them up in the north end of the center. This allows the prayers to be carried to the Great Spirit in a good way. The medicine man then blows out the candles the lodge becomes pitch dark. Another emotional healing strategy is the use of the medicine wheel. The medicine wheel was an important transformation in the process of Native American tribes realizing that they are much different from each other. Basically, the medicine wheel was a sheet decorated in special symbols, colors, or stones that allowed others know about the inhabitants of the tribe. One was placed in front of every tepee or hut to notify others of that individual’s strengths and weaknesses. By doing so, each individual had their own guidelines to follow for personal growth by realizing what one needed to learn and what one needed to teach. After many generations, the people began to lose the concept of blame and anger upon others. One tribe member from Arizona states â€Å"If I said to you, ‘Does anyone ever make you angry?’ you would say yes. But in reality, this is totally impossible. You choose to be angry by the way you process the event. This is something you were taught to d o as a child. If you could imagine not one person in all of New York City having the concept of anger, that’s what it was like during that time period of no wars before the white man came.†(www.native-americans-online.com). By placing a simple wheel outside their homes, the Native Americans began to learn to cope with their anger and not place blame upon others. This shows a strong cultural emotional healing process because it rid the tribes of anger and blame on others. Indigenous people also believed in psychiatric healing beliefs by altering their state of mind. They were able to alter their state of mind through events such as drumming and chanting rituals, Salish spirit dancing, and visual stimuli. All processes were used in order to calm down an individual. The drumming or chanting of rituals acted as a concentration device to its listeners. A constant beat or pattern would reduce the tendency of the mind to wander. It would also enter the brain wave patterns and sometimes the subjects’ brainwaves would change to match the frequency of the drumming or beating. As for the altered states produced in the Salish Spirit Dance, the sensory stimulation would release neuro-endocrine opiod agents that would produce a peak experience during that dance performance. It is quite obvious that the healing processes of the indigenous people vary greatly from the healing processes of modern day Anglo Saxons. For example, in seeking a cure, Anglo Saxons search for a man made discovery to lead to a cure where as the indigenous people rely on nature for their cures. Although the Anglo Saxon solutions are very effective, the natural remedies also work and are less harmful. All Anglo Saxon cures provide quick solutions but at the risk of side effects which are not present in natural remedies. One belief of the indigenous people was that the illness was caused by nature, so nature can cure the illness. Another difference in Anglo Saxon healing processes is emotional or psychiatric healing. Anglo Saxon traditions in emotional healing include the use of a therapist or other person to talk to in order to solve the problem. The indigenous people use a similar cure, except they seek a higher cure such as the sweat lodge in order to be in contact with the spirit world. Anglo Saxons also place blame and problems on others in an attempt to relieve themselves of the pressure or danger of events. The indigenous people however, do not like to place blame on others, but on themselves. The indigenous people begin looking for a cure inside oneself in order to fix the problem. Although many rituals and healing processes of the indigenous people are much different than the processes of the modern day Anglo Saxons, the processes of the indigenous people have proven to work effectively in curing the illness. Their belief in having a pure soul contributes to the rituals they perform in order to heal. Both Anglo Saxon and Native American healing processes have been proven effective, with the difference being the focus of the solution. Native American medical and healing beliefs and processes are generally based on a more natural curing or purification process than the processes of modern day Anglo Saxons. Sources Used http://muwww-new.marshall.edu/jrcp/VE13%20N1/jrcp%2013%201%20thomason.pdf http://www.native-americans-online.com/index.html http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/mindbodyandspirit/native-american-healing

