Study analyzing how a multicultural workforce might affect teamwork Essay

Study analyzing how a multicultural workforce might affect teamwork and communications in large companies - Essay Example Based on different cultural beliefs, there are different ideologies, for instance, those that arise due to difference in religious beliefs. For a successful business operation, any individual worker should be able to work with people of different cultural backgrounds, irrespective of their cultural orientation. A definite example is the management and operation of various Western Companies operating in the Middle East (Kawar, 2012). This essay will utilize Tagreed’s book in analyzing the various ways through which multicultural workforce affects teamwork and communication within the companies. Hofstede (2005) described cultural difference and variation in four distinct categories. The first category is individualist versus collectivism. He states that in certain cultures, individualism is emphasized whereas in others group or teamwork is given an upper hand. For instance, among the Latinos, group work is given a priority over individual work. In such communities, goals are made based on communal or group needs. Most Native Americans, on the other hand, prefer individualism to collectivism. When individuals from the two societies are employed within the same company, it is always hard for them to come to term and agree on the achievement of the company goals and target. Latino workers may find the organizational culture favorable and normal to them unlike the Natives who will look into individual worker achievement before giving considerations to the group or company output. Another way through which cultural variations and diversity may affect a multicultural company is through the existence of cultural variation at the occupational level. An example is teaching career, which requires any employee to have certain definite cultures in order to succeed in their jobs as well as relate well to fellow employees. It becomes a great challenge to individuals who do not

Difference and progression between an IBCT, HBCT and a Striker Brigade Essay

Difference and progression between an IBCT, HBCT and a Striker Brigade Combat Team - Essay Example Furthermore, an army is a collection of different elements working together. These elements are allotted to units as per the organization. Each group or organization has different characteristics. In army organization, factors like mobility, firepower and elements allotted determine its operational role. With recent developments in technology, efficiency of weapon systems has increased. This improved efficiency means manpower requirement has decreased over time. There is a need for compact and capable army units that can undertake tasks efficiently. To cater for new advancements in technology, the US Army is planned to undergo restructuring at basic level. Previously, an army division was the basic unit of action. This meant that an army division had the capability to undertake independent action through its own command channel. A division typically consists of three brigades. This number may vary as per operational role of the division. A typical conventional infantry division consisted of approximately 15,000 to 25,000 soldiers and command was centralized at this level (Kahn and McLemore 12). However, with the new reorganization, brigade has been made the basic unit of action. It has approximately 5,000 soldiers and still possesses the capabilities of a typical conventional army d ivision. This brigade group is called Brigade Combat Team or BCT. This basic unit or BCT is mixed with different elements to form combat teams. They are discussed in detail; This combat unit comprises of simple foot infantry and has a combat arms unit for specialized elements and weapons that are dedicated with this combat unit. Because of foot infantry, this unit is easy to move and deploy. It is flexible in operational capabilities. However, this unit has the least firepower and protection. The brigade is organized into one Special Task Battalion, two Infantry Battalions (plain or foot), one Reconnaissance Squadron, one Field Artillery Battalion and one Support Battalion

Nature conservation: Management plan for Padworth Common

Nature conservation: Management plan for Padworth Common Nature conservation: Management plan for Padworth Common (Dartford Warbler). Overall Summary of management plan: Policy statement and Background Preamble: Padworth common nature reserve was previously owned by the west Berkshire county council. But in 2005 the land manamgement was acquired by the Buckinghamshire, and Oxford Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) in 2005 (Fort, 2013). The Main overall policy for this land is â€Å"to Ensure these sites continue to thrive both in terms of their significant wildlife interest and for the many local people who regularly use and enjoy them†. This was a statement given by the west Berkshire executive member for the environment Councillor Hilary Cole (Fort, 2013). Description Pathworth common is located between Aldermaston and Burghfield Common about 9 miles outside the city of reading (Jeffery, 2004). The land is currently owned by The West Berkshire County Council, as said before it is now managed but BBOWT since 2005 (Jeffery, 2004). The land is 30ha of open wet, dry and humid lowland heath with small sections of oak woodland, there is also a few large seasonal ponds and one that is permanently filled (Wallington, 2013). The Boundaries of Padworth common are to the south a privately owned field that and a sand and gravel quarry. And to the north east and the boundaries are defined by Old warren and Hatch farm. The western boundry is defined the small hamlet of Padworth Common. Management and infrastructure For the management for a lowland heath area like padworth common, there needs to be a set of objectives crucial to the infrastructure of the scheme to manage the whole area and the all the individual features in it. The first is a very generalised objective and covers as many of the features benefits in one goal this is to encourage the restoration and health of lowland heathland to retain the ecological value of Padworth heath (Westcombe, n.d.). The other three objectives are more constrained in the features that they benefit. The first is the have grazing at the site to monitor and manage the growth of the heath, This will majorly benefit the ground nesting birds like the nightjar. The second plan is to have regulations and management for the public and the nightjar population to reduce disturbance, this is primarily aimed and nightjars and nesting birds to minimise disturbance and help promote nest production (Westcombe, n.d.). Finally the 3rd management project is the control the spread and removing strands of bracken, this is to reduce competition with the local heathland plants and improve the biodiversity of the plant life in the area. The legal constraints for this area is that Lowland heathland areas all over Britain are under the protection of the wildlife and countryside act of 1981 and is notified as SSSI (Westcombe, n.d.). Compartments or zones The area of Padworth common is divided into 3 different zones; Open heathland, oak forest and seasonal/permanent ponds; Open heathland are open landscapes commonly dominated by heathers, gorse and has a few sliver birch tress spaced in the area. There are 3 different types of heath dependent on their soil moisture content wet heath occur on high water tables, dry heath is abundant in free draining soils. Heath is important for over 5000 invertebrates that are crucial to the food chain of this ecosystem (Countryside Info, n.d.). Oak woodland is a broad leaf woodland highly occupied by English oak, sessile oak or hybrids between the two. The oak woodland is highly established woodland as a resource basis for building and fuel. The oak woodland is also a representation of the climax vegetation in the southwest of Britain where Padworth common is located (North Dervon Government, n.d.). The seasonal pounds can support a vital ecosystem for many specialised pond species. This coupled with that a large number of rare species has been linked with the seasonal pond which makes these one of the highest management aims of Padworth common (The Ponds Conservation Trust, n.d.). Enviromental information The physical aspects of the heath are that it is a mosaic of wet damp and dry habitats. The type of habitat is found on poor acidic soils in wet mild climates below 300m of altitude. Th biological features of this site are the many species that the heathland can accomidate from the greyling butterfly to the rare great crested newt (English Nature, 2002). This is due to the many niches available for the animals to occupy; the seasonal pounds are a rich source of nuitrients and support many rare species. The open heath which is occupied by many ground nesting birds such as the nightjar. The gorse bushes are used by the Dartford warbler to build nest and protect themselves from predation (English Nature, 2002). Culturally lowland heath has been an important part to human agriculture for thousands of years. The Mesolithic played a great part in the expansion of the lowland heath habitat by cutting down great swathes of the woodland landscape for building material and fuels. This mass cut ting of woodland had impoverished the soil but this has and a positive effect on heather ground and promotes the growth of lowland heathland (English Nature, 2002). Up until the 20th century heathland has been used in a wide range of agricultural processes such as fodder and fuel (English Nature, 2002). Vision Description of site The Padworth common nature reserve is split into two half’s divied by Bowughugrst Road. The heathland is located in the centre of each area while the Oakland is defines the boundaries of the nature reserve. The pounds are locates towards the south west corner of the southern half of the reserve. Conformation and evaluation of features Pathworth has many features and species that make