ACCESS TO EDUCATION AS A WOMEN'S RIGHTS VIOLATION IN IRAN AND PAKISTAN Research Paper

ACCESS TO EDUCATION AS A WOMEN'S RIGHTS VIOLATION IN IRAN AND PAKISTAN - Research Paper Example citizens, three reasons can be perceived as standing paramount to human rights progress on education in Islamic countries: 1) The internal case of religion or the exercise of a particular aspect or type of Islamism. 2) The external case of orientalism or the policies and practice of the Western world that affect human rights outcomes in Arab regions; 3) The economy or particularly extractive industries, which are predominately male driven, on the region in terms of society and culture. By focusing the primary concern of the study towards the exploration of the availability of educational opportunities in Pakistan and Iran, the research aims to understand the male-dominated elements that thrive in these particular societies and how it has led to the oppression of women who reside in this part of the world. As stated previously, the assessment and analysis which has been conducted in this paper can be examined from three critical elements and theoretical perspectives which are that of 1) Islamism 2) orientalism and 3) economic considerations of the environment. From a scholarly point of view, the case of Islam and the rise of religious extremism in both Pakistan and Iran is an internal matter of the states because it establishes the foundations on which the nations’ constitution, judiciary and legal systems have come into being. In recent years, the rise of extremism in Pakistan which has led to the creation of various Taliban factions that strive to prohibit women from gaining education is demonstrated by the case of 16-year-old education activist, Malala Yousufzai who was shot by the Taliban in 2012 for raising her voice against their injustices which included the destruction of girls’ schools and colleges in Swat District. Indeed, many of the cultural elements and factions that thrive in Pakistan and Iran are based upon the inspirations of religious text but more so it is the interpretation of the text that is responsible for developing the social matters of

International Travel Essay Example for Free

International Travel Essay No matter how much you read ahead of time, youll be confronted with culture and custom that you are unprepared for. The farther removed the culture is from your own, the more you can expect to be surprised. Novice travelers will struggle with the basics everything from getting a cab to finding a public bathroom can offer a challenge. Veteran travelers will be more secure with the small stuff and that may offer them a firm-enough foundation to give them the confidence to try the more challenging things. That is where we were on our recent adoption trip to China: Veteran third-time travelers who were confident that we could do anything and blend right in. Our trip to the real Chinese restaurant taught us otherwise. It was our second week in China. We were there with our two previously adopted Chinese children, ages ten and eleven, and wed just added a new family member. She was a new daughter, age twelve, and she spoke not a word of English. Things had been going very well, and our new daughter was really fitting in seamlessly. This being our third trip, we felt pretty cocky. We snickered good-naturedly as first-time travelers timidly peeked outside the doors of the hotel onto the Chinese thoroughfare. They might make a run for the McDonald’s now and again, or go all the way up the block to KFC, but actually heading out into the big city, sans guide, was not on their bucket list for the time being. That was not for us. We decided that wed all head out to an authentic local restaurant, the sort frequented by the Chinese rather than by westerners; the type with plastic curtains rather than doors; a restaurant with no western influences beyond the ubiquitous presence of Coca-Cola products. Three hungry children herded between us, my wife and I set out to find just the right place. We headed out the less-frequently-used rear entrance of Guangzhous China Hotel, which spilled out onto the broad Panfu Avenue, a typical busy main thoroughfare. It was filled with small shops and stalls, looking shabby and temporary to Western eyes, though in reality, permanent centers of street commerce. We wound our way through typical robust foot traffic, straining to keep the kids together amidst the crowds. We passed up several restaurants close to the hotel in an effort to separate ourselves from the tourist-oriented places, but several blocks away we came upon the Liushen Xiguan restaurant, which translates roughly as â€Å"Traditions of the Six Gods† restaurant. It was clad in gold paint, trimmed with red cloth, and several large Buddhas smiled at us as they stood sentry on the sidewalk. The wall in the entryway was covered with awards given by the local of chamber of commerce, and as an added benefit, the awards each offered a picture of the winning dish. Velvet padded bamboo chairs lined the wall in the waiting area. Peeking through the windows, we could see that the dining area was enormous. Such a place was likely to have good food, was clearly worth a stop. It was 4:50 when we asked to be seated, but oddly, the dining room was dark and the hostess desk was empty as were the tables. No table cloths or place settings were to be seen, and the chairs were upended and sitting atop the tables. A hostess apprehensively approached us to talk. After much arm flapping and hand gesturing, we came to understand that the restaurant would not open until five P. M, although we could not see how it would do so. Not a soul was to be seen besides the hostess, and nothing was prepared for customers. We began to have second thoughts and we started to wonder if wed misunderstood the hour that service would start. We decided to wait for a bit, if only to rest. At the stroke of five the lights came on to illuminate a dozen employees rushing from the kitchen, bearing ornate livery for the tables, and tools of the trade for the hungry guests. The dining space went from abandoned warehouse to friendly, well-lit, white linen appareled eatery in a matter of moments. Once seated, we began to notice differences from what we expected in a restaurant. Soup bowls appeared, as well as a pot of tea, tea cups, and a large empty ceramic bowl. We watched the other tables to see what use our fellow diners would have for the bowl. Some diners were watching us. Perhaps they didnt know what to make of the empty bowl either? More likely, they were wondering what a couple of Americans were doing here staring at them too. Other diners were taking the cups, bowls, and spoons and washing them in the tea, using a rather practiced method. The used tea was discarded into the empty bowl. I wasnt sure if this meant we needed to do our own dishes, or if it was simply a custom. To be on the safe side, we started washing. I noticed curious grins. Was I doing it wrong? Did we appear like children playing in a wading pool? Unblemished by the bemused stares, we toweled ourselves dry, and with confidence in the cleanliness of our place settings, we dug into the menu. There were thirty pages of menu items. Many had pictures and some had English translations, though mostly the translations read â€Å"Pork and vegetables in sauce† or â€Å"Chicken with vegetables in sauce†. While Im certain that was accurate, it was of little value in helping us to choose from amongst the twenty five varieties of â€Å"Pork with vegetables in sauce†. We struggled with the pictures and each made the best possible dinner choices we could, with a few appetizers added in. The waitress took our order promptly and returned in a few minutes with my meal, and nothing else. No appetizers. No other orders. Just mine. She placed it in the center of the table and left. My meal was far larger than I expected. In fact, it was large enough to feed us all. Suddenly we grasped what we had missed. The table top was essentially an enormous lazy Susan. It appeared that we would be eating family style. Other tables were sharing food as well, so we set out to share the barbecued pork I had ordered. A few moments later the next meal appeared, and shortly thereafter, the next, and then the next, each meal large enough to feed a family of five. Even the items wed been led to believe were appetizers seemed enormous. Before long, we had enough food for forty people. There was so much, that the server was barely able to find room for the last steaming bowl of fried rice. Ive been to weddings that served less food than wed purchased. We were clearly the center of attention now as we made an effort to at least put a dent in the spread we were responsible for. The pictures didnt do the food justice, nor were they worth the thousands words Id so often been promised. The fried rice was filled with boldly colored fresh carrots, peas and sprouts, and those turned out to be the only vegetables on the table that we easily recognized. We were served steamed and pan-fried dumplings, bursting with juices and filled with meat stuffing. There was a whole roasted chicken, the bright yellow color of a school bus. When I say whole, I mean it. Chicken in China often comes with feet, head and beak attached. It appeared that our dinner had walked straight from the barnyard to the oven. A second chicken was served in pieces which had the bright red color of a fire engine. Both birds were juicy and offered bold flavor, the yellow one having been seasoned with a curry and the red one more of a peppery spice. The seafood dish seemed a bit more tentacle-filled than we were used to, and it went largely unloved. I still have no clue to this day what was in it, though I will admit that the description â€Å"fish with vegetables in sauce† seemed unerringly accurate. Our crisp pork on a platter seemed straightforward. No sauce or vegetables, though I could swear that the translation of the dish said they were included. Our meal was rounded out by a course of tea smoked duck. The dark meat had been roasted over a tea leaf fueled fire and had a deep rich flavor. After some of our other mis-translations, I would not have been surprised to have had it served in a pipe for actual smoking, but it wound up being the best part of the meal. I do hope it was duck though. We left a great deal of food on the table. In very American fashion, we asked for containers to take the remaining food for thirty back to our hotel. That doesnt seem to be the norm in China, but we packed up our bags and loaded up with more victuals than a United Nations food convoy. I was concerned about the cost, but for all the entertainment that our endeavors provided for the patrons, perhaps they should have paid us. The price was thankfully low; bless you generous exchange rate. One last problem appeared. The tip. It is insulting to over tip in China. After having the experience of being publicly chastised by a cab driver for over tipping, I was leery. Loaded down as we were, there could be no quick escape should I insult the staff with too many Yuan, or too few. The Six Gods must have been watching out for us though. The older hostess (manager, cook, waitress, cashier no real idea) took pity on me and selected a bill to leave as a gratuity. It was far less than I would have chosen. Id have given her double that just for getting me out with my remaining dignity intact. We wound our way back to the hotel, filled with a good meal, good stories, and a good deal of new knowledge about how things are done in China. I mentioned the experience to our guide, who filled in a few of the blank spots. He was happy to hear that we were treated well by the local people. I was happy for the experience. A few days later, we coaxed some other group members to come out with us to the restaurant. We displayed our dining skills for them without ever mentioning the difficulties with which they were acquired. After all, that is how veterans maintain their mystique.

