Smoking Among College Students

Ashley Smith Professor Joy Versluis English 121 24 Sept 2012 Smoking among College Students The reason why this topic motivates me is because I have many family members who smoke cigarettes. Both my grandfather’s heavily consumed cigarettes throughout their lives. They both became ill from cigarette smoking and got cancer which is a common disease in result of smoking. The disease eventually took both their lives. I would like to study this to learn more about tobacco use and the illnesses caused by it. Smoking is an addiction that can cause many damages to the human body.Most people smoke because of stress and problems going on in their lives. Cigarettes are made up of tobacco and what makes them addictive is the nicotine in them. There are many different types of cigarettes such as menthol and no menthol. People spend a lot of money on their habit per week which could go to more useful things for their family. The prices for a pack of cigarettes are about $7 per pack and mos t people smoke about a pack a day. Smoking can cause many illnesses but is mostly known for cancer. People who smoke cigarettes usually start in early adulthood so I think studying college students will be the right target.In researching college students who smoke cigarettes, what I want to learn most is why do college students smoke? Is stress the major factor or do they just want to fit in? I would like to learn if they are educated about cigarettes and the harm they can do to their body. I think the more educated the students are they will want to become healthier and make better choices for their future. I hope to learn how many cigarettes the average student consumes per day and if the cost of their habit affects them financially.I think it’s important to learn how old they were when they started smoking and if they started when it was illegal and they were underage. I would also like to find out if your parents smoke are the kids more likely to follow their footsteps be cause that’s what they saw growing up. There are many sources available about college students smoking cigarettes. There are books and websites about how cigarettes can be addicting and ways to quit smoking. If you want to pursue help there are programs you can join to help educate students and prevent them from tobacco use.My sources in searching this topic are about the fitness and health of smokers and nonsmokers, the attitudes people have towards smoking among college students and what they think about it, how smoking among students has fluctuated over the past twenty years, and how campus smoking has become an important public health issue. What intrigued me were all the sources out there that give information about health issues and concerns from smoking cigarettes. Many academic disciplines are connected to smoking. The main one is health science discipline areas because there are many illnesses, diseases, and deaths caused by the consumption and smoke.Another discipli ne area related to smoking is human physical performance and recreations because the damage smoking does to your physical health, fitness, and performance as an athlete. A challenge I anticipate is people’s confidentiality because some students may not want to answer questions I have to fulfill my research fully. Also students might think I’m judgmental because they do smoke and I am writing an essay on them. I will address these problems by apologizing and asking students who are willing to cooperate and answer any questions I may have. There are some questions I still have about researching.How do you know which sources are the most useful to your topic? When I was finding sources to cigarette smoking among college students there are many results. I tried to find different sources that gave information people may not already know and may be interested in learning. My researcher’s temperature is about an eight on a scale up to ten. I feel I have found useful in formation to help me study smoking among college students. I have good sources and knowledge of smoking to write a good paper. I am ready to further my study and observe and interview students who consume tobacco. Works Cited Corbett Thompson, Sandra.The Physical Fitness of Women Smokers and Non Smokers. North Carolina: Durham, 1966. Print. Van Volkom, Michelle â€Å"Attitudes towards cigarette smoking among college students† 42. 2 (2008): 294-304. Print. â€Å"Cigarette Smoking among College Students† Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 22 July 2004. Web. 24 September. 2012. â€Å"Tobacco Addiction and Smoking among College Students† Livestrong. Demand Media, Inc. Web. 24 September. 2012.

Race Essay Essay

In our society, racial inequality has always been a concerning issue for past decades, but certain parents’ state their opinions on the open discussions of our history and present with racism. The question of whether or not they should speak to their children about the racism that certain individuals receive has caused controversy in our society. There are parents who claim that they have unbiased judgments on the topic while others strongly commit to reminding the children that racism should be an important topic that should be talked over. Parents differ when it comes to the message they project towards children about race, but the message changes with children’s capacity to understand it. So the actual importance is if children should be introduced to the racial madness at such a young age like we have been doing in schools and in society or should the parents stand up and eliminate the racial topic for good. Although with the parents that are not overly racist, there is multiple concerns of whether or not to speak to their children about how their own race discriminates certain people in our society. Furthermore, there are numerous people in our society, especially parents, who believe we should consider not bringing up racism to future generations and instead take the step into a post racial era since we have improved tremendously in race relations. On the contrary, some parents believe the discussion of racism is important for children to be aware of the outcome it has produced and the background of why racism occurs, and in this case, I do strongly agree with the parents. There are a few parents whom have decided not to speak about racism. They believe the media nor did neighbors and friends play a crucial part in their decision making. They consider Reyna 2 themselves unbiased to all the controversy that occurs in their community over the racism topic, especially when it comes from a white individual. Without the society’s ideas swirled up in their mind, the parents are able to describe every perspective that can be observed of the racism. The importance of being able to see every angle of the racism that the minority group receives will help eliminate the bias judgment that we witness in the media or what we are told by others. With this in mind, the decision to consider the topic of racism in family conversations becomes easier to either bring up or shut down. It becomes easier because parents are able to discuss and inform their children that there is more than just one perspective that society defines as racism against the minority ethnicity. White parents can defend themselves from the ignorant comments and stories that people tell about their racial comments towards the African Americans. It is easier to speak about racism than to keep quiet in today’s society, but that seems to be the problem. On the contrary, white parents can also choose not to speak about the racial topic by ignoring it completely. Shutting down the media and any outside influence can assist furtherly with the unbiased decision to choose not to speak to their children about it. In today’s society, it is difficult to say that parents are not influenced in some way in their choices in life. Although parents can shut down the influence from the media, it is impossible to do the same to their children without turning them away from society as well. In all truth, once the child steps out of their home and their parent’s view on society and racism, the child is left vulnerable to society biased judgments on racism and everything else. There are parents who allow the media and any other influential speaker effect their decision on whether they, as not so overly racist yet biased parents, should intensify and enhance to their children about racism in their community and in the society. A majority of the parents are influenced by the media’s portrayal of discrimination on African Americans. Parents who choose to speak about racism to Reyna 3 their children after hearing and witnessing stories and racist acts throughout the country, will either help stop discrimination or unintentionally influence further acts of racism. In reference to the book of â€Å"The Color of the Water†, racial equality was shown to be unbalanced through the society and the effect it had on people since they witnessed it in their own family. In the book, James, one of the Ruth’s 12 kids, had taken it upon himself to write down every single detail that flooded back from his mother’s past. Throughout this James discovered how strong his mother was due to all the things she had to go through and the protection she enhanced for her kids. She protected them because she knew racism would be their biggest trouble and the consequences it would lead to. Society has a lot to do with the influence of racism. Future parents should remind their children of the horror of racism that occurred decades past, or should they just ignore it and try to move past it? In my opinion, speaking about racism seems to be the best way to go. Usually the second most influential people in parents’ decision making are neighbors and friends. They communicate with each other and speak of all their experiences which leads to further leverage on racism itself. Lastly, parents’ own assumption on racial inequality will influence their manner of discussing it to their children. Once parents decide to speak to their children about racism, question rise that become too difficult to answer and the biggest issue is parents’ own prejudice. If the answers aren’t well understood by the children it might lead to trouble and further racism. Sometimes children witness their parent’s unintentional discriminations towards other adults even when it is taught to be moral and caring for others which can also lead to further racism. This is why parents should try to educate their children of racism in order to avoid any misjudgments of their parent’s or anybody else’s actions, and this will help avoid their children’s own unintentional racism towards African Americans. Nelson Mandela inspired people with a few words that would better understand this topic, â€Å"No one is Reyna 4 born hating another person because of the color of their skin. People learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, then they can learn to love†¦ † In reference to all the parent decision on whether they, as white parents, should talk to their children about racism. In my opinion as well as most people, believe that the more parents talk about the racism the easier it will become to educate future generations of what they should not do in society. Our goal as a society, and the reason behind the social experiment that the United States is experiencing, is to create a post racial era. There is a fear that if people don’t remind their children about racial history then it is likely to cause racial discrimination to occur once again and have history repeat itself. As true as that might be, it is also more likely to be wrong. In many cases, the children might begin to get ideas of past discriminations to inflict on current black children. The stereotype about the minority group will keep at stand which will eventually lead to the continuation of the racism. Therefore, the parents and society as well are pressured to continue speaking to their children about racism in order to help them understand the meaning and the harm it does on the victims. [African Americans] Although the future may not be predicted, parents whom decide not to speak about racism, all because it doesn’t seem important to address it anymore, are probably causing our society more harm than good. Some parents do not intend to speak about the racial discrimination because it draws negative attention to the society, and even if all their reasons seem logical, education has always proved to be far more successful than any other option. The parents who refuse to bring up the topic of racism in their family have very strong views about it that should be considered by others. There was once a research program done in 2011 where a few psychologist wanted to ask questions to white parents about their communication with their children about racism. At first the parents didn’t know what the topic Reyna 5 of the questions would be during the research, but as soon as they were told the topic, many parent withdrew from the experiment due to it discussing racism with their children. The parents strongly believed that there shouldn’t be an open discussion with their offspring about race and the discrimination among the minority group. It came as a shock to the psychologists and scientist over the outcome that was displayed before the research was even done. Without even knowing, the research team developed new results on the topic of race without successfully completing their research on their primary experiment and questionnaire. The simple answer was that the white parents that were supposed to participate didn’t want their children to be aware of the inhumane discrimination over skin complexity. They, also, didn’t want to expose them to the violence that arises from racial discrimination such as the hate crimes, the segregation, and the bullying of children their same age. Although many won’t comprehend the reason behind the racism, discussing it will only seem to promote racism in the eyes of the children even when many parents disagree. The parents should not speak about racism because there is a fear, naivete and denial from the white parent’s own thoughts that if they do speak about it to their children the whole truth can become misinterpreted or in many cases, biased. There is an article by Dr. Harris-Britt that goes over the reasons why white parents should not speak about race. Dr. Harris-Britt speaks about the fear, denial, and naivete that parents encounter as being a negative decision. By them discussing to their children the increasing issue of racial discrimination, the attention that racism is receiving becomes unbearable. The point of view that the article feeds to the reader goes hand in hand with the section of this essay where the racism discussion in families and the white population should avoid each other. Parents may fear their own thoughts and the truth of their judgments towards African Americans. Parents can deny the color discrimination that happens in Reyna 6 their own home, or community. Many will believe that we are already in the post racial era, and will use this belief in order to not openly discuss the subject with their children. Although we do not yet live in a post racial era, we can soon get there if racial discussions can be eliminated. If people would stop dividing them self by race, and focused on their own unintentional discrimination that they might give off, the white race parents won’t find it necessary to warn or inform their children of the racial discrimination that will probably occur to their African American friends, acquaintances, or classmates. In my opinion, these should be used as examples to enhance and persuade other parents that it is far much better to inform all children of racism before they receive or misinterpret other information given to them by someone else, like the media. Some parents will argue that racial ignorance erases the history and experiences that led up to the freedom from racism, hence why those as parents should speak of other race’s experiences and hardships in order to prevent them from happening again. In reference to an article titled 5 Reasons We Need To Talk to Kids about Race in America by Bree Ervin, it states that parents of the white race should consider speaking to their children about race, especially by beginning at the youngest age where they can understand what they’re being told. With all the reasons given, Bree Ervin has sided with the parents who strongly suggest it is the right choice to speak out to our children about racial history and the changes that must be done to prevent history repeating itself. The strong argument is that when we are â€Å"color-blind,† we also tend to discount or dismiss other people’s experiences of race, racism, and bigotry. Parents should not only speak about racism, but should educate their children as well because educating their children about race helps them fight racism and create change. A good example of childhood education about racism would be a TED video of a woman named Chimamanda. Chimamanda Reyna 7 was a Nigerian woman that was well thought and informed at such a young age. In the TED video about Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, she spoke of a childhood story where her parents educated her about the African Americans racial history and that how their own black race was a part of our country’s history, not just the perspective of the whites that most books mention. They wanted her to have more than one view on what the people of our country have gone through. Although Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s parents were not of the white race, it was still necessary for them to teach and have discuss the topic with an open mind. By informing of the past to the next generation, parents will be able to prevent racism of African Americans. It is always a difficult decision on what is right or wrong for a child to know. No matter what decision the parents end up making at the end of the day, every parent thinks they are doing what is best for their child. Some parents are worried that by not informing their children about the active racism that is and has been going on for so long in the United States, the children will only end up falling into the black hole of the negative racism attention that is occurring. Although they may have a point, the rest of the parents aren’t prejudiced nor biased nor are they influenced by any other media source or individual and have concluded that is safer not to mention or allow children to discuss racism among the family or anywhere else because it only feeds on the negative attention that it promotes. It is hard to say which is the right choice that the white parents should make about racism, but they both do indeed have good reasons behind their view on it. We have to be armed with the fact to give our kids what they are owed which is honest conversations about the reality of the world that they are inheriting, but that can only be accomplished by allowing ourselves to acknowledge that racism and issues of race and bias are still present. Just as parents were informed of racism, in my opinion, children should be educated about what is going on in our Reyna 8 country about the racism against the African American race. The best way to solve a problem like this has always been through education. Although many parents believe that the racism will never end because we continue to bring it up, the future generations [the children] will end up never understanding the past racism if it fades away with time. Parents of the white race should consider communicating with their children about racism towards African Americans, but should keep in mind about any social media influence, such as the news, that the children will encounter. The children will hear about racism, but its best that it first comes from the parents in order to prevent any further incidents of it or negative promotion. Reyna 9 Work Cited Bree Ervin. â€Å"5 Reasons We All Need to Talk to Kids about Race in America. † August 2014. Web. Journal. Magazine Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: â€Å"The Danger of a Single Story. † TED Global. July 2009. Dr. April Harris-Britt. â€Å"Why White Parents Don’t Talk About Race. † October 7, 2013. Web. McBride, James. The Color of Water. New York. The Berkley Publishing Group. 2006 Rodolfo Mendoza-Denton Ph. D. Psychology Today: â€Å"Should we talk to young children about race? † April 2011. Article.