American Education Is Better Than Chinese

Online Education Online education has a lot of benefits to get a credit or a degree for the college students. There is a lot of uniqueness of online education, which are flexibility of timing and providing a comfortable environment and so on. Most of college students are working (Kingkade, 2013). It means that their time is pretty much limited, so the flexible timing online classes are really helpful to progress their education (Open Education Database, 2012). And also online education might give†¦ models which are Chinese education and American education. Some people have the same experience around me are often used to compare these two educational models. Then I am prepared to express my views from my personal experience. In china, many people think that American education is more developed than Chinese Education, because American education is more freedom and more emphasis on integrated education. Although these are the advantages of American Education, Chinese education still has unique†¦ Reading this book was an enriching experience. I had initially thought that the West was generally better than the East because westerners would have learned from prior experiences, such as the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and the slavery. Prior to reading this book, I was infused with the idea that westward expansion was one of the greatest occurrences in America’s history. After finishing this book, however, I realized that although the West significantly contributed to America’s history,†¦ helps us decide what is important and what is not, what we have time for and what we do not. However, having too much order can lead to too much focus on planning rather than on the experience. There is one thing everyone has to have order in their lives to achieve: the American Dream. The American Dream of living fuller and better than before can only be achieved through three parts: reaching financial stability, maintaining healthy relationships, and having financial mobility. Steve Jobs had some of†¦ desegregated Chinese public schools, and reassigned students to other schools. At the time, Asian parents protested the move, because in the Asian schools, students could learn about their cultural heritage. The early 70s built on the political gains from the 60s with the election of Norman Minetta as mayor of San Jose, California, and Marion Lacadia Obera became the first Filipina American to be appointed judge to the Los Angeles bench. In 1974, March Fong Eu became the first Asian American woman ever†¦ I am a student who comes from China, so I observed Chinese education and American education. During this time, I found the differences and similarities between Chinese and American college are how the relationship between students and instructors determines the classroom environment, exam, tuition and the activities in our spare time. The relationship between students and instructors determines the classroom environment. In China, teaching in the classroom is the most respected career. Students†¦ Taking Good Action in Different Societies Obviously, I am more of a Chinese than an American, but since I spent most of my past five years in a high school in Alabama, I understand a lot more about Alabaman society than about Chinese society. Therefore, it is no surprise that every time, when I return to Shenzhen, China, for summer holiday, I will be surprised by almost everything. I believe this is due to both the rapid development of this young city and of myself toward maturity, which enables†¦ Today, education is an essential part of life. Education is seen by many cultures as the single most influential factor to success. The country with the largest population in the world, China, has a culture that sees the great importance of education. Many Chinese families decide that the best way to get education for their children is to pack up and move to a new country, like the United States. The availability of education to all in America is one of the main allures to Chinese immigrants. The†¦ believe that the development of education is very fast. Moreover, education became the most important thing people must get, if they want to get a job opportunity in this globalization era. However, what is the meaning of education? It is â€Å"the knowledge or skill obtained or developed by a learning process† (The Free Dictionary, 2014). People can get an education wherever and whenever they are such as family or school education. As we know, the highest level of education in the school followed by people†¦ For decades now people have been saying that the U.S. education isn’t good enough; it is continuing to fall lower and lower, but who is blaming the education system, the government, to take away from the â€Å"bigger picture†. American government needs to stop blaming one group of people, and hold everyone in America at fault for what is happening in the global market; it unmotivates the people by blaming the workers it makes them want to work less, the same goes for students if a teacher fails to hold†¦

Progress Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Progress Assignment - Essay Example NGOs can be broadly categorized into two categories namely operational NGO which is mainly concerned with the formulation and implementation of issues related to development and advocacy NGO aims at defending as well as advocating for specific concerns. Examples of operational NGOs include Explosive Ordinance Demolition (EOD) while advocacy NGO includes Medical San-Frontier (MSF). The main functions of IGO include promotion of good international dealings, forging great international cooperation and coordination among member states, enhancement as well as upholding of human rights and social growth and finally offering of humanitarian assistance in events of crisis and natural calamities. The functions of NGOs include laying emphasis on humanitarian related matters, enlargement of development assistance and ensuring development that is sustainable over a long period of time in all aspects. The tragedy of the commons relates a theory in the field of economics that was put forward by Garreth Hardin which argues that individuals tend to act rationally and independently through consideration of their own personal interests. In this case individual behavior supersedes that of the general belief or the opinion of the masses. It is an economic theory that argues that commonly shared resources can be depleted by the self-centered nature of individuals. The term commons relates to the resources that are shared among several people such as the environment, natural resources and artificial shared items. The theory has attracted several criticisms on the ground of its lack of historical accuracy as well as failing to make a clear-cut distinction between common property resources and the openly accessible resources. The theory which further advocates for privatization of public resources is seen as an overrated view that lacks credibility and actual applicability. Human rights is defined as a set of moral as

