International Environmental Management and Sustainability Assignment

International Environmental Management and Sustainability - Assignment Example It actually refers to the idea of being aware of one’s responsibilities towards one’s own surrounding environment so that, with the combination of individual efforts, the overall atmosphere of the planet may be improved greatly. There could never be a better platform for the start of such efforts other than a university which holds the interests of the majority of an area’s people. Anglia Ruskin University is one such educational institute that is actively participating and cooperating in the greening of the earth’s atmosphere. ... to be limited to its own energy resources so that to minimize waste and carbon emission for which it will also initiate â€Å"progressive waste management procedures† supported by recycling methods and less-fuel-consumption measures e.g., walk rather than car-driving for short distances (ARU, 2011). 3. For this purpose, awareness is to be raised through campaigns and posters among the staff and students; and such practices are to be monitored regularly through setting of ecological targets and evaluation of reports. The inclusion of such activities in curriculum is highly recommended. 4. One important step to be taken in this regard is to maintain cost-effective methods to ensure wildlife and biodiversity, and to avoid huge expenses in the name of futile luxuries (ARU, 2008). Green Impact Award This award is an initiative of the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges that is abbreviated as ‘eauc’. It invites the zealous individuals from each unive rsity department to participate in a number of practical activities which are recorded in a workbook i.e., â€Å"†¦a workbook with practical, easy to implement and no or low cost actions to complete† (eauc, 2011). Each of the workbooks is specially designed for the particular university that participates. Initially the participants are asked to complete 20 Bronze activities while Silver, Gold and Bonus are optional. Once completing a Bronze, the participating team can move to Silver also. After the completion of these workbooks, volunteers are sent to each department to verify the tasks done, and in the end, a celebration is held to â€Å"†¦promote the achievements of those departments taking part through an awards ceremony† (eauc, 2011). Thus, Green Impact Award is a bottom-up project that aims to support

Social Perspectives on the Concepts of Sex and Gender

Social Perspectives on the Concepts of Sex and Gender Critically evaluate the contribution of the social perspective to our understanding of language and meaning and the psychology of sex and gender. It can be said different psychological perspectives lead to different theories providing diverse insights into the same issue i.e. language and meaning. They focus their enquiry in different ways and consequently have dissimilar objects of knowledge. Each perspective asks different questions, use different methods and data and produce therefore different theories. These perspectives can be complementary, conflicting or coexisting, whereby each perspective and theory provides a variety of ways of applying their findings to everyday psychological problems. By focusing on the social psychological perspective, this essay will initially evaluate how this perspective contributes to a greater understanding in the formation, acquisition and use of language and how this understanding co-exists with, and may be complimented by or is in contrast to, other perspectives and how this fits in with the understanding of sex and gender. Social psychological perspectives emphasise the importance of inv estigating cognition by studying how meaning is created through participation and cultural practices and through language. The evolvement, acquisition and application of language used by humans, to express meaning and pursue goals, have been a topic of study amongst the various perspectives in psychology most notably evolutionary, cognitive and social perspectives. In researching language and the development of subsequent theories, language itself is used as a medium to investigate language. This methodological reflexivity is the source of conflict between social and cognitive perspectives on language when trying to determine to what extent, if any, the necessity of responding in language predetermines what is said. Social psychologists, more specifically discourse psychologists (i.e. Parker, 1992, as cited in: Cooper Kay, 2007, p. 105), claims that in using language individuals do so in a social and historic context, with an audience and for a purpose. Individuals therefore will m ake assumptions about the knowledge, understanding and requirements of their interlocutors in an experimental setting which is a primary method used by cognitive psychologists to study the separate cognitive and underlying thought processes language represents in communication with others or dialog with the self. The social constructionist perspective, on the other hand, uses evidence from actual language used in day-to-day communication and therefore appears to have more ecological validity. With the use of discourse analysis, they manage to describe how individuals organise their talk and use particular strategies such as the creation of subject positions or constructions of the world, to achieve particular ends. Wieder (1974 as cited in: Cooper Kay, 2007, pp. 104-105) illustrated the use of language to determine behaviour amongst newly released prisoners living in a hostel by employing a method called ethnomethodology (the study of how people do things) devised by Garfinkel (1967 as cited in: Cooper Kay, 2007, p.103). Wieder (ibid) found that the language used amongst the individuals (called The Code) does not explain their behavior but rather was used by them to actively construct their social world and take appropriate action within it (i.e. not being a snitch). Social constructionists therefore base their understanding of language on the concept that language can be seen as a vehicle for the socially produced and sustained meaning that operates between individuals, in groups and societies (Cooper Kay, 2007, p. 113). Although providing a feasible explanation for the use of language, it does not explain how language evolved or how it is being processed individually. Evolutionary psychologists (i.e. Lorenz, 1952 as cited in: Cooper Kay, 2007, p. 78) offer an explanation about the evolution of language in claiming that language is an adaptive characteristic that has been acquired (through natural and sexual selection) at species level and is characterised by the ability of humans to create meanings in quite different ways of communication than that of other species. The complex interactive activation with competition (IAC) model devised by McClelland and Rummelhart (1981, as cited in: Cooper Kay, 2007, pp. 91-94) and subsequent studies (i.e. Moss and Gaskell, 199 8, as cited in: Cooper Kay, 2007, p. 93) is used by cognitive psychologists in formulating their understanding that language is part of an information processing system that resides in the brain of an individual who creates meaning when hearing others speak or when speaking themselves. The three perspectives therefore provide complimentary understandings of language based on their individual analysis being evolution, individual processing or social construction. Parker (1992, as cited in: Cooper Kay, 2007, p. 105) describe discourse as a set of symbolic meanings created through the use of language to construct an event or object in a particular way. This is evident in the claim by social psychologists that individuals construct the world as consisting of two basic types of people men and women. This is partially achieved through social identity processes as theorised in the Social Identity Theory (SIT) of Tajfel (1919-82, as cited in Phoenix Thomas, 2007, p. 62) whereby individuals devise descriptions which derive from the social group they see themselves belonging to (i.e. male or female). Individuals, according to SIT, then tend to maximise perceived similarities to others in the same group (in-group) whilst minimising it with those outside the group (out-group) e.g. the notion of opposite sex (Hollway, Cooper, Johnston and Stevens, 2007, p. 151). Gender is consequently one of the most important and powerful social categories by which i ndividuals define themselves. Bem (1981 as cited in: Hollway et al, 2007, p. 153) proposed in the Gender Schema Theory (GST) that femininity and masculinity are socially and culturally constructed dimensions absorbed by individuals to produce an understanding of gender to make sense of themselves and their behavior. Social constructionists however, argue that gender is not a set of characteristics or properties acquired by an individual but rather that gender identity is constantly established and re-established by experiences, behaviors and actions on both individual and group levels and is therefore ongoing throughout the lifespan of an individual. The study of sex and gender is thus concerned with the intricate interplay of nature and nurture in shaping similarities and differences between men and women. In studying sex and gender as a psychological phenomenon evolutionary (e.g. Clark and Hatfield, 1989, as cited in: Hollway et al, 2007, p. 146) and biological (e.g. Fitch and Den enberg, 1998 as cited in: Hollway et al, 2007, p. 138) perspectives emphasis’ the contribution of nature to the experiences of individuals by examining the biological and genetic structures relating to sex. Social constructionists acknowledge these influences but looks at the importance of context and culture in constructing an understanding about gender whilst the psychoanalytic perspective incorporates biological differences as well as the social and cultural meanings. The difference between these approaches is often exemplified through political tension between them in relation to their implications about the fixity of the social roles of men and woman and their personal relationships and behavior. Biological and social explanations (nature and nurture) expose a fundamental conflict whereby social perspectives echo the underlying principal of psychoanalysts questioning individual agency in claiming that biological explanations, and most recently evolutionary explanations ( e.g. Hilary and Rose, 2000, as cited in: Hollway et al, 2007, p. 172), are extremely deterministic (Hollway et al, 2007, p. 171). Social constructionists explained that historical research underlines the fact that values inevitably underpin all knowledge; however, allowance should be made for new ideas incorporating change and cultural settings such as the role of women in society. The methods employed by the various psychological perspectives in studying a specific psychological issue are often complimentary as opposed to contrasting. In explaining gender social constructionists take historical and cultural situations of human beings into account focusing almost exclusively on the meaning-making activities of humans. In studying the difference in the style of sexual behavior between men and woman at an American college, Clark and Hatfield (1989 as cited in: Hollway et al, 2007, p. 146) found that women, although accepting dating invitations were less inclined to accept invitations for private meetings (i.e. at the apartment of a stranger) with almost all women refusing invitations for sexual intercourse. The results were the same when women were first assured of the trustworthiness and integrity of the stranger thus accounting for fear of potential danger as a confounding variable (Clark, 1990, as cited in: Hollway et al, 2007, p. 146). Clark and Hatfield (ibid) claimed from an evolutionary perspective that the results are consistent with the arguments of evolutionary psychologists about evolved optimal reproductive style (ibid) through natural and sexual selection processes. The findings of Clark and Hatfield (ibid) underline, from a social constructionist point of view, the notion that the sexual behavior of men and women is filtered through their own individual cultural lenses. Psychoanalytical psychologists (e.g. Benjamin, 1990, 1995, 1998 as cited in: Hollway et al, 2007, p.164) argue that these external influences (e.g. identities are constructed throug h discourse and discursive practices) are over emphasised by social constructionists and therefore does not explain the agency and capacity for resistance and change by individuals. Each of these perspectives provides a valuable point of view but none is able to give a complete explanation of the findings of the study with each perspective concentrating on its own theoretical ground when analysing the findings of a study. In conclusion, it is clear that different perspectives in psychology lead to different explanations of one or more psychological issues. These perspectives can co-exist in some ways such as the fact that social constructionists and psychoanalysts both base their interpretations on meaning. Social constructionists provide a comprehensive account in formulating an understanding of language and gendered differences with a strong focus on the extraction of meaning of behavior. Although this perspective goes a long way in understanding these, and other, psychological aspects, they do not answer all aspects such as the evolution and individual understanding of language. Findings of other perspectives such as biological, evolutionary and cognitive psychology assist in providing an explanation of those items social constructionists cannot account for. Word count: 1662 References Cooper, T., Kaye, H. (2007). Language and Meaning. In T. Cooper, I. Roth (Eds.), DSE212 Challenging Psychological Issues (pp. 71-123). Milton Keynes: The Open University. Hollway, W., Cooper, T., Johnston, A., Stevens, R. (2007). The psychology of sex and gender. In T. Cooper, I. Roth (Eds.), DSE212 Challenging Psychological Issues (pp. 125-188). Milton Keynes: The Open University. Phoenix, A. (2007). Identities and diversities. In D. Miell, A. Phoenix, K. Thomas (Eds.), DSE212 Mapping Psychology (pp. 43-104). Milton Keynes: The Open University.

