Bluesky

Please refer interested instructors to TIE for access to the teaching notes. Introduction students have been introduced to revenue management. Have previously assigned the case in advance of class and then spent from 30 minutes to one hour of class time discussing the students' solutions. When using all three cases, have assigned the (A) and (B) Cases in advance of class and asked the students to submit spreadsheets with solutions to both cases before class begins. During the 90- minute class we would devote approximately 40 minutes to discussing the (A) Case, 20 minutes on the (B) Case, and the remaining 30 minutes working through theCase together in class (students are told in advance to bring their laptops to class). Usually ask students to pair up, and I try to match a student with relatively little simulation experience with one who is more comfortable with the material. I tell pairs that the weaker student should be the one with hands on the keyboard. Finally, a note on timing: have used this full plan for Cases (A)-(C) only once, in an elective on service operations management. The schedule was a bit tight and we had to rush the discussion of the spiral-down effect in the (C) Case.In the future may spread the material over more than one class period. These cases focus on the revenue management of a single flight leg with two fare classes and uncertain demand. The (A) Case asks the students to forecast high-fare demand and implement a simple booking's policy. The (B) Case uses simulation to establish booking limits in the presence of buy-up behavior and cancellations. The (C) Case focuses on the spiral-down effect, which occurs when there is a mismatch between the revenue management optimization model and actual customer behavior.This Teach ins Note first describes the logistics for using the cases: the order of the cases, choosing assignments, and the timing of class discussions. Then the note summarizes each case, describes potential solutions, and prov ides guidelines for class discussions. The last section describes technical background, extensions, and additional reference material. The final section may be particularly useful for instructors without a strong background in revenue management as the section or its references may provide answers to students' questions about the implementation of revenue management systems.The final section also explains how the models in this case may be adapted to handle multiple itineraries in an airline Nortek, as scribed in the Bluesy Airlines: Network Revenue Management Case Series. Single-Leg Revenue Management (A) This case provides students with the opportunity to build a statistical forecasting model and to use the output from this model in a simple revenue management decision. This section describes how the data were generated, potential solutions to the problem, and provides some guidance on how the case can be discussed in class.

Dangling Wires and Meatworks Poetry Essay

Through the medium of poetry, composers are able to powerfully convey ideas and express personal opinions of the world around them. Robert Gray, an Australian poet who is known for his effective use of visual imagery, clearly evokes ideas and express personal concerns of ‘Global warming’ ‘sacrafice’ His incorporation of explicit language techniques, such as diction further accentuates his perspective towards the world around us. Flames, Dangling wires and Meatworks are a great examples of how Gray uses language devices to powerfully voice his opinions. Gray is a poet with many opinions and ideas to express, he effectively puts these ideas through poetry. One of Grays many influential poems Flames, dangling wires is a great example of how he conveys his ideas and opinions in his poetry. Flames, dangling wires is a poem about a filthy dump tip that is always burning in front of a city. Gray describes the dump as a cause of our actions. In this poem Gray has effectively uses sensory imagery. â€Å"The smell is huge, blasting the mouth dry† A technique used in this text is sensory imagery which triggers our taste buds. The word blasting is the most noticeable word in this text, blasting is an uncommon word to describe a smell, it is unexpected. Gray is trying to say that there are no words to describe the smell, Gray’s intentions on using the word blasting is to disgust us and so that we understand more clearly on the situation. Throughout the poem gray is describing in detail how sickening the dump tip is, as we reach the end of them poem Gray discuses about the consequences from our actions. â€Å"This is how it shall be after the men have gone. † He is saying that the mess we make is not going away and that it is stuck with us forever. Gray is known for a lot of poems, his poems talk about danger, global warming, and in this case doing what it takes to provide for loved ones, Meatworks. Meatworks is a poem about a hardworking man and his wife moving to a place but they are tight on money but in order too keep his place he is forced to work in an abattoir, but doesn’t seem to enjoy it. In this poem Gray repeatedly and effectively describes the environment he’s in by using techniques such sensory imagery â€Å"Where concrete gutters crawled off heavily, and the hot, fertilizer thick, sticky stench of blood sent flies mad† . This ext has many techniques in it, the most effective technique used in this text is sensory imagery, Gray has effectively applied this technique in the line â€Å"The hot, fertilizer thick, sticky stench of blood sent flies mad† this sensory imagery immediately disgust us, planting a disturbing image in our heads. Flies are known to be around rotten food so when Gray added â€Å"sent flies mad† we have an idea of the imagery and can sort of imagine the smell. The text makes the audience understand that the abattoir is not a pleasant place to work at, and really demonstrates the sacrifice the man is giving to provide for his family. Gray is making us understand the sacrifice some people make everyday to provide for their loved ones. To conclude with, it is without doubt that Robert Gray clearly evokes his opinions and ideas on the world around him through his poetry. Opinions including social decline and global warming issues and that he effectively uses imagery in his poems Flames, dangling wire and Meatworks. It is also evident that gray brings issues concerning society and that what we do will eventually catch on to us.

Article Summary: Emerging Giants

Article Summary: Emerging Giants Many local companies lost their market shares or sold off their businesses when global or multinational companies from developed markets such as US, Germany, and Japan got into the emerging markets. However, some local companies held out against and exorcised multinationals.In this article, the authors instantiate this kind of local companies by explaining that Mahindra & Mahindra in India and Haier Group in China have barraged out their own rivals, reset their business strategies, taken advantages of new opportunities, and gained high competencies that enable themselves to do their businesses in global markets very successfully.Also, the authors describe the three strategies these companies employ to make themselves strong, global competitors in spite of facing several difficulties such as financial problems or bureaucratic disadvantages in their home countries, referring the results of their study of emerging giants. First of all, some emerging-mark et companies use their own knowledge of local product markets, resulting in good understandings of local customers’ needs and tastes.This strategy helps these local companies to capture distinctive national advantages. For example, Jollibee Foods in Philippine has profitably succeeded in their businesses against McDonald’s because they know local customers tend to prefer a particular soy and garlic taste that their products have. Secondly, some companies in emerging markets have exploited their knowledge of local talent and capital markets, thus giving services to their customers at home countries and overseas cost-effectively.For instance, Infosys or Wipro in India knew the possibility of providing services to customers abroad very cheaply compared to Western companies did because they had knowledge about where the talents resided and that they can hired technical workers at salaries lower than those in developed markets. Finally, some emerging giants have taken advan tages of institutional voids to create businesses.Old Mutual in South Africa, for example, noticed that South Africa did not have mutual fund and long-term investment product, enabling itself becoming a large financial firm. After I read this article, the company that I came in my mind is Geely Automobile (Geely) in China. Geely actually started their business as a manufacture of refrigerator. The CEO and founder at Geely, Li Shu Fu knew that to achieve the success in China, it was necessary to reduce the cost of anufacturing drastically, enabling local customers to buy their products in China, because when he started his business, in China disposal income among ordinary people was much lower than that in different countries. Therefore, he began to assemble many components from junk dealers because recycled or junk parts were basically cheaper than new components, thus resulting in cost reduction. Then, he stared to produce small motorbikes because at that time, in the end of 1994, it was not still common to buy automobiles in China.That is why at first he decided to focus on manufacturing motorbikes instead of automobiles. After that, finally, they made a beginning of car manufacturing in cost-effectively manner by hiring local workers who knew how to design their products and to manipulate industrial machines. Additionally, he has built networks with local universities and more surprisingly he actually founded several universities to produce competitive but cheap labors. I believe this company is a remarkable and interesting example of emerging giants.

Negative effects of smoking in campus and solutions to prevent it Essay

Negative effects of smoking in campus and solutions to prevent it - Essay Example However, for those who choose not to smoke, their rights have to be respected just as much as those who do smoke. This means that non-smoking students do not want to be exposed to secondhand smoke. Otherwise, they would probably choose to be smokers themselves. The negative effects of smoking on campus are that it impedes the rights of non-smokers on campus, contributes to a negative image of the particular college involved, and results in poor grades for students who smoke. The way to prevent the negative effects of smoking on campus is to allow smoking in specific areas and only at certain times. The difficulty with smoking on campus is that many students go to college in order to learn and attain some kind of degree. Being exposed to secondhand smoke may make them lose focus and interest in their studies because their rights are being violated. No reasonable student would suggest banning smoking on campus completely. All that non-smokers want is to be left alone in peace so that they can concentrate on the reason why they are at college in the first place. The problem with smoking on campus is that it infringes on the rights of other people and forces them to have to put up with secondhand smoke. In order to fix this problem, there needs to be a solution that accommodates both smokers and non-smokers. It is not a case of pleasing one group and not pleasing another; there needs to be a compromise on how smokers can smoke on campus without involving anyone else. Smoking on campus does not give a college a particularly good look. The image of an education institution helps to uphold its reputation in the community. If a college or university gets a reputation of being a smoke-friendly place, it may cause potential new students to find other education institutions. This will mean that the institution will not grow as previously expected. A result of this may be that the fees will increase for students who already attend that institution. In addition to

Reaction Paper for the movie The Godfather (1972) Essay

Reaction Paper for the movie The Godfather (1972) - Essay Example Mobsters can sometimes seem more like cartoons than real people. However, there is one movie that sets the bar for what all others would be compared to. That movie is the Godfather, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, and it tells the story of the Corleone crime family. The family, as led by Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando), fights for money and power in the grimy and sometimes glamourous world of organized crime. There are three sons, one adopted son, and one daughter in the family. Set in the years following the Second World War, the main plot of the movie is that the Don is given a chance by other mobsters for his family to expand their empire by getting involved in the drug trade. The Don, however, doesn’t think this is the right thing to do. This makes the other families angry and they begin to prepare for war. The Don along with his sons, Sonny (James Caan), Fredo, and consigliere Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall), prepare to do what must be done to preserve the power they have f ought so long and hard to have. The youngest son, Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) has never been involved in the crime part of the family and isn’t well known to the other families. Everyone thinks he is different. They think he is a war hero and has no street smarts. He has spent time fighting on a battlefield which is so much different than the political streets of New York. In the end the movie shows he is different: he is better at being a don and a mobster than anyone else. Throughout the movie, the tension between family and crime is constantly explored. The biggest theme that this film deals with is the theme of family, shown in both a literal and metaphorical sense. For me this was by far the most fascinating part of this movie—to see how the various children of the Don have to deal with the pressures of the new responsibilities thrown on them by the war that is underway. This drama is powerfully represented in the script and

Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 16

Summary - Essay Example At times English borrows new words from different places which later become part of the language. It has been obsereved that word order also changes as time passes, although its process slower than the change of words. Moreover, sounds of a language also chnge, for instance Vowel Shift occurred in English changing sounds of many different words. Some argue, English was more elegant in Shakespeare’s time. However, it should be noted that as language changes it does not get worse, it just replaces some words with changing needs of the people. The new words do sound odd at first; however, they become part of the formal language later on. Some people get annoyed when others don’t use â€Å"correct† English. However, there is no sloppy or lazy dialect. It’s true that English has some rules but they only implicate what English is like and not how one should use it. There are different dialects in English language all of which are correct. In fact, nowadays youngsters use English in such a way that they give every detail of the situation in a concise way. Formerly, it was argued that English should be more like Latin and some still want it to be like Latin. Thus, language changes with the passage of time and the change is inevitable. The changing language does not mean it is getting worse, it just happens because people change and so do the things they

Examine the contribution of functionalists accounts towards an Essay

Examine the contribution of functionalists accounts towards an explanation of the family - Essay Example As such, these parts tend also to function in an orderly manner, with minimal conflict. Even when the different parts are not in equilibrium (which they usually are in), their interrelationship is one of consensus, rather than conflict. In this regard, the role of functionalists is to examine social phenomena and its significance to society as a whole (Murdock 1949). The emergence of functionalism as an anthropology school of thought came about in the twentieth century. The development of functionalism at that time is especially credited to two renowned anthropologists of the Great Britain; A. R. Radcliffe-Brown, and Bronislaw Malinowski. In this regard, functionalism as a theory sought to check on the excesses of the nineteenth century diffusionists and evolutionary theories, as well as the theory of historicism later in the twentieth century (Goldscmidt 1996). Functionalists hold the argument that the nuclear family is capable of fulfilling many roles which have an impact on the larger society. One of the functionalists, Parsons, believes in the contemporary role of the family; the instrumental role of the male, and the expressive role of the female. Whilst the male works as a bread winner, the female gives care and emotional support to the husband and children. Although the argument sounds sexist, a majority of the nuclear families applies this contemporary role. Murdock, on his part, believes that the nuclear family should be of benefit to the larger society. In this regard, his functionalists’ ideas are based on the stable personality of adult, whose role it is educated the children about the values and norms of the society. Several scholars have been credited with the development of the theory of functionalism in the family. However, Talcott Parsons, an American sociologist, have been regarded as an advocate of the school of

The movie review of eat, drink, man, woman by Ang Lee Essay

The movie review of eat, drink, man, woman by Ang Lee - Essay Example However, this is a challenge for her because it is rare for women to be allowed into the profession, which is male dominated. Despite the fact that the daughters look upon their father cooking for them as being too traditional, the meals they share serves to bring their family together, something that is extremely rare indeed in the modern society. Another daughter shows a lot of cynicism towards men until such a time as she meets a volleyball coach to who she is attracted. This daughter completely breaks with tradition by actively pursuing the man that she desires. The youngest daughter is a college student who is quite sexually adventurous and her escapades result in her getting pregnant. The chef’s wife has passed away sixteen years prior to the plot of the movie, and the lack of a mother in the household is something that is realized throughout the film. Had there been a mother’s presence in the family’s life, then the troubles which this family is undergoing would be nonexistent, or minimal. One of the major themes of this movie is one of self-sacrifice as seen when Jia-Jen decides to stay at home and look after her father and her sisters. She lives a single life because of this selflessness on her part and it can be said that she fills the role of the mother in the household. ... Chu, their father, is a well-meaning man who has chosen not to remarry for the sake of taking care of his daughters himself. He is a man who, despite the fact that his daughters have grown up and are supposed to move out of the home, continues to live with them. This is a sign of a caring father who, instead of choosing the modern way of letting his children go, decides to follow the traditional way of letting his daughters stay at home until such a time, as they get married. The fact that his adult daughters are still living at home creates a lot of tension between them a conflict that can be considered one between traditionalism and modernism. This is an emotional film to watch because it does not have any action but it instead deals with the emotional aspects of the people within it. It has a powerful plot that curiously creates an environment that displays the day-to-day lives of the characters. It is similar to the scenes that are increasingly becoming common in Taiwan, where th e traditional way of life is coming into conflict with the modern ways. While some people are trying hard to retain their culture, the younger generation seems to be moving away from it. When one watches this movie, one concludes that the old ways are losing out and that the best way to handle this transition should not be resistance, but acceptance. In addition, Chu’s slow loss of his sense of taste, something, which he depends on to earn a living, is highly symbolic. The sense of taste can be said to be a symbol of the traditional way of life and the way that it is inevitably going to end. The film itself is not boring because of the heavy drama, which is involved in every scene. The camera work is done so well that this film can be considered a rare phenomenon in the Asian

The American Civil War Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The American Civil War - Essay Example   Seven undiplomatic Southern states claimed their withdrawal from the United States and thus formed the Confederacy States of America. In return, the northern states and the southern states split.   One of the causes of American civil war was the economic and social variances between the north and the south.   The two areas were quite different, and the South feared that the North would try to impose its systems on them (Kelly).   The second reason was the government limited the federal rights in the states. In 1832, South Carolina declined to pass the federal tariff legislation of 1828. Thus, the government used military force to put the region in check. The southern states felt limited in expressing the state rights.  The Dred Scot decision is the third cause of the civil war. Dred Scott was a slave who sought nationality through the American legal systems. The Supreme Court denied any African-American from obtaining US citizenship, consequently, enslaving more people.  The election of Abraham Lincoln also contributed to the war. They feared that the Republican president would abolish slavery. Thus, ruining the Southern economy. That is why Lincoln was a worthy opponent to the expansion of slavery. In conclusion, it is true that the American civil war was caused by discrimination and selfish needs. Slavery denied people a real life as capitalism ruled allowing the rich to be richer. The legal systems were corrupt with unfair discrimination.

Compare the Effects of the Use of Different Narrative Voice in Miramar and Devil on the Cross Essay Example for Free

Compare the Effects of the Use of Different Narrative Voice in Miramar and Devil on the Cross Essay In both Ngugi’s â€Å"Devil on the Cross† and Naguib’s â€Å"Miramar† we see a distinctive use of polyphony to convey both the political stances and social viewpoints of the authors. Although, the use of this literary technique differs between the two novels, the authors both have the same intention of persuading the reader to agree with their personal stand-point. Ngugi’s use of this literary narrative technique consists of describing the argument that he is attempting to put across to the reader, from the perspective of all of the characters to portray it in a light that leaves no room for reasonable doubt, where upon in â€Å"Miramar† Naguib manipulation of the narrative is more subtle at commenting upon the social class divides and barriers in the Egyptian society of the era in which it was written. To consider now, how this use of polyphony affects the readers of â€Å"Miramar† the aim of Naguib must first be questioned. Upon interpretation the character Zohra can be seen as a crucial part of the novel despite not having a section to narrate her side of the story. The reason for this could be that Naguib wanted to use Zohra as a symbol for his notion of an ideal, modern Egyptian. Being a religious Egyptian himself, there are evident influences of his native culture, in the representation of this ideal Egyptian, Zohra. However, this concept of Zohra being a semiotic for Egypt is not the only point to consider whilst interpreting the narrative structure’s impact; rather, it is the interaction between Zohra and the different narrators in the novel, that is crucial to analyse . This is especially important, as the different narrators are all from different backgrounds and can be clearly discerned as representations of the different Egyptian social classes. The intention of Naguib could most definitely be, to help the reader understand the varying lives of people from the different social classes in Egypt and the problems that arise because of these divides. An interpretation as to the reason why Zohra doesn’t have her own section to narrate could be because of the fact that, as stated previously, she is the symbol of Egypt, and quite simply she represents the struggle Egypt faces when fairly telling its own story. Instead of being given the chance to speak freely the novel is only told by people who have been influenced by the â€Å"Wafd† or â€Å"the revolution† or even the colonists, and therefore they are tainted, and no longer considered pure of mind. There is an unmistakable feeling of Naguib’s resentment towards the way â€Å"times have changed. This bitterness is especially impressed upon the reader regarding the new beliefs that people should be separated into social class groups and is present throughout the narrative of each character. Especially in Amer Wagdi’s narration, as the reader can almost imagine Naguib speaking in place of Amer when describing that they are foolish â€Å"obstacles† that separates Zohra from her love, Sarhan, because although â€Å"times have changed,† â€Å"young men haven’t changed†. In a similar style to Naguib, Ngugi also uses a female character to symbolise his country. In â€Å"Devil on the Cross† Wariinga is clearly intended to be interpreted by Ngugi as a symbol of Kenya and Ngugi has also, like Naguib, used the narrative to help enhance the symbolic interpretation of the interaction between Wariinga and the characters around her. However, Ngugi’s use of autobiographical narrative is highly differentiated from Naguib’s in the sense that Ngugi merges the narrative voice unnoticeably into the tone of the character in which he is focusing on. Ngugi does this especially in the â€Å"Matatu† chapter of the novel. This is a highly symbolic scene, used to portray the perspectives of each character, and these perspectives are particularly important as each character is an exemplary representation of the different social classes and backgrounds in Kenya. As this autobiographical narrative is used, it makes the reader empathise more and become more emotionally attached to the characters because they can relate personally, where as attempting to relate to the masses of people that these characters are representation would depersonalise the interaction Ngugi is trying to achieve between the reader and the story. Wangari, a character who is easily recognised as a symbol for the â€Å"Old Kenya† and the â€Å"Old Haraambe† is a clear example of this shift into an autobiographical narrative as her thoughts are written to the reader, revealing a greater insight into there character than is otherwise normal, this is particularly important as her saga tells the story of the Kenya before the colonists. It is through her history that the audience is able to discern the passionate feelings Ngugi holds of resentment towards the capitalist society that Kenya has become. Focusing more on this conviction of scorn held by Ngugi, the â€Å"Matatu† is also a vastly important chapter of â€Å"Devil on the Cross† because of its use of Socratic dialogue. Likewise to Naguib, Ngugi uses a character of his plot as a medium to express his feelings towards what his country has evolved to. Considering now Wangari, the poor, woman who, â€Å"wore no shoes† and â€Å"fought for [the] country’s independence† is definitely the mouthpiece for Ngugi as he himself has fought and is still fighting, even with this novel, for the independence of Kenya. Moreover, the juxtaposition of this Socratic dialogue is even more effective as it is placed in direct opposition to the materialistic, and greedy views of Mwaura, the foreign minded matatu driver who measures â€Å"Independence not [by the] tales about the past but the sound of money in one’s pocket†; a parallel with this character can clearly be drawn between him and one of the people in â€Å"Western suits,† who â€Å"took the devil off the cross. † Contrastingly, unlike Devil on the Cross, Miramar’s revolutionists, are not fighting the same cause, and are in fact met with the same praise as Wangari was by the rest of the Kenyan’s in the matatu. The revolutions of Miramar are, although quite central to the plot, often talked about but yet never given a voice of their own. These revolutionists goal in Miramar isn’t as simple as encouraging the revolution, however, they are in fact symbolic of the greater problems in Egypt, because the characters never verbally oppose the revolution (the problems in Egypt since the colonial occupation) as they are afraid of the outcome, however, in their hearts they know it will never work. Another crucial point in assessing the novel is the way in which Naguib manipulates the narrative is through the language used by each character helps to shift the tone of the narrative. It is crucial in understanding the feelings Naguib has towards this social class. For example, minor sentences showed in the free indirect discourse in the opening of Hosny Allam’s account helps to create a good impression to the reader of what this character’s temperament will be. The â€Å"progeny of whores† who â€Å"push you noses in the mud† described right in the opening paragraph is more than enough to nderstand that Hosny Allam is a bitter character. To interpret this further, the reader can also question accordingly, the social class in which Hosny Allam the â€Å"gentleman of property† represents and uses the portrayal of his character to interpret the feelings held by Naguib towards this social class. As Naguib has deliberately used mainly pejorative vocabulary in the syntax of Hosny’s it is clear that he wants the readers to dislike this character and therefore have negative feelings towards people of his class. In conclusion, after a close analysis of the literary techniques coinciding with the narrative structures and styles used by both Naguib and Ngugi, it is more than plausible to say that these two novels are both highly critical and greatly detailed in not only their poetic language used but the significant features of their intricately structured narrative and they more than achieve their aims of informing the world of their political stance against corruption.