this a site of National importance. Species such as the nightjar, the Dartford warbler and the Grayling butterflies (Wallington, 2013). Each of these will have a certain factors that can affect the species success and survival such as; the road that passes through the reserve, the seasonal ponds, and the growth of bracken. This plan focuses on the Dartford warbler and the key features that effect these are gorse coverage and heathland health (RSPB, 2014). The management of this species is desperately needed due to the harsh winters that have been occurring recently and that there are only1-2 breeding pairs in pad worth (Defra, n.d.). for this species to thrive and stabilise and even increase in population size drastic action is needed to preserve this native bird species. The Dartford warbler (Sylvia undata) Factors Effecting the Dartford warbler There at many factors that affects the breeding success and survival rates of the Dartford warbler. The main 2 factors are the amount of gorse in an area, disturbance and Availability of food. Gorse has a huge effect on the Dartford warbler; this is due to the warbler uses the gorse as nesting material. This is because the benefits it has as protection from predators by being a heavy dense shrub and makes its hard from predators to access (RSPB, 2012). Disturbance has been shown in recent study to majorly effect warbler fecundity. A study has shown that if 13-16 people walk through a heathland area within an hour this can seriously disrupt the breeding patterns of birds and will prevent multiple broods of warblers (Murison, et al., 2007). Objectives for the feature: The objectives laid out for this management plan are in priority order; The main objective for this animal is to maintain the already stable population in the management site of Padworth common. If at all possible our secondary objective is to even increase the number of breeding pairs in Padworth common from 2 breeding pairs to 4. The thirds and least priority objective is that if we can get successful breeding pairs to Padworth we could then export the juveniles into other areas to increase the number of breeding pairs in other heathland habitats. Current condition of feature: The current condition of the Dartford warbler in Europe is that there are 2,025,546-3,635,791 breeding pairs. 75% of the breeding pairs are thought to be breeding in spain. The population is general stable in Europe (Defra, n.d.). There are certain areas of Spain where the Dartford warbler has been seen in a sustained decline since the 1970’s. Fluctuations are not uncommon in this bird (Defra, n.d.). The current condition of the bird internationally is near threatened according to the IUCN red list. (IUCN, 2012) Nationally this bird has been awarded an amber status under the RSPB classification system (RSPB, 2014). The main population of the warbler are in the south and south west of Britain, with a small population in the south east of Britain (RSPB, 2014). The last estimated minimum of breeding pairs in the UK is 1,600-1,890 (Defra, n.d.). Monitoring projects: To monitor the bird populations there are two ways in which this can be done; The first is to let the public and volunteers are able to monitor the birds this can be accomplished through education and a growing interest in the local bird populations. The main disadvantage to this method is that this may increase disturbance of the birds. Key sites can be pinpointed which can be monitored by the park wardens and wildlife trust employee’s this will reduce the amount of disturbance to the breeding birds and still achieve rewarding results. The only flaw with this method is if the bird numbers become higher it may be hard to identify all the birds. Management projects: These are the four management project that will be used to help increase and stabilise the population of the Dartford warbler. Introducing grazing, this is active grazing of livestock on the heathland areas to stop the overgrowth of a particular plant species. Coppicing, this is the cutting of the old parts of gorse to promote new regrowth promoting healthier and denser shrubs. Tree felling, this is done by hand (chainsaw) and the roots dug up to stop the regrowth of the trees. The logs will then be burnt or sold to companies. Bracken removal, this can be done by spraying herbicide on the infected areas thus eradicating of the plant. This is typically done in the summer months due to the plant being at maximum growth. A timetable showing the priority and timescale of projects; Justification of project: The Justification of these methods is as follows; Introduced grazing, this helps promote and uneven ages (mosaic) of the heathland. This maximises the biodiversity of the area due to many species requiring different ages of bracken to survive. This is ideal for the Dartford warbler for its food supply of invertebrates which need the heather for their survival (Hampshire County Council, 2011). Coppicing, this promoted regrowth of the older gorse. Typically the Dartford warbler prefers younger