Potiki - Is Toko Maui? :: essays research papers fc

She blew his mouth and nostrils, and with two fingers lightly massaged his chest until the mucus began to drain freely. She took a pendant from her ear and put it on the blanket beside him. ‘Tokowaru-i-te-Marama. Ko Tokowaru-i-te-Marama te ingoa o tenei,’ she said. (Grace 36) The passage above comes from the book Potiki. It’s when granny Tamihana breathes life into Toko and gives him the name of her deceased brother. In Potiki, a novel written by Patricia Grace, we are introduced to a family that is given a special gift. That gift is in a form of a child named Toko. Toko isn’t any ordinary child for he knows all his past stories and has the ability to see future stories. Toko was born by Mary and is cared for by Mary’s brother Hemi and his wife Roimata. In yet another novel, there is a strong presence of mythological icons being incorporated into a book. Grace ties the legend of Maui into the character of Toko. Toko and Maui were both born prematurely. Another similarity Grace ties in with the legend of Maui is the fishing story. Maui goes out fishing with his brothers and brags that he’ll catch a bigger fish than his brothers and Toko’s fishing with his family in the lagoon and catches a big eel. Lastly, Grace links the legend of Maui’s death to Toko’s death. In Potiki, Toko enters the wharenui to bring back Manu who was sleepwalking. Instead a gunshot was heard and Toko was killed. In the legend of Maui, Maui tried to capture death by trying to crawl into the death goddess â€Å"hidden source of life† to capture her heart. A bird laughs, which woke the death goddess and closed her mouth. The teeth of the death goddess cut Maui in the center and killed him. According to Westervelt, â€Å"Maui may mean â€Å"to live,† to subsists,† and may refer to beauty and strength, or it may have the idea of â€Å"the left hand† or â€Å"turning aside. (1)† In Potiki, Grace ties in the meaning of Maui to the character Toko. In what way is the birth of Toko and Maui similar and it’s relationship with Westervelt’s definition of Maui? How is Toko’s fishing story similar with the legend of Maui pulling the island of New Zealand and its relationship with Westervelt’s definition of Maui? How is the death of Toko similar to the way Maui dies and how it relates to the definition of Maui?

Biblical Accuracy

January 3, 2012/17 Rhetoric I Ask In Kennedy's inaugural address he pledges to help the people around the world who â€Å"struggle to break the bonds of misery. † He wishes to help these people because it is the right thing to do. This shows that there was much poverty around the world at the time. Even the rich needed help; Kennedy said, â€Å"If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, then it cannot save the few who are rich. † Kennedy also wanted to assure the survival and success of liberty. He wanted every nation to know that America would do anything to preserve and spread liberty. In his inaugural address, Kennedy uses the oxymoron â€Å"peaceful revolution. † He was referring to the peace he wanted to maintain with Mexico. Likewise Kennedy wanted to pursue and attain world peace. In his 1961 inaugural speech, Kennedy states numerous times the achievement of world peace. He understood that peace would be difficult to accomplish. Therefore he made a request to the enemy to begin anew a quest for peace. He states that the only way to achieve peace would be to have â€Å"arms sufficient beyond doubt† because only then will they be certain to never be used on each other. Yet peace is a distant dream because both sides are frantic to not be outdone by the opposing force. Which goes back to what Kennedy said, â€Å"let us begin anew. † A way to achieve harmony is to â€Å"let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate. † Another way to attain serenity according to Kennedy, is to have both sides explore what will unite them instead of dwelling on what separates them. Lastly, a way to unite the world would be to explore the endless wonders of science together. Kennedy explains this specific road to tranquility by using parallelism. Kennedy's words on obtaining peace suggest that a war, the cold war precisely, was occurring. John F. Kennedy is considered to be one of America's greatest presidents. It's not hard to see why with his elaborate, inspirational speeches. Kennedy loved America and wanted the best for her, peace, freedom, unity, and liberty. It was JFK that said these motivational words, â€Å"United, there is little we cannot do†¦ Divided there is little we can do. â€Å"

Local and Global Effects of Deforestation Essay

Trees are one of the most important aspects of the plant we live in. Trees are vitally important to the environment, animals and mostly us humans. So deforesting them will cause local and global effects on the environment and therefore harming us as well. They are also important for the climate as they act as filters of carbon dioxide. Forests are known as habitats and shelters of millions of species. However, the trees on our planet are being depleted at very high rates. The deforestation that has taken place due to human activity is as big as 50% of the whole planet. The main causes of deforestation is Ranching, Plantations, Logging, Mining, Road Building, Shifting Cultivations and for other commercial purposes. The destruction of the forests is occurring due to various reasons, one of the main reasons being the short-term economic benefits. Urban Construction is the main reason why large area of land is cleared. This involves cutting down of trees for lumber that is used or buildi ng materials, furniture and paper products which have a major impact on forest life. Forests are cleared to accommodate expanding urban areas. Road building is also included in these developments and one successful link is the Trans-Amazonian highway. This results in loss of forest area and massive deforestation. There are also local causes such as the Agricultural reasons. Forests are also cut down to clear land for growing crops, build farms, ranches and other food growing lands. The process of plantation is one of the causes which increased deforestation rates. It clears a patch of land to grow crops by slash and burn. The patch is then deserted until the soil regains its fertility. While plantation clears land by burning it, Shifting Cultivation still is as bad as Plantations as a large agricultural area is usually used for growing one crop such as bananas, coffee, cocoa and rubber. This process is usually carried out by international and therefore deforestation again is for short-term economic benefits. A main harvest in Brazil is Soybeans. This type of growing brings huge amount of profit towards the government. Even though most of the deforestation is caused for economic reasons there are some local/personal reasons such as Ranching. Large-scale cattle rearing-: because of this farms are huge to ensure there is enough grass to feed cattle. This gives land for cows to graze on. This is a main business as main retailers like McDonalds buy huge amounts of beef from places like the rainforest as they get it for cheap prices. Commercial Purpose for many large companies is another causation of deforestation. Companies clear forest for oil and mining exploitation to make highways and roads. Natural reasons are a big problem as well due to acid rain and wildfires which spread swiftly across large areas of forest land. Forest fires can occur naturally or in most cases are deliberate attempts by man to clear huge deforestation. Most of the time, these forest may recover, but usually the cleared land is used for construction and agricultural purposes. This leads to loss of forest and loss of habitat for the local wildlife. Mining – removal of minerals from the ground e.g. copper, gold and iron ore form large mines require clearing of large forest land. Mining is a legal process but there is illegal logging to use timber for commercial reasons e.g. mahogany has a big market for furniture in MEDCs. In Brazil 80-90% of logging is illegal. The WWF, the worldwide fund (non-government organisation) said that 28% of the EU’s timber imports could be illegal. Therefore there are economic are local reason which causes deforestation.

Two Countries essays

Two Countries essays Two countries, one throne, immeasurable greed and Joan of arc were all part of the hundred-year war. France for the most part was not winning any major battles until the year 1415; 78 years after the war had already started in 1337. Although France was 3 times larger than England malnutrition and a struggle between the social classes would have a great impact on their side of the war. Until 1429 when Joan of arc arrives to help revive and unify France. Joan of arc born in Domremy, France was born to a life of peasant farming. Her natural name was Jeanne d arc. She had no military history, or knowledge of warfare but a message from the Kingdom of Heaven, that would help revive France and God willing win a war that was very much out of reach for the French. Joan at the age of 17 decides to go to the king to tell him of her message. Joan pleads to the king, Charles VII that the Kingdom of God called upon her to reclaim Orleans, a very strategic location for France. Charles VII desperate, skeptical, and on the brink of losing the war gives her a fresh army to battle the English. The English already tired after battling for 6 months at Orleans are about to withdraw from there until Joan arrives. Then, she consults with Captains at Orleans. After reported attempts to negotiate the English refuse and are insulted. Soon then after Bouis; who had been there previously but left to get reinforcements comes back to Orleans to fight the English at Bastille de Saint Loup, an eastern road to Orleans. Joan sees him and goes to aid him as they defeat the English there. Later the French troops would fight at Bastille de St. Jean le Blanc, where the English would fall back to the Bastille Des Augustins. Joan and La Hire join the French and defeat them there. During the fight though Joan steps on a c altrop and wounds her foot, later she would predict a more serious wound to come. The next day ...

