Potato Famine essays

Potato Famine essays Hundreds of thousands were lost, another million fled to make better lives for themselves as the result of the great potato famine. Leading up to the great potato famine of Ireland, in 1800 the British Act of Union made Ireland a part of the United Kingdom. This Act removed the independent Irish Parliament in Dublin which was 500 years old, Ireland was under the jurisdiction of Britain's Imperial Parliament at Westminster, England. Even though Ireland was supposed to be represented by 100 members, the Catholics were banned from being representatives. (1) The British imposed a series of Penal Laws, which were established to punish the Irish for supporting the Catholic leader Stuart King, James II. Being that Ireland was 80 percent Catholic, the Penal Laws were meant to degrade the Irish so harshly that they would never again allow the Irish to be in a position to seriously threaten Protestant rule. Protestants owned just 10 percent of Ireland's land in 1600. In 1778, the Protestants now owned 95 percent of the land. When a Catholic landowner died, their estate would be divided equally among all of his sons, reducing the value. If any son abandoned the Catholic faith to become a Protestant, he would inherit all of his father's property. (2) It is not known for sure who exactly introduced Ireland with the potato. Some say was famous English explorer, sea captain and poet, Walter Raleigh, other believe that the potato washed up on the beaches, a shipwreck which sank off the Irish coast during a powerful storm. On thing for certain is that the potato caught on very quickly, its popularity was probably because it produced more food per acre than any that the Irish farmers had grown before. The potato was very hearty and could feed many. During times of war it was also as widely used, when the soldiers would destroy the crops, the potato would still be buried underground allowing the people ...

The U.S. Environmental Movement

The U.S. Environmental Movement When did the U.S. environmental movement begin? Its hard to say for sure. Nobody held an organizing meeting and drew up a charter, so there is no absolute definitive answer to the question of when the environmental movement really began in the United States. Here are some important dates, in reverse chronological order: Earth Day April 22, 1970, the date of the first Earth Day celebration in the United States, is often cited as the start of the modern environmental movement. On that day, 20 million Americans filled parks and took to the streets in a nationwide teach-in and protest about critical environmental issues facing the United States and the world. It is probably around that time that environmental issues also truly became political issues. Silent Spring Many other people associate the beginning of the environmental movement with the 1962 publication of Rachel Carsons groundbreaking book, Silent Spring, which spelled out the dangers of the pesticide DDT. The book awakened many people in the United States and elsewhere to the potential environmental and health hazards of using powerful chemicals in agriculture and led to a ban on DDT. Up until that point, we understood that our activities could be harmful to the environment, but Rachel Carsons work suddenly made it clear to many of us that we were also harming our bodies in the process. Earlier, Olaus and Margeret Murie were early pioneers of conservation, using the burgeoning science of ecology to encourage the protection of public lands where functioning ecosystems could be preserved. Aldo Leopold, a forester who later laid the foundations of wildlife management, continued focusing ecological science on the quest for a more harmonious relationship with nature.   A First Environmental Crisis An important environmental concept, the idea that active engagement by people is necessary to protect the environment, probably first reached the general public at the very beginning of the 20th century. During the period 1900-1910, wildlife populations in North America were at an all-time low. Populations of beaver, white-tailed deer, Canada geese, wild turkey, and many duck species were almost extinct from market hunting and loss of habitat. These declines were obvious to the public, which largely lived in rural areas at the time. As a result, new conservation laws were enacted (for example, the Lacey Act), and the very first National Wildlife Refuge was created.  Ã‚   Still, others might point to May 28, 1892, as the day when the U.S. environmental movement began. That is the date of the first meeting of the Sierra Club, which was founded by noted preservationist John Muir and is generally acknowledged as the first environmental group in the United States. Muir and other early members of the Sierra Club were largely responsible for preserving the Yosemite Valley in California and persuading the federal government to establish Yosemite National Park. No matter what first sparked the U.S. environmental movement or when it actually began, its safe to say that environmentalism has become a powerful force in American culture and politics. Ongoing efforts to understand more clearly how we can use natural resources without depleting them, and enjoy natural beauty without destroying it, is inspiring many of us to take a more sustainable approach to the way we live and to tread a little more lightly on the planet. Edited by Frederic Beaudry.