The Meditations by Rene Descartes Essay examples -- Rene Descartes, 20

In Descartes’ Meditations, his goal to prove the existence of things could only be accomplished if he was logical, clear, and correct in his thoughts and writings. The most important issues he noted were the threat of being deceived and the potential of being incorrect in his judgments, both of which would lead him into error. Error exists as a problem that individuals encounter on a regular basis, and it also exists as a focal point in Descartes’ Meditations. Descartes defines error as â€Å"a privation or lack of some knowledge which somehow should be in me.† As a â€Å"thinking thing†, which he defines as â€Å"a thing that doubts, understands, affirms, denies, is willing, is unwilling, and also imagines and has sensory perceptions†Ã‚ ¹, Descartes must use his knowledge to the best of his ability. In the mind, knowledge is dealt with in the faculty of judgment. This faculty is comprised of the faculties of intellect and will, and it is limited by knowledge yet pushed forward by will (Descartes, 41). Because of this conflict, we are able to make mistakes – or come to err. The first component of knowledge that must be examined is the faculty of intellect. Intellect allows one to think. Thought consists of the ability to understand, imagine, and perceive. Perception encompasses the ability to use the senses to form ideas of some object, whereas imagination allows one to fabricate ideas and form new thoughts. When one imagines, he simply invents ideas that exist to be judged by the mind. Ideas do not necessarily need to be true, and because of this they cannot be wrong. One can have the idea of some entity that does not exist, such as a satyr or siren, and this does not pose any issue. Simply holding an untrue idea is not an error. In the same s... ... can be free of errors as long as no judgments are made on subjects that are not completely understood. As the intellect merely presents ideas in the mind, the errors made are in their judgments, and the incorrect use of free will. It is important to be aware of the distinction between the faculty of free will and the actual use of free will, as the faculty is perfect yet error may exist in its use. Error is shown as a result of the incorrect use of the tools granted to us, and it stands that error can be eliminated when these tools are only used to the best of their ability; any further use is clearly how we come to err (p. 43). Work Cited Rene Descartes, The Meditations, tr. John Cottingham, in The Philosophical Writings of Descartes Vol. 2, ed. John Cottingham, Robert Stoofhoff, Dugald Murdock (New York: University of Cambridge Press, 1984), p. 19. The Meditations by Rene Descartes Essay examples -- Rene Descartes, 20 In Descartes’ Meditations, his goal to prove the existence of things could only be accomplished if he was logical, clear, and correct in his thoughts and writings. The most important issues he noted were the threat of being deceived and the potential of being incorrect in his judgments, both of which would lead him into error. Error exists as a problem that individuals encounter on a regular basis, and it also exists as a focal point in Descartes’ Meditations. Descartes defines error as â€Å"a privation or lack of some knowledge which somehow should be in me.† As a â€Å"thinking thing†, which he defines as â€Å"a thing that doubts, understands, affirms, denies, is willing, is unwilling, and also imagines and has sensory perceptions†Ã‚ ¹, Descartes must use his knowledge to the best of his ability. In the mind, knowledge is dealt with in the faculty of judgment. This faculty is comprised of the faculties of intellect and will, and it is limited by knowledge yet pushed forward by will (Descartes, 41). Because of this conflict, we are able to make mistakes – or come to err. The first component of knowledge that must be examined is the faculty of intellect. Intellect allows one to think. Thought consists of the ability to understand, imagine, and perceive. Perception encompasses the ability to use the senses to form ideas of some object, whereas imagination allows one to fabricate ideas and form new thoughts. When one imagines, he simply invents ideas that exist to be judged by the mind. Ideas do not necessarily need to be true, and because of this they cannot be wrong. One can have the idea of some entity that does not exist, such as a satyr or siren, and this does not pose any issue. Simply holding an untrue idea is not an error. In the same s... ... can be free of errors as long as no judgments are made on subjects that are not completely understood. As the intellect merely presents ideas in the mind, the errors made are in their judgments, and the incorrect use of free will. It is important to be aware of the distinction between the faculty of free will and the actual use of free will, as the faculty is perfect yet error may exist in its use. Error is shown as a result of the incorrect use of the tools granted to us, and it stands that error can be eliminated when these tools are only used to the best of their ability; any further use is clearly how we come to err (p. 43). Work Cited Rene Descartes, The Meditations, tr. John Cottingham, in The Philosophical Writings of Descartes Vol. 2, ed. John Cottingham, Robert Stoofhoff, Dugald Murdock (New York: University of Cambridge Press, 1984), p. 19.

Essay --

Sangbum Park POLI 120A Prof. Victor Magagna Feb, 14, 2014 Causes of changing demand in Europe There are many causes of changing demand in Europe focusing on the incremental change demanded and how rulers responded. The early modern Western Europe has been developed by institutional variations in state. Basically in the book â€Å"Birth of the Leviathan† by Thomas Ertman, he does not believe on the traditional view of the state. He views states in two dimensions which are the regime types and the state apparatus. The two political regimes are the absolute monarchy and the constitutional monarchy. The two state apparatus was either patrimonial or bureaucratic. Briefly before the absolutism was established and built, the feudalism was the political system in the Europe. It was basically the few rulers ruled everything and only those few rulers had power to control anything. The feudal system started to decline when the power of the monarchs in France started to rise. Also the people from burgess class, which was the majority of the people in the feudalism, emerged along the rise of towns. One other reason was the increase of communication between the burgess classes. The decline and destroy of feudalism led the patrimonial absolutism to rise in the Europe during the early middle ages in Europe. During the early middle ages in Latin Europe, the centralized states of those countries were declining. This declination of the centralized states brought the new dynamism to the economies and the religions especially the Church which led the growing of economy. The absolute monarchy started to rise back in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. In Western and Eastern Europe, many monarchs such as kings or emperors tried to increase their ... ...ich basically combined England, Scotland, and Ireland into the Great Britain. The glorious revolution was the final incident which stopped the struggles and conflicts of power between the monarchs and the parliament. William and Mary agreed to sign the Bill of Rights offered by the parliament. This Bill of Rights was basically the monarchs, William and Mary will not be able to make their own decision without the permission of the parliament. This is basically how the absolutism is changed to a constitutionalism in England after this incident. The Glorious Revolution brought the power balance between the monarchs and the parliament favors more to parliament as time passed. As the parliament had more powers later, the government became more like democracy because it was the elected people who were making the decisions not the one ruler who were deciding everything.

Pride and Prejudice and Mr. Darcy

Reading is my hobby. Even before the movie â€Å"The Jane Austen Book Club† came out in theaters, I was reading all of Austen’s novels! I am all of the characters she portrays in her books, weaving my present life situation into each storyline! My love of reading began when I first picked up one of the Nancy Drew mysteries. I think I have read every one of them, plus a lot of the Hardy Boys books (after all, Ned is Nancy’s boyfriend). I thought Nancy had the best life in the world, and I wanted to be just like her, helping her solve all of those mysteries, and to be fearless, just as Nancy was fearless!If you are as passionate about reading as I am, then you know the excitement it brings when you curl up on the sofa with a good book, especially written by Jane Austen! Can you imagine reading â€Å"Sense and Sensibility† or â€Å"Pride and Prejudice,† bringing characters to life reminiscent of Lizzie, Jane, and Mr. Darcy? What fun it would be for you and I to start our own â€Å"book club† and share the same hobby together! Not only would we get the chance to hear each other’s synopsis on what we were reading at the moment, but we could share each other’s company as well!Socialization and conversation all rolled up into our one hobby; reading. There are so many benefits to reading. Reading expands your thinking, especially if you are someone who lacks the means for anything but the essentials of life. Books can export you anywhere in the space of a chapter, using only your imagination! Did you read â€Å"Mansfield Park† and imagine yourself in the tiny, dirty room that Fanny and her family shared before she was taken to Mansfield Park at the request of her mother?How do you think Fanny felt amidst the richness and beauty of that magnificent mansion? How do you think she felt about her rich, gloating aunt and uncle? Reading can be a real confidence builder, enhancing self-esteem in one’s eyes a s well as the eyes of others. Suppose you were at a dinner party and a subject comes up from a book you just finished? What a boost to your ego to think that you are in a position to take part in this casual conversation because you are well versed. Reading begets knowledge and knowledge begets notice! Reading enhances your ability to focus.You are bending the brain to your will, concentrating on the activities and characters in the chapter at hand. I often find myself daydreaming about my book long after I have put it down. I rehearse in my head the next plot in light of the story I have read so far. Will Lizzie get Mr. Darcy? Will she have Mr. Darcy? We have to wait and see! I think readers can learn diversity and acceptance of other cultures from books. Reading dissolves the fear one might feel from an unknown subject by exposing oneself to another person’s perspective.I work in the International Center at a local college. Three years ago we had a group of ten young Egypti an students come to study on a Fulbright scholarship referred to as the â€Å"Egypt Initiative. † Their culture is so different from ours that I thought it helpful to take a humanities class in world religions. I finished the class before the students arrived, and I was very happy I did. I was in procession of knowledge that I otherwise might not have acquired if not for this event. It proved to be very useful in understanding their behavior.I think we can be inspired to accomplish more in life by reading a brief story line written by the author in the introduction, or just inside the flap of the book cover. There are so many positive reasons for making reading your hobby. Reading brings the satisfaction of accomplishment, knowledge, wisdom, and sometimes spiritual growth, and what more can you ask from a hobby? It is sad how reading is getting lost in today’s technological society. Our world is changing exponentially. There is little chance for conversation out in pub lic.People are so rushed for time they barely notice you walk by! Society is becoming totally disconnected from each other. People are consistently staring at their iPhones, iPads, and Androids; checking their Facebook, text messages, apps, and emails! I am afraid the art of book reading will soon become a myth told only by the few people left on earth who were fortunate to have a grandmother telling them a story about their great grandmother reading them a book as a child. Let’s us be that grandmother!

