To Kill A Mockingbird Essays (566 words) - To Kill A Mockingbird

To Kill A Mockingbird The Maturity Of Scout And Jem In To Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee It is a sin to kill a mockingbird because they do nothing but make music for us to enjoy. This was quoted from To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, a creative novelist. To Kill a Mockingbird is about a young girl named Jean-Louise Finch, her brother Jeremy Finch and many other characters. Jean- Louise is nick-named Scout and Jeremy is nick-named Jem. Their father Atticus ,who was a lawyer, had been given a case to handle and did not have any choice but to receive it and work his best for his client. The case was about an African man, named Tom Robinson, who was accused of raping a white woman. Throughout the story the reader sees how Scout and Jem are afraid of Boo because they think he is a monster and try to tease him. They try to play tricks on Boo. Later in the novel they are no longer afraid of him and are no longer interested in teasing him. Another example of their maturity is how they view people. When Scout and Jem see how Tom Robinson is treated just because he is black, they begin to understand the meaning of prejudice. No one comes to help Tom Robinson except their father who defends him when Tom is accused of raping a white woman. Scout watches the trial and believes that he will be found innocent. Instead, Tom Robinson is found guilty. Her disappointment in the verdict makes Scout question the idea of justice. Who in this town did one thing to help Tom Robinson, just who? (215) Scout and Jem had believe that their father was not like any other fathers in school. They see him as an old man who can't do anything. However, when a mad dog appears on the street, Atticus, their farther, kills that dog with one shot. They are surprised to learn that he is the best shot in the town. They're attitude towards their father has changed. This is a sign of maturity. The rifle cracked. Tim Johnson leaped, flopped over and crumpled on the sidewalk in a brown-and-white heap. He didn't know what hit him. (96) Jem became vaguely articulate, 'you see him, Scout? You see him just stand there? All of a sudden he just relaxed all over. it looked like that gun was a part of him...and he did it so quick, like... I hafta to aim for ten minutes fore I can hit something,...'(97) Another incident which shows Scout's maturing is when she overhears her teacher saying that it is a good thing Tom Robinson was convicted because the black were getting too high and mighty. This disturbs scout very much because the teacher is always telling them about democracy and the persecution of Jews yet it is OK to persecute the blacks. Scout wonder how her teacher could be so contradictory. The last incident which brings Scout to adulthood is when she and Jem are brought safely home from their attacker by boo. She finally has the courage to stand on the Radley porch, and the kids are no longer afraid of Boo Radley. They now understand him. Scout and Jem mature during the duration of the novel by watching the events happen around them. They learn to examine the institutions around them more closely and to accept people as they are. Bibliography Me, Myself, and I Legal Issues

Discussion on management plan in Song Thanh Nature Reserve, Quangnam province, Vietnam The WritePass Journal