Is Justice for All Possible in America Research Paper

Is Justice for All Possible in America - Research Paper Example The civil war paved the way for slaves to be freed so that they receive just and equal treatment; while the feminist movement has been slowly working towards changing the way women are viewed in the home and at the workplace (Kessler, 304). The Gay-Pride movement has been fighting for the acceptance of gay and lesbian people and has been gaining acceptance slowly. Inclusion of Different Groups The laws of a state or country are developed in order to provide a fair and just treatment to all citizens. An important issue that needs to be considered is the definition of the term ‘citizen’. Historically, women, slaves and the lower classes have rarely been considered as citizens, and the rights of these groups have not been considered when evaluating the extent to which the legal system is just. This means that often, even the most effective of justice systems did not represent a large portion of humans living in the country (Schmidtz, 110). Before the civil war, the inhuman treatment of slaves and other people of color was not addressed by the justice systems; and for a long time, women suffered in the workplace and at home because they were deemed inferior. Homosexual persons still find it difficult to gain acceptance in some parts of the country; and find it difficult to enter the army or share a bond of matrimony in some states. Although American laws restrict the unjust treatment that can be meted out to minority groups; this does not ensure that implicit forms of discrimination against minorities have been dealt with. From a philosophical perspective, minorities often do not experience just treatment from the majorities even in America. Kessler (174-176) provides various examples of how the well... Although American laws restrict the unjust treatment that can be meted out to minority groups; this does not ensure that implicit forms of discrimination against minorities have been dealt with. From a philosophical perspective, minorities often do not experience just treatment from the majorities even in America. Kessler (174-176) provides various examples of how the well meaning individuals of minority status are discriminated against under the guise of concern for them. He also raises concern about the manner in which ‘Affirmative action programs’ are carried out. The often cited rationale behind these programs is that they provide compensatory justice to groups that have been denied opportunities in the past (Rawls, 160). While these programs report admirable growth and development for members of minority groups, in principle they are unfair to Caucasian males who are less likely to be chosen when all other factors are equal.Issues in Providing JusticeInstances like the one cited above highlight the limitations in providing justice to all. One central issue is that the concept of justice and the manner in which it is practiced is heavily influenced by the perspective, opinions and principles of individuals and groups. Groups that are considered ‘different’ are rarely afforded an equal status with others as it is believed that this would be ‘unjust’ to all concerned. This argument has been used to keep individuals of homosexual orientation out of the military, rarely targeted as effectively.

Corporate governance for lebanese SMEs Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Corporate governance for lebanese SMEs - Essay Example This study hence is an analyzing assessment for whether this model would be, to any extent, applicable to the Lebanese context. It reveals the results of the first phase of an ongoing research aiming at investigating the extent to which the Anglo-Saxon System of Corporate Governance be adopted by companies in Middle-Eastern countries, specifically the case of SMEs in Lebanon?Identifying whether it contributes in improving or hindering their performance? Using a purposeful sampling approach, semi-structured interviews and focus groups technique is applied to 90 owners/shareholders, managers and employees from the trading, hotel and restaurant sectors that dominate Lebanese SMEs (table 1) and comprise 50.40% of the total population.This technique provides the advantage of comparing all participants’ responses to the main question and provides more in-depth information that cannot be obtained through questionnaires. This discussion answers the above mentioned research questions t hrough adopting the interpretive approach and a thematic analysis. Data will be collected and interpreted deeply in order to identify the extent to which socio-cultural factors affect a firm’s corporate governance structure and hence its performance. 1.1 Purpose of the Study According to the literature, there are much more forms of corporate governance, based on different structures of ownership and affected by large variations of cultural background, legal framework, political environment and economic climate (J. Solomon & A. Solomon, 2004). The â€Å"fit† between cultural values and organizational structures resulted from a fusion of human culture with the models of organization; therefore, it is recommended that organizations enter into arrangements that match with our basic cultural perspective (Hofstede (1991). In other terms, the organizational structural elements are shaped by values that are compatible with and suitable to cultural values as a component of the organization’s implicit models (Hambrick & Brandon, 1988). Swidler (1986) argues that organizations can be viewed as social entities integrated into the institutional and value structures constituting the culture of a society; in this view, organizations and societies tend to reflect each other structurally. In particular, national cultural differences influence the shape and functioning of organizations (Hickson & Pugh, 1995; Hofstede, 1991). Besides, literature found that good governance has a positive impact on organizational performance. Gemmill and Thomas (2004) note that good corporate governance and firm value are positively correlated. Corporate governance mechanisms can guarantee for shareholders an adequate return on their investments (Shleifer & Vishny, 1997). Given the culture-structure link and the correlation between good governance and performance, the purpose of this study is to identify the extent to which corporate governance model in Lebanon fits with the A nglo-American model. If it fits, the objective of the study will be how to maintain it? If not, the study will analyze the benefits of proposing a new model of corporate governance or adapting the existing one. 1.2 Nature of the Study The empirical analysis contained herein is of qualitative nature. Qualitative research seeks to understand the social world from the perspectives of research participants and the detailed descriptions of their experiences (Myers, 2000).The richness and depth of explorations and descriptions represent one of the