Collapse Of The Concert Of Europe

Collapse Of The Concert Of Europe To What Extent Can The Collapse Of The Concert Of Europe Be Attributed To The Crimean War (1853-1856)? The collapse of the Concert of Europe can be attributed to the Crimean War to a limited extent as there were many other factors which acted to undermine the Concert, causing instability and disputes amongst the nations involved. Although the Crimean War can be indentified to have been a major instance in which participating countries disregarded their policies of peace in pursuit of national interest, this was not as significant to the collapse as earlier factors which essentially rendered the Concert obsolete. The rise of European nationalism and the conflicting ideology and differing aims of the countries involved created the unstable conditions for both the deterioration of the concert and the outbreak of the Crimean War. Therefore the Crimean War can be viewed as a final trigger, but not a sole instigation of collapse. The 18th Century nationalistic movement which was beginning to assert a strong hold among many European countries, acted to undermine the concert by threatening stability throughout Europe. In particular, the revolutionary upheavals of 1848 seriously weakened the Concert by demanding that frontiers established in the Congress of Vienna to be reviewed. In the Hungarian revolution of 1849, riots on the 15th of March by Magyar nationalists in Pest-Buda, now Budapest, the capital of Hungary, demanding Hungarys political independence from Austria resulted in the resignation of the Austrian Prince Metternich, a key personality in the negotiations in the Congress of Vienna. In a letter to Tsar Nicolas I of Russia in March 1848, a primary source informing of his resignation, Metternich describes the social crises as a ‘torrent no longer within the power of man†. Revolutionary upheavals were also apparent in France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Poland. The balance of power main tained in Europe was shifting, and as expressed by Metternich, the Concert of Europe had little influence over it. This largely undermined the Concerts objectives, as stated in Article VI of the 1815 Quadruple Alliance between Britain, Austria, Prussia and Russia which formed the basis of the Concert, it was the responsibility of the ‘High Contracting Powers to renew at fixed intervals meetings consecrated to great common objects and the examination of such measures as at each one of these epochs shall be judged most salutary for the peace and prosperity of the nations and for the maintenance of the peace of Europe. As peace was not being maintained, the concert was, even at this point, somewhat defunct. Furthermore, this movement acted as an important impetus for the political unification of Italy in 1861 and Germany in 1871. Owing to the development of 18th Century nationalism, Europe was geographically altered as countries gained their independence. Consequently, European d iplomacy was also altered causing a weakening of the concert, especially as conflict arose between the countries involved regarding intervention in revolution.iHu A fundamental division amongst members of the Concert of Europe, caused by conflicting ideological perspectives regarding intervention against revolutionary movements, acted to undermine the relationship between the countries. A foremost concern for the preservation of peace was the manner of dealing with revolutions and constitutional movements as many statesmen feared the idealogy of the French Revolution was still a powerful influence and as settlements in the Congress of Vienna had failed to satisfy nationalistic and constitutionalistic ambitions. Austria and Russia maintained it was the responsibility and right of the great powers to intervene and impose their collective will on states threatened by internal rebellion, with the Austrian diplomat Metternich stressing that revolution was a ‘terrible social catastrophe and believed that ‘only order produces equilibrium. However, Britain did not wish to intervene in internal disputes and instead pursed a less reactionary policy. Britains foreign secretaries, Castlereagh and later, Canning, acted to distance Britain from the policies of the continental powers with Canning clearly stating that ‘England is under no obligation to interfere, or assist in interfering, in the internal affairs of independent states. Thus, Britain disputed intervention within the Congress of Troppau in 1820, a response to revolts in Spain, Portugal, Piedmont and Naples, and at the Congress of Laibach in 1821 where Austria and Russia had prepared to mobilise soldiers against Italian revolts. The tension which resulted from these disputes lead to Britains increased isolation from Austria, Prussia and Russia while France maintained relations with both sides of the divide. Even though in 1825, a final Congress was held at St Petersburg in an attempt to resolve these disputes, only Austria, Prussia and Russia actively particpated revealing the large extent to which the Concert had been weakened. Despite the assertion that countries within the concert were acting for the greater interest of all of Europe, due to world economies becoming geo-political, with a focus on imperialism, colonialism and economic rivalry, the individual interests of countries revealed cracks in the system. Britains particular opposition towards intervention in Latin American revolutions was based on the grounds that Britain would be forgoing trade profit from the Spanish if rebellions ended there, and hence, refused to cooperate on the grounds of nationalistic interest which existed despite the concert. Geo-political competition and jealousy between European nations became particularly apparent in their decision to prohibit the entry of all foreign warships into the straits between Bosporus and Dardanelles. As a reward for Russian military assistance against Egypt, Russia was rewarded with advantageous access to these straits by the Ottoman Empire in the Treaty of Unkiar-Skelessi in 1833, which closed the Dardanelles off to â€Å"any foreign vessels of war† other than Russian. This allowed Russian commercial vessels free access into the Mediterranean, a significant benefit for Russian export trade particularly considering the growing importance of ports such as Odessa in the Ukraine. The Concert was indignant of Russias access to the straits and so an attempt to inhibit Russian expansionism, the straits convention was held in 1841 in which it was declared that no country should be in an advantageous position regarding the use of the straits. Furthermore, European nations were competing for raw materials, markets and land in order to fuel growing populations. Russia was still eager to increase its influence in the Balkans, and to gain control of the straits between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea then under Turkeys control. Britain and France viewed Russian control of the straits as a threat to their own trade interests, and Austria was uneasy about Russias growing influence in the Balkans. These tensions regarding the control of the Balkans in turn compounded the tension which already existed in the practically obsolete concert, and ultimately lead to the outbreak of the Crimean war, in which the remnants of the Concert expired. The outbreak of the Crimean War in 1853 signified the downfall of the Concert of Europe as the great powers engaged in war with one another over matters of national interest. In making an expansionary thrust at the Ottoman Empire, Russia disregarded any pretence of backing an altruistic balance of power. The causes of the Crimean War conflicted with the doctrine of the concert as an aspect of the preservation of the balance of power in Europe had been directed at preventing a single nation from gaining control of the Ottoman Empire, which was intended by Metternich to be a solution to the Eastern Question. As Russia sought to take exploit the decaying Ottoman Empire, in effect, it undermined the remnants of the Concert and the balance of power, leading to France and Britain, along with some assistance from Sardinia engaging in war to ironically, maintain peace in Europe. Effectively, this simply acted to sacrifice the Concert system with the war having the highest casualty rate of an y European conflict between the Congress of Vienna in 1815 and 1914, the Outbreak of World War One, as more than 450 000 Russians, 95 000 French and 22 000 English lost their lives during the conflict. Renowned historian A.J.P. Taylor states that regarding European international relations, the Crimean War destroyed the charade of Russian military dominance in Europe, which lead to Russias diminished influence in European affairs subsequent to 1856. Through sheer number, the Russian army had been the largest force and yet it was still defeated by the comparably smaller French and British armies. The internal effects of the war on countries within the Concert of Europe are also highly significant when considering the destruction of the balance of power. Having been made aware of Russias social and industrial backwardness through military weakness within the war, the Russian Tsar Alexander II became convinced of the need for Russian reform. Napoleon III of France sought to adopt new fo reign policies which eventually lead to conflict in the 1860s with Austria and Prussia. Austria had been isolated as its ties with Russia were severed due to Russias expectation as a result of its assistance in suppressing the 1849 Magyar revolts in Hungary, Austria would remain neutral in the war. The Treaty of Paris reached in 1856, permanently altered the balance of power and highlighted the strain which had been placed on it through the Crimean War. At the conclusion of the war, severe penalties were placed on Russia by the other countries, restricting its influence. Russia was made to surrender Bessarabia, situated at the mouth of the Danube, had to forgo claims as protector of Orthodox Christians, and lost influence over the Romanian principalities which, along with Serbia, were granted greater independence. Furthermore, the Black Sea was declared neutral, closing it off to all warships which effectively left Russia with an undefended southern border. This left Russia with little incentive to uphold the goals of the Concert as it was now at considerable disadvantage to the other European powers. Upon the conclusion of treaty negotiations the Concert was obsolete, with its goals abandoned and communication at a stand-still. Through the treaty of Paris it became apparent th at the Crimean war had disrupted nineteenth-century diplomacy, thereby destroying the decayed Concert of Europe. Although the Crimean War can be identified as the first major instance in which countries within the Concert of Europe clearly disregarded the policy of peace and turned against one another, it can only be held responsible for the concerts demise to a limited extent. The rise of Nationalism in Europe and the instability caused by the widespread outbreak of revolution caused a strong divide amongst countries. Britains refusal to assist in intervention particularly acted to undermine the authority and cohesion essentially making the Concert practically obsolete prior to the outbreak of the Crimean War. Therefore the war can be seen to have been the conclusion of the concert, but was by no means the sole cause of collapse. Bibliography Fisher, H.A.L, A History of Europe Volume II, Eyre Spottiswoode 1935 Langhorne, Richard, The Collapse of the Concert of Europe: International Politics, 1890-1914, Macmillan, 1981 Lee, Stephen J., Aspects of European History 1789-1980, Routledge, 1982 Medlicott, William N, Bismarck, Gladstone, and the Concert of Europe, Athlone Press, University of London, 1956 Robinson, James Harvey, Readings in European History, Vol. II, Boston: Gin and Co, 1906 Schroeder, Paul W., Austria, Great Britain, and the Crimean War: The Destruction of the European Concert, Cornell University Press, Ithaca NY, 1972 Sweetman, John, The Crimean War, Osprey Publishing Limited, London, United Kingdom, 2001 Taylor, A. J. P. The Origins of the Second World War, Middlesex: Penguin Books, 1961 Robinson, James Harvey, Readings in European History p.464 Schroeder, Paul W., Austria, Great Britain, and the Crimean War, p.211 Lee, Stephen J., Aspects of European History, p.26 Lee, Stephen J., Aspects of European History, p.27 http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/276910/Treaty-of-Hunkar-Iskelesi Langhorne, Richard, The Collapse of the Concert of Europe: International Politics, 1890-1914 p.38 Sweetman, John, The Crimean War p.42 A.J.P. Taylor, The origins of the second world war, Ch. 3 p.71