A Couple of Notes About Couple

A Couple of Notes About Couple A Couple of Notes About â€Å"Couple† A Couple of Notes About â€Å"Couple† By Mark Nichol Couple, from the Latin word copula, meaning â€Å"bond† (yes, the term is also the origin of copulate, which is synonymous with a sense of the verb couple), has some relationship issues, so careful writers should be aware of the word’s reputation and note its proper formal usage. Couple, as a collective noun, can be associated with a singular verb or a plural one, depending on context. But unlike other words in that class, it’s more likely to use a plural verb: â€Å"The couple is celebrating its fiftieth wedding anniversary† is just awkward, because the impersonal pronoun implies that the enduring union does not involve human beings. But â€Å"The couple are celebrating their fiftieth wedding anniversary† strikes many readers, even those who, like me, advocate the singular they, as clumsy. So, refer to the couple as â€Å"the two† or even â€Å"they.† Employing couple as an adjective (â€Å"Can I borrow a couple dollars?†) is common in speech but not appropriate in writing; the proper form is to treat the word as a noun followed by the preposition of preceding another noun (â€Å"Can I borrow a couple of dollars?†) When quoting a speaker in writing, silent correction interpolating of in the record of a person’s idiomatic speech without brackets or similarly calling attention to the change is advisable. An exception to the â€Å"couple of dollars† preference is when the noun is a numerical reference (â€Å"I bet a couple of hundred dollars on the game†); though this is the preferred form, omission of of in this usage is still common and not considered incorrect. However, of should remain absent from such statements as â€Å"I’ll buy a couple more batteries.† The noun couple is also used informally to refer to more than two people. The verb form lags in generally referring to two people or things, as in connecting of train cars, though this action may repeat sequentially. The form coupling can be a verb, an adjective, and a noun. Note, too, that â€Å"coupled with† takes a singular verb: â€Å"That incident, coupled with his behavior yesterday, is a clear sign of his instability.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Cost-Effective vs. Cost-EfficientExcited ABOUT, not "for" I wish I were...

A Profile of Barry Goldwater - “Mr. Conservative”

A Profile of Barry Goldwater - â€Å"Mr. Conservative† Barry Goldwater was a 5-term US Senator from Arizona and the Republican nominee for president in 1964. Mr. Conservative Barry Goldwater and the Genesis of the Conservative Movement In the 1950s, Barry Morris Goldwater emerged as the nation’s leading conservative politician. It was Goldwater, along with his growing legion of â€Å"Goldwater Conservatives,† who brought the concepts of small government, free enterprise, and a strong national defense into the national public debate. These were the original planks of the conservative movement and remain the heart of the movement today. Beginnings Goldwater entered politics in 1949, when he won a seat as a Phoenix city councilman. Three years later, in 1952, he became a US Senator for Arizona. For nearly a decade, he helped redefine the Republican Party, assembling it into the party of the conservatives. In the late 1950s, Goldwater became closely associated with the anti-Communist movement and was an avid supporter of Sen. Joseph McCarthy. Goldwater stuck with McCarthy until the bitter end and was one of only 22 members of Congress who refused to censure him. Goldwater supported desegregation and civil rights to varying degrees. He got himself into political hot water, however, with his opposition to legislation that would eventually turn into the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Goldwater was a passionate Constitutionalist, who had supported the NAACP and had backed previous versions of civil rights legislation, but he opposed the 1964 bill because he believed it violated states’ rights to self-govern. His opposition earned him political support from conservative southern Democrats, but he was detested as a â€Å"racist† by many blacks and minorities. Presidential Aspirations Goldwater’s rising popularity in the South in the early 1960s helped him win a tough bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 1964. Goldwater had been looking forward to running an issue-oriented campaign against his friend and political rival, President John F. Kennedy. An avid pilot, Goldwater had planned to fly around the country with Kennedy, in what the two men believed would be a revival of the old whistle-stop campaign debates. Kennedys Death Goldwater was devastated when those plans were cut short by Kennedy’s death in late 1963, and he mourned the president’s passing profoundly. Nevertheless, he won the Republican nomination in 1964, setting up a showdown with Kennedy’s vice president, Lyndon B. Johnson, who he despised and would later accuse of â€Å"using every dirty trick in the book.† Introducing ... Mr. Conservative During the Republican National Convention in 1964, Goldwater gave perhaps the most conservative acceptance speech ever uttered when he said, â€Å"I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.† This statement prompted one member of the press to exclaim, â€Å"My God, Goldwater is running as Goldwater!† The Campaign Goldwater was not prepared for the brutal campaign tactics of the vice president. Johnson’s philosophy was to run as though he were 20 points behind, and he did just that, crucifying the Arizona Senator in a series of vicious television ads. Comments Goldwater made during the previous ten years were taken out of context and used against him. For example, he had once told members of the press that he sometimes thought the country would be better off if the entire Eastern Seaboard were sawed off and floated out to sea. The Johnson campaign ran an ad showing a wooden model of the United States in a tub of water with a saw hacking off the Eastern states. The Effectiveness of Negative Campaigning Perhaps the most damning and personally offensive ad to Goldwater was the one called â€Å"Daisy,† which showed a young girl counting flower petals as a male voice counted down from ten to one. At the end of the ad, the girl’s face was frozen as images of nuclear war played in the shadows and a voice extolled Goldwater, implying he would launch a nuclear attack if elected. Many consider these ads to be the beginnings of the modern negative campaign period which continues to this day. Goldwater lost in a landslide, and Republicans lost many seats in Congress, setting the conservative movement back significantly. Goldwater won his seat in the Senate again in 1968 and continued to earn respect from his political peers on Capitol Hill. Nixon In 1973, Goldwater had a significant hand in the resignation of President Richard M. Nixon. The day before Nixon resigned, Goldwater told the president that if he stayed in office, Goldwater’s vote would be in favor of impeachment. The conversation coined the term â€Å"Goldwater moment,† which is still used today to describe the moment a group of the president’s fellow party members vote against him or publicly take a position opposite him. Reagan In 1980, Ronald Reagan won a crushing defeat over incumbent Jimmy Carter and columnist George Will called it a victory for conservatives, saying Goldwater had actually won the 1964 election, â€Å"†¦ it just took 16 years to count the votes.† The New Liberal The election would eventually mark the decline of Goldwater’s conservative influence as the social conservatives and the Religious Right began to slowly take over the movement. Goldwater vociferously opposed their two top issues, abortion and gay rights. His views came to be regarded as more â€Å"Libertarian† than conservative, and Goldwater later admitted with wonder that he and his ilk were the â€Å"new liberals of the Republican party.† Goldwater died in 1998 at the age of 89.

The Outsourcing of Information Technology Jobs Research Paper

The Outsourcing of Information Technology Jobs - Research Paper Example This paper discusses various aspects of IT outsourcing phenomenon and the reasons as to why firms outsource. According to reports by Gartner, the worldwide IT services outsourcing market is currently worth about 50 billion USD with the ITES and BPO market being worth about 130 billion USD (Pettey, 2009). The economic recession has had a downward pressure on the outsourcing market. In 2008, India with its leading companies such as Accenture, Infosys, Wipro, TCS and many other had a 63% market share of the IT outsourcing market. This is a decrease from the 70% market share it enjoyed in 2007 when India was the preferred destination and now other countries such as Eastern European regions, China, Taiwan and South Africa have entered the market. This is a reduction from the 2004 figures that placed the IT outsourcing market at 163 billion USD (McCue, 2005). Clearly, the market has been worsted by the economic recession, failure of large banks and insurance companies, failure of large automobile manufacturers and many other firms. Outsourcing has been around since a few decades and the best examples were outsourcing of food and catering business, janitorial services, housekeeping work and so on. This was actually also called as ‘in sourcing’ since outside companies and vendors came to work inside a firm. The outsourcing and in sourcing phenomenon has been regarded as one of the forces that flattened the world. Among the 10 flattening forces, Friedman has listed five forces that can be regarded as leading to outsourcing. The forces are: 4th force Open-Sourcing; 5th force Outsourcing; 6th force Offshoring; 7th force Supply-Chaining and 8th force Insourcing (Friedman, 2005). The world firs realized the benefits of outsourcing when Kodak outsourced its whole IT department to IBM for 6 billion USD. Up till then, IT outsourcing was only done for data entry work, electronic transcription of hard

Nutrition and Body Composition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Nutrition and Body Composition - Essay Example Whole body composition comprises both fat-free body mass (FFM) and total body fat. The former is inclusive of water, bone matter and muscle and the latter pertains to essential fat and storage (stored) fat. Accordingly, Heyward and Stolarczyk (1996) assert that whole-body composition is of interest in terms of sports and exercise, obesity assessment and control of body weight. Of specific importance is the need to consistently ensure that total body fat is maintained at an optimal level (Heyward & Stolarczyk, 1996:4). The total body fat element is critical to optimal human physiological capacity. Thus, too little fatness, as is witnessed in individuals with eating disorders and exercise addiction as well as those with certain diseases, e.g. cystic fibrosis, can eventually result in a serious physiological dysfunction (Heyward & Stolarczyk, 1996:5-6). Through different body density measurements, which utilise established equations and corrections, one is able to calculate the ratio of fat-free mass to fat mass in a human body. This is based upon the ‘much lower density’ of the prevailing fat compartment in terms of their ratio (Heyward & Stolarczyk, 1996:8). However, concerning FFM, the bone matter is denser than the muscle structure. This may lead to the over-estimation of the fat percentage present. This is if there is either relative increase in the body muscle mass (during training) or relative loss of the prevailing bone density as found in individuals suffering from osteoporosis (Heyward & Stolarczyk, 1996:9). A variety of avenues are available through which effective body composition can be measured. This is especially in regard to the ‘approximate’ measurement of body fat percentage present. The most commonly employed method is through use of gun calipers, in measuring the subcutaneous fat thickness at various places on the body. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), on