British Culture and Society Essay Example

British Culture and Society Essay Example British Culture and Society Essay British Culture and Society Essay r PREPARATIONS FOR BRITISH CULTURE AND SOCIETY 1. The features of the United Kingdom’s culture The culture of the United Kingdom is rich and varied, and has been influential on culture on a worldwide scale. It is a European state, and has many cultural links with its former colonies, particularly those that use the English language. The origins of the UK as a political union of formerly independent states has resulted in the preservation of distinctive cultures in each of the home nations. Britains culture and creativity is flourishing as never before, whether in creative industries such as advertising, music and film, or in the visual and performing arts. Like the US, Britain is proud of its multicultural heritage and diversity. Multicultural Britain with different communities has helped build todays vibrant Britain and contributed to its economic, social, democratic and cultural development. 2. The sociological issues in the United Kingdom Housing The United Kingdom has one of the highest population densities in Europe. Housing tends to be smaller and more closely packed than in other countries, particularly compared to North America. In modern Britain more detached housing has started to be built, most beginning in the mid-nineties. Demographic changes are putting great pressure on the housing market, especially in London and the South East. Living arrangements In the 20th century, the general trend is a rise in single people living alone, the virtual extinction of the extended family (outside certain ethnic minority communities), and the nuclear family reducing in prominence. From the 1990s, the break up of the traditional family unit, when combined with a low interest rate environment and other demographic changes, has created great pressure on the housing market. In the 21st century young people are tending to continue to live in the parental home for much longer than their predecessors. Sport The national sport of the UK is football, having originated in England, and the UK has the oldest football clubs in the world. A great number of major sports originated in the United Kingdom, including: Football (soccer), squash, golf, tennis, boxing, rugby (rugby union and rugby league), cricket, snooker, billiards, badminton and curling. National costume There is no specifically British national costume. Even individually, England, Wales and Northern Ireland have only vestiges of a national costume; Scotland has the kilt and Tam oshanter. In England certain military uniforms such as the Beefeater or the Queens Guard are considered to be symbolic of Englishness, though they are not official national costumes. Morris dancers or the costumes for the traditional English May dance are cited by some as examples of traditional English costume. Naming convention The naming convention in most of the United Kingdom is for everyone to have a given name, usually (but not always) indicating the childs sex, followed by a parents family name. This naming convention has remained much the same since the 15th century in England although patronymic naming remained in some of the further reaches of the other home nations until much later. Since the 19th century middle names have become very common and are often taken from the family name of an ancestor. Traditionally given names were largely taken from the Bible; however, in the Gothic Revival of the Victorian era, Anglo Saxon and mythical names became commonplace. Since the middle of the 20th century however given names have been influenced by a much wider cultural base. 3. The differences in Driving between Commonwealth and American Culture The first thing to be considered is that fact that Americans drive on the RIGHT and in the Commonwealth you drive on the LEFT. Now if that isn’t confusing enough, even the road markings are opposite. In America YELLOW lines signify the center of the road and white the edge while exactly the opposite occurs in most Commonwealth countries. In the USA, highways are VERY specific in how you refer to them. For example, the 635 is pronounced the â€Å"six thirty-five† and NOT the â€Å"six three five† or the â€Å"six hundred and thirty five†. Highways in Commonwealth countries generally begin with a N for national (e. g. N3) meaning they traverse the entire country or M for motorway (e. . M25) meaning they traverse only through or around a city (the M25 is a circular highway around London). Or R for route. There is a very good reason behind the highway marking system in the USA. Highways marked â€Å"US† (i. e. the famous US 66), the lower numbers start in the northeast and get higher as they move southwest. However, for highways marked Interstate (such as I-75 going from Michig an to Florida), lower numbers start in the southwest, with road numbers getting higher as they go to the northwest. This was to help prevent confusion and overlapping numbering, as the Interstate highway system was created after many â€Å"US-##† highways had been created 4. The approaches to deal with immigrant groups and their cultures In dealing with immigrant groups and their cultures, there are essentially four approaches: Monoculturalism: In some European states, culture is very closely linked to nationalism, thus government policy is to assimilate immigrants, although recent increases in migration have led many European states to experiment with forms of multiculturalism. Leitkultur (core culture): A model developed in Germany by Bassam Tibi. The idea is that minorities can have an identity of their own, but they should at least support the core concepts of the culture on which the society is based. Melting Pot: In the United States, the traditional view has been one of a melting pot where all the immigrant cultures are mixed and amalgamated without state intervention. Multiculturalism: A policy that immigrants and others should preserve their cultures with the different cultures interacting peacefully within one nation. 5. The Features of Culture Culture: is a shared, learned, symbolic system of values, beliefs and attitudes that shapes and influences perception and behavior: standards of beauty. 7) Internalized. Habitual. Taken-for-granted. Perceived as natural. 6. Difference in Drinking between Commonwealth and American Culture. The first drinking difference to consider is the legal age to drink. In the USA it is 21, while in all Commonwealth countries it is only 18! While in Canada some provinces are 19 and some are 18. Bars in Britain traditionally closed at 11 p. m. by law while in the USA they close at 2 a. m. by law. England has recently passed a new law that allows late night drinking, so some bars are now open until the wee hours. Bars in Australia and South Africa vary considerably. In Britain, beers (ales or bitter), are served warmer than in America! Ales (as opposed to lagers) are served at cellar temperature which is below room temperature, but definitely not chilled chilled bitter is tasteless (as is a lot of lager at whatever temperature) but warm bitter is foul (but not as foul as warm lager! . The reason is simple: beer should be served at the temperature that it ferments at ales are fermented at a slightly higher temperature than lagers.. This applied to English ales and bitters, but not to foreign lager or beer, which is always chilled. In the USA beers are chilled to almost freezing point. Drinking bitters and ales is an English practice that has not been extended to the rest of the Commonwealth. Countries like Australia and South Africa serve mostly locally made lagers, well chilled. In America, beers are mostly served in the bottle (even by 5 star hotels). They will wrap a paper napkin (serviette) around the bottle to soak condensation. Up market hotels in the Commonwealth would frown at a patron requesting to drink straight from the bottle. Australia is metric, therefore a nip of alcohol is 30ml. In the US, a nip is 1 fl ounce which is quite a lot larger. One of our contributors worked in a bar at an up market hotel in Australia and had regular arguments with US clients who insisted she was short-pouring them! 7. The science and technology in the United Kingdom Science and technology in the United Kingdom has a long history, producing many important figures and developments in the field. Major theorists from the UK include Isaac Newton whose laws of motion and illumination of gravity have been seen as a keystone of modern science and Charles Darwin whose theory of evolution by natural selection was fundamental to the development of modern biology. Major scientific discoveries include hydrogen by Henry Cavendish, penicillin by Alexander Fleming, and the structure of DNA, by Francis Crick and others. Major engineering projects and applications pursued by people from the UK include the steam locomotive developed by Richard Trevithick and Andrew Vivian, the jet engine by Frank Whittle and the World Wide Web by Tim Berners-Lee. Scientists from the UK continue to play a major role in the development of science and technology and major technological sectors include the aerospace, motor and pharmaceutical industries. England and Scotland were leading centres of the Scientific Revolution from the 17th century and the United Kingdom led the Industrial Revolution from the 18th century, and has continued to produce scientists and engineers credited with important advances. Scientific research and development remains important in British universities, with many establishing science parks to facilitate production and co-operation with industry. Between 2004 and 2008 the UK produced 7% of the worlds scientific research papers and had an 8% share of scientific citations, the third- and second-highest in the world (after the United States and China and the United States respectively). 8. The Three Elements of Culture Another common way of understanding culture is to see it as consisting of three elements: values, norms, and artifacts [Dictionary of Modern Sociology, 1969, 93] Values are ideas about what in life is important. They guide the rest of the culture. Norms are expectations of how people will behave in different situations. Each culture has different methods, called sanctions, of enforcing its norms. Sanctions vary with the importance of the norm; norms that a society enforces formally are called laws. Artifacts - things, or material culture - derive from the cultures values and norms. 9. The cause to the change in Culture? Three kinds of influence cause both change and resistance to it: +forces at work within a society +contact between societies +changes in the natural environment. Cultural change can come about due to the environment, to inventions (and other internal influences), and to contact with other cultures. For example, the end of the last ice age helped lead to the invention of agriculture, which in its turn brought about many cultural innovations. 10. A snapshot of the United Kingdom: The United Kingdom, constitutional monarchy in northwestern Europe, is officially the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Great Britain is the largest island in the cluster of islands, or archipelago, known as the British Isles. England is the largest and most populous division of the island of Great Britain, making up the south and east. Wales is on the west and Scotland is to the north. Northern Ireland is located in the northeast corner of Ireland, the second largest island in the British Isles. The capital of the United Kingdom is the city of London, situated near the southeastern tip of England. The United Kingdom is a small nation in physical size. At 244,110 sq km (94,251 sq mi), the United Kingdom is roughly the size of Oregon or Colorado, or twice the size of New York State. It is located as far north in latitude as Labrador in North America, but, like the rest of northern Europe, it is warmed by the Gulf Stream flowing out of the North Atlantic Ocean. The climate, in general, is mild, chilly, and often wet. Rain or overcast skies can be expected for up to 300 days per year. These conditions make Britain lush and green, with rolling plains in the south and east and rough hills and mountains to the west and north. Despite its relatively small size, Britain is highly populated, with an estimated population density of 251 persons per sq km (650 per sq mi) in 2006. It is highly developed economically, preeminent in the arts and sciences, sophisticated in technology, and highly prosperous and peaceful. In general, British subjects belong to one of the more affluent states of Europe and enjoy a high standard of living compared to the rest of the world.