Discussion on management plan in Song Thanh Nature Reserve, Quangnam province, Vietnam Introduction Discussion on management plan in Song Thanh Nature Reserve, Quangnam province, Vietnam Introduction1.  Ã‚  Governance and planning system2.  Threats2.1.  Hunting and fishing2.2.  Logging2.3.  Over-exploitation of non-timber forest products (NTFPs)2.4.  Forest conversion2.5.   Freshwater degradation2.6.  Construction of roads and hydropower dam 3.  Management challenges3.1.  Legislation challenges3.2.  Lack of number and qualified staffs and equipments3.3.  Lack of budget3.4.  Lack of participatory management mechanism and communication with communities in the buffer zone 4.  The issues should be included in the management plan of the nature reserve and recommendations4.1.  Management objectivesLong-term visionObjectivesManagement: Protection: Research and monitoring:Community cooperation and economic development:4.2.  Management ActivitiesManagement activities:Protection activities:Research and monitoring:Community cooperation and economic development:4.3.   Implementation plansManagement:Protection:Research and monitoring:Community co operation and economic development:Boundary demarcationVillage Protection TeamsConservation education4.4.   Monitoring and EvaluationReferencesRelated Introduction 1.  Ã‚  Governance and planning system Song Thanh Nature Reserve is managed by the Management Board with 31 staffs at present. There are one director and two vice directors on the management board. Six staffs are doing administrative work; two staffs belong to the Research and Monitoring unit; remained ones belong to Protection unit. The nature reserve management board is under the direct management of provincial Forest Protection Depatment of Quangnam province. The role of management board is to: i) protect natural resources, landscape and environment; ii) cooperate with universities, research institutes to carry out research on forest and biodiversity conservation; iii) cooperate with other agencies (e.g. NGOs), to carry out awareness raising, community development, ecotourism and staff training activities; iv) monitor and evaluate natural resources. Besides, nature reserve’s staffs are also cooperated with other agencies, such as district forest rangers, policemen and soldiers in protecting natural resources. The joined enforcement campaigns are sometimes launched to stop illegal mining, logging, hunting in the nature reserve; but these events do not happen regularly due to the budget limitation. There are four ethnic groups inhabiting in the buffer zone of the nature reserve. These people are highly dependent on forest resources for their livelihoods and have cultural and spiritual practices based on the forest. However, all the natural forest belongs to government and co-management has not been established in this area yet. According to the current management system in Vietnam, the nature reserve management plan should be made by the Management Development Team of the reserve’s Management Board that may including director and/or vice director, forest protection staffs, enforcement staffs, finance staffs. The management plan must be endorsed by Forest Protection Department and approved by Provincial People Committee for allocating the budget, staffs, etc. before implementing. 2.  Threats Based on an assessment of the threats to Song Thanh Nature Reserve recently, six major threats were identified.   2.1.  Hunting and fishing The majority of threatened species in Song Thanh Nature Reserve are large mammals.   These species is directly targeted for subsistence consumption and for trade as bushmeat, medicine, pets or ornamental use. Some species, especially wild pig, muntjac, macaques, porcupines, civets and rats are seen as serious threats to agriculture and so are trapped to protect crops. Hunting activities have been done not only by local people living surrounding the reserve but also by outsiders. The current intensity of such hunting combined with trade driving hunting results in un-sustainable hunting pressures. Fishing is also been considered as over harvested and exploit environment with bad practices such as the use of explosives, poison and electricity. 2.2.  Logging Although enforcement efforts have been increasing, illegal logging in Song Thanh Nature Reserve still happen. Logging can be conducted by outsiders and local people for trade or for home uses. Logs are removed from the forest either by river or by buffalo. Illegal logging driven by the trade is more serious and can lead to the extirpation of some species from Song Thanh Nature Reserve such as the critically endangered Hopea hiananensis.   . 2.3.  Over-exploitation of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) Harvesting of NTFPs (not including animals or timber) is conducted by a wide range of people for numerous reasons, including local communities and outsiders.   The products harvested are many, but include aquilaria, honey, rattan, ‘uoi’ fruit, fire wood, palm fronds and bamboo shoots. The products harvested are for trade and subsistence uses. Once external forces are involved in harvest, collection rates can increase past sustainable levels and so resources are depleted.   This not only effects biodiversity, but also removes critical resources for local communities, the majority of which are not collecting for trade, but for subsistence. 2.4.  Forest conversion The conversion of forest to agricultural land and Acacia plantation is one of main causes of deforestation and forest degradation in the buffer zone and this may make more pressure to the core zone. This problem has been considered as the effect of population increase and land demand for agriculture and plantation recently. Besides, the upgrading of roads cutting through the core zone of the reserve provides access to forest areas and could result in large scale forest conversion along these roads.   Not only would this effect forest cover, but also could potentially disrupt habitat connectivity, vastly reducing the effectiveness of the reserve as a core area for wide-ranging species such as tiger. 2.5.   Freshwater degradation Freshwater are an important ecosystem both in terms of biodiversity and local community resources.   Water quality and fresh water biodiversity have been seriously affected by illegal gold mining and exploited fishing activities recently. Gold miners use poisonous chemicals such as mercury and cyanide in accelerating process. The issue of poisoning also needs addressing, both from the point of view of biodiversity loss and human health. 2.6.  Construction of roads and hydropower dam Road construction is considered as indirect threat to habitat in the reserve. The continuousness of forest cover is broken within the core zone in two locations and within two corridors in the buffer zone due to road construction. Three hydropower dams are proposed for construction in the buffer zone.   The potential of forest loss and the affects indigenous freshwater biodiversity would be happened.   Although the dams will not be in the core zone, the flooding will extend into these areas.  Ã‚   This is likely to prevent the migration and so breeding of many species. Reservoirs almost without exception are subject to release of non-native fish species.   These can have large effects on indigenous species, often leading to the local extinction. 3.  Management challenges 3.1.  Legislation challenges The boundary of Song Thanh nature reserve is inadequate at some places that have not designed based on biological and social – economic requirements. The boundary demarcations are not clearly known by the management authorities and local residents. The management plan has been prepared but not well implemented 3.2.  Lack of number and qualified staffs and equipments According to the approved investment plan for Song Thanh Nature Reserve, the number of staff should be 92. However, there are only 25 staffs at present in the management board. The guard ratio is about 4,000 hectares/guard. This ratio makes it impossible for a guard to fulfill his job. The capacity of the staffs is also inadequate to carry out their tasks because most of the staffs graduated in silviculture, having little knowledge or experience of conservation. Additional obstacles to the effective functioning of the forest protection staffs are poor living and working conditions, lack of communications, office and technical equipment. 3.3.  Lack of budget Song Thanh nature reserve management board has not been able to carry out many activities, in particularly research and biodiversity monitoring in the reserve due to the lack of funding. The fund for the reserve’s operations is just come from Quangnam province and basically for the staff’s salaries. Other fund sources via the conservation projects funded by NGOs are not continuous and stable. 3.4.  Lack of participatory management mechanism and communication with communities in the buffer zone Song Thanh management board is only given responsibility over core zone. Local communities have some inputs into discussions relating to its management but on direct involvement in decision. The village/community patrol teams, established under conservation projects to protect the forests within and around the villages, and forest protection agreements between communities and the reserve’s management board were recognized as good models in some villages, but those have not worked well recently after the projects finished due to budget constraints. 4.  The issues should be included in the management plan of the nature reserve and recommendations 4.1.  Management objectives The management objectives should be clearly addressed including long-term vision and short-term objectives. Long-term vision The biodiversity and local cultural traditions in and around Song Thanh Nature Reserve, are effectively managed and protected by rangers in partnership with local communities whilst ensuring sustainable development of the buffer zone and, as a core component of the Central Annamites Landscape, ecosystem processes are maintained and enhanced. Objectives Management: Budget and resources are efficiently utilised by trained, motivated and monitored staff to achieve realistic targets towards strategic objectives within the framework of an adaptive management plan Protection: Threats to natural resources across the whole nature reserve are minimised by trained, motivated and equipped rangers and communities in partnership with related departments through a coordinated patrolling and monitoring implementation plan within a law enforcement strategy. Research and monitoring: Forest management, protection and monitoring activities are focused on key areas identified based on priority species by a trained scientific and monitoring unit working towards a strategic plan for area, species, forest cover, priority habitats and freshwater conservation. Community cooperation and economic development: Effective forest protection and resource management is conducted in partnership with empowered and informed communities and other stakeholders in each commune within Song Thanh Nature Reserve, facilitating sustainable economic development in the buffer zone. 4.2.  Management Activities Management actions should be grouped according to the objectives to which they will contribute and the target by which they will be monitored. Management activities: Include management planning, personal management, capacity building and those should be considered as critical priority Protection activities: Should include law enforcement strategy, reduce trapping, gun removal, removal of illegal gold mining, developing informant network; and those should be considered as high priority. Research and monitoring: Should establish the Research and Monitoring unit and carry out biological socio-economic researches; and those should be considered as high priority. Community cooperation and economic development: Should include reserve’s boundary re-design, community co-management, forest land allocation and conservation education. In which, community co-management is considered highest priority. 4.3.   Implementation plans Management: The responsible person, partners, implementing time of each activity should be clearly addressed in the implementation plan. The monitoring plan is also set up together with annual management review. Protection: The duty of Protection unit is to protect the forest and its resources.   This can involve many approaches which in this management plan are lumped into two objectives: protection and community cooperation. Each activity or group of activities of patrol, trap removal campaign, gun removal campaign, gold mining removal, informant network, violation database, etc. should be mentioned in detail in the implementation plan. Research and monitoring: The primary function of this unit is to directly monitor the values of Song Thanh Nature Reserve, using the results to inform and adapt management actions.   The primary values of Song Thanh Nature Reserve are biodiversity and watershed related. The animal abundance would be measured and the threats to biodiversity would also be monitored over time by Research and Monitoring unit with supported from rangers whenever they go to the forest. The science work focussing on identifying the distribution of and key locations for the conservation of the priority values would be done in the Nature Reserve. Where key values are localised such as a population of doucs or a community sacred forest, the Research and Monitoring Unit will be charged with delineating an Intensive Protection Zone in consultation with local communities.   These zones will then have specific management actions designed by the Research and Monitoring Unit in cooperation with the reserve management board and local communities to ensure the persistence of values. Community cooperation and economic development: The development of effective co-management involves many steps as outlined in the actions of the management plan above.   It is impossible to extract one section of the process without the others being hindered. Therefore the process is explained here step-by-step to facilitate its complete implementation. Gaining community consensus on the boundary of the reserve is critical for enforcing the laws of the reserve adequately, ensuring high value forest is protected and not disenfranchising local communities from their resources.   Community consultation on the reserve boundary will therefore be sought and the boundary re-designed and demarcated in the forest. Core Zone delineation and buffer zone land allocation are inseparable activities. Community consultation on land allocation will be conducted by ‘District Allocation Teams’.   The Community Cooperation Unit in partnership with the Director and Section Leaders should ensure that commune rangers are involved with this activity in each commune. Once all communes have agreed to the boundary location a report will be produced by the Community Cooperation Unit and reviewed by Section Heads and the Director. Boundary demarcation Major boundary posts should be placed on forest entry points as well as prominent features such as ridge tops and rivers.   Smaller boundary markers should be placed every 1km around the boundary of the reserve. Defining clear boundaries is one pre-requisite of effective community-based conservation. Village co-management agreements called ‘Huong Uocs’ will be developed in each village.   These form the basis of sustainable forest management in the village including sustainable harvest and resource protection mechanisms. ‘Village Protection Teams’ (community patrol groups) are to be established to enable communities to protect their forest resources.   This permits sustainable harvest mechanisms to be established and assists with protection goals as ‘outsiders’ should be excluded from the core zone of Song Thanh.   Village Protection Teams will consist of two to five members per village who are voted for by the community.   These teams will work together and with commune officials to conduct patrols.   Establishment should follow the working example in Tabhing commune, Nam Giang district. Field demarcation of co-managed zones will require one to two months per commune and involve a lot of field time.   Demarcation will be trialled in Tabhing commune during 2005 with replication in other communes in subsequent years will all communes being completed by the end of 2006. Village Protection Teams Essentially community patrols groups, Village Protection Teams are established to empower communities to protect their natural resources from outsiders so providing a ‘closed access’ system that can be managed and harvest sustainable.   As well as facilitating an increase and stabilisation of natural capital (so acting as one avenue for poverty alleviation) these teams also assist the nature reserve in preventing access to the core zone by outside violators. Conservation education A member of the Community Cooperation Unit will be nominated to develop a conservation education programme for Song Thanh Nature Reserve in partnership with the rest of the unit and the commune rangers. 4.4.   Monitoring and Evaluation Monitoring has been intrinsically built into all activities.   Three major steps to be taken to ensure all activities are conducted to the highest standards possible, within the allotted time schedule, by the most appropriate rangers and with full community consensus are: Strategic action planning to achieve realistic, clearly defined targets within the framework of a management plan and operational plans. Strong personnel management to ensure all rangers know what, when and how to conduct tasks.   Monthly, two-way time planning and annual reviews will ensure rangers continue to work towards personnel, departmental, station and reserve goals and annual targets. The creation of the scientific research and monitoring department will ensure an independent monitoring system to each target and facilitate the knowledge required for and the understanding of, the importance of monitoring and evaluation systems. References Nguyen Thi Dao 2002. Co-management of Protected Areas: Finding Solutions for Song Thanh Nature Reserve, Vietnam. Thesis. DICE, University of Kent, UK