Mattel Inc Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Mattel Inc - Research Paper Example ategy that resulted to the acquisition of the Leaning Company reduced the management ability to carry out the normal quality inspection of the company products (Erika 28). This was the strategy that reduced the company success and quality of the products than the anticipated. In essence, the company thought that the diversification of its business would give it a lead in the manufacture of communication materials, not knowing that the cost of operation would be tremendously increase. As well, the expansion increased the operation cost, making the company to spend billions of US dollars in running the daily activities (Wooten and Erika 7). When the Leaning Company started registering losses, Mattel had to make an effort to rationalize the impacts that this would cause in the company (Segundo 1). They had to pay the debts that the acquired company made, thereby, affecting their financial position. As a result, the company accumulated losses, amounting to $475 million, in 1997 (Erika 33). This was the beginning of the company’s nightmare in maintaining the cost of operation and quality of the products. Secondly, the expected boom in the internet sales of the toys did not yield the outcome (Segundo 1). Indeed, the internet sales targeted the world market, and steady customer demands. Instead, the company recorded loss from the venture, thereby worsening its financial position. Third, the raised labor requirement also did not work well for the company. Therefore, the company embarked on a job cut, to reduce the expenses. In further reducing the cost, the company opted to use cheap materials in making the toys. In fact, the materials did not meet the quality requirements, making the products to be an environmental and health hazards to the users (Erika 39). Specifically, the coloring element that the company used in making the toys contained high amount of lead that exceeded the limit that the government had set. In summary, the problem that resulted to the

Glycosylated Haemoglobin Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Glycosylated Haemoglobin - Essay Example In case blood glucose level is well within control and gives stable results, the test is performed every six months intervals. The long-term or chronic complications of diabetes are those that characteristically occur after years of high blood sugar levels. These are diabetic macrovascular and microvascular diseases. The long term complications correlate well with A1c levels.(Web ref 2). Wild and Bains (2004) cautioned clinical laboratories and point-of-care testing to be careful of the interferences produced in assays by variant Hbs. The majority arise from point mutations in the , , , or Hb chains. Herman et al (2007) also raised the important question of whether A1c can be used as a diagnostic test for diabetes detection and control in ethnic minorities whose mean A1c concentration vary significantly from whites. In the light of these observations the current project intends to analyse literature particularly on blood glucose tests, long term complications of high blood sugar and applicability of HbA1c test to ethnic diabetics. Studies have shown that glycohaemoglobin values in the "better ranges" correlate with less incidences of diabetic complications later in life (Table 1; Fig 1 b). Type 1 diabetics will typically have hemoglobin A1c levels determined every 3 to 4 months, while Type 2 diabetics will require measurements less often (Web ref 3; Web ref 1). It so because Red blood cells are replaced in about 90 days thus test gives blood glucose levels for that period. Normal blood glucose levels are below 6 percent HbA1c however these vary laboratory to laboratory (McCool and Woodruff 1999; Web ref 1) HbA1c levels compare well with blood glucose levels as shown below: Table 1. Comparison of HbA1c test and Blood glucose levels (from McCool and Woodruff 1999) HbA1c Level of control Blood glucose (mg/dl) 5 % 6% 7% 8% 9% 10% 11% 12% Excellent Excellent Good Acceptable Poor Poor Poor Poor 90 mg/dl 120 mg/dl 150 mg/dl 180 mg/dl 210 mg/dl 240 mg/dl 270 mg/dl 300 mg/dl The rapid fluctuations in blood glucose that normally occur are smoothed out and the long-term level of glucose is now available to clinicians as a HbA1c test, because glycosylated hemoglobin has been shown to correlate with the integrated average blood consumption of glucose over the preceding six to eight weeks (Nathan 1990). Moreover, No preparation is necessary. Fig1 b) Controlled and uncontrolled diabetes conditions. (from Web ref 1) Controlled diabetes, less blood glucose results in less glycosylated haemoglobin Uncontrolled diabetes, more blood glucose results in high glycosylated haemoglobin HbA1c is also a reasonably sensitive test for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) which occurs in pregnant women. The test when conducted on pregnant women, it could pick up 87.1 cases of GDM successfully. The study gives a good alternative to OGTT (oral glucose tolerance test) which is inconvenient and requires fasting (Aldasouqi et al, 2008). The HbA1c test earlier done in laboratories only is now available in relatively economical home version as well (Web ref 4). The control of HbA1c and avoiding long term diabetic complications are discussed later. Diabetes: An overview The word 'diabetes'

Texas Gov't - Identify the potential problems with Texas's judicial Essay

Texas Gov't - Identify the potential problems with Texas's judicial system. Describe the Missouri Plan for judicial selection, and compare it with the system used in Texas - Essay Example The fact that the Texass judicial system uses only election method to select judges increases the chance low accountability of judges as they are likely to be partisan in their actions. Judges have to be partisan because it is the party that will take them to this power. This leads to judges whose allegiance is not to the justice system but to the party that helps them to get the posts. Needless to say, these positions, right from the lowest positions which is the positions of a municipal court, are important careers, not only for the judge but also for political parties. This means that when the system of selecting a judge is based on the political party system, the quality of judges will play a smaller role while the political affiliation will be the main issue determining who will get these positions (Cheek & Champagne, 2005; 99). The judges require a lot of money for campaign and this may interfere with their integrity. The amount of financial investment needed for the campaign is too high for most of these judges to afford from their pockets and they have to be funded by outside sources. So the question is, how will a judge be able to be neutral and fair in cases where he finds himself or herself having to preside over case involving one of his main funders? This brings in an integrity issue and in this scenario it may not be possible for this system to offer the state a good team of judges. The electorate doesn’t know these judges personally and have to depend on partisan lines to vote them. Although the electoral vote system of selecting judges is hinged on the argument that people should be able to decide who judges them, the fact is that a major part of the population of these people don’t know the judges they are supposed to elect (Maxwell, Earl & Santos, 2013; 158). The work of a judge is not public and therefore unlike politicians whose leadership can be detected in the public arena, there is no way for the electorate to know the