Prejudice Against Gay Parents

Prejudice Against Gay Parents Free Online Research Papers Why is there so much prejudice against gay parenting? Who decides that homosexuals cannot be parents? Within society there has been opposition toward it due to the idea that homosexuality is not natural. But homosexuals are parents, many from previous heterosexual relationships, others through adoption, and very few from sperm donors or invitro fertilization. Research done on these situations has shown no negative effects toward the child. If the child is brought up in a loving environment it does not matter weather one mother, two fathers, or one mother and one father are the people raising the child. The risk of molestation or any other form of abuse of a child, which is being raised by a homosexual, is the same, if not lower that of that of a child being raised by heterosexuals. The standard which society sets for a family and who may raise a child should be examined and reevaluated to include loving parents, not just heterosexual couples. Society has a huge problem with homosexuals having and raising children; this problem is sprung from the idea that homosexuality is not natural. This idea then leads to the argument that since homosexuality is not natural, is it natural for homosexuals to raise or have children? Lets say that it is normal for there to be homosexuals then the argument is that God has prevented them from having children, and they are not meant to raise children. If one takes this argument then you have to take into consideration that by this definition society is condemning heterosexual couples that can not have children. Is this what society wants? Most children that are contained in a homosexual relationship are from previous heterosexual relationships, although the percentages are moving toward the other two forms and the percentages are starting to even out (Shapiro 1996). Gaining custody of a child or children from a previous heterosexual relationship is the most common form of children being placed in a homosexual family. This form of placing a child in a homosexual family is the least controversial because there is one parent from the childs original family. This particular form is the most socially acceptable because the child has usually experienced the relationship that their heterosexual parents had. This means that the child would have a more diverse and better view of his/her choices to do with sexuality; having a better view than a child from a heterosexual relationship. Adoption is another way for homosexuals to acquire children. Some issues relating to this are: if one takes the argument that homosexuals were not made to have children, then you have to agree that heterosexual couples that are not able to have children, should not be able to adopt. (Brienza) The fact of the matter is that we as humans have a common urge or desire to raise children regardless of our sexual tendencies and there should not be any discrimination due to social prejudices. The most controversial way that homosexuals are having children is through the use of donor sperm or Invitro fertilization for the lesbians. Lesbians are artificially inseminated by gaining access to sperm and impregnating themselves. There are two ways for lesbians to become impregnated. Either a man inseminates them naturally, or they go to a sperm bank. This is the major issue because of the very fact that gays cannot have children with their partners, this problem is only there, once again, because of social prejudice. It is socially acceptable for heterosexual couples or females to conceive by non-natural methods, but when a lesbian wants to have a child and follow her natural tendencies there is an uproar. The research that has been done with children raised in gay families is very limited and there have been no documented case studies. This is because the issue has only really come to a head in the last 20 years. This means that the long-term effects, if any, on the childs mental health have not had a chance to be recognized. The research that has been done, however; has not uncovered any adverse effects. The main issue is the family environment that the child is being raised in. If a child is raised in a loving and stable home, they are generally classed as normal children and they usually grow up to join the bulk of society. (Crawford) So the question is whether a loving and stable gay family is different from a loving and stable heterosexual family. There are a lot of good aspects of children being raised in gay families. The children have a greater openness toward minority groups and other groups that are subject to social prejudice. (Benkov) Prejudice is the highest form of ignorance and since the child has grown up in an environment that is very open and they have experienced discrimination at a high level, they will inevitably be more accepting. Children that are raised in homosexual homes are not as affected by taunts when they are growing up as similar children raised in heterosexual homes. This means that these children are much better equipped to cope with schoolyard bullying. Wouldnt it be a good thing that children do not worry about these situations as much? As a result of the children understanding that major taunts are more important than schoolyard minor problem they would not dish out insults. The main concern of society isnt that gays as humans are raising children but the affect that being gay is going to have on the children, and whether or not they are going to turn out normal. An American study found that children of homosexual parents have similar IQs, develop typical friendships, have a normal mental health and are no more likely to be confused about their sexuality (Shapiro 1996). This is not to say that the children are distributed in the same ratio in sexual preference. Actually, homosexual parents have a higher percentage of gay offspring. This is unlikely to do with the parenting style of the gay parents; however, considering that the latest research shows that homosexuality is largely genetic (Shapiro 1996). It may mean that there is an earlier realization of the childs sexual preference. The general social idea is that, both a mom and a dad are essential for a balanced upbringing. If we take the example of a boy, he needs both a mom and a dad for the various parts of his mental and physical development so he can turn out to be a normal man (Not In Their Best Interest). The very fact that normal is dictated by society is the biggest downfall in this argument. If being gay were fully acknowledged by society and seen as part of being normal then there would be no problem with a normal gay person raising children. If homosexuality is genetic then being gay is part of being normal. This means that it would make sense if gay parents raised gay children for the very reason that the parents would be more open and less prejudiced about being gay. Another advantage of gay parents raising children is that they are raised in a world that they can see both sides to sexuality and they can make a more informed choice and follow their inner sexuality. There is only one more issue that is of major concern to the general population and that is the one of pedophilia. This is a major concern because:Even though homosexuals represent less than three percent of the US population, at least on-third of all child molestations involve homosexual activity. Thus, the propensity for pedophilia is far higher among homosexuals(Dudley 1992). Going on these factors, it is a very big risk to let homosexuals raise children. These results are not of homosexual parents but are of homosexual activity, thus not all performed by homosexuals and there is a very slim chance that the figures would include gay parents. If one thinks about the possibility of molesting a child and even their own offspring, it is utterly revolting. There is unfortunately a small percentage of the population that feel that this is normal or feel the need to act in this way. Although the majority of these acts are homosexual in nature the very act that these people perform is perverted and not parenting. In todays society there is a given norm of what a family should and shouldnt be. The very word, family, is referring to a relationship that contains children. The socially accepted version of a family is that there is a mom and a dad and children; not two dads or two mothers. There is a growing number of the latter type of families and society is very split on whether these families are right, and fit for raising children. Society in general has to take a look at themselves and start to work out their own prejudices toward homosexuals. The fact that someone is homosexual is not sufficient enough reason for him or her not to be able to have and raise children in the manner they feel fit. Society will have to get used to the fact that homosexuals are humans too. Bibliography Benkov, Laura \\\Gay With Children\\\. The Advocate. October 1997 p81 Brienza, Julie. Joint adoptions by gays are put on even ground with heterosexual couples. Trail. March 1998. p 98. Crawford, Jill M. \\\Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Human Services\\\ May-June 1999, Volume 80. Dudley, W. (1993) Homosexuality- opposing views. (pp 184-197) USA: Greenhaven Press, Inc. Gays Adopting: The horror Current Events-US. 24 December 1997 http://usnews.about.com/new/497.htm Gallup Poll. Increased acceptance of same sex marriages, adoption. 28 May 1998. Gay couples can adopt. Trial. September 1995 p 107. McGraw, Dan. The governor and gays. U.S. News. 5 April 1999. Not in Their Best Interests. Homosexual activists demand the right to adopt. 19 March 2000. cwfa.org/library/family. Shapiro, J.P. (September 16, 1996) Kids with gay parents: as lawmakers battle gay marriages, a look at how the children fare (pp 75-79) U.S: U.S. News World Report Inc. Research Papers on Prejudice Against Gay ParentsComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseHip-Hop is ArtGenetic EngineeringRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationStandardized TestingThe Spring and Autumn