gorse, this is because it is much denser and provide more camouflage and protection of the nest site from predators. Therefore the coppicing of older dead parts of the plant promotes these parts to grow back into thick Bracken which the Dartford warbler needs for nesting (Hampshire County Council, 2011). Tree felling, the felling of trees such as birch helps the regrowth of the open heathland which is advantageous to many species such as the Dartford warbler. The warbler needs these open spaces of heath to be able to catch the invertebrates and feed (Hampshire County Council, 2011). Bracken removal, this is crucial in the survival of any woodland. The dense mate cause by this plant will shade out any other plants. So in vast numbers this is very detrimental to the whole heathland ecosystem. With control and management this increases the biodiversity of the area allowing other plant life to thrive (Hampshire County Council, 2011). Works Cited Berkshire Heathland, 1998. Berkshire Heathland Biodiversity Action Plan, s.l.: s.n. Countryside Info, n.d. What Is Heathland?. [Online] Available at: http://www.countrysideinfo.co.uk/whatis.htm [Accessed 10 3 2014]. English Nature, 2002. Lowland Heathland A Cultural And Endangerd Landscape, Peterborough: English Nature. Fort, L., 2013. Get Reading. [Online] Available at: http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/local-news/wildlife-trust-set-run-west-4189279 [Accessed 10 3 2014]. IUCN, 2012. IUCN redlist (Dartford Warbler). [Online] Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22716984/0 [Accessed 10 3 2014]. Jeffery, O., 2004. Padworth Common Proposed Local Nature Reserve. s.l., s.n. Murison, G. et al., 2007. Habitat type determines the effects of disturbance on the breeding productivity of the dartford warbler Sylvia undata. Ibis, Volume 149, pp. 16-26. North Dervon Government, n.d. Oak Woodland. [Online] Available at: http://www.northdevon.gov.uk/oak_woodland.pdf [Accessed 10 3 2014]. RSPB, 2012. RSPB (Gorse). [Online] Available at: http://www.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/advice/gorse/index.aspx [Accessed 10 3 2014]. RSPB, 2014. RSPB (Dartford Warbler). [Online] Available at: http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/d/dartfordwarbler/ [Accessed 10 3 2014]. The Ponds Conservation Trust, n.d. Good Wilflife Ponds. [Online] Available at: http://www.sussexotters.org/pdf/Good wildlife ponds.pdf [Accessed 10 3 2014]. Wallington, A., 2013. Natural England. [Online] [Accessed 10 3 2014]. Westcombe, n.d. Management Of Environmental Features Specific Options, Prescriptions And Indicators Of Success, s.l.: s.n. Millennium Development Goals and Poverty Reduction: Nigeria Millennium Development Goals and Poverty Reduction: Nigeria Introduction Background to the Study This study attempt to examine the impact of the Millennium Development Goals and Poverty Reduction in Nigeria using with a case study of Ado-Odo Ota, local government area, Ogun state, Nigeria. The issue of poverty in Nigeria has remained a major threat to the nation’s social, political and economic development. Every nation whether it is developed or less developed country contains elements that are poor. Nigeria has a population of more than 160 million – the largest in Africa – and a fast-growing economy. Despite Nigeria’s plentiful agricultural resources and oil wealth, poverty is widespread in the country and has increased since the late 1990s. Some 70 per cent of Nigerians live on less than US$1.25 a day. Poverty has become a feature of the living conditions and life situation of the vast majority of Nigerians. According to Babatunde et al (2008), Poverty has been viewed to be a global phenomenon but the level of this dilemma in developing countries has gotten to an alarming proportion. Internationally, about 1.2 billion people are living in extreme poverty less than one dollar per day and therefore due to the high predominance of poverty, reducing it has been of grave concern to many countries in the past few decades. Though, there have been a lot of improvements in the developed world, such cannot be said of developing ones especially in the Sub-Sahara Africa where poverty is prevalent due to many factors such as corruption, mismanagement of resources, poor programme implementation, poor governance and political instability, poor economic management and lack of purposive leadership. According to Ukpong (1996), (cited in Obadan, 1996) explained that poverty has earned identification in the extent of its ravaging society and the affairs of humanity at the international, national and local levels. The need exists now for urgent actions towards its reduction and control. Therefore, poverty is a snare and it is dehumanizing. In other words, judging from what Ukpong explained poverty to be, it will be ideal if poverty can be eradicated. According to Anyanwu (1997), Poverty has become a major cause of concern to academic, analysts, governmental, non-governmental organizations and international agencies. Poverty is multidimensional; it