Application of Middle Range Theory to Problem Research Paper

Application of Middle Range Theory to Problem - Research Paper Example This research will begin with the statement that middle range theory is a theory which is inclusive, organized and abstract and has a limited scope. It mainly focuses on the concepts of pain, grief, hope, comfort, and quality of life to patients.   In addition, mid-range theory focuses on the relationship between nursing and the patients’ environment. This theory was pioneered by Florence Nightingale. She was born in Florence Italy on 12 May 1820. Florence was a second daughter of William and Frances, who was very wealthy.   And that made her mother, Frances, to want her to be married to a rich man, however, Florence a devout Christian at age 17 and realized that God called her to serve Him so she could not get married to the man. Even though could not make out how God wanted her to serve him, she, however, discovered it in 1944 and started nursing the sick. This really horrified her parents because by that time nursing was not a respectable job since nurses were often dru nk coupled with dreadful conditions of the hospitals. The family really tried to stop her, but she was determined to sacrifice herself even though she had no nursing experience. This made her go to Kaiserwerth in Germany in 1851 to learn. In 1853, Nightingale was offered her first post of reorganizing a small hospital in Harvey Street, London was known as the Institution for the Care of Sick Gentlewomen in Distressed Circumstances.   While here, she did an excellent job of reorganizing the hospital.... In 1860, she opened the Nightingale Training School for Nurses at St Thomas Hospital. Nightingale greatly raised the nursing standards. In her old age, Florence suffered from ill health and therefore she went blind and therefore become invalid by the mid-1890s. In 1907, she was awarded the Order of Merit. She died on 13 August 1910 (Nightingale & Valle?e, 2001). She is viewed as a mother the mother of modern nursing because she developed modern nursing by synthesizing the information she gathered in many of her life experiences. She realized that the major component of nursing care is the manipulation of the physical environment (Nightingale & Valle?e, 2001). Nightingale identified that the major areas of the environment that the nurse could control is light, cleanliness of rooms, ventilation and warmth, variety, noise, bed and beddings, walls and nutrition. For the client to counter the environmental stress in case one or more aspects are out of balance, he/she must use increased en ergy. In her theory, Florence advocated the two essential behaviors by the nurse. Firstly, a nurse should ask what the client needed or wanted for instance asking what the patient believe that is wrong. Secondly, she advocated the use of observation. Nightingale used precise observations that concern all aspects of the patient’s environment and physical health. She outlined that the main role of nurses is to place their patients in the best position so that the nature can act upon him, therefore, encouraging healing (Nightingale & Valle?e, 2001). This is the main application of Nightingale's theory in practice. It was the nurses’ responsibility to assist

A talk on Security Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

A talk on Security - Essay Example and spectacular risks are exaggerated whereas common risks are downplayed, what is not known is taken to be riskier than the common, risks that are personified are taken to be bigger than unspecified risks and lastly people tend to underestimate risks in conditions they have control over and overestimate risks in conditions they are not able to control. Thus cognitive biases act as filters that exist between reality and us. Reality and feeling get different and one either has got a feeling of being more secure; which is a false sense of course or feels insecure which is just, but another false sense .A model can aptly describe this situation. A model is mostly based on reason and feeling is on the basis of our intuition. A model is therefore needed to comprehend the different kind of risks we face and is usually restricted by our cognitive biases .Models can come from various areas such as our elected officials, media, industry, science and so on. Models can also change and as we get more contented in our environments, our model soon moves close to our feelings. Security can also be said to be dependent on the observer, the objective here being whether we get to notice. Thus the reality and feeling of security tend to come together when people take notice, but diverge when they do not. People need correct information to understand security, since the more they know, the more likely they are to make better trade-offs. It is also crucial for security designers to be informed to thwart propagandists from manipulating people’s feelings of security for their own

Bones a book by Fae Myenne Ng Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Bones a book by Fae Myenne Ng - Essay Example It tells the story of the American dream seen from the perspective of a Chinese girl. As the focal point encircles around the question whether Leila is a reliable narrator or not it becomes important to understand the true meaning of reliability in literature. In literature a 'reliable narrator' is a character who presents the characterization in a manner that could be identified with. However, a 'reliable narrator' must always stick to historical facts and there should never be factual errors in that aspect. Characters can be made up but the background of the time and society should never be tampered. Leila is reliable in that context and definitely a 'reliable narrator'. Leila narrates her life with her family and about her surroundings along with a believable description of the socio cultural pressure of being successful within the parameters of the society with wider perspectives of American livelihood. The novel starts with the sentence mentioning that "we were a family of three girls. By Chinese standards, that wasn't lucky. In Chinatown, everyone knew our story. Outsiders jerked their chins, looked at us, shook their heads. We heard things." (Ng, 1) This can be enumerated as a definite example that depicts the socio cultural aspects of the Chinese born population where the society is dominated by the male heirs of the family.

Personal Goals Essay Example for Free

Personal Goals Essay Setting goals should not be just for school assignments but should be part of one’s everyday life. Developing goals gives people something to strive toward and allows an individual to keep going forward in life. Without goals, it is very easy to give up when things get rough. According to Bishop, Carter and Kravitis (2011), â€Å"Setting goals involves defining what an individual is aiming for in both long-term and short-term time frames. Long-term goals are broader objective an individual wants to achieve over a long period, perhaps a year or more. Short-term goals are smaller steps that move an individual toward a long-term goal, making it manageable and achievable, piece by piece (p. 98). Smart Goals is a tool that helps to focus and create effective goals. Smart Goals is an acronym that consists of five steps: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time frame (Carter, Bishop, Kravits, 2011). Examples of using these acronyms for writing this paper are Specific – by receiving a B grade in every nursing class, Measurable – by completing each class for a step closer to receiving a degree, Attainable – by commitment and many hours of study, Relevant – achieving a B grade is not unrealistic with commitment and determination; the goal is to think positive and know that I can achieve anything, and Time frame – every five weeks completing a class. The following are the specifics of my personal and professional short and long-term goals along with the challenges in achieving them. Short-Term Personal Goals One of my short-term personal goals is to control my overspending. Most of my overspending is a result of depression, hence the compulsive purchases. The way I deal with depression is to go out and buy things. It makes me feel good for the moment but when I get the bill I become depressed and stressed. I believe in dealing with this issue will allow me a sense of peace. Since, I started back to school, there is no better time to start on this goal because attending school and studying is a tremendous distraction that will take up a majority of my time. My boyfriend manages his money very well and pays off all his credit cards every month and has no debt. I decided that I will have him help manage all my credit cards and bills to achieve my goal. The next step will be to cut up my credit cards and keep one for an emergency. Another strategy I am going to use, the days go out with my friends I will make them aware of my goal and solicit their help to keep me on track. When I am about to buy something, I will have them remind me about my goal of getting out of credit card debt. My milestone for this goal is one week to get the above strategies in effect. Long-Term Personal Goals One of my long-term personal goals is to pay-off all my credit cards. The first thing I need to do is to create a picture of how much debt and recurring bills I have in a month. This involves adding up all my credit card debt to see how much I owe, adding the monthly minimum payments, and adding up all my monthly recurring expenses: i.e. car loan, car insurance (divided by six), gas Family Fitness fees, ATT bill, and groceries. The next step is to add up all my income in a month. From here I can subtract the minimum amount due on all my credit cards and recurring bills from my income with an outcome of my maximum monthly income. With this result, I will decide how much more I want to contribute to paying down my highest interest rate credit card first, putting some away in my savings account for unexpected emergencies, and some for a little pleasure. The next step is to decide a realistic milestone to achieve this goal. I am giving myself one and a half years, my expected graduation date, so I have a clean slate to start paying off my school loan. To keep myself on track to my target date, I am starting an expense log that will allow me to monitor exactly where my money is going. By doing this I should be able to adjust my numbers to meet my goal. Another way to achieve this goal is by staying in school believe it or not. If I am in school and studying a majority of my time, I will have less time to go out and spend money. By doing and implementing all the above, I will be on my way to being debt free by the time I graduate. Short-Term Professional Goal One of my short-term professional goals is to complete the HCS/301 class with at least a B grade. My milestone achievement date is set for two weeks. To reach this goal I am taking several courses of action. The first is to manage my time. Managing my time will be challenging to say the least. I will be juggling my time between work, school, keeping up my home and spending a little time with my longtime boyfriend and dog. Oh wait, I forgot to list time to sleep. To do this, I will write down how many hours of work and commuting time I do each week (average 56 hours), time for boyfriend, dog, and home management (17 hours), and. time for school (39 hours). With my learning challenges, 39 hours per week is enough time for school. Another course of action is to form a study/support group. This group will help in discussions on schoolwork, to reinforce the in class material, and to discover different ways of doing and thinking regarding school assignments. A third way to achieve this goal is to take advantage of all the resources available at University of Phoenix. This would include using the university library, disability services, technical services, and taking workshops just to name a few. By consuming all these resources, I am sure it will reduce the amount of time and stress it takes me to complete each assignment. Long-Term Professional Goals One of my long-term professional goals is to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. Working as a Registered Nurse (RN), I have experienced many roadblocks in obtaining another job and have fought going back to school for the past year. I finally have come to the realization that to make myself more employable in today’s job market that a RN with a BSN degree has a distinct advantage over a candidate with only an AA degree. According to Williams (n.d., p. 1), a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, and reported by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, â€Å"surgical patients treated by greater percentage of nurses holding Bachelor’s Degrees had a survival advantage† over those patients who did not have nurses with BSN. It was also reported that there has been a 10% increase in nurses with BSN degrees, and this increase in BSN-prepared RNs has decreased the risk of patient death by approximately five percent.† a BSN will give me more credibility, put me in a position of higher demand, increase my opportunities, and in a position to obtain higher pay. I have already started toward this goal by enrolling at University of in their BSN program will take one and a half years to complete the curriculum. As mention previously, I plan to succeed academically by continuing with my study/support groups, staying organized, continuing using resources at University of Phoenix, and completing each course in a the curriculum with at least a B grade. Challenges Everyone will face challenges and roadblocks throughout their lifetime. What sets up apart is how deal with them. If one allows it, challenges can stop us from achieving our goals. The major challenge I am facing at this time starting University of Phoenix is my negative thinking. I do not want to go back to school but have to out of necessity to keep my job. My negative thinking is due to my learning disabilities some of which are a lack of skills in reading and writing that seem to be a requirement in obtaining a BSN degree. Adding all these challenges together greatly contributes to my lack of confidence. A good support group at school and home is easing my negativity. Conclusion In conclusion, this paper was about personal and professional short and long-term goals. With each one, I discussed strategies on low to achieve each goal and the expected milestone for each. Reaching each milestone is empowering, to know that we are one step closer to achieving the next goal (Morisano, 2008). From researching on the subject of goals, when settling on goals, one should have positive outcome expectations regarding their ability to actually achieve these goals or they are unlikely to be highly motivated in following through with goal-relevant behavior (Williams, n.d., para 1). The importance of setting goals is that it gives me something I to have. When a goal is achieved, it gives me a little self- satisfaction and more confidence that I can achieve anything that I put my mind to if I have a clear vision of what I want. References Bishop, J., Carter, C., Kravits, S.L. (2011). Keys to Effective Learning. Study Skills and Habits for Success (6th ed.). Morisano, D. (2008). Personal goal setting in university students: Effects on academic achievement, executive functioning, personality, and mood. McGill University (Canada)). ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, 235. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/762858991?accountid=35812. (762858991). Williams, M. (n.d.). Is a BSN important? Nurses Speak Out. Retrieved from http://www.workingnurse.com/articles/Is-a-BSN-Important-Nurses-Speak-Out