Reasearch proprosal Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Reasearch proprosal - Coursework Example The experimenter will read journals and check databases for previous research in this area. Case studies specific to Montserratian immigrants will be looked at. There will be looking in depth, at the areas these immigrants dominated and changes that has occurred overtime in these regions. Statistical evidence will be explored to determine the number of Montserratians residing in England in comparison to 1995 as a result of the volcanic eruption. A survey and semi-formal interviews will also be carried out with immigrants in order to test this hypothesis. On completion there should be an understanding if there is a profound change in the areas immigrants occupied. These changes could be political, social or economical. Census and crime statistics data will provide an adequate rationale to support the hypothesis. Considerable research has been conducted referencing environmental disasters and migration of people from danger zones to safer locations internationally. In 1995, the island of Montserrat experienced a devastating volcanic eruption. As T. H. Druitt and B. P. Kokelaar write, â€Å"About half of this emerald Isle was rendered barren and uninhabitable, almost two-thirds of the original population had to leave, and 19 lives were lost, all as a direct result of the volcanic activity.† (Druitt & Kokelaar, 2002) This research project seeks to further investigate the effect of this natural disaster on migration of people from the island of Montserrat in the period after the volcanic eruption. The methodology for this research will include quantitative approaches based in statistics from the UK Migration database as well as qualitative research drawn from interviews with Montserrat islanders. This case study should be of value for reference within the larger body of research related to migration patterns following natural disasters. Research on the migration patterns that follow natural disasters is important for social planning,

Critically examine the contribution made by the trust to the following Essay

Critically examine the contribution made by the trust to the following areas of law Charities. (be aware if you chose this topic of the Charities Act 2006.) - Essay Example If ever a piece f legislation should have been an exemplar f parliamentary best practice it is this. There was the equivalent f a White Paper (a strategy unit report); this was then subject to extensive consultation before a Bill was considered by the Joint Scrutiny Committee f the Lords and Commons. The Government responded and issued an amended Bill that was discussed at length in the Lords. After the last election this Bill was reintroduced and subject to further scrutiny in the Lords and then the Commons. (Jobome 2006, 43-59) After all this do we have a magnificent piece f legislation Hardly. It is a useful technical Bill that introduces reforms, making the Charity Commission a body corporate with a larger board and an independent chairman; a charity tribunal to enable the commission's decisions to be more easily challenged; a range f innovations to facilitate greater accountability f charities; easing restrictions on mergers as well as updating old-fashioned constitutions and a long-overdue overhaul f the law relating to public charitable collections. The real innovation is the definition f charity. Since 1601 the meaning has developed through case law. Those established that charities have to relieve poverty, advance religion, advance education or other purposes beneficial to the community. This last category was a catch-all that allowed flexible development f the law. Hence it encompassed organisations concerned with health, the environment, human rights, the arts and a variety f other causes. This portmanteau has been unpicked and there are now 13 charitable purposes listed: the original four plus nine others, some f which, such as the advancement f amateur sport, are slightly different from the past. The big change was supposed to be about public benefit. For religious, poverty and educational charities it has been assumed that they delivered public benefit unless the contrary was proven. Hence this covered independent schools and hospitals and all religious groups from churches to sects. Only charities with purposes beneficial to the community had to prove that they delivered public benefit. The Act changes this. It requires all charities to demonstrate that they deliver public benefit. Yet having gone so far the Government bottled out. It refused to define what public benefit means. It has left it to the Charity Commission2 to do this, based on the existing case law. That case law is, to put it mildly, problematic. The leading case endorses the status quo, where a school or hospital can claim charitable status if it saves the taxpayer money or provides extra facilities unavailable in the state sector. The Charity Commission has announced that there will be public consultation about what public benefit means, and this will be guided by a group chaired by Professor Albert Weale3, f Essex University. This saga demonstrates the constitutional crises affecting the UK Parliament and, in particular, dilution f the doctrine f separation f powers by this and previous governments. Here is a key topic -public benefit -with wide social ramifications that the