Endangered Species Should Not Be Protected Essay Example for Free

Endangered Species Should Not Be Protected Essay Protection from extinction of endangered species has always been one of the more popular advocacies of environmentalists. So popular is this cause that any expression of indifference, or more than that, opposition, is certain to elicit a public uproar. This paper intends to argue against the protection of endangered species, citing three supporting arguments: (1) protection is against evolutionary theory, (2) recovery plans are vague relative to cost and time, and (3) laws pertaining to protection are biased. With regard to the first argument, the extinction of a species of flora / fauna is a natural occurrence that is necessary for the maintenance of balance in the world. Having said this, the protection of endangered species from probable extinction is unhealthy in the sense that it is an act of interference to nature’s way of upholding the natural disposition of things. Such a stand is not cruel, nor is it misguided, as most environmental advocates might propose. In fact, the statement is a practical application of the (in)famous theory of natural selection by Charles Darwin, wherein he purports that the extinction of a specie is not random nor wrong because it is an expression of the specie’s inability to survive in its current environment. This is exactly what is happening to the endangered species at present. It may be argued that Darwin’s theory is acceptable only in so far as extinction due to â€Å"natural causes† is concerned. But what is a â€Å"natural cause† for extinction? In response to this anticipated objection, let us digest the argumentation and its logic. If causes attributed to man can not be considered natural then it may be said that at present, no cause will ever be considered a â€Å"natural cause†. If there is no â€Å"natural cause† then, one can say that all incidents of extinction are unnatural. Following this line of argument we must then conclude that Darwin’s theory is therefore false, since it is implied in his work that change is constant in the environment, and with every change there is a species that is at the brink of extinction because it cannot adapt to the change. But Darwin’s theory of evolution has been proven to be true; hence, what is the most logical line of reasoning one can pursue? Since man is a species, his activities, albeit identified by environmentalists as the cause of the endangerment of species, can be construed as the â€Å"natural cause† of extinction of certain plants and animals. Hence, in â€Å"Causes of Endangerment† (Kurpis) the three major factors / causes (with a fourth one being a conjunction of minor factors such as pollution and limitations in distribution) advocates of specie protection have determined as causes of extinction due to man, namely: habitat destruction, overexploitation, and introduction of exotic species, are not â€Å"wrong† or â€Å"evil† but manifestations of the adaptation the human specie has undertaken and is undertaking. It is â€Å"survival of the fittest† at its finest. The second argument of this paper utilizes the report of the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) entitled â€Å"Endangered Species: Time and Costs Required to Recover Species are Largely Unknown†. Succinctly put, the second point against the protection of endangered species is that time and resources which may and should have been channeled to other causes are poured into an advocacy that has no time limit and has no definite budget. Such an investment is an obvious waste of resources, resources that could have benefited the greater good. In the report, dated April 6, 2006, the GAO specified that under the Endangered Species Act, all recovery plans are required to â€Å"incorporate, to the maximum extent practicable: (1) site specific management actions, (2) time and cost estimates for completing site specific management actions, and (3) recovery criteria† (â€Å"Endangered Species†, 11). Of the 107 plans under scrutiny by the GAO, an overwhelming 73 plans had no definite time-line relative to recovery of the endangered species they represent, and of the remaining 34, 27 indicated a timetable of 10-50 years before the species are recovered (â€Å"Endangered Species†, 18). Aside from that, 87 of the 107 plans failed to indicate cost estimates (â€Å"Endangered Species†, 19) – with the â€Å"cost† here excluding other financial concerns which may be attributed to the protection of endangered species. These facts present the alarming reality in the realm of endangered specie recovery, reality which points to evident wastage of resources with unpredictable results. It is one thing to commit to a cause; funding a futile exercise of human sympathy to the brink of foolishness is another. The third and final argument of this paper states that laws pertaining to endangered specie protection and recovery are biased. As a disclaimer, the author has not had the opportunity to peruse all the laws concerning endangered species; what is meant by â€Å"laws† here is the usual steps undertaken by any government to protect endangered species, such as placing them in an enclosure and passing bills that protect them from hunting (regardless of purpose) by man. To begin, the website â€Å"www. endangeredspecie. com† provides an essay that answers the question of why endangered species should be saved. In a nutshell, the site purports that â€Å"plants and animals hold medicinal, agricultural, ecological, commercial and aesthetic/recreational value† (Kurpis) and hence, should be protected â€Å"so that future generations can experience their presence and value† (Kurpis). As previously mentioned, â€Å"protection† more often than not consists of placing a specie in a reservation, and under a security blanket of laws that defend them from being hunted for any reason. With regard to the farmer, it is but common sense to arrive at the conclusion that the maintenance of a reservation, or an enclosure is financially straining and is a waste of viable land (in the case of reservations) which can be utilized for the greater good. The main reason for protecting an endangered specie is its promise of possessing medicinal, agricultural, or any other beneficial attribute; what if the specie turns out to be â€Å"useless† after years and years of protection? The whole project, then, of protecting it because of its â€Å"promise† is reduced to being a waste of an exercise. The land and other resources used could have been channeled elsewhere. Extinction of certain species who can not adapt to change should not be regarded as injurious to nature, it is a mere natural progression in the evolutionary theory. In the consideration of natural causes to extinction we must regard all species as equal, including man. Despite the efforts of environmental advocates to either place man on a pedestal as protector or belittle man as a cause of destruction, in the natural consideration of things, man is nothing but a very successful animal in the environment. Meaning all species of flora and fauna have the natural opportunity to adapt and change as the environment requires it. If certain populations of man gain power of the land, it is not an effect of unnatural causes but a normal progression of change and survival. The acts of man are not unnatural, they are only acts using complicated tools and structures. As such, those species that can not adapt and survive are not victims but rather those that can not transition into the changed environment. Exhausting resources to protect such weak species is not only futile, as Darwin already explains that the weak will not survive, it is also reckless in that resources, limited as they are, can be allocated to more productive causes. Acts of protectionism in a false hope of finding usefulness is a gamble very similar to the lottery. While these individuals gamble resources in a blind pursuit, man and many other stronger species suffer. Works Cited Kurpis, Lauren. â€Å"Why Save Endangered Species? † EndangeredSpecie. com. 13 April 2009 http://www. endangeredspecie. com/Why_Save_.htm This is an essay that highlights principal values of flora and fauna and the reasons to which endangered species should be saved or protected. Among the reasons cited for the protection on animals are medicinal, agricultural, ecological, commercial and aesthetic value of plants and animals. Through this essay it is meant to communicate that because all flora and fauna can be found to contribute a purpose, even aesthetic, then they are useful or potentially useful and should be protected. Kurpis, Lauren. â€Å"Causes of Endangerment. † EndangeredSpecie. com. 13 April 2009 http://www. endangeredspecie. com/causes_of_endangerment. htm A discussion on the reasons for the occurrence of endangerment of species, this is a discussion of the responsibilities of man as a protector of species and as the major cause for the occurrence of endangerment. The discussion here centers on the act of man that invade the environments of fauna and flora causing an imbalance. The author claims that man is the principal cause of imbalance in the environment victimizing other species, as such the protection of such species should be the responsibility of man. U. S. Government Accountability Office. â€Å"Endangered Species: Time and Costs Required to Recover Species are Largely Unknown. † 6 April 2006. U. S. Government Accountability Office. 13 April 2009 http://gao. gov/ This report focuses on the evaluation of the laws and regulations enacted under the authority created by the Endangered Species Act of 1973. This evaluation focuses not on the successes of the act but on the efforts of protection launched under its authority and how these projects were particularly created and enacted. This report examines 107 protection plans as regards its goal, planning and achievement.