Early release of mentally ill inmates who are charged with sex crimes Research Paper

Early release of mentally ill inmates who are charged with sex crimes - Research Paper Example Early release of the mentally ill sex offenders is a matter of dispute as there is no conclusive study which analyses the way such mentally ill offenders cope with the community in the long term. However, a look into the various scholarly works shows that mentally ill offenders are highly likely to recommit the crimes due to various reasons, ranging from little or no social support, lack of medical and financial support, and poor monitoring. This work suggests some ways to overcome these problems to reduce the risk without an increased financial burden on the authorities. Early release of mentally ill sex offenders According to estimates (as cited in Rich, 2009), nearly 283,800 mentally ill offenders are held in the prisons in the nation and nearly 547,800 are on probation in the community. Admittedly, the increasing number of mentally ill inmates in the federal and states jails has become a matter of increasing concern for the authorities due to the decreased budget and the conseque nt financial crisis. However, the early release program introduced by the authorities to reduce prison population has caused a very serious problem for the people due to various reasons. In this program, low-risk prisoners are allowed to leave jails before the completion of their jail terms. As most of the crimes committed by mentally ill people are categorized as ‘category one’, mentally ill persons easily manage to get early release. A report dated 1 April 2010 by Cervantes and Wilkens (2010) points out that like many other states, in California too, more mentally ill offenders are released instead of getting referred to mental health care; and from the data provided, it is clear that between 2005 and 2009, the number of sex offenders who are referred to the Department of Mental Health by the Department of Corrections as potentially dangerous to be released to society has increased from 524 per year to 6705. Out of them, as Cervantes and Wilkens (2010) note, the numbe r of mental health cases increased from 238 to 1126; however, it is surprising to note that the percentage of the referrals accepted by the Department of Mental Health fell from 45% to 17% in the same period. A perfect example of what happens in such cases is the case of Chelsea King, a teenager from Poway. In fact, the release of her killer John Albert Gardner had been twice rejected by the prison officials but the Department of Mental Health released him, resulting in the death. A look into the characteristics of mentally ill offenders, recidivism rates, and revolving door phenomenon will prove that early release of mentally ill offenders has a very serious impact on social safety. A look into the details According to The Sentencing Project (2002) report, nearly 40% of all the mentally ill offenders are homeless and an equal percentage is binge drinkers; and moreover, they are two times more likely to be homeless compared to the general population. Another important study by the T reatment Advocacy Center (1999) (as cited in The Sentencing Project 2002), points out that mentally ill population is the reason behind a considerable proportion of violence in society, and the reason lies in their inability to understand their inabilities and the

Evaluating an International Human Resource Strategy (Obb) Essay

Evaluating an International Human Resource Strategy (Obb) - Essay Example The report has been concluded along with certain recommendations that might prove to be effective for the company in the future context. The face of business has changed considerably over the last few decades owing to the advancement of technology and the aspect of globalisation that has shortened national and international barriers of business. Furthermore, the rise of competition in the global business scenario also worked towards the changing the nature of the business world altogether. These aspects further give rise to the need for companies to develop strategies to make a mark for themselves amid the potential customers and gain a competitive edge over the major competitors (Ivanko, 2013). There are various functions of any business that integrate together and form the foundation for conducting business in an effective and efficient manner altogether. Among the various functions that are associated with the operations of any business, the functions of human resource management are deemed to be quite vital. The human resource department of any business is directly responsible to deal with the various issues as w ell as operations that are relevant to human resource of the business. The role of an HR manager is deemed to be quite prominent with regard to modern day business operations and it is prevalent in every domain of the business (Martin, 2008). This particular report will mainly focus on evaluating a human resource strategy of an international organisation i.e. H&M. The report will primarily highlight the strategy of the company with regard to entering a new market through conducting joint venture with a particular company. The company that will be considered for joint venture in this report will be Cia Hering of Brazil. H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB is one of the foremost companies, which is operating in the retail clothing sector

Separation of Church and State Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Separation of Church and State - Essay Example American attitudes concerning church-state relations are subject to two conflicting forces. First, Americans are very religious. In comparison with citizens of other industrialized nations, Americans report an extraordinarily high degree of religious belief, association, and practice. This means that, at times, there is a strong enticement on the part of some citizens to transform their religious principles into public policy. Specifically, if religion is a significant influence in a citizen's life, that citizen seems more probable to seek government support of religiously based values. Second, and perhaps, on the contrary, the notion of a constitutional "separation of church and state" (a phrase that appears nowhere in the U.S. Constitution) is an influential symbol in American political discourse. Though there is little agreement relating to the precise meaning of such separation, the principle itself is not normally challenged in American politics. Thus, Separation of church and s tate was definitely not an invention of the Enlightenment political theory that might have prompted similar thoughts in the mind of the respected Thomas Jefferson. Certainly, it misleads to analyze the lively experiment in political terms at all, for the Providence regime was just as certainly and decisively rooted in Protestant theologies as was the Puritans city on a hill.The encompassing description of liberty of conscience was the systematizing principle of society, and it produced a kind of severance of church and state. It is thus significant to keep in mind that the cleavage was meant to protect the church and the soul from the debasing influence of the magistrate, to protect the garden of the church from corruption in the boondocks of the world. The quest for spiritual purity quite factually led into the political realm, where he was basically traditional, if not authoritarian.

Forrensic computing - securing evidence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Forrensic computing - securing evidence - Essay Example Archie Rival, who got the job, says he is very happy with Axta’s work and doesn’t feel there is any conflict. However, at a recent annual review meeting the shipping clerk Asif Iwud told his reviewer in confidence that he believed Axta had not ‘forgotten and forgiven but had other fish to fry’. He believes she will be resigning soon and is hoping to get her job. Evidence is the means and materials that enable a case to be proven. The evidence shows the actual events that took place in any situation, and evidence can either be Digital, Electronic or physical. Digital Evidence is the information that is transmitted or stored in computers in binary form, and which is admissible in a court of law. Electronic Evidence is evidence or data of investigative value which can be stored and transmitted by electronic devices. Various jurisdictions allow for various principles concerning electronic evidence, but these principles are quite similar to the principles defined by the ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers). 4 principles of digital and electronic evidence are defined in the third version of the Good Practice Guide for Computer Based Evidence, and these will be described here. Whenever there is cause for computers to be confiscated for forensic examination, there are some pointers as regards the ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers) Guide for Good Practice concerning digital and electronic evidence. The guidelines are basically for Police Officers in the United Kingdom, but it is good practice to follow these guidelines especially when there is need to seize and examine electronic data. It is also good practice to treat electronic data in the same manner as physical or traditional forensic evidence, and the ACPO guidelines are aimed at achieving the required standards. Also following these principles will ensure the integrity of the case and, ensure that the steps taken are in compliance with the

Separation of Church and State Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Separation of Church and State - Essay Example American attitudes concerning church-state relations are subject to two conflicting forces. First, Americans are very religious. In comparison with citizens of other industrialized nations, Americans report an extraordinarily high degree of religious belief, association, and practice. This means that, at times, there is a strong enticement on the part of some citizens to transform their religious principles into public policy. Specifically, if religion is a significant influence in a citizen's life, that citizen seems more probable to seek government support of religiously based values. Second, and perhaps, on the contrary, the notion of a constitutional "separation of church and state" (a phrase that appears nowhere in the U.S. Constitution) is an influential symbol in American political discourse. Though there is little agreement relating to the precise meaning of such separation, the principle itself is not normally challenged in American politics. Thus, Separation of church and s tate was definitely not an invention of the Enlightenment political theory that might have prompted similar thoughts in the mind of the respected Thomas Jefferson. Certainly, it misleads to analyze the lively experiment in political terms at all, for the Providence regime was just as certainly and decisively rooted in Protestant theologies as was the Puritans city on a hill.The encompassing description of liberty of conscience was the systematizing principle of society, and it produced a kind of severance of church and state. It is thus significant to keep in mind that the cleavage was meant to protect the church and the soul from the debasing influence of the magistrate, to protect the garden of the church from corruption in the boondocks of the world. The quest for spiritual purity quite factually led into the political realm, where he was basically traditional, if not authoritarian.