Enforcement Directorate Essay Example for Free

Enforcement Directorate Essay Enforcement Directorate ‡Pertains to the establishment of Directorate of Enforcement and the powers to investigate the violation of any provisions of Act, rule, regulation, notifications, directions or order issued in exercise of the powers under this Act. The Director have been empowered to take up investigations. Enforcement Directorate ‡ The Directorate of Enforcement is mainly concerned with the enforcement of the provisions of the FEMA to prevent leakage of foreign exchange which generally occurs through the following malpractices. 2.Remittances of Indians abroad otherwise than through normal banking channels, i. e. through compensatory payments. 3.Acquisition of foreign currency illegally by person in India. 4.Unauthorized maintenance of accounts in foreign countries. 5.Illegal acquisition of foreign exchange through Hawala. 6.Secreting of commission abroad. Organizational Set-Up *The Enforcement directorate, with its HQs at New Delhi has seven zonal offices at Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi, Jalandhar, Madras, Ahmedabad and Bangalore. The zonal offices are headed by the Dy. Directors * The Directorate has 9 sub zonal offices at Agra,Srinagar, Jaipur, Varanasi, Trivendrum, Calicut, Hyderabad, Guwahati and Goa, which are headed by the Asstt. Directors. FEMA 1999 ENFORCEMENT DIRECTORATE Established by Central Govt to investigate due adherence to the provisions of the Act by market participants. Concerned with enforcement of the provisions of the Act to prevent leakage of foreign exchange occurring through various malpractices. Directorate of Enforcement is responsible for detection of cases relating to violation and performance of adjudicatory functions to curb malpractices FUNCTIONS To collect and develop intelligence relating to violation of provisions of FEMA. To conduct searches of suspected persons, conveyances and premises for seizing incriminating materials. To enquire into and investigate suspected violations or provisions of FEMA. To adjudicate cases of violations of FEMA for levying penalties and also for confiscating the amounts involved in contraventions. To realise penalties in departmental adjudication. The Parliament has enacted the Foreign Exchange Management Act,1999 to replace the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1973. This Act came into force on the 1st day of June,2000. To investigate provisions of the Act, the Central Govt. have established the Directorate of Enforcement with Director and other officers as officers of the Enforcement. ROLE OF ENFORCEMENT DIRECTORATE The Directorate of Enforcement is mainly concerned with the enforcement of the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act to prevent leakage of foreign exchange which generally occurs through the following malpractices 1) Remittances of Indians abroad otherwise than through normal banking channels, i.e. through compensatory payments. Acquisition of foreign currency illegally by person in India. Non ²repatriation of the proceeds of the exported goods. Unauthorised maintenance of accounts in foreign countries. Under ²invoicing of exports and over ²invoicing of imports and any other type of invoice manipulation. Siphoning off of foreign exchange against fictitious and bogus imports land by Illegal acquisition of foreign exchange through Hawala. Secreting of commission abroad. 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) Directorate has to detect cases of violation and also perform substantial adjudicatory functions to curb such malpract ices. ORGANISATION SET-UP The Enforcement Directorate, with its Headquarters at New Delhi has seven zonal offices at Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi, Jalandhar, Madras, Ahmedabad and Bangalore. The zonal offices are headed by the Deputy Directors. The Directorate has nine sub ²zonal offices at Agra, Srinagar, Jaipur, Varanasi, Trivandrum, Calicut, Hyderabad, Guwahati and Goa, which are headed by the Assistant Directors. The Directorate has also a Unit at Madurai, which is headed by a Chief Enforcement Officer. Besides, there are three Special Directors of Enforcement and one Additional Director of Enforcement, FUNCTIONS The main functions of the Directorate are as under: ² The main functions of the Directorate are as under 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 To enforce Foreign Exchange Management Act 1999 and Prevention of money Laundering Act 2002. To collect and develop intelligence relating to violation of the provisions of Foreign Exchange Management Act and Prevention of money Laundering Act 2002. To conduct searches of suspected persons, conveyances and premises and seize incriminating materials (including Indian and foreign currencies involved) To enquire into and investigate suspected violations of provisions of Foreign Exchange Management Act and Prevention of money Laundering Act 2002. To adjudicate cases of violations of Foreign Exchange Management Act penalties departmentally and also for confiscating the amounts involved in violations. To realize the penalties imposed in departmental adjudication; To attach and confiscate properties involved in the act of Money laundering. To arrest the pers on suspected to be involved in the act of money laundering. To prosecute the person involved in the act of money laundering. In addition to the above functions relating to the Foreign Exchange Management Act. Directorate also processes and recommends cases for detention of habitual offender under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act,1974 (COFEPOSA), which provides interalia for detention of a person with a intention of preventing him from acting in a manner prejudicial to the conservation and augmentation of exchange. PROCEDURAL PROVISIONS For enforcing the provisions of various sections of FEMA,l999, the officers of Enforcement Directorate of the level of Assistant Director and above will have to undertake the following functions: 1) 2) 3) 4) Collection and development of intelligence/information. Keeping surveillance over suspects. Searches of persons/vehicles as per provisions of Income ²tax Act,1961. Searches of premises as per provisions of Income ²tax Act,1961. 5) Summoning of persons for giving evidence and producing of documents as per provisions of Income ²tax Act,l96l. Power to examine persons as per provisions of Income ²tax Act,196l. Power to lcall for any information/document as per provisions of Income ²tax Act , 1961. Power to seize documents etc. as per provisions of Income ²tax Act,196l. Custody of documents as per Income ²tax Act,196l. Adjudication and appeals- Officers of and above the rank of Dy Director of Enforcement, are empowered to adjudicate cases of contravention of the provisions of the Act; these proceedings which are quasi ²judicial in nature, start with the issuance of show cause notice; in the event of cause tshown by the Notice ²not being found satisfactory, further proceedings are held, vis. personal hearing, in which the noticee has a further right to present his defence, either in person or through any authorised representative; on conclusion of these proceedings, the adjudicating authority has to examine and consider the evidence on record, in its entirety and in case the charges not being found proved, the noticee is acquitted, and in the e vent of charges being found substantiated, such penalty, as is considered appropriate as per provisions of section 13 of the Act can be imposed, besides confiscation of amount involved in these contraventions. The penalty imposed has to be deposited in the concerned office of the Dy. Director within 45 days of the date of receipt of the Adjudication order. In case the party feels aggrieved by the orders of the adjudicating authority, he/she/they can refer appeal, before the Appellate Tribunal/Special Director (Appeal), Foreign Exchange. Whereas, another appeal lies to the High Court, against the order of the Appellate Tribunal, however, only in the matters involving question/points of Law. PUBLIC GRIEVANCES MACHINERY The Directorate keeps a constant vigil over its officers/staff and strict action is taken against anybody found/suspected to be involved in any undesirable activity. The Vigilance Cell of the Directorate works under the direct supervision of the Director of Enforcement, and, at present, it includes two very senior officers.