The Great Depression Essay †The Worst of Times - BestEssay.education

The Great Depression Essay – The Worst of Times The Great Depression Essay If your grandparents are still alive, they probably lived through the Great Depression – that really dark period in American history, between 1929 and 1941, when life was really horrible for a whole bunch of people. If you have read about it, then you have the basic facts. If you haven’t yet, then you may be asking yourself, â€Å"What is the Great Depression?† Simply put, it was a time in our history when we experienced the worst economic circumstances in all of our history – bank failures, terribly high unemployment, wages that could not support families, and high rate of home foreclosures. Does this sound familiar? It should. A Look at the Causes of the Great Depression The 1920’s came in like a tornado. World War I was over, and people were happy about that. Prohibition was also in effect, and people were not very happy about that. Jazz and the Charleston dance were the rage. Women cut their hair and raised their skirt lengths; men drove flashy convertibles. Life was good. But the warning signs were there. Banks were lending money wildly – to startup businesses, to real estate developers, and to individuals who wanted to buy homes and cars; stock brokerage firms were loaning money to people so they could invest in the Stock Market, and companies that were selling that stock were selling more than their companies were worth. Lots of risks were being taken with no government regulations to curtail them. It was a time of â€Å"do whatever you want.† Unfortunately, that behavior cannot last forever and the cracks began to appear in the summer of 1929. They soon became trenches and, in October of that year, the Stock Market crashed. That was followed by â€Å"runs† on the banks, as people tried to get their money out. The banks did not have the money – they had lent it all out. Banks failed. Companies went bankrupt, and people lost their jobs. So, if you need to write an essay on any of these causes, you can easily compare them t o the â€Å"crash† of 2008 and then explain why were able to avert a depression this time around. The Effects of the Great Depression Many of the effects were outlined for you above – high unemployment, loss of life savings, home foreclosures, and so on. Enter Franklin Roosevelt The short-term effects of the Great Depression were devastating, and in 1932 the country changed course and elected a Democrat to the White House, giving control of Congress to the Democrats as well. Thus began a series of programs, new laws and regulations, and controls on lending institutions that were designed to prevent this from every happening again. And most of those regulations and laws are still in effect today. But monied people and financial institutions have a way of finding methods to â€Å"skirt† the regs, and that is why it all came crashing down again. Essay Topics There are so many possibilities. You can look at a single cause, a single effect; you can look at how society coped; you can look at the fights in Congress as each new relief bill or program was introduced. And, even more interesting, you can compare the causes and effects of the Great Depression with the financial crisis of 2008. The Great Depression was a â€Å"dark† but fascinating piece of American history. We need to study it a bit more as we still seek solutions.