Cell Phones & Japan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Cell Phones & Japan - Essay Example These were the 1G (first generation) phones and they worked upon the Analog Transmission Technology available at that point of time. Soon, the popularity of these automobile phones grew and there was a demand for such phones to be available outside the automobile. As per Wikipedia, this demand triggered the innovation of a mobile telephone device, which was quite bulky in size and had to be carried around in briefcase. This mobile communication device was a novelty item and found takers in the form of rich businessmen, executives and those who considered it as a status symbol. (August 2008). The mobile communication in Japan has since then evolved into the present day state, where it is a way of life for the Japanese population. The evolution has spanned across development of 2G, 2.5G, termination of analog technology and the advent of digital technology. Today, the predominant technology in Japan is 3G, which allows wide area voice telephony, video calls and broadband wireless data, all in a mobile environment. The evolution of cell phones in Japan can be traced back to 1985, when the 2G (second generation wireless telephone technology) digital network made an entry. It was launched by Radiolinja of Finland in 1991. 2G systems were significantly more efficient and secure. It allowed digital encryption of conversation and data services for mobiles such as SMS. 2G services in Japan use an exclusive standard called PDC (Personal Digital Cellular). The PDC standard used in Japan allows the cell-phones to be of a much smaller size than the regular GSM phones that are in use in other geographies of the world. The primary operators of the 2G service in Japan are NTT DoCoMo, Softbank Mobile and KDDI. At the peak of 2G operation in Japan, there were close to 80 million subscribers using the PDC standard phones. The popularity of the PDC phones have since then

Study Of Autocratic Leadership Style Management Essay

Study Of Autocratic Leadership Style Management Essay There are many ways to lead and every leader has his own style. Some of the most common styles include autocratic, bureaucratic, democratic and laissez-faire. Autocratic Leadership Style This is often considered the classical approach. It is one in which the manager retains as much power and decision-making authority as possible. The manager does not consult employees, nor are they allowed to give any input. Employees are expected to obey orders without receiving any explanations.Some studies say that organizations with many autocratic leaders have higher turnover and absenteeism than other organizations. These studies say that autocratic leaders: Rely on threats and punishment to influence employees      Do not believe the staff      Do not allow for employee input     Nevertheless, the autocratic leadership is not so bad.Sometimes it is the most effective style to use.  Such situations may include:      Employees do not respond to any other style of leadership      There are high volumes of production needs on a daily basis      There is limited time for decision      Work must be coordinated with another department or organization   autocratic leadership style should not be used in the following cases:      Employees become tense, fearful, or resentful      Employees are expected to have their opinion heard      Employees begin depending on their manager to have all their solutions      There is low employee morale, high turnover and absenteeism and work stoppages Bureaucratic Leadership Style Bureaucratic leadership where the manager manages by the book. All must be done in accordance with the procedure or policy. If this does not apply to books, the manager refers to the next level above him or her. This manager is really more police officers than the leader. He or she  apply the rules.   This style can be effective if:   Employees perform routine tasks over and over again.   Employees must understand the specific standards or procedures.   Employees working with hazardous or fragile equipment that requires a set of procedures for the job.   Safety and security training is conducted.   Employees perform tasks that require cash handling.   This style does not be effective if:   Skills of the forms that are difficult to break, especially if they are no longer useful.   Employees are losing interest in their work and their colleagues.   Employees do only what is expected of them and nothing more. Democratic Leadership Style It encourages employees to be part of decision-making process.Democratic manager keeps his or her employees informed about everything that affects their work and shares decision making and problem-solving responsibilities.   Democratic leadership can produce high quality and quantity of work for long periods of time.  Many employees like the trust they receive and respond cooperation, team spirit and high morale.Typically, the democratic leader:   Develops plans to help employees assess their own performance   Allows employees to set goals   Encourages employees to grow jobs and encourage   Recognizes and encourages achievement.   Like other styles, the democratic style is not always appropriate.It is most successful when using highly skilled and experienced employees or when implementing operational changes or permits a person or group problems.   The democratic leadership style is most effective if:   The leader wants employees informed about matters that affect them.   The leader wants employees to participate in decision-making and problem-solving responsibilities.   There is a large and complex problem that requires a lot of input to solve.   you want to promote team building and participation.   Democratic leadership should not be used in the following cases:   There is not enough time to get the input of each.   Its easier and more cost effective for the manager to decide.   Business can not afford mistakes.   The manager feels threatened by this type of leadership. Laissez-Faire Leadership Style This kind leadership style is also known as hands-off  ¨ style. This is where the manager gives little direction and gives employees more freedom as possible. All authority or power is given to employees, and they must set goals, make decisions and solve problems independently  .   This is an effective style to use when:   Employees are highly skilled, experienced and educated.   Employees have pride in their work and desire to do it successfully yourself.   Reliable and experienced staff.   This style should not be used in the following cases:   It makes employees feel insecure in the absence of the manager.   The manager can not provide regular feedback to employees know how well they are doing.   The manager does not understand their responsibilities and hopes that staff can cover for him or her. P7. Explain the different motivational theories and their application within the workplace Maslows Hierarchy of Needs is the most widespread theory.  He believes that human beings have desires that influence their behavior in particular unmet needs.  needs come in order of importance.  person to the next level is necessary if low-level need is satisfied.  on the need to level the person moves, more personality and mental health reveals.   These requirements, from a lowest to highest are: psychological, health and safety, social, esteem and self-actualization.Examples of physiological needs are food and water.  Security refers to security, freedom from violence, safety, and others.Social is a sense of belonging as family, friends, colleagues and other professionals.  Self-esteem is a need for approval, recognition, status, etc.  And, finally, self-actualization refers to the need for personal growth through education, religion, hobbies, and others.   According to Maslow, it would be difficult to achieve the ultimate goal of self-realization, if the following goals are not met or taken care of first.  Food, water, shelter these are just some of our most pressing needs, which precede all others.  For example, it would be silly to worry about how to become emotionally stable, when you can not even have a decent meal or if you are seriously ill.  Taking care of immediate needs, you can begin to take care of the higher needs. Just as Maslows hierarchy of needs, Herzbergs Two Factor Theory is a need-based theory of motivation.  This theory is considered more powerful than Maslow, because it is easier to understand.   two-factor theory says that certain factors in the workplace leads to job satisfaction.  Others did not affect the satisfaction, but if not can lead to dissatisfaction   These factors of motivation and hygiene factors.  Motivators to ensure job satisfaction.  This includes the recognition, responsibilities and tasks.  Hygiene factors are so called because, like hygiene, their presence will not make people healthier, but their absence can cause decay.  Examples of these include salaries, fringe benefits, job security.  Hygiene factors, therefore, can determine dissatisfaction and motivators determine satisfaction. Both scales are independent and one can score high on both factors. Vrooms Expectancy Theory explains why people choose a certain course of action. Unlike the three aforementioned theories, Vrooms theory is not need-based. There are three variables in this theory: Valence, Expectancy and Instrumentality. Valence refers to the importance of the anticipated outcome of a situation. Expectancy is the belief that the effort exerted and success of the situation are related. Instrumentality means the success is related the expectations Vrooms Expectancy theory could sometimes be associated with work situation just like Herzbergs Two Factor Theory. But, in actuality, this theory is applicable to almost all kinds of situations whether work-related or not. Vrooms expectancy theory simply espoused the idea that the reason people do some things is because they expect a certain outcome. I apply Vrooms expectancy theory to my professional life because I believe in doing things not because I want to attain a certain reward but I want to attain something I truly desire for myself. For instance, I do a good job at the office not because I want a promotion, although it is part of it, but because I expect to feel fulfilled after having done something worthwhile. P8. The relationship between motivation theory and the practice of management: Different motivation theories have different effects. Motivation has to be built into the structure and without the motivational theory without the practice of management. You cannot practice motivation if you do not first have a theory or concept. In order to be a great manager or leader you have to be a good motivator, you should know what motivates your staff and what doesnt. A manager who cannot motivate or doesnt know how to motivate cannot do a good job, his job is to improve the performance of the staff and motivate all of them. P9. Describe the nature of groups and group behavior within organizations: Nature of groups The term group can be defined as, two or more persons interacting and working together to get a job or something done. When people work in groups rather than as individuals, the goals of the organization can be easily achieved. Groups can get a job done fast and usually accurate, group members could gather information and tell each other if they are doing something wrong or not, and they could appoint themselves to do a specific job which they are best in to contribute as much as possible to the group. People form groups for various reasons. Maybe get a job done faster or even to get a job done while not putting as much effort if youre the only one working on something. Various Types of Groups: There are formal and informal groups in organizations. Various groups exist within the organization and they are of varying degrees of formalization. Groups in organizations are of various types based on the number of members they have and the interactions between them. Formal Groups A group formed by the organization to accomplish a specific task is termed as a formal group. The organization sets up a formal group and allocates tasks and responsibilities to different members with the intention of achieving organizational goals. Command groups and task groups are examples of formal groups. A command group is relatively permanent in nature and finds representation in the organization chart. Functional departments of organizations are considered as command groups. Task groups, on the other hand, are formed for a specific task and are temporary in nature. They are dissolved after the task is accomplished. After dissolution of the task group, the members of the task group continue as members of their respective functional departments or command groups with reduced duties. Informal Groups Informal groups are formed by the employees themselves. The reasons for the formation of informal groups could be the need for companionship, common interests, growth, recreation, or support. There are two types of informal groups friendship groups and interest groups. Members of friendship groups have a cordial relationship with each other, common interests and are similar. They like each others company and want to spend time together. Interest groups are formed to organize an activity and are temporary in nature. Informal groups mainly satisfy the social needs of members.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   With regards to nature of groups, I would just like to add that members may have conflicting ideas and having your views challenged should could either reaffirm your own beliefs or transcend them-people should come into groups with an open mind. P10. Investigate the Factors Lead to Effective Teamwork and Influences that Threaten Success: In todays workplace, the group leaders need to solve complicated problems and to take ideas from their first stage through a series of complex processes to a successful completion. This kind of work cannot be done alone. There are just too many demands, task requirements and various sources of information required to do it without the support of others. The most important factor that can lead to efficient teamwork is motivation, it is a team leaders job to delegate tasks and to make sure that each member of their team contributes and is good at what they do. For example, if Picasso was one of the members in your group then you should give him a task that requires creativity, since being creative and artistic is his strength then it seems that natural that hell be good at what hes assigned to do. Leaders should build a relationship with its members by making ideas together and supporting it, and even improving each others ideas. They must be open and approachable P11. Evaluate the impact of technology on team functioning within a given organization:  Ã‚  Ã‚   The use of new technologies can improve and in some cases hinder team functioning. As technology changes teams must update and maintain their knowledge in order to function effectively. Technologies which have improved team functions Computers Internet Email Cell Phones Blackberry Groupware PDA Personal computers allow team members to carry out various tasks and communicate more effectively. Laptop computers allow you to do this anywhere. They are now lighter, more powerful and a longer battery life. Personal Digital Assistants (PDA) now have much of the same functionality as laptops, but are smaller, more portable and have a longer battery life. Many PDAs now have wifi as standard and some are also phones (and some phones have many PDA features). Internet has been a huge, worldwide explosion in the use of the Internet. It is already changing the way we work, shop, bank etc. Information technology has had an impact on the way we work for quite some time, but the Internet has now added electronic mail (email), teleworking and video conferencing to the workplace. E-mail allows direct communication which means team members do not need to be in the same place at the the same time in order to communicate effectively. E-mail also has its negative aspects in terms of managing e-mail and the misuse of e-mail. Cell phones have come a long way since the 1980s and there are now more mobile phones in the UK then there are people. Mobile phones allow teams to communicate even when team members are out of the office, on the road or otherwise unavailable. Sometimes having always access to team members can hinder team functioning. Phone technologies such as blackberry and 3G datacards allow team members to work and communicate remotely. Groupware enables teams to plan meetings, collaborate, delegate all within a virtual environment which can often be accessed remotely from anywhere in the world. Technology is found in its various forms in small and large businesses, the service sector, and state institutions, manufacturing companies, educational departments, multi-national organizations and the local shop.