International News Coverage of Developing Countries

International News Coverage of Developing Countries International news coverage of the developing world has seen a steady decline over recent years which has recently been reversed due to intervention in developing countries by western governments. The primary example of this has been the Iraq conflict. The medias focus tends to cover traditional realist issues such as the relations between states. Many of the important political and social issues in developing countries do not concern these inter-state relationships and are therefore overlooked. Diplomacy and intervention by western governments in developing countries fits this realist agenda and accounts for the upsurge in interest in developing countries, particularly in Iraq. In contrast, many of the most important issues to developing countries such as poverty, hunger and civil war are marginalised in international news coverage. They exist outside of the traditional realist conception of inter-state relations and do not concern western governments, companies, readers and audienc es directly. They also reflect the inequality of a global capitalist system which keeps the developing world in its unequal position to ensure the prosperity of the developed world. The media is naturally wary about pointing out the horrendous ramifications of this inequality to its readers and viewers. Research conducted by VSO, an organisation which works with many international development charities does not believe that developing countries get the international news coverage they deserve. Its website claims that factual coverage of the developing world is at the lowest level ever recorded It claims that in 2004 BBC1 and ITV1 showed less than twenty hours of factual programming which was filmed in developing countries. It went on to note that international news coverage of all media types was failing to comply with the Communications Act, passed by Parliament in 2003, which required that adequate space be given to international news coverage. Another study by ibt.org suggests that the amount of news stories covering the developing world increased and decreased across most news organisations at the same rates. This led them to the conclusion that news events, rather than editorial policies, primarily determine the amount of foreign news coverage They continued this theme by noting that an increase in news coverage of the developing world after 2003 could be explained by the Iraq conflict and the interest shown in it by the western media. Opinion is therefore divided about the significance of the figures involved in international news coverage of the developing world. The issue is not just about the amount of time and space given to the developing world. The nature of the coverage is also important. The ibt.org study pointed out the significance of the Iraq conflict in increasing news coverage of the developing world. However, this conflict involves governments, troops and companies from the developed world and could be seen as interesting the western media for this reason. The medias interest in the developing world is so high because it temporarily ties in with governments, people and issues which are normally the primary concern of the international media. This questions the nature of events in the developing world which are deemed worthy of attention by the western media. International news coverage can be seen as reporting issues which cover the main concerns of the countries and societies which produce them. Traditional realist international relations theory holds that the primary actors in the international system are states. Relations between states are the most interesting and most significant areas of analysis, and the history of international relations is the history of relations between states. Steven Lamy points out the importance of the structure of the international system and its role as the primary determinant of state behaviour. War and diplomacy (which in the developed world has now largely replaced war) are seen as the most important elements of international relations. News coverage of international issues follows this pattern and focuses on the developing relationships between states. However, many political relations within developing countries do not necessarily follow this realist way of thinking. Many of the important issues within developing countries do not concern relations between states. According to liberal international relations theory, developing countries are beset with issues that do not concern inter-state relations. Poverty, disease, hunger and civil war beset many developing countries and have little to do with relations between states. Developing countries do not have the same history of state relations as developed countries and the issues which concern them and which may be worthy of international news coverage are on a smaller, longer-term scale than the inter-state relations of the developed world. They often do not fit into the perceived pattern of international relations which the western media is primarily concerned with. This fits in with the case of increased media interest in the Iraq conflict. Diplomacy and inter-state war are involved and fit the realist agenda of what is significant in the realm of international relations. The issues at stake concern an international order which developed governments have a clear interest in. The conflict touches the lives of the readers and audiences of the western media, either through the success or failure of their governments, the price of their oil and petrol, or the lives of loved ones fighting or working in Iraq. In contrast the horrendous devastation which the conflict has cause to the Iraqi people is not the main issue reported by the media. International news coverage reports on the developing world but not about it. Its primary concern is the realist actions of developed states and those working for those states. In contrast to the media coverage of a conflict involving developed states in a developing country many of the biggest concerns of developing countries remain unaddressed by the western media. The many civil wars which blight African countries receive little media attention because they do not involve inter-state conflict and because they involve protracted disputes over objectives which do not fit realist principles. Poverty and hunger, some of the biggest issues affecting developing countries do not make for intensive media coverage except in extreme cases. This is partly because they are such an overwhelming part of everyday life in so many parts of the developing world. Caroline Thomas notes how a billion people in the developing world face hunger on a daily basis but the western media has tended to direct attention away from the ever-present unvoiced crises that hunger and poverty represent(and) the focus has been on soft travel and wildlife issues. Recent news coverage on the crisis of poverty in the developing world has focused on diplomacy between western governments. This again reflects the realist tendency to see issues in terms of state relations. The grim reality of how these issues concern the lives of ordinary people in the developing world is overlooked. The political consequences of this poverty are seen in terms of relations between developed governments instead of an analysis of domestic politics in developing countries. This lack of focus on the everyday problems faced by many people in the developing world can also be explained from a Marxist perspective. The developing world is seen as being held in its unequal position by the global capitalist system which works in favour of the developed world. Michael Rush notes that underdevelopment is not a stage on the road to a capitalist society, but a condition or symptom of capitalist domination. Our prosperity is ensured by the poverty of others. From this point of vie w everyone in the developed world is partly responsible for the unequal relationship between the developed and developing worlds. Western readers and viewers may wish to help out particular crises in the developing world with charitable donations but suffer a kind of compassion fatigue (and even guilt) if they are exposed to prolonged exposure to the everyday horrors that many people in the developing world face. In conclusion, the amount of international news coverage of the developing world tends to vary according to events. The media focuses on inter-state diplomacy and conflict, particularly when developed governments and armies are involved. This is well shown in the case of western governments involvement in the Iraq war and the interest shown in it by the western media. In contrast many of the issues which really matter in the developing world such as poverty, disease and civil war go largely unreported in international news coverage. These issues do not fit in with the dominant realist conception of international relations as interactions between states. On top of this these crucial issues can be seen as being caused by the unequal relationship between the developing and developed worlds inherent in the global capitalist system. The developing world deserves, and indeed needs to have these issues addressed if they are to be resolved.

Suppression of Women in The Yellow Wallpaper -- Yellow Wallpaper essay

Suppression of Women in The Yellow Wallpaper "The Yellow Wallpaper," by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, tells the story of a woman's descent into madness as a result of the "rest and ignore the problem cure" that is frequently prescribed to cure hysteria and nervous conditions in women. More importantly, the story is about control and attacks the role of women in society. The narrator of the story is symbolic for all women in the late 1800s, a prisoner of a confining society. Women are expected to bear children, keep house and do only as they are told. Since men are privileged enough to have education, they hold jobs and make all the decisions. Thus, women are cast into the prison of acquiescence because they live in a world dominated by men. Since men suppress women, John, the narrator's husband, is presumed to have control over the protagonist. Gilman, however, suggests otherwise. She implies that it is a combination of society's control as well as the woman's personal weakness that contribute to the suppressio n of women. These two factors result in the woman's inability to make her own decisions and voice opposition to men. John, the narrator's husband, represents society at large. Like society, John controls and determines much of what his wife should or should not do, leaving his wife incapable of making her own decisions. John's domineering nature can be accredited to the fact that John is male and also a "physician of high standing" (1). John is "practical in the extreme. He has no patience with faith, an intense horror of superstition, and he scoffs openly at any talk of thi... ...nd alarmed to see her behaving that way. She has to keep "creeping" over John, even in the end, and it shows that a woman is not much different from a man, in the aspect of being a self-governing individual. People need to have control over their own lives and the ability to make their own decisions, even women. People cannot always make assumptions for what is best for others. We have learned this from John: John demonstrates that the best way to help someone is to have the patience to really listen and find out what that person truly wants, not simply making assumptions about what is right when its not in the other's best personal interest. But until every woman is treated in this manner, she will be driven into her own world of insanity where she continues "creeping" over all who try to control her.

In Someone Elses Eyes :: War Essays

In Someone Else's Eyes Many young people develop our concept of war through our schooling and the media. We had no knowledge of what war is first hand until the current "war on terrorism." Still the majority of us have not seen warfare up close; we have not felt the many emotions that warfare carries with it. For many individuals war brings pain and suffering, while for others it brings freedom and liberation. According to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, war is "an actual intentional and widespread armed conflict between political communities"(Orend). This definition is flexible enough to include civil wars while not too broad to exclude conflicts in trade. There are several positions that one can hold when it comes to war. The three main positions held are political realism, just war theory, and pacifism. Political realists believe a country should go to war if it is in their national interest. Just war theorists' believe that war is okay in certain situations as long as the country follows the "rules of war." Pacifists believe that war is never okay and is always wrong. For my Honors 103 class at California State University San Bernardino I was required to interview a war Veteran. Going into this interview I believed in the just war theory. This interview only reinforced my beliefs. Only those who have experienced war first hand truly understand war. The closest I can come to this understanding without participating in war myself is to learn about those experiences from people who have been through them and try to put myself in their shoes, to try to experience war through them. This will give me the foundation needed to understand war and what comes along with it. I hope to do this by sharing with you my experience interviewing a war veteran. I interviewed Leo Maas, a former soldier who fought for our country in both World War II and in the Korean War. The experiences he shared with me were unexpected. He put war into a new light for me. When Leo joined the Navy, he was only 17, and the WWII had yet to begin. Before the war had even begun, he saw the tragedy that it could bring. He spent some time on a crash crew at a flight school, and there were plenty of accidents. So at an age when many teenagers' problems are who to take to the prom, this young soldier had to pick up what was left of these young pilots. In Someone Else's Eyes :: War Essays In Someone Else's Eyes Many young people develop our concept of war through our schooling and the media. We had no knowledge of what war is first hand until the current "war on terrorism." Still the majority of us have not seen warfare up close; we have not felt the many emotions that warfare carries with it. For many individuals war brings pain and suffering, while for others it brings freedom and liberation. According to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, war is "an actual intentional and widespread armed conflict between political communities"(Orend). This definition is flexible enough to include civil wars while not too broad to exclude conflicts in trade. There are several positions that one can hold when it comes to war. The three main positions held are political realism, just war theory, and pacifism. Political realists believe a country should go to war if it is in their national interest. Just war theorists' believe that war is okay in certain situations as long as the country follows the "rules of war." Pacifists believe that war is never okay and is always wrong. For my Honors 103 class at California State University San Bernardino I was required to interview a war Veteran. Going into this interview I believed in the just war theory. This interview only reinforced my beliefs. Only those who have experienced war first hand truly understand war. The closest I can come to this understanding without participating in war myself is to learn about those experiences from people who have been through them and try to put myself in their shoes, to try to experience war through them. This will give me the foundation needed to understand war and what comes along with it. I hope to do this by sharing with you my experience interviewing a war veteran. I interviewed Leo Maas, a former soldier who fought for our country in both World War II and in the Korean War. The experiences he shared with me were unexpected. He put war into a new light for me. When Leo joined the Navy, he was only 17, and the WWII had yet to begin. Before the war had even begun, he saw the tragedy that it could bring. He spent some time on a crash crew at a flight school, and there were plenty of accidents. So at an age when many teenagers' problems are who to take to the prom, this young soldier had to pick up what was left of these young pilots.