Emerging Piracy Threat off the West African Coast and Somali Piracy Essay

Emerging Piracy Threat off the West African Coast and Somali Piracy - Essay Example One definition, which relies on international law, confines piracy to attacks on the high seas and restricts attacks on state territorial waters. The other definition of piracy is more practical and is used by the international maritime bureau that encompasses both high seas and state territorial attacks. Lack of a common definition of piracy makes piracy a threat to almost all ports. This is because there is no known extent of piracy, no accurate and binding statistics on piracy activities hence inadequate allocation of resources to avert this menace (Great Britain: Parliament, 2006, p.10-11). Generally, piracy involves acts of robbery or criminal violence at sea and those who commit piracy are known as pirates. However, the definition of piracy under the 1992 Special Report on Piracy of the International Maritime Bureau as an act of boarding a vessel with an intention to commit robbery or other criminal activities with an ability to use force in attaining this goal. In the West African Coast and Somali coastline, this includes attacks on the vessel on passage, in port, at anchor, against the cargo, passengers, and crew of the vessel (Beckman, 1994, p.5). It entails simply attacking a ship or facilitating that attack. For a fact, piracy has adverse effects on the daily running of port operations (Talley, 2009, p.34-37), world security, and international business. Indeed, maritime piracy has direct costs on humanitarian assistance, adversely affects maritime economic activities like fishing, oil production and cost of energy, tourism, insurance, and shipping costs (Mbekeani and Ncube, 2011, p. 5). Upon hijacking vessels, the pirates call for ransoms to release the hijacked vessels. In 2011, ransom reached an epitome when Greek owners paid $13.5 million for the release of the Irene, an oil tanker.  Ã‚  

Elements of Design Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Elements of Design - Research Paper Example Sylbert had a tremendous impact on the film and, along with the art director W. Stewart Campbell, would be nominated for an Academy Award (Eaton). In terms of specific contributions, Sylbert oversaw the costuming which placed strong emphasis on 1930s accuracy. In addition, it was Sylbert’s responsibility to design and structure the facades that would be built as the vintage backdrop (Eaton). In these regards, he constructed bleach-washed facades that were reminiscent of drought-era 1930s Los Angeles. Art Director The film’s production designer was W. Stewart Campbell. W. Stewart Campbell worked directly with Richard Sylbert in envisioning and constructing general mise-en-scene elements. In this specific film Campbell contributed more to the specific mise-en-scene within the context of individual scenes, whereas Sylbert functioned as constructing the overarching production model (Eaton). Ultimately, both individuals would be nominated for Best Art Director. Use of light in the scene Lighting is a highly important element in the scene. Indeed, the neo-noir conventions of the film are such that lighting is one of the most distinguishing features of its aesthetic. In this specific scene this noir lighting is highly evident. In these regards, the scene occurs at night and many of the on-looker’s faces are ensconced in darkness. Even when the film focuses in on Noah Cross he is wearing a hat and his faced remains dark ("It's chinatown," 2011). The obvious implications of this dark lighting are that they indicate an overarching cynical perspective on existence and a morally ambiguous environment. This is also reflected throughout the entire film, as even the supposedly good characters engage in some morally dubious behavior. Setting The setting of the particular scene occurs in an external setting on the street in Los Angeles’ Chinatown. The specific time period is the 1930s. This is significant to the film as it is a formative period in Lo s Angeles development as they were experiencing tremendous water shortages, which would be a motivating element of action in the film. In addition, the specific culture of Chinatown, as evidenced in the scene’s final line ‘It’s Chinatown’ demonstrates a culture of crime. Costuming As noted earlier, rather than implementing a fanciful characterization of 1930s costuming, the production design greatly focused on constructing accurate period clothing. In this specific scene the characters are contained in suits with hats. The similarity of the good character – J.J. Gittes – with the costume of the bad – Noah Cross – demonstrates that one of the film’s underlining themes is moral ambiguity. Still, Noah Cross wears a billed hat that shrouds his eyes in darkness, designating him as an evil force ("It's chinatown," 2011). Furthermore, Katherine is wearing a white dress, greatly contrasting her from the others, and heightening he r sense of innocence and purity ("It's chinatown," 2011). Hairstyle and Makeup In terms of hairstyle, all the characters are wearing hats so this is not a factor in the scene. Makeup, however, plays an important role in the film as J.J. Gittes (Jack Nicholson) is featured with a cut nose ("It's chinatown," 2011). While the cut is from earlier in the film, it is prominently witnessed in this scene

The latter part of Act 3 in his play The Crucible The Crucible Essay Example for Free

The latter part of Act 3 in his play The Crucible The Crucible Essay The Crucible is a very enthralling play to read and especially to watch. The way that Miller is able to build up his characters and put them into such exaggerated situations in The Crucible is breathtaking. He has the ability to illustrate what might naturally happen in situations such as this, showing us periods within the whole scenario where things calm down, or reach a climax. He is a magician of the greatest kind, using words and stage directions to perform his feats of trickery rather than illusion. Act 3 of the play is undoubtedly a climax and the setting of the scene introduces us to a much more sinister turn of events than might be expected in another setting. According to Millers own stage direction the Act is set in the vestry room of the Salem meeting house, described as a solemn and heavy room. Hence the atmosphere and setting are perfect in creating a feeling of extreme McCarthyism, a period where accusations were thrown out left and right in the American government, each participant in the fight not willing to take the punch, but diverting it to another contestant when it gets too close. All this time I think the one controlling it all, the referee of the match, the manager of all the teams if you will, is Abigail. This play is set in Salem, a time in the seventeen or eighteen hundreds, when most racial and religious minorities had moved to the new America. This play in particular focuses in a small Puritan town where religion is held at the forefront of society. In this time acts of God and of the devil were, wholly believed, and in this small town a group of young girls played on this immense superstition for their own gains. That is where the story is set, the girls blamed people they disliked of witchcraft and hundreds of people were burned on false accusations. But this play was in fact written as a reflection of the earlier part of this century, where a senator by the name of Joseph McCarthy played on the American peoples fears of communism to rise to fame. He, like the girls, told the government that he had a list of communists present in the American government, in Hollywood and in most walks of life. He ruined thousands of peoples livelihoods, but never had any evidence against anyone. This terrible time in the 1920s to 40s is what Miller wants to really reflect upon in his play.