John D. Rockeffelar and Northern Securities :: history

John D. Rockeffelar and Northern Securities In 1859 John D. Rockefeller started one of the greatest monopolies of the progressive era. The Standard Oil Company grew to dominate the oil industry and became one of the first big trust in the United States. In 1870 the Northern Pacific Railway which span from Duluth and St. Paul, Minnesota, to Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon. Northern Pacific Railway was the first to offer passenger and service across the Western U.S. John Rockefeller was born July 8th, 1839, the second of six children. He took a business course at Folsom Mercantile College in 1855. He was employed as an assistant bookkeeper by Hewitt and Turtle. He was paid only $50 for 3 months of work. Moving up to a cashier he made $25 a month. With $1,000 saved and another $1,000 borrowed form his father, Rockefeller formed a partnership in commission business with Maurice B. Clark. In the same year the first oil well was drilled at Titusville in western Pennsylvania, give a rise to the petroleum industry. Cleveland soon became a major refining center of he booming new industry. In 1863 Rockefeller and Clark entered the oil business as refiners. With Samuel Andrews as their new partner they named the company Andrews, Clark & Co. In 1865 the partnership was broke because of disagreement in management. Rockefeller bought the Company for $72,500 and with Andrews it was named Rockefeller & Andrews. The oil industry began to expand because of the use of kerosene lamps. Rockefeller renamed the business to Standard Oil Company when his brother William, Andrews, Henry M. Flagler, S.V. Harkness, and others joined his partnership. The company reached a capitol of $1million. By 1872 Standard Oil had purchased and controlled nearly all the refining firms in Cleveland, also two refineries in New York. The company was able to refine 29,000 barrels of crude oil a day and had its own cooper shop manufacturing wooden barrels. In 1882 Standard merged all its properties into Standard Oil Trusts, increasing the capitol to $70million, and 42 certificate holders. Ten years later the trust was broke up by Ohio court decision. The companies that made up the trust later joined in the formation of Standard Oil Company (New Jersey), since NJ had adopted a law that permitted a parent company to own the stock of other companies. Standard Oil owned three-fourths of the petroleum business in the U. John D. Rockeffelar and Northern Securities :: history John D. Rockeffelar and Northern Securities In 1859 John D. Rockefeller started one of the greatest monopolies of the progressive era. The Standard Oil Company grew to dominate the oil industry and became one of the first big trust in the United States. In 1870 the Northern Pacific Railway which span from Duluth and St. Paul, Minnesota, to Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon. Northern Pacific Railway was the first to offer passenger and service across the Western U.S. John Rockefeller was born July 8th, 1839, the second of six children. He took a business course at Folsom Mercantile College in 1855. He was employed as an assistant bookkeeper by Hewitt and Turtle. He was paid only $50 for 3 months of work. Moving up to a cashier he made $25 a month. With $1,000 saved and another $1,000 borrowed form his father, Rockefeller formed a partnership in commission business with Maurice B. Clark. In the same year the first oil well was drilled at Titusville in western Pennsylvania, give a rise to the petroleum industry. Cleveland soon became a major refining center of he booming new industry. In 1863 Rockefeller and Clark entered the oil business as refiners. With Samuel Andrews as their new partner they named the company Andrews, Clark & Co. In 1865 the partnership was broke because of disagreement in management. Rockefeller bought the Company for $72,500 and with Andrews it was named Rockefeller & Andrews. The oil industry began to expand because of the use of kerosene lamps. Rockefeller renamed the business to Standard Oil Company when his brother William, Andrews, Henry M. Flagler, S.V. Harkness, and others joined his partnership. The company reached a capitol of $1million. By 1872 Standard Oil had purchased and controlled nearly all the refining firms in Cleveland, also two refineries in New York. The company was able to refine 29,000 barrels of crude oil a day and had its own cooper shop manufacturing wooden barrels. In 1882 Standard merged all its properties into Standard Oil Trusts, increasing the capitol to $70million, and 42 certificate holders. Ten years later the trust was broke up by Ohio court decision. The companies that made up the trust later joined in the formation of Standard Oil Company (New Jersey), since NJ had adopted a law that permitted a parent company to own the stock of other companies. Standard Oil owned three-fourths of the petroleum business in the U.