Comparing Two Articles on Architecture :: Article Summary

In the history of architecture there often was a discrepancy between what the architect wants to design and what the client wants to have. In fact, sometimes an architect will do a great design and acquire awards for his design but maybe the client or user have an aversion to it. Stater (2002) and Misra (2002) argue this issue in a distinct way. In the article " it is just not Cricket", Stater (2002) explain the relationships between the architect and clients in different cases and gives two building as examples. The first case that the author shows in this article is the status of the architect who does not talk with any one and has the knowledge and the confidence, while what the client does not like may becomes secondary. Moreover, client has different situations of behavior such as incoherent, unconscious or very probably uninterested (Stater 2002). On the other hand, he said that the job of the architect seems like the doctor's job, for instance of that is when the patient come to the GP's doctor he tell him about his problems and symptoms. As a result the doctor finds the best treatment and solution for his problems. In the same way the client come to the architect and have same strategies. In terms of negative architecture design, the explanation of Stater (2002) can be seen in two examples of buildings which are the Bevin Court and the Media Centre at Lord’s Cricket Ground. Although these buildings have significant designs in terms of moderation and technique, they are not functional and inconvenience for clients. The reason of that the architect did not discuss the design with the client (Stater 2002). Conversely, in the article "Whose House Is It? Exploring User Participation in the Design Process of Residences" Misra (2002) explores that the design process must support the user needs. As well as, the author said that the architecture should be reflected and reinforced by the nature of gender, race and class relations in society. However Misra (2002) discussed four main points in seven projects in India which are the issue of user participation in the design of built environment, the architectural design process in the case of individual project is outlined, and the clients involvement, the patterns of clients-user participation evident and finally some institutional aspects that act systemically to maintain patters of user participation are outlined. In the aspect of the design of the built environment, Misra (2002) states that the behavior setting for individual and groups are the meaning of the built environment.

American Beauty by Sam Mendes Essay -- Film Movies

American Beauty by Sam Mendes This essay has problems with formating ï » ¿Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In American Beauty, 1999, directed by Sam Mendes, we are confronted with the permeating images that have consumed mainstream American life. Mendes exploits these images as constructions that we created around ourselves as a means of hiding our true selves. Mendes is able to implicate us in the construction and make us active viewers by exploiting our voyeuristic nature. In American Beauty Mendes uses the voyeuristic tendencies of the spectator to acknowledge the permeating constructed images. Mendes, through the use of narration, the mise en scene and cinematic techniques implicates the spectator in to using their voyeuristic tendencies to deconstruct the images in order to reveal the true image. From the start of the film the construction of images is evident.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  American Beauty begins with the obvious constructed shot, shown through the use of a video camera, of a young teenage girl. The narration reveals that she wants her father dead. The image portrayed around her is constructed as an evil, unaffectionate youth. The next scene is of a high angle shot, with a voice-over narration. The voice-over goes to explain that this is Lester Burnham’s speaking and he is already dead and the following is a construction of the relevant events. This scene holds relevance for two reasons. First it constructs an image that the young teenager in the previous scene is the killer. And as we will learn by the end of the film this image is not all that it appeared to be. This is a reoccurring theme throughout the film, that these are constructed images, and to notice that there is more to the story then what appears on the surface. The high angle spanning shot of Lester’s street also holds significance for the spectator. This opening shot is quite similar to that of Alfred Hitchcock’s opening scene in Psycho. The similar t hemes is the spectators being the voyeurs. In each we are looking into the private sphere of the character. However, in American Beauty our voyeuristic nature is not shameful. The narration that accompanies the scene is allowing our voyeuristic desires to enter into the private lives without guilt or shame. Mendes as does Lester asks the spectator to be the voyeur. As well the sign on Lester’s cubicle wall is not a coincidence. Mendes is again soliciting t... ...ng against the jumbled blinds of the sliding door. The perfect symmetrical image within the mise en scene is erased in order to represent the failing images in Carolyn’s life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In American Beauty, Mendes constructs his images in order to ask the spectator to deconstruct, by looking closer. This film represents the darkness that we have allowed to seep into American culture. We have allowed ourselves to be overly concerned with the way we want to be or told we should be represented. There are too many cases of the individuals soul being lost behind a maze of faulty images. Mendes begs the spectator almost in desperation to try to see the beauty that this world has to offer. However, he is not pessimistic in his conclusions. Like the flower the film is named after we can still bloom late and the appreciation for the beauty will last for eternity. Yet to reach a point to appreciate the beauty we must strip away the complex layers which we have surrounded ourselves with. This is Mendes point, the need to deconstruct the permeating ideologies within our culture. ï » ¿ Bibliography American Beauty. Dir. Sam Mendes. Dreamworks /Warner Brothers, 1999.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