Population Sustainabiltiy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Population Sustainabiltiy - Essay Example At this current rate, the world is quickly becoming overcrowded, a fear that many countries are trying to handle before it is too late. There are a number of negative impacts that are brought on by human overpopulation. The greatest of these impacts is that human overpopulation is causing a quicker depletion of resources. In countries that are already overcrowded, some natural resources are harder to come by and difficult to accommodate everyone. Career and educational opportunities are also scarce as everyone attempts to obtain them. Overpopulation also leads to a rise in poverty and homelessness as Earth runs out of space to contain everybody. Overpopulation of humans gradually comes to a point where there is not enough of anything for everybody. As a whole, the world is facing an overpopulation of human beings. The amount of babies being born is significantly greater than the amount of people dying; the correlation between the two is almost nonexistent. Nevertheless, there are som e countries that are facing an opposite condition: a drastic decline in the overall number of people. Among them are Germany and Italy, countries that face very low birth rates and an aging population. There is a continuous decline in their population. Because of this decline, these countries stand a better chance at achieving a sustainable society. A sustainable society is defined by the ability to maintain a society that can progress without devastating setbacks in the near future (Chapman, 2000). They have less people to accommodate, and therefore need less. However, having a smaller population is only the beginning. There are policies that countries like Germany and Italy can follow to ensure a sustainable society. One such policy is to strengthen the ethics of caring for the community, which would require sharing the benefits and cost of resource use and environmental conservation. If development is managed, threats toward the survival of other species and habitats is eliminate d. Another policy is to grow economically; given the current recession, it is easy to see how economic failure can effect the possibility of a sustainable society. Job availability is rare, making it difficult for people to survive. A third policy is to minimize the depletion of finite resources by using less of them and finding infinite alternatives. There are some downfalls that come with underpopulation as with overpopulation. With underpopulation comes an abundant amount of resources. This may seem like a benefit, but resources need to be paid for. If a society lacks the people to pay for the resources that they need, it becomes difficult to maintain the resources (Zuckerman, 1996). In this case, too much is not a good thing; less is more. Countries like Germany and Italy may be set for a while, but resources will eventually become unaffordable, and the towns and cities risk dying out. Were it not for immigration and migration, which helps boost economies, cities in these countr ies would cease to exist. References Chapman, A. R. (2000). Consumption, population, and sustainability. Washington, D.C.: Island Press. Dobkowski, M. N. (2011). On the edge of scarcity (2nd ed.). Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press. Zuckerman, B. (1996). Human population and the environmental crisis. Boston: Jones & Bartlett

Bank of Americas Problem Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6000 words

Bank of Americas Problem - Research Paper Example The bank spent billions of dollars in a bid to solve the issues Countrywide was involved in but almost four years later, the problems still persist and BAC has not been as profitable as it was before it acquired Countrywide. The reason has remained controversial about the failure of the bank’s performance soon after the acquisition and on the basis of this controversial issue; this paper has been decided to be taken up. Countrywide has been selectively considered as the most influencing fact towards the failure of the bank which is evident from various articles searched for during the making up of this paper. Various charts consisting of figures related to the downfall in the bank’s performance after acquiring Countrywide have been incorporated in this paper so that a comprehensive notion of the entire fact can be derived. The aim of this paper has been set with respect to resolving the present problematic situation of the bank pertaining to its merging with Countrywide during the year 2008.   Bank of America Position Bank of America (BAC) prides itself in its position and the role it plays in serving households, businesses, individuals and families to grow and succeed as a way of fuelling the economy. The bank upholds high standards of corporate governance and ethical conduct as a way of demonstrating its commitment. BAC is the biggest US lender in terms of assets and has about 13.9 million mortgages half of which are marred by controversy and are in the process of being segregated into good and bad. The effort to perform mortgage segregation on the part of BAC is aimed at staving off lawsuits arising from Countrywide mortgages (Plunkett, â€Å"Mortgages and Credit Industry Almanac†). BAC works with the belief of holding strength and rebuilding strength on failure each time. The recreation of strength after failure or even sustenance of strengths is undertaken by the bank mainly through concentration on key goals of the corporationâ€⠄¢s performance. The goals are obviously set according to the vision of the corporation and the strategies laid down by it for reaching to the vision in the long term. On this note, the vision statement of BAC is to evolve as the best company in the segment of financial services within the world. BAC holds the belief that the bank has its entire resources set for achieving the long-term goal in the form of vision. The vision is deemed to be also achievable by the bank based on the capabilities that it holds. The bank believes that the capabilities of the bank are efficient enough for meeting the financial requirements of the clients and the consumers. These capabilities are believed to be taking the bank near to the vision it has set for the future (Bank of America, â€Å"Annual Report 2010†). For the purpose of fulfilling its long-term vision, the bank concentrates heavily on its mission which is evident from the banks’ follow up of certain strategies.  