Destiny, Fate, Free Will and Free Choice in Oedipus the King :: Oedipus the King Oedipus Rex

Fate in Oedipus the King Fate. Even the word alone is intimidating. I believe I can safely say that everyone at one point in their lives have wondered about fate. "Christian fate" is something that I have never thought of before, though it is something that I believe in with all my heart. I believe that each person has a fate in store for them. Are human lives just a predetermined course of events? The idea of destiny is one that has been written about since the beginning of time. In Sophocles' drama, Oedipus the King, fate seems to have a strong hold during the entire tale. How much of this story truly reflects reality? Where does Christianity fit into the picture of fate? These are the thoughts of the growing world around us. The thought of something predetermined for our lives is a frightening one. Put yourself in Oedipus' position. He was told he would one day kill his father and sleep with his mother. Who wouldn't try and alter their future if told such horrid news? I believe that even though this ending was always going to happen to Oedipus he still had the chance to change the outcome. This same idea is reflected in each one of our lives as well. Oedipus made decisions that led to his sad ending. God knows the ending of our lives. He knows what is in store for us. Does this mean that we have no choice or say in what happens in our lives? In my opinion, it doesn't. God knows what choices we are going to make. Like us, Oedipus had choices to make. Society often blames God for rough times in their lives, but most of the time the rough moments are results from our own bad choices. Sophocles cleverly weaves this idea into his drama. I'm not sure if Oedipus could have changed his future by holding in his temper. Thankfully, our lives are not determined by Greek gods, but by the one true God, who gives us a choice for our future. Christians, like Oedipus, know their fate. We know Jesus is preparing a place for us in heaven.