History: the ancient world Essay

The region occupied by the ancient Aztec and Maya, now commonly referred to as Mesoamerica, is an area encompassing Southern and eastern Mexico, all of Guatemala, Belize an El Salvador, western and southern Honduras and the Pacific side of central America as far as the Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica. On the other hand, Egypt is located at the Northern part of Africa, along the Mediterranean ocean. Despite the distance between the geographical location of the two, history shows several similarities in their cultures. Ancient Mesoamerican people and the Egyptians shared a series of cultural traits; among the most striking of the two calendars of 260 and 365 days that perpetuate in a great cycle approximating fifty two years, language similarities, similar methods of construction, specifically the pyramids. There are also other similarities in their ways of life such as trading and farming among many others. Although the people inhibiting the Mesoamerica area were of many distinct cultures, often speaking mutually unintelligible languages, none the less, there was widespread contact over millennia through migrating, trade, conquest and pilgrimage. The interest in Egyptian and the Mesoamerican archeology arose in the beginning of the 19th century. It was intertwined with important local and global social political developments. Below is a discussion on some of the areas of similarity in the Egyptian and the Mesoamerican cultures. Similarities in the Egyptian and the Mesoamerican pyramids There is also a similarity in the methods of construction of the pyramids by the two cultures, based on the concept of externally oriented architecture. It is believed that the Egyptian pyramids often had temples placed at the summit of the pyramids, just as houses had been built on top of masonry platforms. For example, in the Puuc style, the stone temple facades resembled the design of the tied twig walls of the Maya house. The tendency of the early stone architecture to imitate reed or wood construction was also seen in the early Egypt. In Zozer’s pyramid complex at Saqqara, stone pillars were carved in the shape of the bundles of papyrus or the palm trees that had been used as supports in the palaces at that time. Many of the features of the Egyptian pyramids are found in the pyramids of Mesoamerica. At Uximal the pyramid complex was enclosed by a wall as were those of Egypt. Chichen Itza was also a walled city of 30 square kilometer with 7 paved roads, or sacheob, several kilometers long connecting important sites. The paved road between Uxmal and Kabah was 18 km long. These roads or sacheob, resemble the Egyptian pyramid causeways, although their geography was different. Differences in the pyramids Differences in the Egyptian and the American pyramids have already been noted, although some of them are more apparent than real. There are the differences as a result of time and function. It is said that the famous Egyptian pyramids were built before the year 2000, and the classic pyramids of Maya pyramids came 300 years after. However, history says that the Kushite revival of pyramids c-700 coincides with the construction of the early Olmec pyramids at La Venta. The pyramids of Egypt were conceived as tombs, playing an important part in the religion of the Egyptians. It has been admitted that the Mesoamerican pyramids were also important in their religion. However, the difference with the Mesoamerican pyramids is that never served as tombs, but were used for another reason. The famous Palenque is proving that at least some pyramids served as tombs in America, but for the important people of the society. There is no doubt that there was a difference in the precise religious function of the Egyptian and the Mesoamerican pyramids, although the exact purpose of the pyramids is contradictory. Also, there have been no claims to identify the composition and the construction methods of the pyramids. Whereas the Americans made extensive use of small stones, cement and stucco, the Egyptians used much larger stones while sparingly using the mortar. Astronomy and the calendar In both the Egyptian and the Mesoamerican complexes, the astronomical orientation played an important role. Both the Mesoamerican and the Egyptian civilizations had developed scientific calendars, as was common to all the agricultural societies. For this reason, they paid close attention to the solar and the lunar cycles. In Mesoamerica, close attention was given to the Venus cycle, which helped shape the calendar. Unlike the classical Greeks, the Maya knew that the morning and the evening stars were the same heavenly body (Venus). The Mesoamericans calculated that an 8-year solar cycle equaled a 5-year Venus cycle. Although the Mesoamericans knew that the solar year was a little over 365 days, they also made extensive use of a 260 day cycle which had no parallel in the Egyptian calendar. The Egyptians, on the other hand, had studied all the visible constellations in developing their star clocks. A different star was chosen every ten days (the Egyptian week) as the new decan star to mark the last hour of the night. The modern time measurement of 12 hours of day and 12 hours of night measurement had its own origin in the ancient Egypt. They had also developed a constant civil calendar of 365 days. However, the Egyptian calendar, with an early development of 4241 was far more ancient than that of Mesoamerica. Language similarity The precise history of the of the ancient languages of the people of Egypt and Mesoamerica remains a mystery even up to today, and the origin of the two cultures is also uncertain. The reason for the demise of the cultures of the people of Maya is uncertain, but the tragic devastation of the Aztec culture is all too well known. Although there is limited evidence, a number of scholars have suspected that these two regions, although from different parts of the world have come into contact between themselves during the ancient times. However, it has been denied that the encounter between these two cultures was a prolonged one. Other scholars have suggested that there could be a possibility that these two cultures never came into contact at all. Despite the contradictions among the scholars, the similarities between these two cultures are major and cannot be ignored. There is an assumption that the Egyptians and the Mesoamericans shared a common language which made it possible to exchange the ideas. The reasoning behind the similarities between the two languages is that there must have been contact between people from the two regions. There are many similarities in the linguistic correspondences between the two languages, which remove the possibility of just a contact between the Egyptians and the Mesoamericans. The possibility of a spontaneous coincidence has also been ruled out, because of the existence of similar sounds and meanings in some words. Application of Mathematics Mathematics was also developed at quite a high level in both cultures. This shows that they were able to make measurements during the construction of the pyramids, and also in other areas that could have required the application of mathematics. Today, it is clear that the Mesoamerican arithmetic is readily adaptable to the operations of multiplication and division as well as the simpler addition and subtraction operation. The difference in the numbering systems of the two cultures was that the Egyptian numbering system was additive, base 10, making extensive use of fractions and did not have a symbol for zero. On the other hand, the Mesoamerican system used base 20, was positional, was the first to invent a symbol for zero but as far as history shows, it did not use fractions. There are no detailed records of the Mesoamerican written materials, due to an order that was given by the Spanish authorities to burn down all Native American books. The Mesoamerican and the Egyptian writings were both rooted in their own separate cultures and iconography. It is not known if the first use of the paper in Mesoamerica received an impulse from Africans who were already familiar with papyrus writing materials. Several plant materials were used by the Maya of Mesoamerica to make â€Å"paper†. The famous maguey cactus and the amatl tree from which â€Å"amate† is made are some of the materials that were used to write on. Materials from the tree were soaked, washed, pounded, cut into small pieces and pounded again, a process that is not so different from that of making the papyri. Farming activities Both the Egyptians and the Mesoamericans relied on agriculture for food. During the early years, the Maya of Mesoamerica started civilizing. They built small radiating canal systems in a low rainfall area of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, which is assumed to have been used to irrigate crops. Irrigation was so important, as more than 85% of all the farming in Mesoamerica relied on canal irrigation. In Egypt, farming was common along river Nile. Irrigation was at first done through the over flooding water from the river at the farms along the river. Later on, they adopted the method of fetching water and pouring it directly to the crops, which was later on replaced with the digging of canals to redirect the water to the farms. Trade in Egypt and Mesoamerica Due to the farming activities along the river Nile, the people of Egypt engaged themselves in trading activities amongst themselves. They then upgraded to trading with the people of Mesopotamia, and later on with those from the kingdom of Kush towards the South. There are historians who believe that the Egyptian picture writing, or hieroglyphics, was developed from Sumerian cuneiform as a result of trade contracts with Mesopotamia. In Mesoamerica, long distance trade first developed in Maya. The first of these was a shift in the bulk of east west commerce from the ancient pre classic trade routes along the Pacific coastal plain and the coast of Yucatan to the central-Maya routes through the highlands and, more important, along the rivers across the lowlands. The second development was the emergence of a new Mesoamerican power centre at Teotihuacan, which was able to re-unify the long distance trade network during the early classic period. The trade differences in the two societies could be as a result of the differences in the goods traded by the two societies. Although they all specialized in farming practices, they planted different crops, which they used as trading commodities. Conclusion There are many similarities between the Mesoamericans and the Egyptians. Although it is not clear to any historians how these similarities came to be, the possibility of a mere coincidence in the cultures has been out ruled. This essay has highlighted some of the some of the areas of similarity such as the pyramids, the calendars, farming activities and trade, to prove a relation in the cultures of the Mesoamericans and the Egyptians. However, more research needs to be done to prove how these people from difference continents came to adopt such similar cultures. Future research should also focus on finding out whether there are other ways of life that the two cultures shared. Reference 1) Jerry H. Bentley, Herbert F. Ziegler, â€Å"Traditions and Encounters†, 4th edition, Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2008. ISBN 978-0-07-333062-4

Darkness in Poe, Hawthorne, Melville and Dickinson Essay

E. A. Poe, Hawthorne, Melville and E. Dickinson’s works contain similar elements and images which can be related to the theme of darkness. These authors used these motives as their main subject throughout their works. Some of them led very gloomy and dark life so they used those experiences to utter their feelings by putting them on the paper. These poems and works can come across as kind of morbid at first sight so they will be thoroughly explained in the further text. E. A. Poe was labelled as immoral, crazy and depressive by his contemporaries partly because of his most famous poem â€Å"The Raven†. Many of them considered Poe’s behaviour insane when actually he was just a version of Romantic period moody hero like Byron, Keats and Shelly, yet today those â€Å"insane† people are called artists. His works were marked as spooky, spine-tingling and most importantly dark. Furthermore, a solid comparison can be made between 19th century horror writer Poe and 21th century horror writer Stephen King. Although centuries have passed the motif of darkness stays present. The Raven is a poem filled with dark, lonely and melancholic symbols. One of them to begin with is Gothic setting of the poem. â€Å"Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, / Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore†. â€Å"Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December;/ And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor. † It’s almost like today’s readers can see in films. One can picture a small cabin deep in the woods on a cold December night with nothing but one candle and a man like shadow which can be seen through the window. Nevertheless, it is a perfect prelude to a horror movie or in this case to a horror poem. In addition to dark setting there is a dark protagonist, a young man suffering a great amount of pain, more precisely loss of a loved woman. Any human would start to question himself and talk to himself as he did in all of that loneliness and misery, but the only reply he got from the raven is â€Å"Nevermore†. That word is pretty devastating for the man on the edge. The Raven itself is a bad omen, dark one since it gives volume to a dark, spooky, ghostly atmosphere. His black feathers are traditionally considered to be a magic sign of something evil, rotten and ill. For the tone Poe is looking for, the raven is perfectly suitable bird. It looks just like the night it came out of. Yet again the night is another motif in poem which is entirely dark in physical and psychological sense. Night represents mysterious and slightly dangerous power of nature and it fits perfectly in the poem. Poe does not choose to write a horror of a sunny afternoon’s setting. One of the first things one can notice while reading The Scarlet Letter is enormous amount of hypocrisy. The society itself is hypocritical, nothing is white or black, people lie and everyone wears a mask, so that can be interpreted as dark motif. There are many examples of collision of light and darkness throughout the novel. Light is used to describe and emphasize good qualities of a human within or present state of emotions. And on the other hand, dark is obviously opposite of that. For example there is a scene when Pearl turns her head away from bright sunlight after stepping out in her mother’s arms from the dark, gloomy prison. This shows the contrast between light and dark and also evokes pity for the baby and her mother’s imprisonment. â€Å"She bore in her arms a child, a baby of some three months old, who winked and turned aside its little face from the too vivid light of day; because its existence, heretofore, had brought it acquainted only with the gray twilight of a dungeon, or other darksome apartment of the prison. † There is another example of light and dark in Hester’s description of Chillingsworth. She describes him as a devil-like figure with a black soul and eyes burning red like fire. Light and darkness represent change of behaviour and personality in a character and this is one of the best examples of that change. Chillingsworth becomes literally and figuratively dark and continues tormenting Dimmesdale. The forest in the novel is described as dark several times especially in comparison with the town. Everything happening outside of the town is considered to be dark which means sinful. For example, Hester who is a sinner in the eyes of society lives on the outskirts of town in the woods. Society dismissed her and marked her as an outcast. The fact she is living on a border of town and forest shows how certain people thought of her in certain situations. During the night she found refuge in the woods with Dimmesdale and during the day she was a sinner in the eyes of society in the town. The forest was seen as the place of evil by townsmen because it was unknown and mysterious. The wilderness of the forest is compared with the Hester’s moral wilderness. â€Å"She had wandered, without rule or guidance, in a moral wilderness; as vast, as intricate and shadowy, as the untamed forest. In Bartleby the Scrivener by Melville one can use doubling as a dark motif. The first example of doubles is Nippers and Turkey. They act like one person which is shown in the way they live their lives. Turkey is off in the morning because of the alcohol he drank the night before and Nippers is off in the afternoon because of his indigestion due to the lunch he had not so long before. They act like two faces of a coin. The second example and most important one is Bartleby. Melville is evoking him as a kind of phantom double. Descriptions of him represent him as either ghostly or a corpse, â€Å"cadaverous†. His indifference toward anything makes The Lawyer feel guilty and the act of understanding and helping Bartleby is just a way of satisfying his conscience. Isolation is also a dark motif in Bartleby the Scrivener. During the day Bartleby stares at the window facing the wall and during the night he sleeps in his office. In fact, this is a perfect picture of Wall Street and people who were really emotionally imprisoned because of their work. The last author to be explained is Emily Dickinson. She was beyond her time, left all alone in her world with nobody there to understand her. Her life was lonely and that, among all else, resulted in two nervous breakdowns. The poetry she wrote was full of dark and mysterious motives. One of her many poems called â€Å"I’m Nobody, who are you? † can explain the core of Dickinson. Although this poem has element of comic sense to it, it’s not quite as comical as it seems. Here Dickinson has a light tone, childish voice and she invites reader to come to her dark side. The main thesis in this poem is the loss of identity and personality. „I’m Nobody! Who are you? / Are you – Nobody – too? / Then there’s a pair of us! / Don’t tell! they’d advertise – you know! â€Å" She is explaining that there is a pair of them, nobodies and outsiders. The speaker fears to reveal their identity because they will not be anonymous free-thinking â€Å"nobodies† that they have chosen to be. It is not arguable that all of these authors were lonely and filled with pain due to certain tragedies but some of them felt it more than others. If every aspect of their lives is taken in consideration one should give a gold medal in darkness and despair to Poe and Dickinson. Nevertheless, all of them were human with real human emotions and their way of coping with pain was by writing it on a piece of paper. No matter how morbid and depressing these works are, they are works of art. It is important to remember how difficult it is to share your emotions publically and let every individual to interpret it in its own way, maybe even comparing it to its own life experiences. That is the beauty of it.