19th century Spain Essay

19th century Spain saw her empire crumble away as colonies like Chile, Peru, and Cuba rose in arms and achieved their independence.In the Philippines, Spain faced the threat of yet another revolution due to mourning social unrest among the natives. Jose Rizal, at age 35 was the greatest political enemy of Spain in the Philippines with his exceptional linguistics ability and interest in the science and arts Rizal was most effective in his campaign for freedom as a writer. His novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo were scratching indictments of Spanish Tyranny and church which came to acquire immense political power. In Ghent, Belgium 1891 as Rizal narrates while he is writing the chapter of Simoun in his novel El Filibusterismo â€Å"My country has a social cancer that should be exposed to all Filipinos and to this; I intend to record your condition faithfully without prejudice. I shall fit the shroud that covers the evil, sacrificing everything to truth even vanity itself, for as your son I ‘am conscious of my defects and weakness. The books contain certain revelations so, scandalous that no one dares touch them. I have attempted that others refused to undertake. I tried to correct the slender which for centuries has been attributed to our nation. See more:  Manifest Destiny essay Desiring our common welfare and searching for the best cure Rizal had done what the ancients did with their sick. They lay on the temple steps so that anyone who comes to pray might offer them as remedy. Rizal had unmasked hypocrisy which under the guise of religion has impoverished and brutalized Filipinos. He had distinguished true religion from false beliefs and those who exploit the Holy word that made us Filipinos believed in their lies which had put Catholicism to shame. He had lifted the curtain to show the truth about our government, disclosing to our fellowmen our defects, our vices; our culpable and cowardly indifferences resulted in our own misery. In his novels, he tried to correct the harmful accusations against Filipinos. He had bought out in the open the sad state of his country a grievances and frustrations. Crisostomo Ibarra, he had seen what Rizal seen. The persona of Rizal was also in Ibarra, for this reason they see as one. He asked foe reform but he failed and because of unexpected circumstances he was forced to assume another identity as Simoun. Philippines 1895 this was the start of revolution with the leadership of Andres Bonifacio. The Katipunan, son of the people teared their cedula that shows that as from that moment then they were not as under of the Spaniards. Rizal graduated from Ateneo Municipal de Manila. He obtained a Land Surveyor and Assessor Degree. He also studied Philosophy at the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Arts and Letters. And, this was not all; he registered for the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery course in ophthalmology, but did not complete the course on account of indiscriminate behavior against Filipino students. On July 6, 1892, he was imprisoned in Fort Santiago, on the charge of instigating unrest against Spain, he was exiled to Dapitan, in northwestern Mindanao. He remained in exile for four years, while he was in political exile in Dapitan, he practice medicine, he established a school for boys, promoted community development projects, he applied his knowledge in engineering by constructing a system of waterworks in order to furnish clean water to the towns people. In Dapitan he also met, fell in love and lived with Josephine Bracken. In 1896, the Katipunan, a nationalist secret society launched a revolt against the Spaniards, although Jose Rizal had no connection with the organization, his enemies were able to linked him with the revolt. To avoid being involved in the move to start a revolution, he asked Governor Ramon Blanco tosend him to Cuba but instead he was brought back to Manila and jailed for the second time in Fort Santiago. He advocated a political system that presented scope for Philippine’s participation in the Cortes, freedom of assembly, freedom of speech and equal rights for all citizens. In 1892, he legalized these social reforms, at the expense of being disbanded. He was openly declared ‘enemy of the state’ by the Spanish due to his rebellious nature and ideologies promoted in his novels. He was imprisoned in 1896, while his brother, Paciano, was tortured by the Spanish authorities. Due to his participation in the nascent rebellion in 1892, He was deported to Zamboanga. There, he not only helped the locals to build a school and hospital, but also led the effort towards incorporating a better water supply system. He was supportive of self sufficiency of the youth and resourcefulness of farmers. The four years of exile were also ones that witnessed the development of the revolution back home. In spite of being elected as Honorary President of the Katipunan, he condemned the revolution. He was an expert swordsman and a good shot. In the hope of securing political and social reforms for his country and at the same time educate his countrymen, Rizal, the greatest apostle of Filipino nationalism, published, while in Europe, several works with highly nationalistic and revolutionary tendencies. In March 1887, his daring book, NOLI ME TANGERE, a satirical novel exposing the arrogance and despotism of the Spanish clergy, was published in Berlin; in 1890 he reprinted in Paris, Morga’s SUCCESSOS DE LAS ISLAS FILIPINAS with his annotations to prove that the Filipinos had a civilization worthy to be proud of even long before the Spaniards set foot on Philippine soil; on September 18, 1891, EL FILIBUSTERISMO, his second novel and a sequel to the NOLI and more revolutionary and tragic than the latter, was printed in Ghent. Because of his fearless exposures of the injustices committed by the civil and clerical officials, Rizal provoked the animosity of those in power. This led himself, his relatives and countrymen into trouble with the Spanish officials of the country. As a consequence, he and those who had contacts with him, were shadowed; the authorities were not only finding faults but even fabricating charges to pin him down. Thus, he was imprisoned in Fort Santiago from July 6, 1892 to July 15, 1892 on a charge that anti-friar pamphlets were found in the luggage of his sister Lucia who arrive with him from Hong Kong. While a political exile in Dapitan, he engaged in agriculture, fishing and business; he maintained and operated a hospital; he conducted classes- taught his pupils the English and Spanish languages, the arts. For many years now the name Rizal has overtones of rebel cries. He is regarded as the symbol of revolutionary sentiments. Rizal had written novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo that indicates no respect for Spain nor to the religious orders which are considered to be the indestructible bond of union between Mother Spain and Philippine Archipelago and these books along with other witness which criticized the colonial regime and with his campaign to secure for his country certain rights which serve as steeping stones to autonomy and eventually to independence and with his ascendancy over his countrymen. He courted Josephine Bracken, an Irish woman. He did not marry her since marriage would require him to embrace Catholicism, which was against the revolution. 1896 witnessed a nationwide uprising in the Philippines, resulting in the proclamation of a democratic republic. He chose to serve in Cuba, to help victims of yellow fever. En route, Rizal was arrested in Barcelona and sent back to Manila. He was tried before a court-martial on the charges of ‘rebellion’ and ‘conspiracy’. He was convicted and sentenced to death. â€Å"I go where no are nor butchers, nor oppressors slaves where faith does not say where God is sovereign Lord:† -Rizal The revolution claimed on June 12 1898 when General Emilio Aguinaldo raised the Philippines flag for the first time and declared independence. A few years later, Dr. Jose Rizal was declared as the National Hero of the Republic of the Philippines.