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

Communication - Essay Example Atufunwa (2009) explains that growth of a company must be followed by implementation of more elaborate and effective communication systems. This is due to the fact that growth leads to more information needs and thus collaboration of company units must be practiced through effective communication so that subsystems can be allowed to work towards a common goal and mission. DeSanctis and Jackson (1994, p. 85) point out that effective communication is a business strategy which helps organizations to be more competitive in the market. This is illustrated by the hiring of specialist managers by the executives of HS Engineering to coordinate the operations of the company. This was motivated by the need to ensure that the relocation of the company activities does not impact negatively on their coordination through communication. The company needs to beat its competitors from the Far East and as a result, plans for collaboration and coordination have been prioritized. Harrison (2005) emphasi zes that proper communication within an internationalized company is specifically significant for the management of the company because of the complexity in company control which emanate from expansion. Moreover, it is through proper communication that executives are able to monitor and evaluate the activities of its branches of subsidiaries to ensure that they operate according to the policies and culture of the company. According to Sanchez and McCann (2005, p. 11), bureaucracy is one of the greatest barriers of effective communication within a company. Bureaucracy in HS Engineering is demonstrated by the hierarchical organization structure which is characterized by a slowed decision making process especially for the factory operations in Leeds. Harrison (2005) adds that the problem with bureaucracy is that there is limited communication between the subordinates and the top management because decisions have to be approved in stages. This process causes an ineffective and inefficie nt communication process within a company or organization. In the HS Engineering case, the large number of middle level managers reveals a slowed communication process. A slowed communication process within a company demonstrates that feedback takes a long process and time to be attained and thus execution of operations is slowed significantly. Such a situation would in return lead to reduced productivity in production. To overcome problems which emanate from poor communication, employees must be motivated. Michalski (2000, p. 85) reveals that employee motivation is achieved by involving them in company decisions. It is through transformational approach to leadership and management that employees can be involved in decision making McGoon (1996, p. 30). The closure of Wolverhampton and Oldham factories by HS Engineering without involving the employees illustrates how executive decisions would kill the morale of employees. Transformational approach to leadership enables executives to open a two way communication with employees and thus encourage collaboration between the management and subordinates especially in sharing creative ideas (Berzok, 1993). Moreover, a democratic approach in management allows employees to be more communicative about their needs and thus allow the management to include the desires of their subordinates in decision making. This will eventually lead

Why my family is important Essay Example for Free

Why my family is important Essay Together with family, household is considered one of the basic groups of social aggregation. Information on household numbers and composition aids in identifying groups within the population such as Indigenous households or the number of people living alone. For the Commonwealth-State Housing Agreement (CSHA) data collections, the number of tenancy agreements is a practical proxy for calculating the number of households receiving housing assistance. The persons in the group may pool their incomes and have a common budget to a greater or lesser extent: they may be related or unrelated persons, or a combination of both. Only usual residents of the household are included as members of the household. Visitors to a household are, by definition, excluded from the household. Blood is always thicker than water. I learnt that phrase when I was much younger, but I never appreciated it until now. My brother was the only one who stood by me when I was being bullied in school at one time. He saw me cornered by a boy whom he knew to be a school bully and he did not wait a second more before stepping in to prevent me from being beaten by that boy. Once I quarrelled with my best friend, who was popular and everyone else was against me for quarrelling with him. My parents consoled me and encouraged me to be happier. They gave me the sound advice of believing in myself. I cannot thank them enough for the support that they have given me so far. My parents are also responsible for my love of learning in life. They make me feel intelligent and well-loved. I know that I am someone important to them. My family will always be there for me while friends are transient. After so many experiences with friends, I realise that I can always choose my friends. It also takes a long time to find a sincere and true friend. With family, it is different because my family cares for me no matter what happens. My brother and I may have our differences but we always manage to make matters work somehow.