Human Rights and the British Class System

Human Rights and the British Class System According to http://woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/questions/class.htm â€Å"Britain was once a class-ridden society.† Class was a staple part of the British way of life. Today, multiculturalism and a changing economy are gradually eroding the British class system, but some features of the system still remain. What is Class? Sociologists define social class as the grouping of people by occupations. Doctors and lawyers and university teachers are given more status than unskilled labourers. The different positions represent different levels of power, influence and money. The British society is often considered to be divided into three main groups of classes: the Upper Class, the Middle Class, and the Lower or Working Classs This is known as the Class system The Different Class Systems There are three main class divisions. The Upper Classes tends to consist of people with inherited wealth, and includes some of the oldest families, with many of them being titled aristocrats. The upper classes are not only defined by their title, but also by their education, and their pastimes which includes the traditional sporting life involving hunting, shooting and fishing, as well as a great deal of horse riding for both leisure and as a competitive pursuit. The Middle Classes are the majority of the population of Britain today. They include industrialists, professionals, businesspeople and shop owners. Working class people are mostly agricultural, mine and factory workers. Status You can tell which class people belong to by the way they speak (accent), their clothes, their interests, the way that they educate their children, or even the type of food they eat.† Homeless People What would it be like to be homeless? Imagine not knowing where you will sleep tonight. On a practical level, how would it feel not to have a bath for weeks and to wear dirty clothes every day? I think most of us would agree with the line from John Payne’s poem Home, Sweet Home: â€Å"Be it ever so humble, there is no place like home†. Yet thousands of people in the UK have no home of their own. We have all seen people asking for money, who seem to have all their possessions in a plastic bag, and nowhere to go. Although these people who are sleeping rough in doorways are the most visible, homelessness also includes those who are placed in hostels, bed and breakfast or other temporary accommodation, or local authority housing. It is difficult to understand how people become homeless and research shows that they are all ages, from all areas and backgrounds. There are charities that support the homeless and Centrepoint is a national organisation that focuses on young people. It provides emergency night shelters and short stay hostels. Their research shows that more than 80% of the young people who turn to Centrepoint for help are homeless due to family breakdown, abuse or eviction. Some young people become homeless following the death of a parent. It seems a double blow to be bereaved and homeless. However, often these vulnerable young people find themselves sleeping rough before seeking help. Many of these 16 to 20 year olds have no qualifications or means of supporting themselves financially. I feel that if our society wants these people to become self-sufficient, it is essential to offer help in the form of housing, and assisting them to either return to school, or to gain qualifications through training programmes to improve their chances of finding worthwhile employment. Tragically, many homeless young people are â€Å"befriended† by drug addicts or encouraged into prostitution. For those who have run away from home as a result of abuse, one wonders how bad their home circumstances must have been if they would prefer to face the risks of addiction and sexually transmitted disease. Of course it is not only young people who become homeless. Older people can face homelessness when they lose their jobs and are evicted from their homes because they cannot pay the rent. Sometimes these people have physical or mental health problems as well. Unfortunately in some circumstances these people either have no family, or their families are unable or unwilling to help them. Single homeless people are not a high priority for housing assistance and are therefore more likely to be sleeping rough, huddled under a bridge, trying to keep warm with newspapers. Other homeless people are ex-offenders. They have paid for their crime and yet they find themselves unable to find a job and therefore without resources. It is sad that many people coming out of prison have nowhere to go and may eventually end up in prison again. Often these people have been exposed to drugs in prison and will resort to dealing as a means of making money. Anyone is capable of turning to crime out of desperation, ending up harming others in an attempt to steal money. If people become homeless as a result of family breakdown or employment problems, should we not as a society make a stronger effort to help these people? Homelessness and having no money creates a climate for crime which is what we want to prevent. One of the ways of preventing it could be to offer more support to people before they find themselves homeless. For example, young people could have anonymous safe places to go to if they are in abusive situations. They should know that there is at least one adult at school who they can talk to, or a number they can phone. Although there are charities offering phone line assistance, it is not sufficient. The people who receive the least sympathy, it seems, are the mothers with small children. Although they may not be sleeping rough, these families are often in very cramped accommodation and they cannot really make it feel like a home. If they are fortunate enough to be given council housing they are often envied or disliked by others and made to feel that they have been given something they do not deserve. However, we do not know their circumstances and they may have been the victims of sexual abuse or domestic violence. It would be far better for them and their children to be in a safe place than to risk further violence. Homelessness is a problem all over the world. Places affected by flooding and earthquakes suddenly have thousands of people whose homes have been demolished and who have no possessions. Places in Africa that experience severe drought conditions force people to try to find food elsewhere. Unfortunately the result is often groups of homeless people who are starving.According to the United Nations, more than 100 million people worldwide have no housing whatsoever. This becomes a serious Human Rights issue and although we might like to think it is mainly a problem in the developing countries, the truth is that in first world countries such as the UK and United States, the number of homeless is growing. Although it is helpful to donate to charities who offer help, or to give people food, more needs to be done. Adequate housing needs to be available and we have to change our attitude towards people who may be in dire circumstances through no fault of their own. Bibliography Capdevila, G HUMAN RIGHTS: More Than 100 Million Homeless Worldwide http://ipsnews.net/interna.asp?idnews=28086 Payne, J Clari; or, the Maid of Milan: an Opera. London: John Miller, 1823. See http://www.poetry-archive.com/p/home_sweet_home.html Pleace, N and Fitzpatrick, S (2004) Centrepoint Youth Homelessness index http://www.centrepoint.org.uk/documents/Centrepoint_YorkResearch-report.pdf

Free Narrative Essays - The Battle of the Bands :: Personal Narrative Essays

The Battle of the Bands The best and worst two days of my life took place at Bogarts with my band Radioactive Weasel last month. We had practiced daily for near three years, and our group decided to pull together again and enter "The Battle of the Bands." This was the first time we sparingly paid fifty dollars to perform anywhere. All the other competitions we had entered were mail in tapes and then wait for a response. We got out of bed at five in the morning, then raced to our drummer's house. Loaded on uppers, practiced four and a half hours to perfect our original songs, we were to play that night. Pumped and ready to get started we packed the van with our drums and guitars then started our journey to Clifton for our show. As usual, we got there way to early, so we did what any fun seeking under aged musicians would do. We searched the allies and found a half passed out drunk and took him to the local bar, then got a few beers each before the show. We then returned to draw numbers for the order of the bands. I eagerly pushed my way to the front of all the other bands, being the obnoxious prick I am, and drew the first card. Unfortunately I drew the second band on stage out of nine. The best position to be in is about fourth or fifth band because that is when the crowd starts getting into the music. Pissed off I haphazardly wandered back to my group to inform them of my greatest mistake. We loaded the equipment into the worlds slowest elevator, and stumbled our way to the backstage lounge. After I had read graffiti covered walls until my heart was content I noticed much writing by some of my favorite groups like Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Mansion, Korn, and The Dead Milkmen. Inspired by them I also signed the wall with some chosen words. The time had rolled around for the first band to hit the stage. Excited, we rushed our way into the mosh pit, (in my mind the only place to be). Screams turned into whispers as Pieces entered the stage in a cowardly

Free Julius Caesar Essays: Expediency vs. Ideology :: Julius Caesar Essays

Expediency vs. Ideology in Julius Caesar Expediency is the concept of doing something fitting, practical, useful, and advisable. It is the suitable means to accomplish an end. Ideology is the body of beliefs or ideas of any person or group. These two words, if put together, clash. It is a battle between what is really best between what one thinks and what needs to be done. An excellent example of this clash is in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. Was the death of Caesar something that was done pragmatically or was it an action taken because of certain convictions, an ideology? Was Caesar’s death practical? Would it bring about positive change for Roman society? The main reason that the conspirators gave for their action was that if Caesar were crowned king, he would become a tyrant, an oppressor of the Roman people. It was done in the best interests of the Republic. Now that he was dead, Caesar could never be a tyrant and the Romans could live in freedom. His murder, therefore, was necessary. Brutus and Cassius took it upon themselves to be the operative forces to kill Caesar. These were expedient men who cared only for Rome. Or were they? The flip side to being practical and doing what is best for others is taking action because of what one thinks needs to be done and/or actually doing it for selfish reasons. Julius Caesar’s death also can be considered an ideological decision. In I, ii, ll. 35-180, Cassius brings forth the issue that he thought Brutus could be as good a ruler as Caesar. Why does Cassius bring this up? What does he get from saying this? One might say that these were encouraging words from one friend to another. However, these words serve as a catalyst for Brutus’ plan to murder Caesar. Among the conspirators, did they have any motives behind their participation in Caesar’s murder?