Argumentative Essay Essay

Governments should be more involved in citizens diets Modern age supermarkets selling off the shelve foods are normal nowadays. Unfortunately the knowledge of what is healthy and what is not had been effected by this. People should be better educated on what is healthy and what is not. Healthier diets make healthier citizens and healthier citizens will save a lot of money in health care, bad diets do cause expensive health problems. Although it is general knowledge that unhealthy products are cheaper than healthy products, it is not general knowledge that products claiming to be healthy are usually full of harmful and unhealthy ingredients. It is time the government steps in to protect the population. Firstly, health problems caused by bad, unhealthy diets weigh heavily on health care expenses. Several population-based prevention policies can be expected to generate substantial health gains while entirely or largely paying for themselves through future reductions of health-care expenditures according to The Lancet (Cecchini et al., 2010). Just by eating healthier a reduction will be made possible, this alone should be reason enough for a government to get more involved Secondly, people will be stimulated to choose healthier products when prices for unhealthy products will be raised. The current situation is just the other way around. The healthier choice is more expensive. â€Å"With proper nutrition and regular exercise, you can reduce the costs of health insurance premiums, the amount you spend on medicines and the number of co-pays for doctor visits† according to Livestrong (Ellyn 2011). However true this may be, as long as healthier products cost more instead of less people will be inclined to buy more unhealthy products. Thirdly, in order to make the healthier decision, information about unhealthy ingredients should be clearer and more visible. Reading food labels is strangely enough rather difficult, excellent vision and extensive knowledge on what the ingredients mean are necessary to understand the labels. â€Å"It makes it easier to compare similar foods to see which is a healthier choice† according to the Mayo Clinic (2012), however easier to understand labelling, easier to read labelling will enable more people to making that choice. In conclusion, if governments decide to invest in educating the population it will enable and stimulate citizens to make healthier choices. In order to reach this goal the government should demand clearer and more visible information on products concerning the ingredients put a fairer price on healthier products.