The Basics of any Economy †Economics Term Paper

The Basics of any Economy – Economics Term Paper Free Online Research Papers The Basics of any Economy Economics Term Paper Every society in the world has some kind of economic system. The three basic economic systems are traditional, command, and market. These three systems have three common forms of organization known as capitalism, communism, socialism, and mixed. Each from of organization has pros and cons, and each system relates to one or more form of organization. A traditional economy is one that, like the name suggests, stems from tradition. All the economic discussions and how the scarce resources are use is determined by habit and tradition. In this system, people know their place, if your family is a doctor, you will be too. There is little discrepancy about who will do what and how. Because of this however, new ideas or ways of doing things are scorned, thus there is little growth and the standard of living is lower. Entrepreneurs are very rarely found in a traditional economy, Life becomes very stable and predictable. This type of economy is best shown in the Eskimos in Alaska and the Amish people. In a command economy, instead of tradition making the decisions, one central government will do it. The controlling unit will make all of the choices and expect the common people to go along with the leader’s decisions. Command economies can be found in Cuba and North Korea. This government is capable of making drastic changes in a short period of time since one unit is controlling everything. Also since the government makes all the decisions, it will sometimes overlook the needs of its people. The last type of economy is a market economy. The people and firms are the ones in this economy that decide what to produce, for whom, and how much. This economy is the one that allows for growth and change. Actually, it encourages growth and new ideas. The consumers and businesses will determine the prices of products and how much of the are to be produced. In this economy, sometimes resources and jobs are not distributed equally, thus leaving some people in the dust. Capitalism is the type of organization of an economy that corresponds with a market economy. In this organization, the consumers and businesses make all of the decisions. Businesses are privately owned and the concept of supply and demand controls the prices. Adam Smith, the leading capitalist thinker, wrote the book the wealth of nations in which he talks about the Invisible hand as he calls it would make the prices as low as they could be and the economy efficient (Grant). The major advantage to capitalism is that it is extremely efficient. The society’s recourses are put to the best use by the businesses for the consumers. Also another advantage that stems from efficiency is individual freedom. The individuals decide what they want to buy and when they buy it. This economy is also flexible to allow for change. The disadvantages of capitalism are that it doesn’t always supply for everyone’s needs. It leaves out those who can not make a competitive living, such as the elderly. Pure capitalism would leave out the production of public facilities and a national defense system, but this pure capitalism has never been achieved. Pure capitalism is also prone to depressions. The best example of Capitalism is in our own country, The United States. On the other end of the spectrum there is communism, which is the organization of a command economy. In this economy, one central unit, or government, owns all the property. It is then distributed so that everyone has equal amounts land and recourses. This economic system works to make everyone equal. Also the central unit makes all the decisions for the society. Carl Marx wrote a book about communism called The Communist Manifesto. In his book he talks about the fall of capitalism because of its defects, like the tendency to create depressions. The working class would then use Communism to tear down the foundation of private property (Nault, William H.). No country has achieved the pure communism that Marx talked about in his book, but the Soviet Union and china tried. Communism has many advantages and disadvantages. Advantages are that the workers are guaranteed a job thus creating a sense of security. There are public goods and services that the government will provide for everyone, such as, health care, education, and a military. The consequence of the security a person would receive, is little or no individual freedom. A citizen has almost no say in what he or she does for a living and they can not change jobs is they hate what they do. Also no matter how hard a worker may work, everyone will receive the same pay. This leaves people with no incentive to work harder or to strive to create new products. Then there is socialism, which is mix of a command and a market economy. In a socialist economy, the government owns the basic productive recourses, and the rest of the businesses are privately owned. The government will plan how the key businesses and industries are to be handled. The government has more say in the economy than it does in capitalism but less than in communism. The officials are usually elected and they are the people who will direct the use of the society’s industries and recourses. In socialism everyone is provided for. Those who aren’t able to earn decent pay will still share in the benefits of society. This is done through things such as health care, welfare, and guaranteed jobs in the government. In this economy everyone can have say in government and the benefits of it, through the electing of its officials. There are a few downfalls to socialism however. It is usually not as productive or efficient as capitalism. Since the government guarantees jobs, in theory more workers will be hired than are really necessary. This will drive the prices of production up. Sweden is probably the best example of this in our world today. Then there is a mix of capitalism and socialism, which we rightfully call a mixed economy. This is a mix of a command and a market economy as well. People can go about their affairs freely but there is some government intervention. This is demonstrated in almost every country. This system is good because it allows for change as the people do with some of the benefits of socialism like welfare. Mixed economy is the best. In a mixed the best of all the economies is offered. A person can choose their job and also receive some of the benefits of a socialist economy like welfare and social security. This economy will provide people with the best form birth to death. The three different economies are all set up in four different organizations. All of which have pros and cons. The world is full of societies with examples of each. Bibliograpgy 1. Grant, R.G. Capitalism. RSVP publishers: New York, 2001. 2. Nault, William H. World Book Millennium, Vol 18, â€Å"Socialism†. World Book Inc: Chicago, 1999. Research Papers on The Basics of any Economy - Economics Term PaperThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationPETSTEL analysis of IndiaAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeDefinition of Export QuotasTwilight of the UAWBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfAppeasement Policy Towards the Outbreak of World War 2Never Been Kicked Out of a Place This NiceThe Project Managment Office SystemMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever Product

Critically discuss whether or not recent changes to police oversight Term Paper

Critically discuss whether or not recent changes to police oversight have made the police more accountable to communities.'' - Term Paper Example Additionally, an endeavour that takes a more time is needed to develop an outline that will guide police oversight and accountability to ensure uprightness in the structures of the police force is reinforced. Accountability denotes a range of definitions that include the state of answerability, openness, efficient management and responsiveness (Newburn, 2008). Police accountability entails holding individual police officers together with law enforcement agencies responsible for efficiently delivering fundamental services that involve the control of crime while maintaining order (Calderon and Hernandez-Figueroa, 2013). This should be done while treating the people fairly and within the confines of the law. The police are supposed to maintain laws that deal with the due process, searches as well as seizures, arrest of offenders, discrimination and the laws that are associated with equal employment, sexual harassment and so on. In a society that is of a democratic nature, the political processes together with the officials who are elected are supposed to make sure the police are accountable and they represent the will of the people. The process of making sure the police maintain a certain l evel of accountability is vital as far as the maintaining of the faith the public has in the system is concerned (Kagari and Thomas, 2006, p. 41). The police themselves can be considered as core players as far restoring and maintaining the integrity of the police is concerned and their accountability is not limited to the police as well as the independent police agencies (Prenzler, 2009, p. 93). The different bodies which form the state all play a particular role while the role of the public is more than being clients that have the ability to share their concerns since they are supposed to share responsibility that will allow for fair and efficient policing. The police are guided by the rule of law as well as legislation that

The Vision Renewal Process Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Vision Renewal Process - Essay Example I worries about my future and career opportunities in this company. Taking into account human differences, I understand that the males use paternalism to keep the only woman in "her place". I suppose that negative stereotypes of women cause the men to question female workers' commitment to work. And men are more likely than women to be perceived as "serious" about their careers (Thiederman 49). The alleged benefits of bias are that it provides me with an excuse of poor sales and inability to become a part of the group. It relieves feelings of guilt and pain caused by (probably) lack of experience in this sphere. Women can be less competent than men in the workplace. When women point out this dilemma, a typical male reaction is that women want it both ways, to be seen as different from men yet to be treated the same as men (Thiederman 64, 70). I am a good manager who possesses professional knowledge and skills in this sphere. In contrast to the male employees, I have good working experience and have proved that I can sustain good sales and communicate with a team. In general, bias does not compromise my success of sales efforts but lack of communication and interaction with employees (the team) limits my opportunities and access to non-official information. The bias does not put organization at risk of litigation (Thiederman 79, 81). Step 4. Dissect Your Biases I suppose that the problems and misunderstanding between male employees and me are caused by sexism and stereotypes. Usually, the male employees assign life roles according to gender. This system fosters sex-related roles that usually relegate men to positions of authority. Although sometimes used only in reference to prejudice against females, sexism means any stereotyping resulting in arbitrary discrimination against females. In a time, I realized that my belief grew out of only sexiest jokes towards other women (not working with the company) and launch time spent together. I understood that these men had worked together for a long time and most of them were friends (Thiederman 88). Step 5. Identify Common Kingship groups When I thought about kingship groups, I was surprised when found that many employees liked theater and dance. Three of them were armature dancers and theater goers. Also, I found that three of other men had poor sales also caused by market instability and lack of information about customer groups. Also, we had similar view on ethical and corporate goals, weaknesses and opportunities proposed by the current market situation (Thiederman 110, 112). Step 6. Shove your Biases Aside After communication with these men, I knew that they believed that women bring a different viewpoint to work, a special way of leading, a different slant on how products and markets should be developed. They also recognized that women are in the workplace to stay, that they want careers similar to the men. Many men realize that utilizing women more fully is related to their survival. Rather, they are concerned about being able to compete economically. This shift to thinking about the utilization of women

U.S. Legal System and ADR Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

U.S. Legal System and ADR - Essay Example With regard to long arm statue, it relates to a situation where court can exercise jurisdiction over person within another state so long as that person has sufficient contact with that state. On the same note, the sufficient contact relates to such matters as if the person has contact with that states, has businesses in that state or has products that have contact with that state. Relating above to the case study, it follows that the Indiana client can bring suit in Indiana since Perry and Della have sufficient contact given that they did business with client in Indiana and by extension the court has personam jurisdiction over them. A suit could be brought to federal court if certain facts are sufficient within the case study. If the Indiana client can for example prove that the cause of action relates to suits touching on things like patent, copy right issues or bankruptcy. But the federal courts would be keen to ensure that fairness and justice is adduced to both parties given that the courts are interest in just and fair determinations. In the final pretrial conference the parties would square out the issues within the suit that would be discussed during the trial. During the pretrial session, parties will have to agree on the modalities that would be used during the trial process. Q2. The moment a determination is made that the suit can continue the parties to the legal suit could make certain discoveries. The first would come through deposition that could be done orally to interrogate the deponent. The parties could also make use of interrogatories that entail use of certain questions that are directed to the opposite party so as to request for certain discoveries of materials that relate to the suit and that which can help the court. However, they must entail only those materials and facts that relate to the case in question. Production and inspection of certain materials could also be requested as well as