English Proverb Example

English proverbs 1. When the going gets tough, the tough get going. † Strong people don't give up when they come across challenges. They just work harder. 2. â€Å"No man is an island. † You can't live completely independently. Everyone needs help from other people. 3. â€Å"Fortune favors the bold. † People who bravely go after what they want are more successful than people who try to live safely. 4. â€Å"People who live in glass houses should not throw stones. † Don't criticize other people if you're not perfect yourself. 5. â€Å"Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. †This seems pretty clear 6. â€Å"Better late than never. † This one's clear, too. 7. â€Å"There's no place like home. † Your own home is the most comfortable place to be. 8. â€Å"Discretion is the greater part of valor. † Sometimes it's important to know when to give up and run away, instead of always acting brave and maybe getting hurt. 9. â€Å"The early bird catches the worm. † You should wake up and start work early if you want to succeed. 10. â€Å"Never look a gift horse in the mouth. † If someone offers you a gift, don't question it. 11. â€Å"You can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs. When you try to do something great, you'll probably make a few people annoyed or angry. Don't worry about those people; just focus on the good results. 12. â€Å"God helps those who help themselves. † Don't just wait for good things to happen to you. Work hard to achieve your goals. 13. â€Å"One man's trash is another man's treasure. † Different people have different ideas about what's valuable. 14. â€Å"There's no time like the present. † If you need to do something, don't wait until later. Do it now. 15. â€Å"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.Different people have different ideas about what's beautiful. 16. â€Å"Necessity is the mother of invention. † When you're really in need, you think of creative solutions to your problems. 17. â€Å"A penny saved is a penny earned. † Save your money. 18. â€Å"Familiarity breeds contempt. † When you're around someone for too long, you get tired of them and annoyed by them. 19. â€Å"You can't judge a book by its cover. † Things sometimes look different than they really are. A restaurant that looks old and small might have amazing food, for example. 20. â€Å"Good things come to those who wait. † Be patient.

Food Intake

| 3 Day Food Intake| Nutrition| | Moneka Goff| 3/4/2013| Jessica Marshal SCI/220 | Food IntakeA well balanced diet plays a major role in attaining a long healthy life the major nutrients for the body are protein, carbohydrate, and fats these nutrients provide the body with energy for various functions such as heart, health, and activity of the brain , and muscle health one must choose foods from each foods groups to achieve a balanced diet everyday eating the right amount of fruits and vegetables will ensure that the right amount of nutrients all healthy diets should have a few things in common such as vitamins, minerals, and fiber and protein intake.Over the past 3 days I recorded my intake of protein, carbohydrates, and lipids. I think I ate a balanced diet for these 3 days. Most of the foods I ate provided protein each day such as the black eyed peas, shrimp gumbo, fried chicken, beef steak, and eggs. I received carbohydrate from rice, grits, potatoes, and bread. I received lipids from black eyed peas, shrimp gumbo, Reese peanut butter cups, and ham steaks. Most of the food I ate these 3 days contained the recommended amounts of protein. My daily recommended daily intake was below the recommended range for two of the 3 days I recorded my meals for these days.For example, on day 2 I achieved the recommended protein but on Friday and Sunday I didn’t achieve what I needed. That is because I either did not finish the meal or it took me longer than usual to eat the meal. My recommended protein intake should be between 62-218 gram, achieved 73 grams on each day. I did not receive the recommended daily intake of carbohydrate for these 3 days. My recommended carbohydrate intake should be 281-405 grams but I received 242grams on each day. My lipid in take varied from day to day. Some days I did not finish the whole meal.I was surprised to find out that I was getting the recommended amount of nutrients for these days because I normally eat once a day. Are the t hree main nutrients that one’s body need to strive. Macro nutrient is important for the growth and development of the body. Macro nutrient needs to be consumed at each meal. My macro nutrient intake was within normal recommended range for these 3 days. Macronutrients included carbohydrate, dietary fats, and protein. One must consume the right amount of all the nutrients. It is harmful, to consume too little for these nutrients.Protein is important to have in any diet because it helps to maintain energy levels. Proteins assist in the production of antibodies, enzymes, and hormones. Eating too little protein can lead to dehydration, increased fat storage, and kidney stories. Carbohydrate is important for my energy level. Carbohydrates are important for its glucose properties. Glucose is important to help build muscles in the body. Without carbohydrates the body will have muscle tissue depletion because the body cannot regain glucose that is used for energy. Lipids or dietary fa ts are also important for the body.According to the US government guidelines, fats should constitute 30% of a person’s daily calorie intake. Lipids are important for energy levels, metabolism, and glycemic system. Fiber is important to the digestive system and can help an individual to fell full longer or curb one’s appetite. Fiber can also be associated with lowering the risk of certain cancers such as colorectal cancer and other gastrointestinal cancers. My fiber in take did not meet the recommended range that I need daily. According to WebMD, women need 25 grams of fiber daily, my intake varied day to day but it was still below recommended range.On Friday, I only received 7 grams of fiber for the whole day. It is recommended that since I have not received the recommended daily fiber in take t should gradually increase my fiber intake to avoid diarrhea. My food intake did not meet the minimum number of servings of food that contain fiber. According to the CDC, fruits and vegetables are on excellent source of fiber. Fruits and vegetables are critical to good health and should be consumed at each meal. Most of the food I for these 3 days provided me with some type of fiber. My diet is not the best diet for losing weight or maintaining a healthy lifestyle.Some days I tend to miss meals or not eat anything at all. When I finally do eat I omit certain foods because I am always on the go. I understand that I need to consume all five food groups daily but I may only consume two of the recommended food groups a day. I need to change my diet to include every food group and meet my recommended daily calorie intake. Most days I only consume less than 1300 calories for a day. I will try to eat more leafy greens vegetables and fresh fruits to boost my fiber intake. My meals do not include beans or peas daily but I do try to eat them at least twice a week.If I switch from fruit juice to fresh fruit I will intake a better quality of vitamins and minerals. Fru it juice contains more sugars than fresh fruit. By consuming insufficient or excessive amounts of proteins, carbohydrate, fats, or fiber can limit the body’s immunity and body’s ability to rebuild itself. It can cause one to have bowel problems, infections, and decreases one’s ability to think and remember things. References: Nutrition for Everyone retrieved from https//:www. cdc. gov/nutrition Why Count Your Macronutrient retrieved from http//:www. ezinearticles. com

Beyond Rivalry Essay

During childhood, sisters and brothers are a major part of each other’s lives, for better or for worse. As adults they may drift apart as they become involved in their own careers, marriages and families. But in later life, with retirement, an empty nest, and parents and sometimes spouses gone, brothers and sisters often turn back to each other for a special affinity and link to the past. â€Å"In the stressful, fast- paced world we live in, the sibling relationship becomes for many the only intimate connection that seems to last,† says psychologist Michael Kahn of the University of Hartford. Friends and neighbors may move away, former coworkers are forgotten, marriages break up, but no matter what, our sisters and brothers remain our sisters and brothers. This late- life bond may be especially important to the â€Å"Baby Boom† generation now in adulthood, who average about two or three sibling apiece. High divorce rates and the decision by many couples to have only one or no children will force members of this generation to look to their brothers and sisters for support in old age. And, as psychologist Deborah Gold of the Duke Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development points out, â€Å"Since people are living longer and are healthier longer, they will be more capable of giving help. † Critical events can bring siblings together or deepen an existing rift, according to a study by psychologists Helgola Ross and Joel Milgram of the University of Cincinnati. Parental sickness or death is a prime example. Ross and Milgram found that siblings immersed in rivalry and conflict were even more torn apart by the death or sickness of a parent. Those siblings who had been close since childhood became closer. In a study of older people with sisters and brothers, Gold found that about 20 percent said they were either hostile or indifferent toward their siblings. Reasons for the rifts ranged from inheritance disputes to animosity between spouses. But many of those who had poor relationship felt guilt and remorse. A man who hadn’t spoken with his sister in 20 years described their estrangement as a â€Å"festering sore. Although most people in Ross and Milgram’s study admitted to some lingering rivalry, it was rarely strong enough to end the relationship. Only 4 out of the 55 people they interviewed had completely broken with their siblings and only 1 of the 4 felt comfortable with the break, leaving the researchers to ask, â€Å"Is it psychologically impossible to disassociate oneself from one’s siblings in the way one can forget old friends or even former mates? † As brothers and sisters advance into old age, â€Å"closeness increases and rivalry diminishes,† explains Victor Cicirelli, a psychologist at Purdue University. Most of the elderly people he interviewed said they had supportive and friendly dealings and got along well or very well with their brothers and sisters. Only 4 percent got along poorly. Gold found that as people age they often become more involved with and interested in their siblings. Fifty- three percent of those she interviewed said that contact with their sisters and brothers increased in late adulthood. With family and career obligations reduced, many said they had more time for each other. Others said that they felt it was â€Å"time to heal wounds. A man who had recently reconciled with his brother told Gold, â€Å"There’s something that lets older people put aside the bad deeds of the past and focus a little on what we need now†¦especially when it’s brothers and sisters. † Another reason for increased contact was anxiety about a sister’s or brother’s declining health. Many would call more often to â€Å"check in† and see how the other was doing. Men especially reported feeling increased responsibility for a sibling; women were more likely to cite emotional motivation such as feelings of empathy and security. Siblings also assume special importance as other sources of contact and support dwindle. Each of us moves through life with a â€Å"convoy† of people who supply comfort and nurturance, says psychologist Toni C. Antonucci of the University of Michigan. As we age, the size of the convoy gradually declines because of death, sickness or moving. â€Å"Brothers and sisters who may not have been important convoy members earlier in life can become so in old age,† Gold says. And they do more than fill in gaps. Many people told Gold that the loneliness they felt could not be satisfied by just anyone. They wanted a specific type of relationship, one that only someone who had shared their past could provide. This far- reaching link to the past is a powerful bond between siblings in later life. â€Å"There’s a review process we all go through in old age to resolve whether we are pleased with our lives,† Gold explains. â€Å"A sibling can help retrieve a memory and validate our experiences. People have said to me, â€Å"I can remember some with my spouse or with friends. But they only person who goes all the way back is my sister and brother. † Cicirelli agrees that reviewing the past together is a rewarding activity. â€Å"Siblings have a very important role in maintaining a connection to early life,† he says. â€Å"Discussing the past evokes the warmth of early family life. In validates and clarifies events of the early years. † Furthermore, he has found that encouraging depressed older people to reminisce with a sister or brother can improve their morale. Some of the factors that affect how much contact siblings will have, such as how near they live, are obvious. Others are more unexpected-for example. Whether there is a sister in the clan. Cicirelli found that elderly people most often feel closet to a sister and are more likely to keep in touch through her. According to Gold, sisters, by tradition, often assume a caretaking and kin- keeping role, especially after the death of their mother. â€Å"In many situations you see two brothers who don’t talk to each other that much but keep track of each other through their sisters,† she says. Researchers have found that the bond between sisters is strongest, followed by the one between sisters and brothers and, last, between brothers. Sisters and brothers who live near each other will, as a matter of course, see more of each other. But Cicirelli says that proximity is not crucial to a strong relationship later in life. â€Å"Because of multiple chronic illnesses, people in their 80s and 90s can’t get together that easily. Even so, the sibling seems to evoke positive feelings based on the images of feelings inside. † Gold’s finding support this assertion. During a two- year period, contact among her respondents decreaed slightly, but positive feelings increased. Just the idea that the sibling is alive, that ‘there is someone I can call,’ is comforting. † Although older people may find solace in the thought that their siblings are there if they need them, rarely do they call each other for help or offer each other instrumental support, such as loaning money, running errands of performing favors. â€Å"Even though you find siblings saying that they’d be glad to help each other and saying they would ask for help if necessary, rarely do they ask,† Cicirelli points out. Gold believes that there are several reasons siblings don’t turn to each other more for instrumental help. First, since they are usually about the same age, they may be equally needy or frail. Another reason is that many people consider their siblings safety nets who will save them after everything else has failed. A son or daughter will almost always be turned to first. It’s more acceptable in our society to look up or down the family ladder for help than sideways. Finally, siblings may not turn to each other for help because of latent rivalry. They may believe that if they need to call on a brother or sister they are admitting that the other person is a success and â€Å"I am a failure. † Almost all of the people in Gold’s study said they would rather continue on their own than ask their sister or brother for help. But she found that a crisis beyond control would inspire â€Å"a ‘rallying’ of some or all siblings around the brother or sister in need. † Despite the quarreling and competition many people associate with the mere mention of their sisters and brothers, most of us, Gold says, will find â€Å"unexpected strengths in this relationship in later life. †