includes various alienations and deprivations such as: lack of human capabilities, poor life expectancy, poor maternal health, illiteracy, poor nutritional levels, poor access to safe drinking water and perceptions of well-being However, the (World Bank Report, 1999), has described that issues in Poverty now include: physiological and social deprivations, vulnerability, inequality, violation of basic human rights. (Zupi, 2007), also added that the observable disadvantage in relation to the local community or the wider society or nation to which a deprived individual, family, household or group belongs is an issue in poverty. In an attempt to salvage the situation, in September 2000, 189 World leaders millennium summit and committed themselves and their countries to 8 goals known as The Millennium Development goals (MDG’s) aimed at meeting the needs of the World’s poorest people. The Millennium Development goals have been regarded as the universal remedy of issues of underdevelopment. These goals were created under the leadership of Ban Ki-Moon (the Secretary General of the United Nations) through the UN to tackle issues seen to be holding back developing nations. It was adopted by 189 countries and signed by 174 heads of state and government. (UNDP, 2005) Ban Ki-Moon (2009), laid more emphasis on this in his report entitled, â€Å"A road map towards the implementation of the United Nations Millennium Declaration†. In the words of Ban Ki-Moon, The world leaders set far sighted goals to free a major portion of humanity from the shackles of extreme poverty, hunger, illiteracy and disease. They established targets for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women, environmental stability and a global partnership for development. In short, they adopted a blue print for a better world and pledged to spare no effort in fulfilling that vision (Ki-Moon, 2009). The MDG’s are listed plans by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) committee on how the underdeveloped or developing countries can enhance their level of development in different socio-economic areas. The MDG’s are: Goal 1- Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger Goal 2- Promote gender equality and empower women Goal 3- Achieve a Universal primary education Goal 4- Reduce child mortality Goal 5-Improve Maternal Health Goal 6-Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases Goal 7-Ensure environmental stability Goal 8- Develop a global partnership The first goal of the United Nations Millennium development Goals is to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger with Target 1 being to halve, between 1990 and 2015 the proportion of people whose income is less than $1 per day: and Target 2 being to halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people who suffer from hunger (Sachs, 2005:72) Since, poverty as the number 1 goal of the MDG’s shows an alarm in both national and the global world. According to Yinka (2003), the UN Development Programme Human development report scored the Nigerian government low on its efforts to combat poverty and pursue meaningful growth in the human development index. The report states Nigeria is among fifty countries with the lowest human development index and the 54th among 94 other developing countries where human income poverty level remains the highest. Odeyale (2005) explained that in Nigeria, about 36% or 44.3 million of the total 160 million populations are found in the major cities. The rapid growth of the Nigerians cities is characterized by ever increasing population (due to rural urban migration) over stressed infrastructure (such as dilapidated roads, frequent power outage, poor water supply), sub-standard living condition (in ghettos, slum and over-crowded houses), high crime rate. Put differently, it can be described that the growth of population in Nigeria is always on the increase and the availability of defaulted infrastructures and low standard of living which in turn lead to low crime rate. To this end, this study becomes inevitable so as to access the impact of millennium development goals to poverty reduction in Nigeria. Statement of the Problem Different scholars have argued about the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 particularly in Nigeria. While some scholars have argued that it can be achieved before the set target date of 2015, some have argued against the possibility of its achievement. The Millennium Development Goals were goals structured and formulated by the United Nations in the year 2000 to help bridge the gap between the Global North and the Global South. These goals however, were supposed to be of a positive influence to the less developed countries especially in the area of eradicating poverty. However, it has been observed that some of the developing countries are still lagging behind especially in the area of poverty reduction; Nigeria has been observed to be a country of plenty yet is still beset with the problem of poverty. What therefore can be said of other underdeveloped countries in