Management of Adult or Child with Special Health Needs Case Study

Management of Adult or Child with Special Health Needs - Case Study Example This paper focuses on understanding management of a child or an adult with special health needs, this will be achieved by analyzing history taken from patient, finding on examination and findings, outline the various patients’ health needs as well as various action taken to overcome matter related to this effect including communication with other agencies and team members. The designed case study will incorporate critical discussion of relevant ethical, legal and professional issues. According to Andre and Velasquez (2010) adults and children with special health needs are a diverse group. They tend to experience health conditions ranging from body pains, hypertension and other physical disorders. Katy (2002) maintains that, among pregnant women level of special need may vary from abdominal pains which are considered normal during pregnancy to lower abdominal pains which are very risky especially in late pregnancy. Clearly, the intensity and type of services required to treat t his ranges from prescribed medicine and regulated exercise (Oredugba and Akindayomi, 2008). Adding to this diversity in cases related to special needs, it is important to connect special health need individual management with relevant ethical, legal and professional issues so as to create a practical example of what take place in that given situation (Katy, 2002). Lower abdominal pain is widely generated from an organ within any organ situated within the stomach area. For instance, these pains can highly originate from colon, liver, small intestines, pancreases, gall bladder and spleen which can produce painful sensations which may vary largely in intensity which can be felt in the lower stomach especially in pregnant women (Christopher and Volpe, 2007). Researchers indicate that whether the pain is restricted to a specific area or those which are localized; it is quite general that it can be a sign of a certain underlying root cause (Herzer, Goebel and Cortina, 2010). The paper enc ompasses a lady who is suffering from lower abdominal pain and who is thirty weeks pregnant with her first child. This lady was identified by her midwife to have abdominal pains which complicated her pregnancy. The midwives attributed that this problem could be as a result of misuse of substance as well as experiencing mental related problems (Shapland, 2006). Although having abdominal pains during pregnancy is a normal experience having lower abdominal pains can be risky and one that requires a lot of attention especially to women having special needs (Christopher and Volpe, 2007). June and Alexandra (2006) maintain that preventing of lower abdominal pain for a lady with special need requires a proper attention. It is important for this lady to be given food whose dietary will assists in treating irritable bowel in connection to managing stress. Christopher and Volpe (2007) maintain that, here are various ways that lower abdominal pains can be diagnosed and be treated in this woman . There are chances that lower abdominal pains during labor in this woman can either result to miscarriage or the miscarriage can be prevented through giving tentative care if the woman health is not put in question (June and Alexandra 2006). Firstly, it is important for health practitioners to carefully observe the pain area, it duration and intensity as well as other

National Identification System in the United States Essay

National Identification System in the United States - Essay Example National Identification System In The United States Firstly, it is national because it is used throughout the country having nationally uniform identifiers and formats. Secondly, the system is for practical and legal use only. Cards like credit cards can also be used to identify a person, but they are not national identity cards. People can have a number of such cards or no cards at all and still roam about in the country without any problems. However, if the law makes it mandatory for everyone to have such cards for identification purposes, it then comes in the category of national identity cards. Last but not the least; the system is used for the identification of an individual. It is different from a social security number. A social security number attaches a number to the name of a person and is just a national identifier. A national identity card actually proves the identity of a person. It shows that a person, previously known to the system, has once again presented himself or herself. It involves a biometric tie between the num ber and the person. The card would not only have the name and address of the person, but it also involves a compulsory facial image of a person on the card. The chip inside the card will help the law officials in identifying whether a person is on government’s watch list or not. Finger prints or retinal images on the card will also help in the identification of a person. This will help in retrieving information about the person from the government databases and immigration agencies as well. Many people are of the view that had such a system been implemented earlier, it would have probably helped in averting the 9/11 tragedy. The issue is still unclear whether everyone or a section of society should have such cards or where to use them such as at the airports or when accessing government buildings etc (Wang, pg, 1. 2002). Here it would be pertinent to discuss the National Identification Legislation in detail: NATIONAL IDENTIFICATION LEGISLATION: 9/11 COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: Evaluating the 9/11 terrorist

Management of Adult or Child with Special Health Needs Case Study

Management of Adult or Child with Special Health Needs - Case Study Example This paper focuses on understanding management of a child or an adult with special health needs, this will be achieved by analyzing history taken from patient, finding on examination and findings, outline the various patients’ health needs as well as various action taken to overcome matter related to this effect including communication with other agencies and team members. The designed case study will incorporate critical discussion of relevant ethical, legal and professional issues. According to Andre and Velasquez (2010) adults and children with special health needs are a diverse group. They tend to experience health conditions ranging from body pains, hypertension and other physical disorders. Katy (2002) maintains that, among pregnant women level of special need may vary from abdominal pains which are considered normal during pregnancy to lower abdominal pains which are very risky especially in late pregnancy. Clearly, the intensity and type of services required to treat t his ranges from prescribed medicine and regulated exercise (Oredugba and Akindayomi, 2008). Adding to this diversity in cases related to special needs, it is important to connect special health need individual management with relevant ethical, legal and professional issues so as to create a practical example of what take place in that given situation (Katy, 2002). Lower abdominal pain is widely generated from an organ within any organ situated within the stomach area. For instance, these pains can highly originate from colon, liver, small intestines, pancreases, gall bladder and spleen which can produce painful sensations which may vary largely in intensity which can be felt in the lower stomach especially in pregnant women (Christopher and Volpe, 2007). Researchers indicate that whether the pain is restricted to a specific area or those which are localized; it is quite general that it can be a sign of a certain underlying root cause (Herzer, Goebel and Cortina, 2010). The paper enc ompasses a lady who is suffering from lower abdominal pain and who is thirty weeks pregnant with her first child. This lady was identified by her midwife to have abdominal pains which complicated her pregnancy. The midwives attributed that this problem could be as a result of misuse of substance as well as experiencing mental related problems (Shapland, 2006). Although having abdominal pains during pregnancy is a normal experience having lower abdominal pains can be risky and one that requires a lot of attention especially to women having special needs (Christopher and Volpe, 2007). June and Alexandra (2006) maintain that preventing of lower abdominal pain for a lady with special need requires a proper attention. It is important for this lady to be given food whose dietary will assists in treating irritable bowel in connection to managing stress. Christopher and Volpe (2007) maintain that, here are various ways that lower abdominal pains can be diagnosed and be treated in this woman . There are chances that lower abdominal pains during labor in this woman can either result to miscarriage or the miscarriage can be prevented through giving tentative care if the woman health is not put in question (June and Alexandra 2006). Firstly, it is important for health practitioners to carefully observe the pain area, it duration and intensity as well as other

Total Environments, Health, and Safety Management in Nestle Essay

Total Environments, Health, and Safety Management in Nestle - Essay Example Employees are important part of any firm, whether big or small. Their behavior, attitude and personal hygiene plays a significant role in making the organization’s environment clean and healthy.Nestle considers the knowledge and attitude of its employees about health and safety and always come up with certain program which enhance the knowledge of its employees. The personal hygiene of the employees is the top most thing because a person can make the surroundings clean if only he or she is clean.Considering major element, it also includes the standards in every aspect. Nestle takes it as an important task which comprises each and every input, whether policies or plans, from process to progress. The best way to implement the above elements for healthy and safe environment is continuous monitoring and Nestle is doing the job quite impressively. Nestle plans such workshops which helps the employees in the identification of the hazards and related risk assessment. It includes the recognition of the health and safety hazards, its listing and risk rating of each hazard and the counter act for it. It also includes decision making and steps that may be necessary to reduce, minimize or control the risks.Nestle is organizing events like â€Å"Safety Awareness Week† in its factories with devotion, commitment and understanding to endorse safe working conditions of its employees, visitors and contractors. Not only this days like Environment Day and Earth Day is also observed at Nestle worldwide.... the knowledge and attitude of its employees about health and safety and always come up with certain program which enhance the knowledge of its employees. The personal hygiene of the employees is the top most thing because a person can make the surroundings clean if only he or she is clean. Considering major element, it also includes the standards in every aspect. Nestle takes it as an important task which comprises each and every input, whether policies or plans, from process to progress. The best way to implement the above elements for healthy and safe environment is continuous monitoring and Nestle is doing the job quite impressively. Nestle plans such workshops which helps the employees in the identification of the hazards and related risk assessment. It includes the recognition of the health and safety hazards, its listing and risk rating of each hazard and the counter act for it. It also includes decision making and steps that may be necessary to reduce, minimize or control the risks. Nestle is organizing events like â€Å"Safety Awareness Week† in its factories with devotion, commitment and understanding to endorse safe working conditions of its employees, visitors and contractors. Not only this days like Environment Day and Earth Day is also observed at Nestle worldwide. Efforts like this and many others have been done in Nestle so that a healthy and safe environment is created in the factories and offices round the globe. Following the above steps, any organization can bring the higher standards in their product and can built trust among its costumers. By making a safe and healthy environment we can move towards a prosperous world and also towards greener tomorrow. Safety Visions, goals and Objectives Nestle is one the leading multinational companies. Being the