Learning and Intelligence Essay

We all learn well in our own different ways, we cannot all learn the same way. For example, some of us are visual learners (pictures, videos, etc), and some of us are incapable of learning visually, we learn well orally (speaking out loud, listening to someone else speak out loud, etc). Some of us just read over notes and learn well that way. Myth 2: That intelligence is largely fixed at birth, and can be accurately determined by IQ or similar standardized tests. There is no limit to intelligence, we are able to learn much more, and we are skilled at much more than that of which can only be determined in an IQ/ any other standardized test. For example, an individual can be creative (art, poetry, story writing, inventions). Myth 3: That there is only one form of intelligence. We all are skilled at different things; we cannot all be skilled at exactly the same stuff in exactly the same way. For example, some of us are good at art and some aren’t, then some of us are good at writing, it doesn’t necessarily mean if u aren’t good at playing soccer, then you won’t be good at playing tennis. Myth 4: That all intelligence is inherited. There is no limit to intelligence, although your level of intelligence can be inherited but a great deal of your intelligence is developed through your environment, experience and culture. Both your inherited intelligence and personal development of intelligence work together and builds new sets of skills and abilities. Myth 5: That intelligence is the same as logical, analytical thinking. Intelligence takes 3 forms: Analytical, Creative and Practical, But only Analytical intelligence is measured in IQ/other standardized tests, therefore there is no measured level for creative ability, practical or commonsense ability, athletic ability, musical ability, etc. Myth 6: That everyone has the ability to succeed at anything. Different aptitudes help people excel in different ways, for different things. For example, a great manager may not necessarily be good at playing the piano. Myth 7: That school is the main or best place to learn. School is not necessarily the best place to learn, just because we spend most of our time there, listening to people feed us information, some of us learn better when we are in our own comfort zone by taking in information all on our own. For example, I learn best at home in my lounge, my friend learns best while relaxing in her garden. Myth 8: That â€Å"standards† are the real test of learning, and can easily be measured by standardized written tests. These tests only measure a part of the intelligence of an individual. These tests cannot measure other greater abilities, skills and talents of an individual. For example, for these tests, a student can easily memorize information, but how do we know if they can apply this information? (iii) Learners get despondent, lack of motivation, hampers self-esteem development, lead to behavioral problems. Learners should experience success, so the learner build on their strengths. Schools should rather: Focus on developing strengths, not on weaknesses. Not waste time trying to †put in what was left out†. Try to â€Å"draw out what was left in† Search for talent, but train to develop skills and abilities. (iv) 1. Eat a good breakfast every morning, preferably with plenty of fresh fruit. 2. Eat a good lunch. 3. Make fish, nuts and vegetable â€Å"fats† key parts of your diet. 4. Exercise regularly to oxygenate the blood. 5. Cleanse the toxins out of your body. Exercise ~ Phys. Ed: Encourage learners to take part in sport/drama. School tuck-shop ~ sell healthier foods. Awareness Campaign: Discussions, posters, check lunch box content. (v) Howard Gardner, David Perkins, and Robert Sternberg have all been quite successful in helping spread knowledge about the meaning of â€Å"intelligence† and applications of this knowledge to education. The study and measurement of intelligence has been an important research topic for nearly 100 years IQ is a complex concept, and researchers in this field argue with each other about the various theories that have been developed. There is no clear agreement as to what constitutes IQ or how to measure it. There is an extensive and continually growing collection of research papers on the topic. Howard Gardner (1983, 1993), Robert Sternberg (1988, 1997), and David Perkins (1995) have written widely sold books that summarize the literature and present their own specific points of view. The following definition is a composite from various authors. Intelligence is a combination of the ability to: 1. Learn. This includes all kinds of informal and formal learning via any combination of experience, education, and training. 2. Pose problems. This includes recognizing problem situations and transforming them into more clearly defined problems. 3. Solve problems. This includes solving problems, accomplishing tasks, fashioning products, and doing complex projects. (vi) Warm environment Interactive method Build thinking skills Plenty of activations Apply it in practice Review and celebrate Four criteria when determining the best learning â€Å"state† : Orchestrating the environment. Setting the right mood and getting students’ attention. Early activity is vital. Bring on the music (vii) How you perceive information most easily How you organize and process information What conditions are necessary to help you take in and store information How you retrieve information (viii) Likely traits: Negotiates well Relates well Able to read others’ intentions Enjoys being with people Has many friends Communicates well Enjoys group activities Likes to mediate disputes How to strengthen learning: Do learning activities cooperatively Take lots of breaks to socialize Use â€Å"pair and share† activities. Use relationships and communication skills Do â€Å"partner talks† on the phone Have parties and celebration of learning Make learning fun Integrate socialization into all curricular areas (ix) Students’ reading levels should be checked first. Students should be matched in pairs, with tutor only a slightly better reader. Books should be chosen for the right reading and interest levels. Tutors are trained with a simple checklist, which shows them how to use â€Å"pause, promt and praise† techniques. . BILBIOGRAPHY Dryden, G & Vos, J. (2005). The New Learning Revolution. UK: Network Edcuational Press Ltd.

Human Resource Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Human Resource Development - Essay Example As a HR Manager, our company CEO has expressed a similar viewpoint, contending that HRD is unnecessary during the financial crisis and that the HRD budget should be the first to go in case of cost reduction. This is informed by previous actions taken after financial crises, during which this strategy worked. However, the present crisis is starkly different from the earlier ones as it has spread very fast globally and brought world economies close to collapse. This course of action, therefore, may not be as effective as it was earlier. Markets have been steadily decreasing with sales also shrinking; therefore, different solutions are required at company, national, and international level (Caprio, 2012: p54). The current crisis has been compared to the Great Depression, with the remedies used then being implemented by various companies to date (Jungmann et al, 2011: p33). However, serious and vital changes have happened since then. The most important difference is the change in the nat ional economy structures. Compared to the Great Depression era, the service sector has grown in significance with the industrial and agricultural sectors decreasing. This has meant that there has been an extensive strengthening in an area where connection to the material processes has been secondary, even as employment factors have remained significant (Fuchita et al, 2010: p65). Productive capital is to be found embedded into the employee’s and their work. This paper will seek to show that corporate methodology for dealing with the current crisis cannot follow earlier patterns by cutting funding to Human Resource Development L&D. This is informed partly by the character of the present crisis. This is especially factual for a company where intangible assets, have a vital role to play and where production is linked to knowledge instead of tangible assets. The Role of Learning and Development in Times of crisis The management of crisis and their solutions appears time to time i n the media. This usually involves reduction of working time for employees, lay-offs or cuts to Human Resource Development. In most cases, the organizations have no choice with regards to avoiding insolvency or bankruptcy. Cutting funding to Human Resource Development, however, offers short-term solutions while leading to long-term problems (Lazear & Michael, 2009: p44). One assumption made regarding knowledge management is that human capital and information play a more significant role in the input process. A significant part of the organization’s value lies with human capital, i.e. the knowledge in its employees possession, which is a crucial factors as far as improved corporate performance and competitiveness are concerned (Lazear, 1998: p10). Faced by a crisis, however, an organization may begin paying inadequate attention to the retention of knowledge that is lay-offs as well as the improvement of knowledge for its employees. Most companies will utilize a â€Å"lawnmowe r principle† with an aim to reduce costs by trying to economize on their highest components of cost; wages and Human Resource Development (Buckley & Jim, 2009: p22). This strategy, however, is limited in its effectiveness. Cutting costs involves the sacrifice of resources in order to increase profit, with whoever is tasked to examine resource utilization attempting to cut costs by all means possible. Costs, however, occur during operation and not at the investment point. Assets improve profits and costs need