Bowlby’s Ethological Attachment Theory Essay

Abstract Bowlby’s ethological attachment theory bases its argument on the premise that human individuals, just like animals have a tendency to have a natural inclination to establish and maintain lasting affectionate bonds (attachments) to the familiar and irreplaceable others. Bowlby further asserts that once the attachments are established, the strength, and stability of the links is related the emotional stability and well-being of the individual throughout life. Bowlby proposes that the attachment initially form during infancy and often involve one primary attachment figure (mostly the mother or other primary caregiver). However, growth from childhood to adulthood results in the development of other secondary and multiple attachments which are organized into hierarchies from the most accessible to the least accessible. This forms the lifespan development of an individual as attachment needs for comfort and closeness shift from parents to peers as part of a healthy lifespan development. This paper discusses Bowlby’s ethological attachment theory as a theory of lifespan development. The paper is organized with an introduction which briefly discusses the concept of ethology and its ancestry from the study on the graylag geese by Konrad Lorenz. It further presents the contributions of Bowlby and the applications of the theory on human beings lifespan development and contemporary practice. The paper logically ends with a conclusion. Introduction Ethology emphasizes that human behavior is tied to evolution and biology, and is therefore characterized by critical periods. According to ethnologists, the critical periods are time frames during which the presence of lack of certain experiences exerts long-lasting influence on human individuals. The concept of ethology rose to prominence after a European zoologist (Lorenz) undertook a behavioral study on graylag geese and their behavior of following their mothers immediately after they hatch (Marga, 2011). In his  attempt to study on attachment, Lorenz subdivided the eggs laid by one goose into two groups with one being given to the mother for hatching while the other was hatched in an incubator. The goslings hatched by the mother followed the mother immediately after hatching while those hatched in the incubator followed Lorenz sine he was the one they saw immediately after hatching. Even after marking the goslings and placing them in a box, the goslings run to the mother and Lo renz according immediately after the box was opened (van der Horst & van der Veer, 2009). Lorenz described the process as imprinting. Imprinting refers to the process through which rapid, innate learning takes place and involves the creation of attachment to the first mobile object visible to a newly hatched gosling. John Bowlby took the concept ahead illustrating an application of ethological theory on human behavior and development. In his view, attachment to a caregiver during the first year of a child has significant consequences throughout the individual’s lifespan. In his words, attachment influences human relationships â€Å"from the cradle to the grave† (Pitman & Scharfe, 2010, p. 201). Bowlby argues that if the attachment is both positive and secure, the individual has a high likelihood of developing positively through childhood and into adulthood. On the other side, if the attachment is both negative and insecure, the individual has high chances of not attaining optimal life-span development. It is the concern of human individuals that they reach optimal lifespan development, something that ethological theory partly tries to explain. This paper discusses Bowlby’s ethological attachment theory and its applications in the course of lifespan development. Bowlby’s perspectives on ethological attachment theory From the perspective of ethological theory, babies have an innate biological preparation to participate actively towards the establishment of a bond with caregivers. The ethological theory holds that such an attachment promotes the likelihood that the genes of individuals survive (Makulincer & Shaver, 2012). The theory also posits that the behaviors of children are best understood in the context of their adaptive value hence they seek to fully integrate with the entire organism-environment arrangement. This includes physical, social as well as the cultural aspects an individual is exposed to in the course of life-span development. While Bowlby’s ethological theory  places its emphasis on genetics and biological aspects of development, learning also plays an integral role in life-span development since it facilitates flexibility and adaptation of human behavior. One of Bowlby’s concerns had to do with the ability of children raised in other institutions such as orphanages to form lasting relationships. Bowlby’s proposal was that children who grow up in institutions such as orphanages have difficulties when it comes to love because they never had the opportunity to establish attachments to a mother figure in the early stage of their lives. The attachment, in Bowlby’s view, is an emotional bond established between two people and this attachment is vital in the building of healthy relationships (Makulincer, Shaver & Berant, 2013). He argued that the bonding process starts at birth and runs through to later stages in life. Below six months, the infant is attached to the primary caregiver. Between six to eighteen months, the separation of the child from the attachment figure upsets the child causing frequent cries. Another accompanying behavior at this stage is the fear of strangers. While infants develop a primary attachment to a single caregiver, researchers also argue that other significant attachments also develop. Such attachments include those with siblings, fathers, and other close figures who interact with the child. Mary Ainsworth, an American scholar to study the area of attachment describes the attachments as secondary attachments (Marga, 2011). She further describes secondary attachments as important bonds in the life-span development of an individual. These attachments are vital since the child has to live in world beyond the mother/primary caregiver. Secondary attachments help in the transformation of the child from the comfortable symbiotic relationship that he/she initially forms with the primary caregiver to include others in the society (Makulincer & Shaver, 2012). It is from this development that the child is able to develop age-appropriate independence and autonomy in the course of life-span development. Children imitate their models and the positive interactions with the caregiver promote a sense of identity and attachment. Children also develop multiple attachments as witnessed in Ainsworth’s secondary attachments (Marga, 2011). A father who is warm and affectionate towards the child becomes emotionally involved with the child and establishes attachment. Researchers also find that when sons feel understood by their fathers, they develop attachments towards, their  fathers. On the other side, when sons feel misunderstood by their fathers, they did not only feel afraid of them but also did not want to be like the male parent in the future. The lesson here is that paternal affection and understanding are key components that help in the promotion of positive relationships and attachments between a male parent and the child. According to Sable (2008), Bowlby’s ethological attachment theory is recognized as a lifespan developmental theory. The author further argues that it is relevant in the understanding of how early affection experiences exert influence on emotional and physical well being of an individual both in childhood and adulthood. The author specifically singles the importance of Bowlby’s ethological attachment theory in clinical practice as it helps in understanding clients’ distress and the carrying out of psychotherapy. Contemporary research on neurobiology of attachment extends the basis of Bowlby’s conception of an attachment behavior system and suggests that its functions are executed in the brain’s right hemisphere, specifically the right cortex (Sable, 2008). Just like Bowlby asserts that attachment system evolves on the need for protection from environmental dangers such as predation, the brain is also an evolving organ largely influenced by â€Å"nat ural selection† (Sable, 2008, p. 22) and later shaped by environmental experiences. It is from this realization that knowledge of attachment theories becomes invaluable in psychotherapy. Application of Bowlby’s ethological attachment in lifespan development According to Pitman & Scharfe (2010), the principles of attachment theory are distinctively visible in moments of distress or sickness when the individual feels that their survival is under threat. However, there are many other instances when attachment behaviors are manifest such as children’s first experiences in schools and day care centers. Pitman & Scharfe (2010) observe that during the first day in day care centers, children experience increases in cortisol levels and heart rates. In the course of an individual’s developmental lifespan, other incidences include airport separations when couples display attachment behaviors as well as distress irrespective of their attachment security. Knowledge of attachment is useful in psychotherapy. According to Pitman & Scharfe (2010), individuals with high attachment anxiety and avoidance experience greater physical symptoms in comparison with individuals who have low attachment anxiety and avoidance. The researchers  also report on the existence of an association between attachment anxiety and avoidance on one hand and depression on the other across varying age groups. These range from samples of children and adolescents, emerging adults, married couples, community samples in transition to parenthood, university samples, as well as clinical samples. The results indicate an association between higher attachment anxiety and avoidance with depression (Sable, 2008). The establishment of attachment with the therapists determines the effectiveness of a therapist in giving assistance to a client. Bowlby believes that the development of a new attachment with a therapist enables the therapist to assist the client in revising the story of the client’s life into a more consiste nt narrative. According to Sable (2010), the role of the therapist is to provide a springboard for change and this is possible through joint exploration of the painful feelings and the unhappy events that contribute the current emotional problems of the client. In order to win this trust, the therapist ought to become a relatively secure base where the client experiences safety and support. The therapist has to cultivate for this attachment through calming and soothing interactions although it may take some time before the therapist is accepted and felt as emotionally familiar and affectively accustomed to the client. One of the applications of Bowlby’s ethological attachment theory by clinicians is in the assessment of the client’s attachment style so that the clinician can regulate the therapeutic approach (Sable, 2010). The outcomes of a therapy process reveal that avoidant outpatients show minimal clinical improvements in comparison to the secure and anxious outpatients after individual therapy (Makulincer, Shaver & Berant, 2013). They also report that in a study carried out in a university program training clinic, avoidant attachment had an inverse relationship to psychotherapy outcome. Researchers agree that problems in the working alliance between clients and therapists partially mediate the avoidance-outcome association. In another sample of clients with eating disorders, avoidant-attachment was linked with dropout of group psychotherapy. Another contemporary application of Bowlby’s ethological theory is in the diagnosis of the reactive attachment disorder. Follan & Minnis (2009) investigate the cases of the forty-four juvenile thieves described as affectionless psychopaths. Out of the sampled ‘juvenile thieves,’ 86 percent had undergone through prolonged separation  from primary caregivers in the early stages of their lives apart from being placed under multiple care placements. Follan & Minnis (2009) find out that in their sample, 60 percent of children with reactive attachment disorder had been separated from their homes either resulting from neglect or other types of maltreatment. According to Bowlby, the experience of separation from primary caregivers was a key etiological factor contributing towards the development of difficulties in children. These findings lend credence to Bowlby’s ethological attachment theory in the diagnosis of reactive attachment disorder (RAD). While Bowlby’s ethological attachment theory receives worldwide support, it also faces some criticisms. One such criticism is its reliance on biology and evolution as the basis of development as well as the use of selective observations in naturalistic situations. Marga (2011) presents contradicting reports of a study involving 162 farm children where there was no relation between infant training on one hand and personality development on the other. As a result, the research er implores scientists to â€Å"quit blaming mom† as a dismissal to Bowlby’s ethological attachment theory. While the criticisms are there, Bowlby’s ethological theory receives widespread support and application as it relates to the lifespan development of an individual. Conclusion The behavioral development of a human being begins at birth and occurrences at the formative years determine the personality development of the individual later in adulthood. Many theories such as the behavioral and psychoanalytic theories explain personality development of the human individual. The quality of the entire human life is the accurate measure of effective lifespan development of the individual. Bowlby’s ethological attachment theory argues that human individuals develop attachments to primary caregivers that are affectionate and supportive. As individuals grow, they develop other secondary and multiple attachments with peers in order to get security as they interact with different environments. Bowlby’s perspective has received widespread acceptance although it has also been criticized for placing emphasis on biology and evolution. Nevertheless, the theory receives application in psychotherapy. Researchers report that clients are open up to therapists after they develop a feeling of security and attachment with the therapist. There is evidence that psychotherapy  outcomes also depend on the establishment of attachment between the client and the therapist. There is also a link between avoidant-attachment and dropout of group psychotherapy. The theory specifically helps in understanding the distress of clients in various stages in life and this facilitates positive outcomes during physiotherapy. There is further evidence that Bowlby’s ethological attachment theory also helps in the diagnosis of reactive attachment disorder. As individuals grow from childhood to adulthood, their attachments change due to changes in the environment, making Bowlby’s ethological theory a theory of lifespan development. References Follan, M., & Minnis, H. (2009). Forty-four juvenile thieves revisited: From Bowlby to reactive attachment disorder. Child: care, health and development 36(5): 639-645. Makulincer, M., & Shaver, P.R. (2012). Adult Attachment Orientations and Relationship Processes. Journal of Family Theory & Review 4: 259-274. Makulincer, M., Shaver, P.R., & Berant, E. (2013). An attachment perspective on therapeutic processes and outcomes. Journal of Personality 81(6): 606-616. Marga, V. (2011). The Social Nature of the Mother’s Tie to Her Child: John Bowlby’s Theory of Attachment in Post-war America. British Journal for the History of Science 44(3): 401-426. Pitman, R., & Scharfe, E. (2010).Testing the function of attachment hierarchies during emerging adulthood. Personal Relationships 17(2): 201-216. Sable, P. (2008). What is Adult Attachment? Clinical Social Work Journal 36(1): 21-30. van der Horst, F.C.P., & van der Veer, R. (2009). Separation and divergence: The untold story of Ja mes Robertson’s and John Bowlby’s theoretical dispute on mother-child separation. Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences 45(3): 236-252.