1900s Immigration Cruelty Essay Example for Free

1900s Immigration Cruelty Essay For immigrants, life was as bad in America as it was in their homeland. Immigrants faced equally rough conditions no matter where they were. Life was terribly unfair to them. When life got as bad as it did for immigrants, as anyone would, they wanted to distance themselves from the problems. America seemed like the most ideal place to go. Unfortunately, life was no better there than it had been. Even in a prosperous land, immigrants still faced racism and rough conditions. Their lives were full of obstacles. Immigrants emigrated for a variety of reasons, some political, others to escape war, or (in the case of the Irish) famine, but they all emigrated for one common reason; their lives were terrible. People would not leave their family and entire lives behind unless things had gotten so bad that they absolutely had to in order to survive. â€Å"We must look at what immigration to America involves. To the new arrivals, the change is excruciating. Learning a new language and dealing with strange customs make the first years of life in the new land painful The economic system of the United States is a mighty engine of persuasion. It motivates people to do what otherwise they never would †. John Lacs references to this in his essay From Enemies to Neighbors, which explains the troubles with immigrantion. (Lacs) Immigrants faced horrifying conditions, some were near death from lack of food, others were being hunted, or some had just ran out of money; but, they all decided they needed to leave. In the early 1900s, the Irish were in the middle of a famine, Eastern Europeans were facing economic issues, and Jews from all over Europe were being persecuted. Greedy American business owners thought up a way to capitalize on their misfortune, fliers and pamphlets were shipped to troubled countries all over the world by the thousands, these advertised a glorious, prosperous life in America, immigrants were offered large amounts of cheap land. The streets of America were said to be paved with gold. Sounds like a great opportunity to leave behind a hard life, right? (Eyewitness) (Lipford, Timmer, Stephenson, Kwan) Wrong. Life in America was just as bad. The journey over was horrific, immigrants spent months in dank, rat invested ships; but, immigrants hought, â€Å"life will be better when we arrive, right? †. Wrong again, an Italian immigrant said, â€Å"I came to America because I heard the streets were paved with gold. When I got here, I [learned] three things. First, the streets [were not] paved with gold; second, they [were not] paved at all; third, I was expected to pave them†. Upon arriving in America, immigrants were forced to live in shacks, basements, or the horrendous tenements. Good work was difficult to find, when any work was found it was generally backbreaking work for mere pennies a day. A Chinese rail worker said, â€Å"Two extra hours a day, sixty extra hours a month for four dollars. A human body [can not] work that way. † Immigrants lived in slums and ate slop for food. In short, life was not good. At least in their homeland they were not ostracized and ridiculed for the way they dressed, spoke, and acted, as they were in America. Many immigrants were considered worse, if not as bad as the slaves that had been brought to America in its early years. Many immigrants who were Caucasian were called â€Å"white niggers†. When immigrants came to America, they were stripped of their rights. They could not vote, become citizens, or even live in certain neighborhoods or states. This hate towards immigrants was legally sanctioned. This was a shock to many, they had been used to being allowed these simple liberties and now had none of them. (Lipford, Timmer, Stephenson, Kwan) The immigrants of the early 1900s moved for a reason, in their homeland life was not kind to them. Once they arrived in America, they learned something; life was generally just as bad here as it had been back in their native country. Granted, life did improved slightly; because, life was difficult for different reasons. In their homelands, the threat of death was immediate, some did not know whether they would be alive one day, or dead the next. Dictators, enemies or mother nature were trying to kill them. In America, even though there was no famine or dictators, they still had other races, or racist clans and prejudice Americans making life a difficult one. Immigrants already had enough trouble immersing themselves in a completely different culture with completely different customs, without racists tormenting them everywhere they went. Food was abundant, usually poor quality slop, if you could pay for it. Immigrants were notorious to work incredibly hard for mere scraps. This injustice still occurs, even today in uch a modernized age, the work of poor immigrants is exploited so factory owners and businessmen can make a quick buck. Immigrants were nearly killed at home, just to take an awful journey to a prejudice country where businessmen and con artists swindled them out of the little money they had. Willa Cathers book My Antonia, describes this perfectly. In her book, a poor immigrant family arrives in america, only to pay ridiculous prices for simple things, swindling these poor trusting people out of their tiny savings (My Antonia). Immigrants usually lived in places generally worse than before, and had about the same amount of food. Life was equally repulsive no matter where these poor souls went. (Eyewitness) In the long run, life was really no better than it had previously been. Even though life had been rough for different reasons, the level of difficultly was very close to the same. The life of an immigrant was not a good one, it may have improved slightly, but in a long term point of view, things were no better. Regardless of whether immigrants were in America, or living in their original countries, their lives did not improve. No matter where they were, life was hard.

Anti-tumour Immunity through GP-100-TLR Agonist Conjugation

Anti-tumour Immunity through GP-100-TLR Agonist Conjugation Enhancing anti-tumour immunity through gp-100-TLR agonist conjugation. Introduction Soluble cancer vaccines remain an area of high interest to researchers with the ability to enhance immune responses against present cancers and induce protective immunity against future cases. In developing new vaccines finding ways to increase the immunogenicity of cancer antigens is a major challenge(1-3). The addition of Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists is one strategy which can successfully boost immune cell activation and response to cancer antigens. By stimulating TLRs, these agonists increase expression of several co-stimulatory molecules on antigen presenting cells (APCs) such as CD80/86 and CD40(4-6).They also increase tumour peptide loading onto type 1 2 Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins. Together this leads to greater activation of tumour-specific effector immune cells such as CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells resulting in increased tumour clearance via their cytotoxic activity. Vaccine formulations which have included antigen and TLR agonists as a mixture have had pro mising results with many in clinical trials(4, 7, 8). Despite this, few have assessed the effect of chemically conjugating these constituents, a strategy which could increase efficiency of both TLR activation and peptide loading onto MHC(9-12). Many conjugation strategies that do exist today capitalise on the use of pH and redox sensitive linkers. Differences in pH and redox environments intracellularly enable triggerable release of these vaccines whilst protecting antigen and agonist from degradation extracellularly where they are administered. Research into the use of Glutathione-sensitive disulphide linkers has demonstrated that the immune response to model antigen Ovalbumin'(OVA) could be increased through linkage to the TLR agonist, CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN)(10, 11). Our research aims to repeat this using both stable and reversible linkers as well as a more clinically relevant, tumour associated antigen (TAA) called gp-100 expressed on melanomas. In addition, we aim to ass ess the effectivity of different TLR agonists within conjugates including Polyinosinic polycytidylic acid (Poly I:C) and two different classes of CpG ODNs, B and C respectively. Each of these agonists activate different signalling pathways within antigen presenting cells leading to unique cytokine profiles and T-cell responses. Poly I:C for example, is a potent activator of TLR3 which activates the TRIF pathway inducing release of type 1 interferons such as IFN Beta(6, 13, 14). This increases MHC-I expression and stimulates a Th1 type immune response which favours cell-mediated immunity including CD8+ T-cell activation. In comparison, CpG class B and C stimulate TLR 9 activating the MYD88 pathway and release of proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-17. This results in enhanced CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses, B cell activation and antibody production(10, 11, 15). Both types of response have potential to give clinical benefit in different ways highlighting the potential of these conju gates in tumour treatment. Finally, we will also assess how the composition of the TAA effects its presentation on MHC. To assess this, a smaller Gp-100 peptide which does not require intracellular processing will be compared to a longer peptide requiring processing. This project will assess which conjugates enhance anti-tumour responses in mice and how they achieve this looking specifically at Dendritic cell activation and CD8+ T-cell proliferation and cytokine production. Hypotheses In terms of CD8+ responses, T cell proliferation and cytokine release, I hypothesize that Poly I:C reversibly linked to processed gp-100 will be the most effective inducing a strong Th1 response and IFN-B cytokine release. This is because Poly I:C stimulates several intracellular signals in addition to TLR3 including RIG-1 and MDA-5. This would lead to increased release of proinflammatory cytokines including IL-6, IL-12, IL-1B and IFN-B. Specifically the release of IFN-B would induce a strong anti-viral-like Th1 T cell response through increased expression of MHC-1 molecules on APCs and inducing release of IFN-Y, TNF-A and IL-2 from CD4+ T cells. As well as this factor, TLR3 is exclusively expressed on myeloid dendritic cells, the most effective dendritic cell subset in presenting antigen, and not expressed on plasmacytoid dendritic cells. Secondly, I Hypothesize that CpG class C will induce the most cytokine production in dendritic cells including the cytokines IL-6, IL-12, IFN-A and IL-1B. CpG molecules stimulate TLR9 which is expressed in the endolysosomal compartment of plasmacytoid dendritic cells exclusively. As a dendritic cell subset, plasmacytoid DCs are well known for their proinflammatory cytokine production at levels much higher than other DC subsets. CpG class C in particular stimulates the release of IFN-a in addition to IL-6, IL-12 etc. stimulating both a Th1 response and a B cell response. Aims and objectives Aims Produce gp-100-CpG ODN and gp-100-Poly I:C reversible and stable conjugates with either processed or non-processed Gp-100 peptides Measure dendritic cell subset activation through expression of MHC-II, CD40 and CD86 molecules and cytokine release (IL-12, IL-6, IL-1B, IFN-A and IFN-B ) Measure Tumour specific T cell activation (CD4+ and CD8+), proliferation using carboxyfluorecein succinimidyl ester (CSFE) and cytokine release (IFN-Y, IL-2,TNF-A) Methods The proposed project for the year will focus on three main objectives 1) Produce gp-100-CpG ODN and gp-100-Poly I:C reversible and stable conjugates with either processed or non-processed Gp-100 peptides. First, we will modify free amino groups on the lysine residues of each gp-100 peptide (processed amino acid sequence: KVPRNQDWL vs unprocessed: CAVGALKVPRNQDWLGVPRQL) and TLR agonists (suspended in a modification buffer ph. 8). Then we will link these together with either the stable linker (HYN) or the reversible linker (HYN-SS) in a ph. 6 conjugation buffer separately. Product concentration after each individual modification step will be measured using Nanodrop1000 at 280 m after desalting excess product using vivspin 500 filter. Final product conjugation will be confirmed using the reversed phase liquid chromatograph at the School of Pharmacy which will allow us to visualise each individual product according to their differing polarities, and quantify their ratio. Our second objective is to Measure dendritic cell subset activation through expression of MHC-II, CD40 and CD86 molecules and cytokine release (IL-12, IL-6, IL-1B, IFN-B, IFN-A). To achieve this, we will isolate bone marrow cells from C57BL/6 mice and treat with GM-CSF to produce CD11c+ dendritic cells. These will then be treated with either individual TLR agonists, TLR agonist-gp100 mixtures or TLR agonist-gp100 conjugates (reversible or non-reversible). After 24hrs of treatment these cells with be stained with fluorescent antibodies for CD80, CD40, CD11C, and MHC-II, viewed on the Gallios flow cytometer in Pathology and analysed using Kaluza software. This experiment will be repeated at least three times to enable statistical analysis, which will be performed using Graph Pad prism software. Cytokine release from these cells will be measured using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for IL-6, IL-12, IFN-B and IFN-a. Our third objective is to Measure Tumour specific CD3+ T cell: activation (CD8+), proliferation (CSFE) and cytokine release (IFN-Y, IL-2). This will be achieved through isolation of splenocytes from Pmel (T-cells specific to gp-100) transgenic mice and sorting of CD8+ cells using the Automacs machine at Pathology. These cells will then be stained using CSFE and co-cultured separately with C57BL/6 BMDCs treated according to objective 2. After 72hrs cells will be analysed using the Gallios flow cytometer to measure T-cell activation (CD3+) and proliferation (CSFE). To measure cytokine release, cell cultures will undergo an ELISA for IFN-Y and IL-2. Proposed Budget Mice C57BL/6 x 10 @ $50 each$500 PMEL x 10 @ $50 each$500 Antibodies CD86-PE$300 CD11c-APC$300 CD40-PECy7$300 CD8a-APC$300 CD3-PE$300 MHC-I$300 MHC-II FITC$300 Cell culture reagents IMDM Media$400 Foetal calf serum$500 Cytokine detection Cytokine detection kit$2000 Conjugation reagents S4FB Linker$450 S-SS-4FB Linker$350 S-HYNIC cross linker$850 2-Hydrazinopyradine.dihydrochloride$450 2-Sulphobenzaldehyde$450 CpG class B$500 CpG class C$500 Poly I:C$500 Vivspin filters$200 Total$9250 References 1.Obeid JM, Hu Y, Slingluff CL. Vaccines, adjuvants and dendritic cell activators Current Status and Future Challenges. Seminars in oncology. 2015;42(4):549-61. 2.Guo C, Manjili MH, Subjeck JR, Sarkar D, Fisher PB, Wang X-Y. Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines: Past, Present and Future. Advances in cancer research. 2013;119:421-75. 3.Schlom J. Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines: Current Status and Moving Forward. JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute. 2012;104(8):599-613. 4.Kaczanowska S, Joseph AM, Davila E. TLR agonists: our best frenemy in cancer immunotherapy. Journal of leukocyte biology. 2013;93(6):847-63. 5.Pradere J-P, Dapito DH, Schwabe RF. The Yin and Yang of Toll-like Receptors in Cancer. Oncogene. 2014;33(27):3485-95. 6.Maruyama K, Selmani Z, Ishii H, Yamaguchi K. Innate immunity and cancer therapy. International immunopharmacology. 2011;11(3):350-7. 7.Iribarren K, Bloy N, Buque A, Cremer I, Eggermont A, Fridman WH, et al. Trial Watch: Immunostimulation with Toll-like receptor agonists in cancer therapy. Oncoimmunology. 2016;5(3):e1088631. 8.Dowling JK, Mansell A. Toll-like receptors: the swiss army knife of immunity and vaccine development. Clinical Translational Immunology. 2016;5(5):e85. 9.Flanary S, Hoffman AS, Stayton PS. Antigen delivery with poly(propylacrylic acid) conjugation enhances MHC-1 presentation and T-cell activation. Bioconjugate chemistry. 2009;20(2):241-8. 10.Herbath M, Szekeres Z, Kovesdi D, Papp K, Erdei A, Prechl J. Coadministration of antigen-conjugated and free CpG: effects of in vitro and in vivo interactions in a murine model. Immunology letters. 2014;160(2):178-85. 11.Kramer K, Shields NJ, Poppe V, Young SL, Walker GF. Intracellular Cleavable CpG Oligodeoxynucleotide-Antigen Conjugate Enhances Anti-tumor Immunity. Molecular Therapy. 2017;25(1):62-70. 12.Slutter B, Soema PC, Ding Z, Verheul R, Hennink W, Jiskoot W. Conjugation of ovalbumin to trimethyl chitosan improves immunogenicity of the antigen. Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society. 2010;143(2):207-14. 13.Ammi R, De Waele J, Willemen Y, Van Brussel I, Schrijvers DM, Lion E, et al. Poly(I:C) as cancer vaccine adjuvant: knocking on the door of medical breakthroughs. Pharmacology therapeutics. 2015;146:120-31. 14.Cho HI, Barrios K, Lee YR, Linowski AK, Celis E. BiVax: a peptide/poly-IC subunit vaccine that mimics an acute infection elicits vast and effective anti-tumor CD8 T-cell responses. Cancer immunology, immunotherapy : CII. 2013;62(4):787-99. 15.Scheiermann J, Klinman DM. Clinical evaluation of CpG oligonucleotides as adjuvants for vaccines targeting infectious diseases and cancer. Vaccine. 2014;32(48):6377-89.