Aristotles Politics Analysis

Aristotles Politics Analysis The Greek philosopher Aristotle (384-322 B.C.) was one of the most important Western philosophers in ancient times. He contributed to nearly every aspect of human knowledge and society, especially in the field of politics. Aristotle even wrote an entire book called Politics. I found the full English-translated version of Aristotles Politics through Fordham Universitys The Ancient History Sourcebook in the Greek subgenre of Philosophy (http://legacy.fordham.edu/Halsall/ancient/asbook07.asp#Philosophy). Politics is a comprehensive examination of the origins and structure of Greek society. Like the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt, Aristotles perspective on politics is deeply-rooted in the city-state, or polis as the Greeks call it. In a polis, all citizens in a Greek city-state hold a functioning role in government. Young citizens would serve in the military, middle-aged citizens would govern, and older citizens took care of religious affairs. Newsome High Schools English Department adds on stating that Since citizenship involves an active role in running the state, a citizen identifies strongly with the city-state to which he belongs, to the point that the Greeks consider exile to be a fate worse than death. Aristotles Politics as well as many other works from ancient Greece were shaped by its cultural and temporal contexts. Religion was present in all areas of ancient Greek life, especially in politics. With religion came stories and myths used to clarify the origins of the world, gods that represented each tangible or intangible aspect of life, and temples which saturated the Greek municipal landscape. These aspects of ancient Greek life allowed for Greek government and society to function and thrive. Aristotle critically analyzes the political infrastructure of ancient Greece in Books IV-VI. Accordingly, a strong middle class prevents corruption and oppression. He goes on to say though it is not necessary to give everyone equal access to public office, it is never wise to exclude entirely any group from power. Aristotle recommends education and inclusiveness in order to preserve a constitution. Aristotle acknowledged that there were three kinds of government, each consisting of two extremes: good and bad or just and unjust, depending on how the ruler leads. When only one person is given the power to rule, the government is considered as a monarchy if the ruler is good or just and a tyranny if the ruler is bad. When a small group of elitists rule, the government is an aristocracy if the rulers are good and an oligarchy if the rulers are bad. When all of the citizens that reside within the city-state rule, a constitution is a polity if they rule well and a democracy if they rule po orly. In general, Politics states that a government is good or just when it benefits all of the citizens residing within the city-state and unjust when it benefits only those in power, whether singular or several. Aristotle also acknowledged that there were three branches of civic government. The first branch of civic government was known as the deliberative. The deliberative branch makes the major political decisions of the city-state. The second branch of civic government was known as the executive branch. The executive branch handles the everyday tasks of the city-state. The third and final branch of civic government was known as the judicial branch. The judicial branch oversees the legal affairs of the city-state. Books VII and VIII refer back to the initial question of how the ideal city-state would appear to be. Surely, such a city would be large enough for self-sufficiency but would also be small enough to ensure fellow feeling. Aristotle notes that a successful city-state should be located by the water to allow for easy sea commerce, which was the easiest and fastest channel of transport that was available back then. Education ensures the well-being of the city-state, which is why Aristotle states his preference of a public program of education as opposed to something like private tutoring. His recommended curriculum consisted of a variety of learning subjects including reading and writing, physical education, music, and drawing. This system of education helped citizens make the most of both work and play, as well as allow the amount of leisure time in which to pursue the good life. Bibliography http://newsome.mysdhc.org/teacher/3171rosselle/Files/Aristotle%20on%20Politics.pdf http://legacy.fordham.edu/Halsall/ancient/aristotle-politics.txt http://www.philosophypages.com/hy/2t.htm http://www.ancientgreece.com/s/Culture/