Philosophy, Theory, and Ideology : Comparison and Contrasts Essay

I. Definition of Philosophy, Ideology and Theory The words Philosophy, Theology and Ideology are linked with each other. In order to discuss and compare each, definitions of the words are important. Philosophy is a greek word that came from the words â€Å"philo† and â€Å"sophia†. â€Å"Philo† means love and sophia means wisdom. Taking these two words literally, the word philosophy can be defined as the â€Å"love of wisdom† (theophil-bcantens.barry.edu, 2007). An article from theophil-bcantens.barry.edu (2007) had further explained that philosophy is a study of the ultimate. This definition was taken from what the philosophers had said about philosophy and the concepts that have been studied in philosophy. Ideology as defined in the dictionary, according to Rolf Schwarz, â€Å"is a belief or a set of beliefs, especially the political beliefs on which people, parties, or countries base their actions.† On the other hand, Theory is defined by Curran and Takata (2007) as a systematic way of thought about a subject. II. Comparison of Philosophy, Ideology and Theory Based on the three meanings, differences can now be seen from the three words. Philosophy is seen as a discipline like a branch of science or a branch of education. It is a subject that has theories and ideologies on its own. On the other hand, Ideology is a belief, meaning a person or a group of person could belief on that particular idea or not. Ideology pertains to any belief, as long as there is a person that believe in an idea then that can be pertained as the ideology of that particular idea. A theory is a way of thinking that explains something logically. A theory is usually a way to help clarify the things that are happening around us. As the author had stated, Philosophy is a study of the ultimate. Ideologies are sometimes formed based on Philosophy. Most of the topic in Philosophy is quite complicated and almost all issues are still under debate. According to Aristotle in Metaphysics, â€Å"All men naturally have an impulse to get knowledge.†, because there are many things in the world that are yet to be clarified people tend to study why this is so. Philosophers tried to explain things and made some theories in philosophy. An example of which is Mentalism. This is considered as a philosophical theory wherein â€Å"the mind is the true reality and objects exists only as aspects of the mind’s awareness† (the freedictionary.com, 2007). However, others based their beliefs on Philosophy. Example is the Aetheist. The ideology of the Aetheist is that â€Å"God does not exist†. That is what they believe, however it is not yet proven still. III. Conclusion As a conclusion, theory, ideology and philosophy differ in form. Philosophy is a discipline, Ideology is a belief and Theory is a way of thinking. These words are concerned with how the people think based on their everyday lives. People are curious about what is happening in their environment and because of this, people formulated several questions about the existence of something or about the meaning of something. The questioning is then perceived as a philosophy if people start to study and try to discover the answer to the questions that are still yet to be found. Philosophical theories can become ideologies depending on the one who perceives it. On the other hand, an Ideology cannot be accounted as a theory because it is based on the belief of people. The belief could either be logical or not.

Dystopia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Dystopia - Essay Example This, therefore, implies that the members of the society live in a state and conditions that cannot be said to be conducive for human existence because of how they are controlled. Some of the sources of control that make the citizens to live in a dehumanized state include religious, technological and corporate control (Gordin, Tilley and ‎ Prakash 56).The American society is controlled by bipartisan parties that are not focused on the actual societal needs. There are several aspects of the American society today that show that the citizens are living in a dehumanized state. In the American society, there has been the collective loss of memory. Moreover the society has forgotten the history of mankind, how man came into existence and how man used to live long time ago. This has been caused by the bureaucratic religious and technological control in the society. In the current American society, mega corporations such as United Continental and Colgate Palmolive have continued to reduce and dwarf the power of the government and the citizens (Shteyngar 201). Due to this bureaucratic control, things like heath care and education have been privatized and the effect of this is disastrous. The collective memory loss and the forgetting of history of mankind have made the citizens become easy to manipulate. Gordin, Tilley and ‎ Prakash continue to say that the American society is easy to manipulate psychologically (32). The result of this is that the society has lived in a dehumanized state. The control that the society experiences from the bureaucratic, religious and corporate aspects of their lives has facilitated the psychological control; hence, making the state of living to be one that can be said to be a dehumanized one. Shteyngart say that the American society is so much concerned about their well wellbeing and they strive hard to be able to improve their lives (112). They have continued to be controlled by their jobs and personal needs. In the

Investigating obstacles and enabling located firms in special economic Essay

Investigating obstacles and enabling located firms in special economic zones - Essay Example The â€Å"special economic zone† (SEZ) is another term used to refer to the formation of modern economic region. In line with this, governments worldwide normally promote the development of SEZs in order to increase the chances wherein the country could experience increase not only in intra-regional and international trade activities but also the inflows of foreign investments and creation of new job opportunities for the local people (Wang, 2013; Brautigam and Xiaoyang, 2011). In the process of improving transportation infrastructure that connects the SEZs to the local market (Baissac, 2011, pp. 24 – 25), ports, and airports, more local and foreign investors will become more attracted in investing in SEZs. Companies that operate in SEZs are normally given special business incentives like duty-free imports, tax holidays, the benefit of having a more simplified procedure when dealing with the customs (FIAS, 2008, p. 2) or reduction in import taxes for foreign-based companies (Gunawardana and Sisombat, 2008). Since each type of SEZ is being governed by a different set of policies and rules particularly when it comes to taxation and conditions on investment and international trading (Dobrogonov and Farole, 2012, p. 5; Baissac, 2011, p. 23), this study aims to focus on analyzing the case of Savan-Seno Special Economic Zone (SASEZ) in Savannakhet Province in Laos. As such, the rationale for zone development will be tackled in details followed by discussing the geographical, economical, and international trade factors that can affect the performance of SASEZ. In relation to geographical, economical, and international trades, this study aims to identify the determinants of FDI, participation strategies used by foreign investors, and the common challenges these firms would normally encounter in SASEZ. The main objective of this study is to identify all geographic, economic, and international trade factors that

Mummy and Painted Cartonnage of an Unknown Woman Essay

Mummy and Painted Cartonnage of an Unknown Woman - Essay Example This can be revealed through the decorative funerary rituals that were done during the time. These practices reveal the fascination and the obsession of the people on immortality. One way through which this can be revealed is through the mummifications and decorations that could be found in museums. One of these beliefs and customs are revealed through the mummy and painted Cartonnage of unknown woman The mummy and painted Cartonnage of unknown woman looking upwards is made up of decorated layers of linen and plaster (The Walters Museum par 1). These are made into a shape of a woman. However, the woman is not known. It was believed that the mummy would sustain the life of the dead woman when it comes back. The mummification contains decorations all over. The mummy also contains a decoration of floral wreath on the wig, a winged scarab beetle and a broad collar (The Walters Museum par 1). The mummy also has decorations that include four men who are standing facing one direction. The f our men represent the four sons of Horus. According to the Egyptian culture, the four sons of Horus are associated with protection. They offer security from any threat. This further reveals the fact that the ancient Egyptians believed on immortality of the soul. This is revealed by the act of providing protection for the dead; in this case who are represented through a mummy. The decorations also include the boat of the funerary deity Sokar. This boat was a sacred one. The sacred boats are very significant to the ancient Egyptian culture. They were usually used when the gods were brought out from their sanctuaries where they processed before the public. The decorations on the mummy of the unknown woman also include a mummy of Osiris who is lying on a funerary bed. This reveals the importance of the god to the dead people. The God of Osiris was important for the protection of the dead. The mummy also contains a decoration of a divine falcon god. The falcon god is among the most impor tant gods of the Ancient Egypt. The divine falcon god is considered as the divine personification of the kinship of Egypt (Nicholson and Shaw 156). The god was also a representation of the god of heavens. In the ancient Egyptian culture, Horus relates to the Egyptian divine kingship. It was representation of the last king who has ever ruled in Egypt. Since the living king was Horus, when he died the new king would usually become the new image of Horus and the dead king would become Osiris (Nicholson and Shaw 185). The decoration on the mummy and painted Cartonnage of unknown woman also contains a short hieroglyphic text, which contains an offering formula. The burial customs that were observed in the ancient Egypt were meant to ensure immortality after death. All the rituals performed were believed to contribute to the immortality of humanity. This was the main reason why they preserved the bodies through mummification. In addition, the dead would be accompanied with the things the deceased would need afterlife. The mummification process usually took a period of 70 days. The internal organs were usually removed from the body after which the body was desiccated using a special kind of salts. The body could then be tied with linen. The latest mummies were also kept inside painted Cartonnage mummy cases. Therefore, the mummy of an unknown woman is more recent since it was made using the latest mummification technology that was used then. According to the ancient Eg