‘Herbert and Harry’ by Pamela Allen Essay

The genre of picture books is predominantly aimed at younger readers and often referred to as children’s books. Herbert & Harry is a children’s picture book, written by Pamela Allen in 1986, which tells the story of two brothers who have a falling out over treasure they found. It is a picture book which not only tells a story but which possesses moralistic values and ideologies through the story. Together with the written aspects of the text the illustrations fulfil an important role in the message this book expresses. These two main features of any picture book are, quite obviously, what works on the reader to get a certain view across. Picture books are a great way of getting a message to children. Along with other resources and mediums children, in their early learning years tend to do a lot of reading of such books, this provides an effective tool to convey moral and ethical messages to young readers. It would however, be incorrect to state that all children appreciate the same messages through picture books, for some young students may not appreciate a message at all. In this specific picture book the message is perhaps a little more obvious. While the story does not distinctly state that money does not make you happy, it does state that you can be happy without money, or treasure in Herbert & Harry’s case. Herbert and Harry are brothers who do everything together, happily, one day however they stumble across treasure which Herbert chooses over his brother, this leads onto their parting, while Herbert struggles to hide and guard the treasure he becomes miserable and tired, â€Å"Harry, who had not treasure, has always been able to sleep soundly.†(Allen, 1986) This quote sums up the message in the story and is accompanied by an illustration which shows just how happy Harry is without money. The use of these tools is what makes the reader think and feel what the autho r is attempting convey. The narration of the visual and verbal texts plays a significant part in the affect the picture book has on the reader. The verbal element this text is very important in analysing what the affect on the reader is. A picture book can use many different tools when writing the words to try and express a certain view or value. In the instance of Herbert & Harry, the words â€Å"they†, â€Å"same† and â€Å"together† (Allen, 1986) are used quite frequently in the first few pages. This repetitive use of these words drums home the idea that the brothers did everything together. While  quite insignificant by itself, this message adds a great depth to the final conclusion of the book. The names given to the characters are also important factors. Herbert and Harry are quite similar, which gives the reader the impression that these brothers are pretty much the same people. Through out the story the verbal text turns its focus on each brother separately; this could perhaps show us that the characters have parted and that perhaps they are not the same person any longer. While fighting over the treasure, Herbert says; â€Å"This treasure is mine,† â€Å"I pulled it up† (Allen, 1986) while Harry says, â€Å"I chose this place to cast our net† (Allen, 1986). The use of ‘our net’ perhaps says to the reader that Harry is a little more selfless than Herbert is, this could encourage the reader to agree that Herbert is acting selfishly. Another difference can be found in the intended tone they use. Where Herbert â€Å"shouted† (Allen, 1986), Harry simply â€Å"said† (Allen, 1986) suggesting that Herbert has spoken with more aggression than Harry did. The fact that â€Å"Harry was a strong swimmer and managed to get safely home† (Allen, 1986) could propose that, through the use of the word safely, Herbert had put Harry in danger when he pushed him overboard. This is may be where text starts persuading the reader to dislike one character, Herbert. It could also be said that the word ‘home’ in this sentence was deliberately placed there to reiterate that that’s where Harry was going; â€Å"safely home.† â€Å"Herbert rowed the treasure as fast as he could†¦until he reached a lonely stretch of coast.† The word lonely plays a key role in this quote and ultimately the rest of the picture book. It sets the scene for where Herbert is for the remainder of the story. Alone and lonely. Promoting the reader to recognise that the character is alone on his stretch of coast, alone â€Å"as far away from Harry as possible.† (Allen, 1986). The author has used repetition in a lot of the verbal text in the story. â€Å"The land got emptier and emptier† and â€Å"the treasure got heavier and heavier† (Allen, 1986), are examples of this. Repetition enables the author to emphasize a feeling for the reader to understand just how, in this case, empty the land is and how heavy the treasure is. It is a tool that is used to stress a point. Another example of repetition in this story is where Herbert began to chip the rock in order to hide the treasure, â€Å"Chip chip, chip chip, chip chip, chip chip, went Herbert.† (Allen, 1986). This could suggest that while Herbert does have the treasure and it would seem that he had beaten Harry, in fact it has been  more than hard work maintaining the treasure, and perhaps not so fun either. This could be the moral of the story. Allen uses many different tools to stress this point through the use of the verbal and visual texts in the picture book. In the final stages of the story the author has uses contrast to weight the values incorporated into the story. â€Å"While Harry, who had no treasure, has always been able to sleep soundly.† This quote ties together the idea that money and in this case treasure, will not always make you happy, in fact one can be happy without it. This use of contrast enables the reader to explore the story and the values within it more objectively. The verbal text can influence a reader just as much as the pictures or visual text of a book, and normally one will reinforce the other. The pictures in this book are notably significant when assessing the author’s presumed intention. There are several significant illustrations which, combined with the verbal text not only tell the story but reinforce the values which the author is expressing. Children’s books often use the pictures to present a certain moral standing, â€Å"their shape [pictures], their style, their composition are also means of conveying information about how viewers are being invited to respond to the story.† (Nodelman et al, 2003), this children’s picture book, and it’s pictures are no different. In the beginning of the story when we are invited to believe that the brothers are equal, the pictures reiterate this. The brothers look the same, apart from the colour of their clothes they are identical. Perhaps it is this that prompts the reader to show no favoring toward any brother; this however is encouraged later in the story when the pictures start to change. In the beginning of the story the pictures reflect happiness, the brothers are smiling, one could even point out that while fishing together from the same boat, the fish they have caught are even smiling. This is not the case however after they have their falling out over the treasure. Once the story begins to tell of Herbert’s struggle with the treasure and its hiding the illustrations seem to have zoomed out. Where Harry and Herbert were once the largest focus in the pictures herbert has now got smaller in comparison to his surrounding mountainous terrain â€Å"Characters depicted as small shapes surrounded by forests or large empty rooms seem threatened or lost. If the figure of the character were enlarged so that it filled th e space, the same  figure would seem much less bleak.† (Nodelman et al, 2003). In all of the illustrations of Herbert without Harry he is depicted small, and is in fact surrounded by seemingly empty mountains. This recapitulates the feeling given by the verbal text, that Herbert is alone and threatened â€Å"what if someone had followed him and stole the treasure while he slept?† (Allen, 1986). The sentiment of the book so far is that Herbert is not having a good time hiding his treasure and being all alone. His size in the illustrations is somewhat proof of this. Barren colours were used in most all of these pictures, perhaps representing a lack of life and vibrancy. The stark contrast between not only the words, on the last two pages of the book coincide with the overall feeling of the book. On one side, there is a picture of Herbert, in his fort, amoungst the mountains, seemingly skinny, bored, and tired, and on the other page, Harry, plump, happy, warm and surrounded by children, presumably grandchildren. This contrast in similar fashion as the words expresses the differences their lives have taken. Harry with a smile on his face seems happy and fulfilled, yet Herbert, who has the treasure is alone, small and tired â€Å"But still, he cannot sleep.† (Allen, 1986). This use of comparison and opposition echos the view that treasure is not worth the lengths Herbert went to for, and that one can be happy and fulfilled without it. Another question raised with these last two pictures, is perhaps that the reason Herbert could not sleep was not in fact that he was worried about his treasure but maybe he found it hard to sleep because he was alone and didn’t have a family that we see Harry has. Picture books are quite unique as far as story telling goes, not only do they use verbal text but visual ones as well. Without words the picture would seem incomplete or perhaps tell a slightly different story, the same with the words. It is the special relationship between the two that tell the story to its fullest. A combination of the two that give the author the opportunity to express the views and values intended â€Å"the pictures focus attention on specific aspects of the words and cause viewers to interpret them in specific ways.† (Nodelman et al, 2003). A junction of the two aspects of any picture book, the visual and the verbal text allow for the interpretation of any moral, or ideological message within a story. REFERENCES Allen, Pamela, HERBERT & HARRY, 1986, Melbourne, Nelson Publishers Nodelman, P and Reimer, M, ‘Picture Books’, from THE PLEASURES OF CHILDRENS LITERATURE, 3rd ed, 2003, Boston, Allyn & Bacon, pp. 274-301