Africa? The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon is of the view that the Millennium Development Goals embody basic human rights such as the right of each person to health, education, shelter and security. The Goals are ambitious but feasible and jointly with the comprehensive United Nation development agenda set the course for the world’s effort to alleviate poverty by 2015. According to Ban Ki-Moon (2009), the Millennium Development Goals would bring about a change and to a large extent, a real difference in the lives of people. With strong Leadership and accountability; this progress can be expanded in most of the world’s countries by the target date of 2015. However, some scholars are not in agreement to the view of Ki-Moon that the MDG’s would bring about a change in the lives of people. According to Deneulin and Shahani (2009) argued that the Millennium Development Goals lack a focus on local participation and empowerment (Excluding women empowerment). The Millennium Development Goals also lack an emphasis on sustainability, making their future after 2015 questionable. Thus, while the MDGs are a tool for tracking progress toward basic poverty reduction and provide a very basic policy road map to achieving these goals, they however do not capture all the elements needed to achieve the ideals set out in the Millennium Declaration. The inability to reach a valid conclusion as to the actualization of the Millennium goals by 2015 has resulted to the Millennium development Goals remaining a problem. Therefore the essence of the Millennium Development Goals comes into play in the context of Nigeria in the sense over 53.6% million Nigerians which is nearly 45% of the total population go to bed hungry every night, around 70% of the total 160 million citizens live below the globally acceptable survival line of $1 Dollar which is equivalent to 160naira per day. Also, over 5million of our youths are not employed, therefore Nigeria according to the National Poverty Eradication Programme (2003) is quoted to be among the poorest country in the world. Therefore, this study seeks to examine the progress in achieving the Millennium Development Goals in Nigeria, how far the Nigerian government have gone for the realization of these goals, and how the Nigerian Government and the society at large intend on making the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals in Nigeria, a reality by 2015. Research Questions The research seeks to answer the following questions: What is the impact of Millennium Development Goals in poverty reduction in Nigeria? Can it be agreed upon that Extreme Poverty and Hunger in the Nigerian state would minimized by 2015? What can be done for Millennium Development Goals to influence the Poverty reduction in Nigeria? Objectives of the Study To examine the impact of Millennium Development Goals in poverty reduction in Nigeria. To evaluate if the extreme poverty and hunger rate in Nigeria can be minimized by 2015. To examine the role of Millennium Development Goals in poverty reduction in Nigeria. Research Hypotheses The Hypothesis to be used for this study would be drawn from the objective of this study. There are: H0: Millennium Development Goals has not impacted in poverty in Nigeria. H1: Millennium Development Goals has impacted in poverty in Nigeria H0: The extreme hunger and poverty in the Nigerian state cannot be minimized by 2015. H2:. The extreme hunger and poverty in the Nigerian state can be by 2015. H0: Millennium development goals has not influenced Poverty reduction in Nigeria H3: Millennium development goals has influenced Poverty reduction in Nigeria Significance of the Study Over the years, this study has been examined by various scholars. The study of the Millennium Development Goals has remained of great importance as it addresses issues on development which Nigeria needs at this very time. The issues of poverty and the bid to alleviate it has been a key issue which governments have attempted to deal with. This attempt has manifested in the various past poverty reduction programmes carried out by the government all aimed at improving the quality of the lives of the populace. The essence of this study is to expose the rate of poverty reduction since its inception of the Millennium Development Goals in 2000. This study will bring forward the various methods or means that the government has embarked on towards the achievement of Poverty reduction especially in Ado-odo ota local government area, Ogun state, Nigeria as a case study, and the impact of millennium development goals in poverty reduction in Nigeria in particular. The importance of this work is to view how poverty reduction can be achieved alongside United Nations Millennium development Goals in Nigeria and the impact of the government towards poverty reduction. And also study at the possibility of the attainment of this goal by 2015 with the use of relevant structures. This study will form a secondary data to other researchers who will research in this area. 1.7 Scope of the study