Executive Briefing Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Executive Briefing Paper - Essay Example Mentorship is not new to Burberry, although its experience is largely external, philanthropic, and along the line of corporate social responsibility. Presently, the Company is a corporate sponsor of IntoUniversity, a charity organisation dedicated to educating the youth through mentoring. Through its local learning centres, some of Burberry’s employees and managers are already dedicating time and effort as volunteers mentors and e-mentors, to Britain’s poor but deserving ‘young people [who] are inspired to learn’ (IntoUniversity, 2010). In 2011 alone, Burberry associates volunteered 5,500 hours of mentoring. For one particular Burberry associate, more than 200 young students were mentored globally in programmes ranging from three months to three years (Burberry Annual Report 2011/12, p. 64). Recent studies have highlighted the use of internal mentoring, as a technique to improve performance and enhance competitiveness. It is believed that by adopting intern al mentoring, the firm will benefit competitively. II. Proposition This paper proposes that Burberry engage in internal mentoring throughout the organisation until the highest levels, in order to enhance its competitiveness. Mentoring is seen as a tool not only for implementing social development programs external to the firm, but is also perceived as an effective instrument in pursuing the company’s strategic goal of remaining competitive. The viability of mentoring in Burberry will be discussed. III. Theoretical background Mentoring is ‘an intense and complex relationship where the mentor plays the role of peer and parent’ and functions as ‘teacher, advisor, sponsor, and friend’ (Ehrich & Hansford, 1999, p.93). Academic literature states that mentoring improves individual behaviour and performance, particularly in the training and encouragement of the young. However, the impact of mentoring on firm behaviour and outcomes has not been established, p articularly in the highest policy levels. Offstein, Shah and Gnyawali (2011) propose a model whereby the board of directors (BOD) mentors the chief executive officer (CEO), for the purpose of improving the CEO’s ability and motivation to ‘competitively engage the firm’ (p. 75). In the diagram that follows, the mentoring role of the BOD is depicted in terms of sponsorship, protection, and coaching or counselling. By providing legitimacy, a proper sense of discretion and risk-taking, and knowledge and learning, the mentoring exercise is expected to lead towards a greater firm competitiveness. Competitive behaviour is defined by their magnitude and complexity. Source: Offstein, Shah and Gnyawali, 2011, p. 80 According to the theory by Offstein, et al. (2011), competitive actions are ‘purposefully directed, specific, and observable.’ The model adheres to the principle that companies that undertake bold and complex competitive actions benefit as a result, because such actions disturb the status quo and establish new rules by which the competitive stage is reset. According to Schumpeter (1934) in his seminal study, first mover advantage (i.e., the advantage of being the first firm to undertake an innovation that defines a new competitive environment) generates abnormally high profits, until such time as other firms catch up and themselves pursue innovative actions in an effort to overcome the market leader. From the executive levels, mentoring by CEO to his division heads, and from them to the

Marketing report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Marketing report - Essay Example This strategy, attributed mostly to Ford Chairman Alan Mullaly, provided the firm the necessary resources to develop a very conscious and deliberate branding strategy. The continuous marketing and development of Ford Focus- one of the leading international brands of the firm shall therefore be viewed from the perspective of this new change in focus and the approach. (Daye & VanAuken, 2010). The current brand management program for the car is mostly focused on exploring the brand name of the Ford itself as well as the new and renewed strategy of managing only those brands which can be successfully marketed. The new paradigm in Ford therefore is based upon successfully managing the existing brands by cutting down those brands which cannot be successfully marketed. This report will discuss critically the current brand management techniques adapted for this brand besides performing the external environment assessment and how the firm can actually improve its CRM as well as MKIS for this brand. Ford Focus- a brief Review Ford Focus is one of the most successful brands of Ford which is being successfully marketed all over the world under the same name. ... It is also important to note that the Focus is priced reasonably however, it is still considered as one of the luxury brands aimed at consumers who are willing to afford high priced luxury cars. Due to this market segmentation strategy, Ford has been able to consistently market this product across the different markets with relative success. One of the key aspects of the overall brand strategy for this brand is the deliberate strategy for not rolling out the different brand extensions. It is generally believed that the brand extensions in automobile industry tend to weaken the existing brands and it is therefore critical that the automobile firms must engage into the practice of brand consolidation in order to ensure that the existing brands continue to perform and develop into leading market brands.(Lambin, Chumpitaz, & Schuiling, 2007). Current Brand Management Program As discussed above that the Ford has adapted a deliberate strategy of managing its current brands by discarding th ose brands which are hard to sell and manage. Due to financial crisis, most of the automobile firms faced significant financial constraints and reverted to further rationalize their product lines in order to become more efficient and effective in managing only those brands which can be successfully marketed. An effective branding strategy requires the successful leveraging of the power of the brand in order to cover the market more effectively. (Aaker, 2002) In order to effectively understand and critically analyse the current branding strategy for the Ford Focus will suggest that it is a sub-brand of the Ford itself. Given the market power of Ford as well as its overall market reputation, Ford Focus therefore tends to thrive on the strong brand image of Ford itself.

Strategies of Noki Company Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Strategies of Noki Company - Case Study Example It is evidently clear from the discussion that Noki Company is offering mobile phones, smartphones, mobile computers and networks to customers worldwide. In the light of technological changes brought about by modernization, research and development, this study will attempt to find out how Noki Company deals with the macro environment changes that affect its business. Part 1 of the study presents a PESTLE analysis, Part 2 is a SWOT analysis and Part 3 is the conclusion. Before the1980s, the telecom industry operated under a monopolistic environment, but for different political-economic reasons. US, Japan, and the UK ended this era of monopoly and allowed new players in the industry. Radical changes have been instituted since then, and liberalization has invited several telecom companies to participate in the telecom industry. The government of Finland has been supportive of technological changes. In the 1980s it has veered away with agricultural products and took the position to be on e of the leaders in the technology field. Thus, during this period Nokia has established a strong alliance with the government and has now be converted into the number one corporation in Finland. IT has turned out to be the third source of revenue for the country. The mobile phones introduced by Nokia developed to be an important tool in connecting people together around the world. Noki Company has three main core businesses, the Nokia Mobile Phones, Nokia Networks and Nokia Ventures. Noki Company is considered a very important employer; likewise, it also plays a vital role in the financial system in Finland financial market. It is a publicly traded company listed in NYSE, Helsinki and Frankfurt. The company has established branches in 120 countries worldwide employing 128,445 personnel. In 2009, Noki has an operating profit margin of 5.0 % a market share of 37% and has increased the country’s GDP.  

Republican vs democrat Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Republican vs democrat - Essay Example As liberals, they believe that the government has a great role to ensure welfare of individuals. In other words, they have strong conviction to support for social rights, tolerance for political and social change (Bardes, Shelley and Schmidt, 18). So they do not strongly oppose the ideology that the government should initiate move to reduce poverty and redistribute wealth. Republicans on the other hand believe conservatives build a strong force especially for supporting capitalism. To ensure capitalism, government should initiate positive actions. Unlike the Democrats, majority of republicans support for traditional values, strong level of patriotism, and they have this insight that it is possible for private sectors to outperform the government (Bardes, Shelley and Schmidt, 18). Unlike the Democrats, Republicans have a strong stand to oppose government program to redistribute income or wealth. In other words, Democrats promote economic security, equal opportunity and social liberty. On the other side, Republicans promote economic liberty, morality and social order. To sum this up in general detail, Democrats have strong stand to support property and economic equality while Republicans carry higher weight on social order and privileges (DuCharme and Constant, 11). Let us take a look at the stand of how Romney and Obama could further improve the health care system in the US. As the one representing for the Republican Party, Romney has strong conviction that the federal government should not take over health care (Camia). Rather, he wants to emphasize private market and each person could work hand on hand to further improve the health care system in the US. Obama on the other hand, believes that a state-based or state-centric plan for health care is more efficient as there is always an opportunity for insurance companies to raise costs for their policies and offerings (Camia). The implication of having private companies in the health care system to take control o f costing will possibly end up people paying relatively higher cost for health insurance as what Obama would want to point out. Obama and Romney stands have strong level of difference as the former believes in the positive government action in the economy while the latter considers positive government action to fulfill capitalism. Republicans therefore are more business-oriented relying on the potential of individual to contribute a significant change for the community. Thus, it is not far from their consideration to effectively look forward to economic sustainability. Maximization of profit is essential for them so they might have different stand on environmental sustainability. For them, it is all about creation of opportunity. The need to minimize level of carbon dioxide emission is an opportunity for them to create a significant point to produce offerings that would guarantee efficiency and productivity. Democrats on the other hand may not be so conscious of this for as long as they believe capitalism may not create any good at all for the environment. Al Gore for instance, a Democrat believes factories and technological advancement created by capitalist movement momentarily destroys the environment. So as the proponent of the â€Å"Inconvenient Truth† his claim about the global warming issue and industrialization triggers a remarkable impact on the stand of conservative individuals who are trying to maximize individual gain rather than long-term sustainability. At this point, it is clear Democrats tend to head to more

Cross Cultural Perspectives Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Cross Cultural Perspectives - Essay Example To cope with an unpredictable world you mut build an enormou amount of flexibility into your organization. While you cannot predict the future, you can get a handle on trend, which i a way to take advantage of change and convert rik into opportunitie. n today' tidal wave of global economic, technological, and ocial change, that name of the game for you and your organization i urvival. If you are going to withtand relentle and contantly growing global competition, you need to be different and radically change the way of doing buine. You have to give up the old hierarchical, adverarial approach which wate individual talent and ap energy in unproductive conflict. Intead you need to create a new management model, witch from management to leaderhip, manage change, build trut, drive out fear of failure and and create productive partnerhip in which everyone can offer their unique knowledge and talent. If you know how to help your organization to do thi, you can make a deciive difference. How you change a buine unit to adapt to hifting economy and market i a matter of management tyle. Evolutionary change, that involve etting direction, allocating reponibilitie, and etablihing reaonable timeline for achieving objective, i relatively painle. However, it i rarely fat enough or comprehenive enough to move ahead of the curve in an evolving world where take are high, and the repone time i hort. When faced with market-driven urgency, abrupt and ometime diruptive change, uch a dramatic downizing or reengineering, may be required to keep the company competitive. In ituation when timing i critical to ucce, and companie mut get more efficient and productive rapidly, revolutionary change i demanded. When chooing between evolutionary change and revolutionary action, a leader mut purue a balanced and pragmatic approach. winging too far to revolutionary extreme may create "an organizational culture that i o impatient, and o focued on change, that it fail to give new initiative and new peronnel time to take root, tabilize, and grow. What' more, it create a high-tenion environment that intimidate rather than nurture people, leaving them with little or no emotional invetment in the company." Group, ocietie, or culture have value that are largely hared by their member. The value identify thoe object, condition or characteritic that member of the ociety conider important; that i, valuable. In the United tate, for example, value might include material comfort, wealth, competition, individualim or religioity. The value of a ociety can often be identified by noting which people receive honor or repect. In the U, for example, profeional athlete are honored (in the form of monetary payment) more than college profeor, in part becaue the ociety repect peronal value uch a phyical activity, fitne, and competitivene more than mental activity and