World Cities and Sustainable Development

World Cities and Sustainable Development Subject: Sub-divided units in Hong Kong ( 1487 words ) Hong Kong has been celebrated for its sky-high belongings monetary value which has been a concern to both the policy shapers and the populace in recent old ages. Apart from the unaffordable belongings monetary values, Hong Kong besides faces societal issues like the sub-divided units, accidents such as the 2011 Fa Yuen Street fire [ 1 ] and the prostration edifice at Ma Tau Wei Road [ 2 ] in 2010 have roused public consciousness towards the issue. In this essay, I will foremost explicate the relationship between lodging and sustainable development. Then I will present the jobs of sub-divided units in Hong Kong and its influence on residents’ quality of life. Finally, I will measure the key challenges faced by the Hong Kong Housing Authority in turn toing the lodging jobs. Sustainable lodging dramas an of import function in sustainable development. Harmonizing to theSustainable Housing Policyissued by the United Nations Human Settlements Program ( UN-Habitat ) in 2012, lodging is one of the basic standards to mensurate the quality of life of people, which besides connect to environmental, societal, cultural and economic facets in the community [ 3 ] . The construction of lodging creates a great influence on both the current and future coevalss due to the life-long lastingness of edifices. Housing besides requires a considerable sum of natural resources, such as H2O, electricity, land and edifice stuffs as input, where lodging produces sewerage, municipal solid waste and other sorts of pollution that create negative impact to the natural environment. Hence, sustainable lodging is the key to travel a measure frontward sustainable development. UN-Habitat defined sustainable lodging as ‘genuinely sustainable houses are those that are inclusive and low-cost for all†¦and yet affordability is non plenty, because the alleged low-cost place can non be considered sustainable if they create negative impacts on the environment or societal life.’ [ 4 ] Harmonizing to the US-based consultancy Demographia, Hong Kong ranks the first among 360 metropoliss for the ‘most unaffordable’ lodging for the 4th consecutive twelvemonth. Hong Kong’s one-year average family income is merely one-fifteenth of the average place monetary value, therefore being rated as ‘severely unaffordable’ . [ 5 ] In 2013 Policy Address [ 6 ] , lodging jobs ranked foremost in the government’s precedence, particularly aimed at helping the grassroots into public lodging and in-between category households to home ownership. [ 7 ] However, the job could non be solved nightlong, the increasing figure of sub-divided units suggested that the authorization failed to help the grassroots and in-between category households in run intoing their basic demands to alleviate the poorness job. After the Fa Yuen Street fire and the collapsed edifice incident at Ma Tau Wei Road, safety of sub-divided units has raised the public concern. Among all lodging jobs, the state of affairs of sub-divided units is critical. The life environment of these sub-divided units are by and large little in size, but are poplar because of their affordability. Harmonizing to a research conducted by the University of Hong Kong, about 63 % of sub-divided units occupants lived at units which country are less than 160 sq. pes, where the smallest unit is about 70 sq. pes. Respondents reviewed that they were discontented about their life environment, particularly in fire safety, air circulation and security. Over two-third of the respondents stated that there were jobs such as H2O escape, home base exposure, concrete spalling and mussy electric wires, which imposed psychological force per unit area to them as they were worried about the building’s construction of their units particularly after the incidents. [ 8 ] The study besides stated that occupants were worried about their security in the sub-divided units, approximately 44 % reviewed that stealing occurred in their unit, followed by robbery ( 33 % ) , drugs covering ( 29 % ) , incendiarism ( 25 % ) and sex discourtesies ( 22 % ) . In footings of societal life, merely 5 % of occupants were familiar with their neighbours and maintained a friendly relationship with each other, while 60 % of respondents were non familiar or did non acknowledge their neighbours. At the same clip, approximately 77 % of occupants did non fall in or affect in any community activities. [ 9 ] Over half of the sub-unit occupants reflected that their greatest want is to acquire a public lodging colony, one-third wished to better their life environment. Furthermore, the greatest concern of the occupants is the sanitation job of the life environment, followed by security and the safety of the building’s construction. In footings of psychological well-being, occupants reflected that they were worried about the lifting rent and frequently felt laden due to the narrow and bantam life status. These jobs of sub-divided units have been earnestly impacting the residents’ quality of life as they struggled hard to keep a life. [ 10 ] Furthermore, the bulk of occupants felt detached, unhappy and have low sense of properties to the society as they seldom communicate with each other and rarely involved in their community, which would impact their physiological well-being. In footings of life environment, they were discontent about the sanitation and safety jobs, and the bulk wished to travel into the public lodging every bit shortly as possible. There are three challenges faced by the Hong Kong Housing Authority in turn toing the job of sub-divided units. First, Hong Kong faces the job of limited land supply. Presently 23 % of land has been development, and 7 % is allocated for residential land usage. The deficit in land supply will further take to the lifting monetary value of belongings monetary values. [ 11 ] To turn to this job, renewal is frequently used since the 1970s. [ 12 ] In 2013, development curate Paul Chan Mo Po even suggested constructing estate by uncluttering an country in the state park [ 13 ] or construct places on the golf nine site, [ 14 ] these steps and suggestions faced strong expostulation in the society. Second, the authorities failed to command the belongings monetary values. Under the sky-high belongings monetary values, the authorities eventually attempted to interfere the market by presenting the dual cast responsibilities to relieve the state of affairs. [ 15 ] However, the program failed to command the belongings monetary values and the belongings monetary values in Hong Kong reached new highs in August 2014, entering the highest belongings monetary value in Hong Kong’s history. [ 16 ] Third, the job of ‘sub-divided units’ jobs involved the work of different governments and the division of duties is non clearly defined. Therefore, different sections may decline to take the duties. The job non merely related to edifice and fire safety, but besides other issues such as edifice direction job, urban reclamation job and lodging job. [ 17 ] Sustainable lodging should non be measured merely in footings of affordability, and should means more than a roof over one’s caput. A sustainable lodging system should be able to supply abode with: equal basic substructure, privateness, infinite, handiness, safety, security, dependability, sanitation and waste-management installations, suited environmental quality, accessible location to make basic installations and work topographic point, accessible and equity transit system, while all these standards should be brought with low-cost monetary value. [ 18 ] These factors are what Hong Kong presently lack and should be taking into history in doing lodging policies and determinations. Mention â€Å" 2011-12 Policy Address – Policy Address. †2011-12 Policy Address – Policy Address. 12 Oct. 2011. Web. 13 Dec. 2014. & lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.policyaddress.gov.hk/11-12/eng/p190.html & gt ; . â€Å" 2013 Policy Address by Chief Executive ( 3 ) . †2013 Policy Address by Chief Executive ( 3 ). Hong Kong Government Press Release. Web. 13 Dec. 2014. & lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201301/16/P201301160282.htm & gt ; . â€Å" State Park Carve-up the Worst of All Land Options. †South China Morning Post. 25 Sept. 2013. Web. 13 Dec. 2014. & lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/1311176/country-park-carve-worst-all-land-options & gt ; . â€Å" Easing of Double Stamp Duty Another Example of Leung ‘s Failed Housing Policy. †South China Morning Post. 16 May 2014. Web. 13 Dec. 2014. & lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1512772/easing-double-stamp-duty-another-example-leungs-failed & gt ; . â€Å" Land Utilization in Hong Kong. †Land Utilization in Hong Kong. Planning Department, 16 July 2014. Web. 13 Dec. 2014. & lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.pland.gov.hk/pland_en/info_serv/statistic/landu.html & gt ; . Li, Yiu-wa. â€Å" Public Rental Housing for Young People. † ( 2012 ) .HKU Scholars Hub. Web. 12 Dec. 2014. & lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //hdl.handle.net/10722/174578 & gt ; . Li, Yvonne. â€Å" Hong Kong Ranks World ‘s No 1 for ‘most Unaffordable ‘ Housing. †Property. South China Morning Post, 22 Jan. 2014. Web. 12 Dec. 2014. & lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/1410730/hong-kong-ranks-worlds-no-1-most-unaffordable-housing? page=all & gt ; . Mok, Siu-fan. â€Å" Searching for Improvements: An Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the Public Rental Housing Policy in Hong Kong since 1998. †HKU Scholars Hub. Web. 12 Dec. 2014. & lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //hdl.handle.net/10722/131428 & gt ; . Ngai, Edward. â€Å" Defying Gravity: Hong Kong Property Prices Reach New Highs. †The Wall Street Jorunal. China Real Time Report RSS, 8 Aug. 2014. Web. 13 Dec. 2014. & lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2014/08/08/defying-gravity-hong-kong-property-prices-reach-new-highs/ & gt ; . â€Å" Paul Chan Should Revive His Plan for Homes on Golf Club Site. †South China Morning Post. 13 Sept. 2013. Web. 13 Dec. 2014. & lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1308854/paul-chan-should-revive-his-plan-homes-golf-club-site & gt ; . â€Å" Reclamation Is One Option. †South China Morning Post. 24 Apr. 2013. Web. 13 Dec. 2014. & lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/1221671/reclamation-one-option & gt ; . South China Morning Post. Police release more images of fire suspects. 5 December 2011. Print Sustainable Housing for Sustainable Cities. Nairobi, Kenya: United Nations Human Settlements Programme ( UN-Habitat ) , 2012. Print. Wong, Man-kin, James. â€Å" Domestic Sub-divided Unit of measurements in Urban Areas in Hong Kong: A Study of Policy Problems and Solutions. † ( 2012 ) .HKU Scholars Hub. Web. 12 Dec. 2014. & lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //hdl.handle.net/10722/184387 & gt ; . Youth Hong Kong Editorial Team. â€Å" Housing Dilemmas – Give the Young a Future. †Education Post. 17 Jan. 2014. Web. 13 Dec. 2014. & lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.educationpost.com.hk/resources/youth/140117-housing-dilemmas- give-the-young-a-future & gt ; . Yuen, Ming, and Joy Lu. â€Å" HK Building Collapse Kills Three ; Two Missing. †HK Building Collapse Kills Three ; Two Missing. China Daily, 30 Jan. 2010. Web. 13 Dec. 2014. & lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-01/30/content_9401882.htm & gt ; . â€Å" ? ·Ã‚ ±? °?aY-a?ˆe?Sâ€Å"a?-a °?ec †c ©Ã‚ ¶ . † a? ¤eˆsa?Sa ±Ã¢â‚¬ ¹a?†¹a†¹Ã¢â€ž ¢a §Ã¢â‚¬ aâ€Å" e?„a?†¹c §?aâ€Å"a ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¡a ·?aa °?c µÃ¢â‚¬Å¾ . e ¦Ã¢â€ž ¢ a ¤Ã‚ §a ­?c §Ã‹â€ aeˆ?ac †c ©Ã‚ ¶a? ­aa?S ?†?c ­-aaa?ˆâ€ °eâ„ ¢?a†¦Ã‚ ¬a , 11 Mar. 2011. Web. 13 Dec. 2014. & lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.cityu.edu.hk/hkhousing/r & A ; c/ssp_last.pdf & gt ; . 1

Single Mom and Going Back to School

Single Mom and Going Back To School I am in my mid-thirties and going back to school. I would have to say that my children are the primary reason behind this decision. I am their role model and teacher and I intend to be the best one possible. I want to show my children the endless possibilities of hard honest work. I want to send them to college and live comfortably. Throughout my personal experience, I have learned that anything is possible even while I am balancing a family, multi jobs and school. Once I left high school in 1992, I attended the Sawyer School for Business.With class to finish, I found out that I was pregnant and having problems. Because of my pregnancy problems, I had to leave school. I didn’t graduate because I was not able to complete that one class. After, that I had no motivation to go back to school; a decision I always regretted. A few years later, I got married and had a beautiful baby girl named Dominique. Now, she is eighteen and graduated high scho ol. I got divorced and went from working at a factory making curtains to being a security guard at the Convention center in Providence.At this time of my life, I thought to myself, â€Å"I could afford to go back and my kids need me†. Then, I met my boyfriend and two and a half years later, I was pregnant with my second daughter Selena; and she is now twelve and in the sixth grade in middle school. After having Selena, I went from driving a school bus to being a police dispatcher for the Bristol Police Department. After working there for two years, I thought to myself, â€Å"I can’t work the third shift and working as a police dispatcher was a very stressful job†.So, I applied at the main office for the school department to become a secretary, although they were only hiring a sub-secretary. I immediately took the job; I wasn’t even considering school. Then, a few months passed and I was pregnant again with a beautiful baby boy named Dennis. Dennis is now six years old and in kindergarten. When he was born, I really did not have a job in mind, so I decided to start my own business by cleaning houses. This was the perfect job for me at the time because having a newborn, a six year old, and a twelve year old was a lot of work.It was very convenient for me to start house cleaning because I chose my hours. I was working two to three hours a day and was still available for my kids. At this point of my life that I still couldn’t go back to school. One day, I decided to apply for a job on the third shift because I needed the extra money and it would be convenient for my kids and I. Working at Atria in Portsmouth required me to tend to elderly people. The most important thing to me is caring for the residence.I enjoyed working there so much and it made me think that I could go back to school to become a CNA, or even become a nurse. During the summer of 2012, I thought, â€Å"What am I doing with my life? † I was cleaning houses and taking care of the elderly. I suddenly realized that my girls were older and my son was in kindergarten; it’s the perfect opportunity for me to accomplish my dream. So, I figured out my schedule so I would have plenty of time for work, school and my two youngest children.Finally, I thought to myself that I can go to school, get a degree, and maybe take my kids on vacation. Advice from one single mom to another single mom anything is possible if you have the heart and mind set. First, you need to decide what you want to do for a career. Second, find out where you can get help financially. Third, find a safe place for your children. Therefore, I know it makes me feel good that I am showing my kids that anything is possible if you put your heart and mind into it.