Gran Torino Film Review

Gran Torino Gran Torino is an American drama film, released in 2008 film directed and produced by and also starring Clint Eastwood. Set in Detroit, Michigan it was the first mainstream U. S. film to feature Hmong Americans. Gran Torino was a critical and commercial success, grossing nearly $270 million worldwide and is also said to be Clint Eastwood’s most successful film, but as like many films Gran Torino received both praise and criticism. Gran Torino† tells the story of Walt Kowalski (Clint Eastwood), a grizzled Korean War veteran whose wife recently passed away. Walt lives alone with his dog in a Detroit, the neighborhood he’s lived in for well over 30 years in no longer populated as he would say ‘lower middle class white folks’, but has turned into an Asian neighborhood. A Hmong family lives next door, a grandmother, single mother and her two teenagers Thao (Bee Vang) and Sue (Ahney Her).Thao is quiet and intelligent but very shy, where as Sue i s very outgoing and fearless. The local Asian gang led by Thao’s cousin tries to recruit Thao. Thao does not have a choice because you cannot say no to a gang, they talk him into trying to steal Walt’s 1972 Gran Torino, Walt Stops it from happening but Thao gets away unrecognized. Then Thao is forced by his sister and mother to work for Walt in an effort for the attempted to steal his car.The two become very close as Walt see’s the good and potential in Thao and teaches him how to be a man and steer clear of the gang. Walt vows to protect Thao, setting the stage for a showdown with the gang. Clint Eastwood is really great to watch in this movie, his acting throughout Gran Torino really convinces you that he is a retired old war veteran, who has seen it all and is afraid of nothing. The way he confronts trouble throughout the film is impressive especially in the one scene where he comes up against three men harassing Sue on her walk.From my point of view there ar e a few camera angles portrayed throughout the scenes of the film, but there is hardly and visual effects or anything else, I think what makes this movie a good hit is Clint Eastwood’s attitude showed in his acting and the rest of the actors as well, and yes of course during the film Walt is very racists and says lots of different ethnic comments but the point is, well the point that I noticed was that Walt starts to look past and see the people for who they really are not just look at their race or where they come from.This movie is perfect for Clint Eastwood fans or young adults and older, I wouldn’t really say it is for teenagers because they might not fully understand the film and just think that Walt is a grumpy old man who just gets fired up over nothing. I rate it a 4 out of 5.