Constitution of India Essay Example for Free

Constitution of India Essay Section 10(3)(c) of the Passport Act authorizes the Passport authority to impound a Passport if it deems it necessary to do so in the in the interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of India, friendly relations of India with any foreign country, or in the interest of the general public. Maneka’s passport was impounded by the central Government under the Passport Act in the interest of the general public. Maneka filed a writ petition challenging the order on the ground of violation of her Fundamental Rights under Article 21. One of the major grounds of challenge was that the order impounding the Passport was null and void as it had been made without affording her an opportunity to being heard in her defence. The court laid down a number of propositions seeking to make Article 21 much more meaningful than hitherto. ↠ The court reiterated the proposition that Article 14, 19 and 21 are not mutually exclusive. A law prescribing a procedure for depriving a person of ‘personal liberty’ has to meet the requirements of Article 19. Also the procedure established by law in Article 21 must answer the requirement of Article 14 as well. ↠ The expression ‘Personal liberty’ in Article 21 was given an expansive interpretation. The expression ‘Personal liberty’ ought not be read in a narrow and restricted sense so as to exclude those attributes of personal liberty which are specifically dealt with in Article 19. The right to travel abroad falls under Article 21. ↠ The most significant and creative aspect of Maneka case, is the re-interpretation by the Court of the expression ‘procedure established by law’ used in article 21. Article 21 would no longer mean that law could prescribe some semblance of procedure, however arbitrary or fanciful, to deprive a person of his personal liberty. It now means that the procedure must satisfy certain requisites in the sense of being fair and reasonable. The procedure cannot be arbitrary unfair or unreasonable. As the right to travel abroad falls under art 21, natural justice must be applied while exercising the power of impounding a Passport under the Passport Act. Although the Passport Act does not expressly provide for the requirement of hearing before a passport is impounded, yet the same has to be implied therein. Case 2 Sunil Batra vs. Delhi Administration (1980) The Court has given several directives to improve many aspects of prison administration and condition of prisoners. In this case, the Court has pointed out that its powers under Art. 32 are free from the rigid restraints of the traditional English writs. Prison torture is not beyond the reach of the Supreme Court under Article 32. For this purpose, the Court treats letters from prisoners as writ petitions. In this case, the judicial process was set in motion by a letter written by a prisoner to a Judge of the Supreme Court complaining of the brutal attack by the prison staff on a fellow prisoner. Forsaking all procedural formalities, â€Å"since freedom was at stake†, the letter was treated by the Court as a petition for the writ of Habeas Corpus. Case 3 Hussainara Khatoon vs. Home Secretary – State of Bihar (1979) Hussaainara Khatoon case of the Bihar undertrials started with an article written in Indian Express. An advocate then filed a petition under Article 32 in the Supreme Court to protect the personal liberty of the undertrials. The Supreme Court has laid great emphasis on speedy trial of criminal offences and has emphasized: â€Å"It is implicit in the broad sweep and content of Article 21†. A fair trial implies a speedy trial. No procedure can be ‘reasonable fair or just’ unless that procedure ensures a speedy trial for determination of the guilt of such person. The Supreme Court has directed release of all undertrials who have been in jail for periods longer than the maximum term of imprisonment for which they could be sentenced if convicted of the offence charged. The Court also directed that the undertrial prisoners, who are accused of multiple offences and who have already been in jail for the maximum term for which they could be sentenced on conviction, even if the sentences awarded to them were consecutive and not concurrent, should be released forthwith, since their continued detention clearly violates not only human dignity but also their Fundamental Right under Art.21 of the Constitution. The Supreme Court has taken a big innovative step forward in humanizing the administration of criminal justice by suggesting that free legal aid be provided by the State to poor prisoners facing a prison sentence. Case 4 Keshavananda Bharati vs. State of Kerala (1973) The State of Kerala passed the Kerala Land Reforms Act. 1963. This Act affected the interest of the petitioner, Keshavananda Bharati, Swamiji of a mutt. So he filed a writ petition before the Supreme Court under Article 32 of the constitution, contending that his fundamental rights under Article 14,19(1)(f),25,26 and 31 were violated by the Kerala Land Reforms Act. While the case was pending, the parliament passed three constitutional Amendments, viz., 24th, 25th 29th Amendments. The constitution Twenty-fourth Amendment repealed article 19(1) (f) which read â€Å"to acquire, hold and dispose of property†. It also repealed Article 31, i.e., compulsory acquisition of property. It made several other changes. It also included the Kerala Land Reforms Act in the ninth schedule, thereby making them immune from attack on the ground of fundamental rights. As a result, the fundamental right to property was deleted from the constitution. The petitioner felt that, by these Amendments, he would lose the case in the court. So, he amended his writ petition before the Supreme Court, challenged the validity of 24th, 25th 29th Amendments. He contended that though the power of the parliament to amend was wide, it was not unlimited. The power to amend under Article 368 should not empower the parliament to destroy the basic features of the constitution. The Supreme Court’s judgment in this case is as follows: i) The constitution Twenty-fourth (Amendment) Act, 1971, section 2(a) (b) of the constitution Twenty-fifth (Amendment) Act, and the constitution Twenty-ninth (Amendment) Act are valid. ii) The decision of the majority in Golaknath’s case that the word ‘Law’ in Article 13(2) included Amendments to the constitution the Article operated as a limitation upon the power to amend the constitution under Article 368 is erroneous, and so, is overruled. iii) The power of Amendment includes within itself the power to add, alter or repeal the various Articles of the constitution, including those relating to fundamental rights. iv) There is no power to amend or alter the basic structure of the constitution. v) The First part of the Article 31-C is valid, and the second part of the Article 31-C laying down â€Å"no law containing a declaration that if it is for giving effect to such policy shall be called in question in any court on the ground that it doesn’t give effect to such policy† is invalid. vi) There is no inherent or implied limitations on the power of Amendment under Article 368. Case 5 Air India vs. Nergesh Meerza (1981) A regulation made by Air India, a statutory corporation, fixed the normal age of retirement of air hostesses at 35 yrs but authorized the managing director to extend the same to 45 yrs at his option subject to other conditions being satisfied. The regulation was held bad as it armed the managing director with uncanalized and unguided discretion to extend the age of retirement of any air hostess. No guidelines, principles or norms were laid down subject to which the power was to be exercised. Nor was there any procedural safeguard available to an air hostess who was denied extension. A regulation providing for termination of service of an airhostess in Air India on her first pregnancy has been held to be arbitrary and abhorrent to the notions of a civilized society. Case 6 Visakha vs. State of Rajasthan (1997) The Supreme Court has declared sexual harassment of a working woman at her place of work as amounting to violation of rights of gender equality and right to life and liberty which is a clear violation of Article 14, 15 and 21 of the Constitution. Article 21 guarantees right to life with dignity. Accordingly the Court has observed in this connection: â€Å"the meaning and content of the Fundamental Rights guaranteed in the constitution of India are of sufficient amplitude to encompass all the facets of gender equality including prevention of sexual harassment or abuse† Sexual harassment also violates the victim’s fundamental right under Article 19(1)(g) â€Å"to practice any profession or to carry out any occupation, trade or business†. Thus Article 32 is attracted. In the absence of any domestic law relating to sexual harassment in India, the Supreme Court has itself laid down under Article 32 some directions for prevention of such harassment. These directions are binding and enforceable and are required to be strictly observed in all work places until suitable legislation is enacted to occupy the field. Case 7 M R Balaji vs. State of Mysore (1963) An order of the Mysore Government issued under Article 15(4) reserved seats for admission to the state Medical and Engineering colleges for Backward classes(28%) and ‘more’ Backward classes(22%). This was in addition to the reservation of seats for SCs (15%) and for STs (3%). Backward and more backward classes were designated on the basis of ‘castes’ and ‘communities’ The Supreme Court characterized Article 15(4) as an exception to Article 15(1) (as well as to Article 29(2)]. The court declared the order bad on several grounds in this case. ↠ The first defect in the Mysore order was that it was based solely on caste without regard to other relevant factors and this was not permissible under Article 15(4) ↠ Secondly, the test adopted by the state to measure educational backwardness was the basis of the average of student population in the last three high school classes of all high schools in the state in relation to a thousand citizens of that community. This average for the whole state was 6.9 per thousand. The vice of the Mysore order was that it included in the list of backward classes, castes or communities whose average was slightly above, or very near or just below the state average(e.g., Lingayats (7.1) were mentioned in BC list). ↠ Thirdly, the court declared that Article 15(4) does not envisage classification between backward and more backward classes as was made by the Mysore order. In Balaji case, the Supreme Court could sense the danger in treating ‘caste’ as the sole criterion for determining social and educational backwardness. The importance of the judgment lies in realistically appraising the situation when the court said that economic backwardness would provide a more reliable yardstick for determining social backwardness because more often educational backwardness is the outcome of social backwardness. The court drew distinction between ‘caste’ and ‘class’. An attempt at finding a new basis for ascertaining social and educational backwardness in place of caste is reflected in the Balaji decision. The court also ruled that reservation under Article 15(4) should be reasonable. It should not be such as to defeat or nullify the main rule of equality enshrined in Article 15(1). While it would not be possible to predicate the exact permissible percentage of reservation, it can be stated in a general and broad way that it ought to be less than 50%. Case 8 Indra Sawhney vs. Union of India (1992) (Mandal Commission Case) The Supreme Court has taken cognizance of many complex but very momentous questions having a bearing on the future welfare and stability of the Indian society. ↠ The overall reservation in a year is limited to a maximum of 50% ↠ Amongst the classes granted reservation, those who have been benefited from reservation and have thus improved their social status (called the ‘creamy layer’ by the court), should not be allowed to benefit from reservation over and over again. This means that the benefit of reservation should not be misappropriated by the upper crust but that the benefit of reservation should be allowed to filter down to the lowliest so that they may benefit from reservation to improve their position. The court has said that if a member of IAS, IPS or any other All India Service, his social status rises; he is no longer socially disadvantaged. This means that, in effect, a family can avail of the reservation only once. ↠ An element of merit has been introduced into the scheme of reservation. o Promotions are to be merit based and are to be excluded from the reservation rule. o Certain posts are to be excluded from the reservation rule and recruitment to such posts is to be merit based. Minimum standards have to be laid for recruitment to the reserved posts.