Assess the Aftermath and Impact That the First Opium War Had on China

Question: Assess the aftermath and impact that the first Opium War had on China Essay: The First Opium War fought between Britain and China from 1839-1842 was a clash between two vastly different cultures, one struggling to control trade rights, and the other desperate to limit the impact of foreign trade upon the local population. The war changed the way China acted towards its foreign counterparts, exposed the weaknesses of the Chinese feudal system and forcefully opened-up China to the rest of the world. There were severe economic, social and political consequences that the war had on China. Prior to the war China had believed that the Chinese empire was the ‘Heavenly Middle Kingdom’ and superior to all other civilisations. China had very little contact with the West and foreigners were continually looked down upon. Despite strict government regulations, foreign trade with the West in China grew during the late 18th & early 19th century. The West became desperate in trying to balance their thirst of coveted Chinese goods for their own goods but China showed little interest in Western products until 1817 when Britain sold 240 tons of opium into China and when the West found a product which China did not have, opium. Opium smuggling developed rapidly and the trade literally produced a country filled with opium dens and drug addicts. Thus the government decided to do something about this problem and sent Commissioner Lin Zexu to sort things out. However it was Zexu’s actions that eventually started a war in which brought China into a humiliating defeat. The Treaty of Nanking is an official document that marks the conclusion of the First Opium war; it is also considered an unequal treaty by the Chinese. China was ordered to handover Hong Kong, open up five more ports for trade and pay 21 million ounces of silver to Britain. Britain also received fixed tariffs, the ‘most favoured nation’ status and imprisoned British nationals were not to be tried under Chinese law. This treaty caused many problems for China as no restrictions were placed on British merchants who were free trade in China, the opium trade more than doubled in the three decades. As Hong Kong was to be ceded to Britain, it gave the British a base for further military, political and economical penetrations of China. Import duties were lowered from 65% to 5%, effectively traumatizing China's home industries. The treaty also exempted British nationals and any Chinese person who had either dealt with the British, lived with them or were employed by them, from Chinese law. This provided a refuge for Chinese criminals. No sooner had the Chinese emperor made concessions to Britain, he was faced with similar demands from US, French, Belgium, Sweden, Norway and Russian governments. Greatly weakened by war he had no choice but to grant their requests. Seeing China’s weakness, the foreign powers sailed up to impose treaties similar to that of Nanking. By 1860, a massive amount of 6400 tons of opium was being annually imported into China. Western merchants mainly bought silk and tea from China and the export of tea from China increased to 42,000,000 kg in 1855 from only 7,500,000 kg in 1843. The export of silk rose to 56,000 bales in 1855 from a relatively small sum of 2000 bales in 1843. The tea and silk producing regions around the treaty ports expanded and benefited from the foreign trade and resulted in more and more farmers who abandoned the production of food stuffs to produce silk and tea. When Shanghai opened up to foreign trade, the occupation shift for the coolies and boatmen who would transport tea and silk throughout the regions in Canton were now unemployed since the majority of trade moved from Canton to Shanghai. This caused a food price hike and the unemployment rise. As Canton wasn’t the only port open for trade, the inland boatmen who transported goods to Canton from other areas before the war, lost their business. The amount of European goods and opium that flooded china severely strained the economy and provoked an economic crisis which resulted in the shortage of the Spanish silver dollar. The Spanish dollar appreciated so much that Canton abolished it and introduced the Mexican dollar. The monetary disturbances in China was enhanced by the internal monetary crises in China were the Chinese copper cash continued to devalue due to poor management and insufficient supply of copper. The monetary crises devastated the Chinese financial system and caused the loss of morale. With the rush of cheaper Western machine-made products, the home textile industry in China was almost destroyed. For many centuries, clothes were made by hand so this business was heavily impacted by foreign trade. In order to survive, this industry had to decrease the price of their products but, because the production methods remained basically untouched, the cost of production was also unchanged. Therefore the lower price came at the cost of the lower of the living standards of the textile workers. The Opium War almost entirely collapsed China's economy. However, it also forced China's economy to quickly adapt and evolve. The war rushed China's development of capitalism. Even before the war, a market economy was already developing in China's urban areas. The â€Å"invasion† of foreign capitalistic powers enhanced this change. However, the coming of outside influences did not result in the independent development of capitalism in China; rather it turned China into a semi-colonial semi-feudal state. This happened because Chinese industries were exposed too soon to the outside world, being insufficiently prepared and poorly equipped to compete in international or even domestic markets. Western capitalism greatly changed and influenced the Chinese economy as on one hand, the opening of China damaged the basis of China's self-sufficient economy, the urban handicraft and rural homestead industries. But on the other hand, it greatly enhanced the development of China's urban market economy. After China's disastrous defeat in the Opium War, the Chinese realized that they were no longer the â€Å"Heavenly Middle Kingdom†. Having lost at the hands of the â€Å"barbarians†, Chinese intellectuals recognized that in order to deal with the strangers from the West, they must understand the Westerners and the place they came from. Before the Opium War, the Chinese concept of European countries was very vague and in some cases, even ridiculous. After the Opium War, China intellectually discovered the West as Western political ideas, social structures, and in some areas, new technologies were introduced. Western ideas of parliamentary democracy and capitalism were vaguely made known and international alliances became a concept. One of the writers, Wei Yuan, first proposed that in order to fight the West, China must learn from the West. Wei's proposal received many positive responses as it was after all that China lost to the Westerner's â€Å"strong ships and sharp weapons†. So, China for the first time established something on the equivalent of a foreign ministry which was mainly occupied with the study of Western technology, modernization of the Chinese army and the open of modern factories. The first factories opened were for the military, and specialized in the production of modern weapons and ships. The running of these factories did not depend on the profit it made, nor the demands of the market so money making was not a concern. This meant that administration techniques of managing a large commercial enterprise were not yet developed. Even so, seeing that Western enterprises made a profit, the Chinese government began to establish commercial enterprises. Immediately after the Opium War, Western merchants had not yet fully entered the Chinese market. The Manchu government, although short in profits, could still find enough funds to start new industries. The private sector also was quite wealthy. With the collapse of the feudalistic economy and the stimulations by Western capitalism, it was willing to invest in modern enterprises. At the same time, Western companies absorbed some Chinese capital. It could be said that shortly after the Opium War, Chinese capitalism had a good chance to develop. The Opium War exposed the weaknesses of the Chinese feudal system. The cost of the war and later the compensation all fell onto the shoulders of the farmers and civilians. The Manchu government could no longer protect, and govern its people and as China's economy collapsed, poverty was wide spread, and insurrection sprang up all over the country. The Manchu government showed its weaknesses when it signed the Treaty of Nanjing without using all possible methods of resistance. The Opium War helped to discredit the Manchu government and encouraged popular movements. For many Chinese, the Treaty of Nanking was a signal that the Manchu dynasty was at its end – humiliated, weak and corrupt. A republican movement ran across the political landscape, stimulating nearly fifteen years of civil war. Seeing the social chaos and the weakening of the Manchu dynasty, Chinese intellectuals sought to make China strong. Unlike the government, the intellectuals believed that adapting Western technologies and industries was not enough and that China must undergo political changes as well. Chinese intellectuals began to study Western countries and at the same time, the Chinese government imported Western technologies and industries. They, like the officials, believed that the government should allow and protect the growth of capitalism and that the army must be modernized to fight Westerners on the battlefields. But most importantly, private enterprises should be formed without government interventions and companies must be created to compete in the market place. The intellectuals also proposed a parliamentary system as a new, more democratic political system. This proposal was the first attempt of private citizens to get involved in the government. The Opium war created an entire new level of crime and disorder in Southeast China. The British navy drove away the pirates along the coast and up into the Kwangtung-Kwangsi highlands. There, the pirates would periodically raid plentiful villages up the river. To add to this, former militiamen used their weapons for banditry. The Opium War had led the people of China to witness the destruction of their military and navy by the strongest military force at the time. It led to a greater understanding and appreciation for West, despite their hatred for it. This led many people to consider and try to understand Western doctrines and beliefs. Also some British missionaries, who had knowledge of China and the language, played in the embarrassment of the country to which they had come perceived with no object other than to preach Christianity. Thus for the first time instances of foreign religion was seen. The Opium War was also one of the many factors that led on the famous Taiping Rebellion. Directly after the war feuds between the Punti and Hakkas clans rose. The Hakka people were Chinese that came from the north and had immigrated to southern China. They were treated as ethnic minorities by the Punti’s who were the Cantonese natives. This led to competition between the two in farming and economy. In the 1850’s the feuds and wars between these two clans resulted in the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives. The dislike towards the Hakkas eventually led them into following the Taiping Rebellion’s leader Hung Hsiu-chuan. Hung Hisu-chuan was the revolutionary leader who incorporated the Western ideals and beliefs of Christianity with classical Chinese themes. He believed himself to be the younger brother of Christ, and was sent on a mission to return Christianity to China. This belief was soon adopted by thousands of Hakkas alike, because of the loss of faith in the Ch’ing dynasty partially due to the defeat in the Opium War, it’s social and economic effects afterwards and the silver & copper crisis. The movement to change and restore China with Christianity finally resulted in the Taiping rebellion against the Ch’ing dynasty. The Taiping rebellion lasted from 1851 to 1864, causing the loss of millions of lives. The Ch’ing dynasty’s power was questionable during this time because the rebellion lasted so many years. Finally, the Ch’ing dynasty managed to organize an new army to overthrow the Taipings. This new army and organizations was aided by Western countries who wanted the Ch’ing dynasty to continue. If the Ch’ing dynasty was overthrown it would end the unequal treaties with between China and the West. The Opium War resulted in the dramatic changes in China economically, socially and politically. It no doubt opened China's doors to the outside world while changing China’s view and relationship with the Western world incredibly. The war shattered the idea that China was the ‘Heavenly Middle Kingdom’ as well as breaking China’s false sense of superiority over other nations. It resulted in a major change in the economy and the social relationship between the people of China and because of the Opium War, China was left with internal struggles and warfare, increased crime, an economy downfall in Canton and people without work or money. The Opium War led to the major influence of the Western cultures and belief in China, and the loss of power and control China had over Western nations. The unfair treaties that were created left China in weak position to the West, and opened China to Western influence which is still observed to this date. Bibliography: China, Opium Wars to Revolution by Michael Gibson. Wayland publishers, 1975 From Opium War to Liberation by Israel Epstein. New World Press, Beijing, 1956 The Chinese Opium Wars. by Jack Beeching. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1975 The Inner Opium War by James Polachek M. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, 1992 The Opium War Through Chinese Eyes by Arthur Waley. George Allen and Unwin Ltd. , 1958 The Treaty of Nanking, signed on the 29th of August, 1842