Drawing Down The Moon Essay -- essays research papers

Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I chose to read the book Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America Today, by Margot Adler, because I myself am a practicing Wiccan.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I began following this religion the summer before I entered high school. I have read many books on my religion, and I thought that this one would compliment the knowledge that I have on the subject.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I was raised a Roman Catholic, but I never felt truly comfortable with the teachings of the Catholic church. It always seemed a little off to me and I never felt like I belonged there. After I received the Sacrament of Confirmation, my parents stopped enforcing that I attend mass every Sunday. It made the transition a lot easier for me. Although, they did not and still do not approve of my religion, they understand that Catholicism is not for me.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When people hear that I am a â€Å"witch,† they automatically assume that I am either crazy, or a â€Å"devil worshipper.† Books such as Alder’s Drawing Down the Moon, are the only way to allow other people to realize that there are many facets to the term â€Å"Pagan.† They also make people realize that not all Pagan religions revolve around curses, crystal balls and sacrifices.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Although, I did not agree with everything that Margot Adler had to say, or with some of the interviews she chose to include in Drawing Down the Moon, I am happy that I chose to read it for my final paper. I do not feel that we cover enough about Pagan religions in our class, and this assignment gave me the opportunity to learn more about Pagan religions other than my own. Brief Summary   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In America today, there are a myriad of â€Å"occult† or â€Å"magickal† groups. Some of these groups are small with maybe only 5 or 6 members, some have hundreds. The groups that I am referring to call themselves Pagans or Neo-Pagans. There are a wide variety of Pagans and Neo-Pagans. They can be animists, polytheists, pantheists, monotheists, or a combination of any of these. There are also many different classifications of Witches, such as: Gothic, Classical, Familial, Immigrant, Ethnic and Feminist. Each group is very distinct and different from the next. They do however share a common set of values.   Ã‚   ... ...h to be able to answer in the future, are:  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What makes Pagan religions so unappealing to people when the basis of the religion relies solely on however the practitioner interprets it?  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Why isn’t there more information available on them considering these religions are so old?  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Why don’t these religions have any solid dogma?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I think that this assignment was a very good learning experience. It gave us the chance to explore any area of religion that we wanted to know about or learn more about. We weren’t restrained to the more common religions that we discuss in depth in class. I enjoyed the fact that we had a large amount of freedom when choosing our topic. It is not good to always be told what to write about. Freedom of topics is always beneficial for the most creative fulfillment of any assignment. It gives the student a chance to work on something that they are truly interested in. This assignment definitely allowed me to further my knowledge in the areas of religion that I am interested in, rather than solely what is in a syllabus.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Drawing Down The Moon Essay -- essays research papers Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I chose to read the book Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America Today, by Margot Adler, because I myself am a practicing Wiccan.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I began following this religion the summer before I entered high school. I have read many books on my religion, and I thought that this one would compliment the knowledge that I have on the subject.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I was raised a Roman Catholic, but I never felt truly comfortable with the teachings of the Catholic church. It always seemed a little off to me and I never felt like I belonged there. After I received the Sacrament of Confirmation, my parents stopped enforcing that I attend mass every Sunday. It made the transition a lot easier for me. Although, they did not and still do not approve of my religion, they understand that Catholicism is not for me.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When people hear that I am a â€Å"witch,† they automatically assume that I am either crazy, or a â€Å"devil worshipper.† Books such as Alder’s Drawing Down the Moon, are the only way to allow other people to realize that there are many facets to the term â€Å"Pagan.† They also make people realize that not all Pagan religions revolve around curses, crystal balls and sacrifices.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Although, I did not agree with everything that Margot Adler had to say, or with some of the interviews she chose to include in Drawing Down the Moon, I am happy that I chose to read it for my final paper. I do not feel that we cover enough about Pagan religions in our class, and this assignment gave me the opportunity to learn more about Pagan religions other than my own. Brief Summary   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In America today, there are a myriad of â€Å"occult† or â€Å"magickal† groups. Some of these groups are small with maybe only 5 or 6 members, some have hundreds. The groups that I am referring to call themselves Pagans or Neo-Pagans. There are a wide variety of Pagans and Neo-Pagans. They can be animists, polytheists, pantheists, monotheists, or a combination of any of these. There are also many different classifications of Witches, such as: Gothic, Classical, Familial, Immigrant, Ethnic and Feminist. Each group is very distinct and different from the next. They do however share a common set of values.   Ã‚   ... ...h to be able to answer in the future, are:  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What makes Pagan religions so unappealing to people when the basis of the religion relies solely on however the practitioner interprets it?  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Why isn’t there more information available on them considering these religions are so old?  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Why don’t these religions have any solid dogma?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I think that this assignment was a very good learning experience. It gave us the chance to explore any area of religion that we wanted to know about or learn more about. We weren’t restrained to the more common religions that we discuss in depth in class. I enjoyed the fact that we had a large amount of freedom when choosing our topic. It is not good to always be told what to write about. Freedom of topics is always beneficial for the most creative fulfillment of any assignment. It gives the student a chance to work on something that they are truly interested in. This assignment definitely allowed me to further my knowledge in the areas of religion that I am interested in, rather than solely what is in a syllabus.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