History Notes Essay Example

History Notes Essay Example History Notes Essay History Notes Essay How successful were the labour governments of 1964-1970 in fulfilling their promise to create a New Britain? During 1964 to 1970, The Labour government planned to create a ‘New Britain’ under the leadership of Harold Wilson. The most important successes of the Labour government include education, social freedoms and the freedoms of women. However, the most important failures of labour included its lack of the scientific minds in the party and its failure of large economic and technological advancement. Firstly, the Labour Government had hopes of reviving and advancing the technology in Britain.In their manifesto, Labour stated ‘We shall create a New Britain – mobilising the resources of technology. ’ This can be supported by their development of a Ministry of Technology and an attempt to base government on scientific principles. In which an emphasis was placed on planning, management and professionalism. Socially, there was an advance towards a more m obile, less class-ridden Britain. With the introduction of the Establishment of the Race Relations Board, which aimed to tackle racial discrimination and promote racial equality.Before the Wilson period, Britain was viewed as segregated, however Labour wanted to change this and integrate society more. A success shown by Labour during this period was the attempt to break down the old class barriers. ‘It was a very good time for the arts and many aspects of education, the Open University in particular. ’ This provides information which supports the idea that the Labour governments of 1964–1970 were a success in creating a new modern Britain. As well as the Open University, Labour’s other education policies included; the development of comprehensive schools and the expansion of higher education.Leading on from this, Labour was successful in building upon social freedoms as well. The establishment of the Ministry of Arts under Jennie Lee increased cultural opp ortunities. This provided funding for the Arts Council and British Film Institute. By doing this, they showed concern to broaden cultural opportunities for all. Furthermore, the Wilson years were in many ways seen as successful and creative. ‘It was an era of social and sexual freedom. ’ As Paul Johnson wrote after the 1970 election ‘We no longer terrorise homosexuals. We do not force mothers to bring forth unwanted children into the world.We do not murder by the rope’. This showed signs of liberalisation against; homosexuality, divorce, abortion and the end of hanging. Thus, supporting the view of the Labour Government trying to create a new modern society. On the other hand, it can be seen that the Labour government never lived up to its manifesto promise to create a New Britain. One of the major factors why Labour was unsuccessful was due to its economic failures. Labour had higher tax rates than the Conservative government and the unions wanted to stop the technological advances in industries.Conservative policies of ‘Rising incomes and lower taxes have made possible a spectacular increase in spending on the essentials’ for British people. Another economic problem that arose during this period was Labour’s slowness to bring about devaluation. Devaluation was when the issuing government had mandated that the price of the currency in foreign dollars is lower than it was before. This added to economic problems as a result of inflation remaining high at 12% between 1969–1970. The Labour Government did not succeed in changing the living conditions of the people. Under Conservative rule the living standards of the British people have improved more than in the whole of the previous half-century. ’ This is shown where over 98% of the working population have jobs that have caused the standard of living for people to increase. This differs from Labour’s ideals, where they focused more on social refor ms rather than improving beneficial changes in the country. In addition, Conservatives did not believe the ideas Labour was suggesting about creating a New Britain. Rather they deemed it to be a ‘camouflage aged return to dreary doctrines which have already proved a failure. Also, the doctrine showed no mention of moral issues, because leaders like Wilson and Brown were conservative on such issues. The Conservatives believed what they were offering was an extension of prosperity which their policies had been proven to achieve. In conclusion, the Labour Government did have some successes during this period in creating a New Britain, which was mainly due to the support they were given by the government. The development of a Ministry of Technology put an emphasis on planning, management and professionalism.And, developing education policies, which included the development of comprehensive schools and the expansion of higher education, meant a breakdown of social barriers. However , The Labour Government never fully achieved its successes in creating a New Britain. This was due to the failure of the economic policies such as Labour having higher taxes than the conservatives. And finally, the Conservative fears that implied Labour’s ‘New Britain’ would have meant a return to the ‘dreary’ and failed doctrines of the past Labour Governments.