Temperate Forests Are Mild-Climate Forests

Temperate Forests Are Mild-Climate Forests Temperate forests are forests that grow in temperate regions such as those found in eastern North America, western and central Europe, and northeastern Asia. Temperate forests occur at latitudes between about 25Â ° and 50Â ° in both hemispheres. They have a moderate climate and a growing season that lasts between 140 and 200 days each year. Precipitation in temperate forests is generally distributed evenly throughout the year. The canopy of a temperate forest consists mainly of broad-leaved trees. Toward polar regions, temperate forests give way to boreal forests. Temperate forests first evolved about 65 million years ago during the beginning of the Cenozoic Era. At that time, global temperatures dropped and, in areas further from the equator, cooler and more temperate climates emerged. In these regions, temperatures were not only cooler but were also dryer and showed seasonal variations. The plants in these regions evolved and adapted to the climate changes. Today, the temperate forests that are closer to the tropics (and where the climate changed less dramatically), the tree and other plant species more closely resemble those of the older, tropical regions. In these regions, temperate evergreen forests can be found. In areas where climate changes were more dramatic, deciduous trees evolved (deciduous trees drop their leaves when the weather turns cold each year as an adaptation that enables trees to withstand the seasonal temperature fluctuations in these regions). Where forests became dryer, sclerophyllous trees evolved to cope with periodi c lack of water. Key Characteristics The following are the key characteristics of temperate forests: grow in temperate regions (at latitudes between about 25Â ° and 50Â ° in both hemispheres)experiences distinct seasons, with an annual growing season that lasts between 140 and 200 dayscanopy consists mainly of broadleaf trees Classification Temperate forests are classified within the following habitat hierarchy: Biomes of the World Forest Biome Temperate Forests Temperate forests are divided into the following habitats: Temperate deciduous forests - Temperate deciduous forests occur in eastern North America, central Europe, and parts of Asia. Deciduous forests experience temperatures that range between -30Â ° and 30Â °C throughout the year. They receive between 75 and 150 cm of rainfall each year. The vegetation of temperate deciduous forest includes a variety of broadleaf trees (such as oak, beech, cherry, maple, and hickory) as well as various shrubs, perennial herbs, mosses, and mushrooms. Temperate deciduous forests occur and mid-latitudes, between the polar regions and the tropics.Temperate evergreen forests - Temperate evergreen forests consist mainly of evergreen trees that retain their leaves throughout the year. Temperate evergreen forests occur in eastern North America and in the Mediterranean Basin. They also include subtropical broadleaf evergreen forests of the southeastern United States, southern China, and southeastern Brazil. Animals of Temperate Forests Some of the animals that inhabit temperate forests include: Eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus) - The eastern chipmunk is a species of chipmunk that lives in the deciduous forests of eastern North America. Easter chipmunks are small rodents that have red-brown fur and dark and light brown stripes that run the length of its back.White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) - The white-tailed deer is a species of deer that inhabits the deciduous forests of eastern North America. White-tailed deer have a brown coat and a tail with a distinct white underside that it raises when alarmed.American black bear (Ursus americanus) - American black bears are one of three bear species that live in North America, the other two being the brown bear and the polar bear. Of these bear species, black bears are the smallest and most timid.European robin (Erithacus rebecula) - European robins are shy birds throughout most of their range but in the British Isles, they have acquired a charming tameness and are frequent, honored guests in backyard gardens, and parks. T heir feeding behavior historically involved following foraging animals such as the wild boar as it dug through the soil.

Character Analysis of Lysander From A Midsummer Nights Dream

Character Analysis of Lysander From 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' Lysander bravely challenges Egeus over his choice of a suitor for Hermia. Lysander professes his love for Hermia and exposes Demetrius as inconstant, having rejected Helena in favor of her friend. LYSANDERYou have her fathers love, Demetrius;Let me have Hermias: do you marry him.​EGEUSScornful Lysander! true, he hath my love,And what is mine my love shall render him.And she is mine, and all my right of herI do estate unto Demetrius.LYSANDERI am, my lord, as well derived as he,As well possessd; my love is more than his;My fortunes every way as fairly rankd,If not with vantage, as Demetrius;And, which is more than all these boasts can be,I am beloved of beauteous Hermia:Why should not I then prosecute my right?Demetrius, Ill avouch it to his head,Made love to Nedars daughter, Helena,And won her soul; and she, sweet lady, dotes,Devoutly dotes, dotes in idolatry,Upon this spotted and inconstant man.(Act 1 Scene 1) Character Motivation Lysander encourages Hermia to run away with him to his aunt’s house so that the pair can be married. When in the forest Lysander tries his luck with Hermia, trying to get her to lay with him but he is unable to convince her. When he wakes, he has been wrongly anointed with the love potion and falls in love with Helena. Lysander decides to leave Hermia unprotected on the ground to pursue Helena. This does not cover him in glory but potentially demonstrates the strength of the potion in that we know how much he loved Hermia, but now the potion has moved him to be so repulsed by her that he is willing to leave her alone. There is an argument, therefore, that we cannot blame him for his actions under the powerful influence of the love potion, because if we could, we may not be happy when he is finally reunited with Hermia, as he has been so horrible to her under Puck’s influence: LYSANDERHang off, thou cat, thou burr! vile thing, let loose,Or I will shake thee from me like a serpent!HERMIAWhy are you grown so rude? what change is this?Sweet love,LYSANDERThy love! out, tawny Tartar, out!Out, loathed medicine! hated potion, hence!(Act 3 Scene 2) When the love potion is removed, and the couples are discovered, Lysander bravely explains to Hermia’s father and Theseus that he encouraged her to elope. This action is courageous because it enrages Egeus - and Lysander knows that it will. Here, Lysander demonstrates his bravery and determination to stick with Hermia no matter the consequences and this endears him to the audience once more. We know Lysander truly loves Hermia and their ending will be a happy one as Theseus will assuage Egeus’ anger. LYSANDERMy lord, I shall reply amazedly,Half sleep, half waking: but as yet, I swear,I cannot truly say how I came here;But, as I think,for truly would I speak,And now do I bethink me, so it is,I came with Hermia hither: our intentWas to be gone from Athens, where we might,Without the peril of the Athenian law.EGEUSEnough, enough, my lord; you have enough:I beg the law, the law, upon his head.They would have stolen away; they would, Demetrius,Thereby to have defeated you and me,You of your wife and me of my consent,Of my consent that she should be your wife.

Assessment at work Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Assessment at work - Essay Example Strengths associated with Abercrombie & Fitch assessment procedures are highlighted as well as recommendations for improvements in the company’s selection process. The use of a single Communications Competence testing instrument is a standardised testing template, regulated by a highly centralised human resources heirarchy. There is no room for flexibility or adaptation of current assessment instruments or policies and the company is routinely audited for compliance to assessment methods. This creates an environment in which the company is using assessment tests that are not congruent to finding the appropriate employee for Abercrombie & Fitch. Abercrombie & Fitch has experienced high levels of negative publicity in recent years for alleged unethical hiring practices related to youth, beauty and exclusivity. However, these corporate beliefs are part of the business’ organisational culture and are the criteria utilised to determine job role candidacy. In a business environment where personality is a key factor in whether a candidate fits the culture, the company requires a reexamination of existing selection efforts. Abercrombie & Fitch (A&F) is a mid-level clothing retailer which has positioned itself as an upscale fashion house catering to unique perceptions of youth, beauty and exclusivity. The company carries a wide variety of somewhat-provocative fashions, unique, politically incorrect apparel as well as traditional outerwear (Case Study, 2007). The company’s main competitors are other mid-level retailers both domestically and within the company’s international sales divisions such as Burberry or The Gap. The company currently utilises one form of psychometric testing in the firm’s selection processes. A&F maintains one of the most unique HR models in today’s retail as the business’ focus on exclusivity is at the heart of the