Ritual Objects of Ancient Taino

Ritual Objects of Ancient Taino A zemà ­ (also zemi, zeme or cemi) is a collective term in the Caribbean Taà ­no (Arawak) culture for sacred thing, a spirit symbol or personal effigy. The Taà ­no were the people met by Christopher Columbus when he first set foot on the island of Hispaniola in the West Indies. To the Taà ­no, zemà ­ was/is an abstract symbol, a concept imbued with the power to alter circumstances and social relations. Zemis are rooted in ancestor worship, and although they are not always physical objects, those that have a concrete existence have a multitude of forms. The simplest and earliest recognized zemis were roughly carved objects in the form of an isosceles triangle (three-pointed zemis); but zemis can also be quite elaborate, highly detailed human or animal effigies embroidered from cotton or carved from sacred wood. Christopher Columbuss Ethnographer Elaborate zemà ­s were incorporated into ceremonial belts and clothing; they often had long names and titles, according to Ramà ³n Panà ©. Panà © was a friar of the Order of Jerome, who was hired by Columbus to live in Hispaniola between 1494 and 1498 and make a study of Taà ­no belief systems. Panà ©s published work is called Relacià ³n acerca de las antigà ¼edades de los indios, and it makes Panà © one of the earliest ethnographers of the new world. As reported by Panà ©, some  zemà ­s included bones or bone fragments of ancestors; some zemà ­s were said to speak to their owners, some made things grow, some made it rain, and some made the winds blow. Some of them were reliquaries, kept in gourds or baskets suspended from the rafters of communal houses. Zemis were guarded, venerated and regularly fed. Arieto ceremonies were held every year during which zemà ­s were draped with cotton clothing and offered baked cassava bread, and zemi origins, histories, and power were recited through songs and music. Three Pointed Zemà ­s Three-pointed zemà ­s, like the one illustrating this article, are commonly found in Taà ­no archaeological sites, as early as the Saladoid period of Caribbean history (500 BC-1 BC). These mimic a mountain silhouette, with the tips decorated with human faces, animals, and other mythical beings. Three-pointed zemà ­s are sometimes randomly dotted with circles or circular depressions. Some scholars suggest that three-pointed zemis imitate the shape of cassava tubers: cassava, also known as manioc, was an essential food staple and also an important symbolic element of Taà ­no life. The three-pointed zemis were sometimes buried in the soil of a garden. They were said, according to Panà ©, to help with the growth of the plants. The circles on the three-pointed zemà ­s may represent tuber eyes, germination points which may or may not develop into suckers or new tubers. Zemi Construction Artifacts representing zemà ­s were made from a wide range of materials: wood, stone, shell, coral, cotton, gold, clay and human bones. Among the most preferred material to make zemà ­s was wood of specific trees such as mahogany (caoba), cedar, blue mahoe, the lignum vitae or guyacan, which is also referred to as holy wood or wood of life. The silk cotton tree (Ceiba pentandra) was also important to Taà ­no culture, and tree trunks themselves were often recognized as zemà ­s. Wooden anthropomorphic zemà ­s have been found all over the Greater Antilles, especially Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic. These figures often bear gold or shell inlays within the eye-inlets. Zemà ­ images were also carved on rocks and cave walls, and these images could also transfer supernatural power to landscape elements. Role of Zemis in Taino Society Possession of the elaborated zemà ­s by Taino leaders (caciques) was a sign of his/her privileged relations with the supernatural world, but zemis werent restricted to leaders or shamans. According to Father Panà ©, most of the Taà ­no people living on Hispaniola owned one or more zemà ­s. Zemis represented not the power of the person who owned them, but the allies the person could consult and venerate. In this way, zemis provided contact for every Taino person with the spiritual world. Sources Atkinson L-G. 2006. The Earliest Inhabitants: The Dynamics of the Jamaica Taà ­no, University of the West Indies Press, Jamaica. de Hostos A. 1923. Three-pointed stone zemà ­ or idols from the West Indies: an interpretation. American Anthropologist 25(1):56-71. Hofman CL, and Hoogland MLP. 1999. Expansion of the Taà ­no cacicazgos towards the Lesser Antilles. Journal de la Socià ©tà © des Amà ©ricanistes 85:93-113. doi: 10.3406/jsa.1999.1731 Moorsink J. 2011. Social Continuity in the Caribbean Past: A Mai son-Perspective on Cultural Continuity. Caribbean Connections 1(2):1-12. Ostapkowicz J. 2013. ‘Made †¦ With Admirable Artistry’: The Context, Manufacture, and History of a Taà ­no Belt. The Antiquaries Journal 93:287-317. doi: 10.1017/S0003581513000188 Ostapkowicz J, and Newsom L. 2012. â€Å"Gods †¦ Adorned with the Embroiderers Needle†: The Materials, Making and Meaning of a Taà ­no Cotton Reliquary. Latin American Antiquity 23(3):300-326. doi: 10.7183/1045-6635.23.3.300 Saunders NJ. 2005. The Peoples of the Caribbean. An Encyclopedia of Archaeology and Traditional Culture. ABC-CLIO, Santa Barbara, California. Saunders NJ, and Gray D. 1996. Zemà ­s, trees, and symbolic landscapes: three Taà ­no carvings from Jamaica. Antiquity 70(270):801-812. doi: :10.1017/S0003598X00084076

Companies Go Global Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Companies Go Global - Article Example s, the Europeans always criticize the Americans for their lack of knowledge in relation to the culture of the Europeans and this has over the years lead to a build up of animosity between these groups of people. The two groups of business people are faced by a number of disparities in relation to their attitudes to one another plus the differences in the etiquettes of running of the companies in each of the continents plus the relative management approaches of the relative countries. Complications in the management of different traditions and values for the achievement of goals and targets occur when people from differing cultures either from the European or America find themselves running businesses in the opposite continent. Problems are always inherent in the host countries and managers find themselves with problems of internalizing issues making management to be full of complications requiring expatriate knowledge. Due to the disparities in cultures and values of the various societies, the business has to develop and implement advanced and customized tactics which suit the specific countries needs and characteristics. Despite all this management problems and related challenges, the companies need to go global due to the increased competition and advancements in communication. Companies have become multinationals hence the need for globalization that’s related to the characteristics of nations ensuring that they no longer remain in just in one country. Initially companies used to go multinational due to their attempts to diversify, seeking raw materials, increasing their markets, improving of the production efficiency and in some instance attempts to avoid or move away from issues like the political instabilities. However the companies always try and achieve their attempts to act global but unfortunately they find themselves unable to act local and understand the roots of what the local communities like and practice like and hence they are faced with