This study examines Millennium Development Goals and Poverty Reduction with particular reference to Ado-odo local government area in Nigeria will be used as a case study. The period covered for this study will be from 2000-2015. This time duration becomes necessary since Millennium Development Goals was formulated in 2000 and to elapse in 2015. It should be noted that 2015 is just some months away. This study also focuses on the possibility of attaining the Poverty Eradication goal by 2015. Research Methodology This segment would discuss the methods to be used in this study. Research methodology can be described as a path through which the objectives of the study can becomes actualized Source of Data The study would engage both primary and secondary sources of data. By primary data sources, required data and information will be collected directly through interviews with Academicians and Government officials in different fields of study in Ado-Odo, Ota Local Government Area, Ogun state. Questionnaires will also be administered to a wider range for information to be extracted from the general public. Secondary sources of data refers to the information gathered from already published or unpublished materials such as magazines, journal articles, newspapers, internet and online materials, lecture notes, conference materials, relevant books and other materials relevant to the subject matter. Secondary sources of data will be employed in this study. Population of the Study The population to be used for this study would include non-governmental bodies, political actors, academicians, and the society at large. The reason for this population range is not only because of their level of knowledge, but also for their importance as key players in the political system. Sample Size A total of 100 questionnaires would be administered during the course of this research. A sum of 5 persons will also be interviewed for vital information to the study. Instrument of data Collection The conduct of direct interviews and the use of questionnaires will be designed as research instrument to collect data on how the Millennium Development Goals have helped attainment of Poverty Reduction in Nigeria. Both Quantitative and Qualitative research methods would be applied. Data Analysis Technique The analysis technique used in this study would be Correlation/Regression Analysis. This analysis would be engaged to study the relationship between the variables used in this research work. Outline Of The Study Chapter One introduces the topic and the MDG’s itself by providing a background to the study. It clarifies the concept of development and how important it is to the nation. It goes on to the statement of problem, the objectives of the study, questions the research seeks to answer, methodology of the study, research significance and hypotheses, and the scope and limitations of the study. Chapter Two covers the review of literatures relevant to this research and the theoretical framework that best explains the subject matter of this study. This includes the conceptualization of key terms, and the theoretical framework which provides a better grasp of the relationship between the millennium development goals and poverty reduction in Nigeria Chapter Three is an overview and assessment of the millennium development goals and poverty reduction in Nigeria. This chapter also examines the causes of Poverty in Nigeria. It moves on to examining the various poverty reduction programmes and policies, the challenges faced in the achievement of these programmes and the current problems of Poverty and hunger in Nigeria. It also outlined the roles of the Nigerian government and the Ogun state Government in attaining poverty reduction in Nigeria; it also would examine the various poverty reduction programmes carried out by the Ogun state Government from 1999 to 2015. Chapter Four is the presentation of data, analysis and interpretation. Data gotten from the field work through interviews and questionnaires will be analyzed using secondary data to support the data analysis. Chapter five summarizes the work, makes recommendations and concludes the study.

The Role of Jews in American Politics Essay -- Jews in Politics, 2015

Since our country was established, immigrants from all over the world have come to America seeking a better life. As they progressively become more acquainted with the American life style they tend to become more involved in the daily interest of their new country. Specifically, Jews have been in the United States for centuries, but for a long time anti-Semitism and discrimination have made it very difficult for them to participate in politics. Jews have become a more active part of American politics due to Senator Lieberman’s candidacy for Vice President. However, Jew’s role in American politics has progressed over the years. In the early years of our nations history Jews were not as actively involved in political positions. Senator Lieberman suggested that one reason, why Jews did not enter active politics during the start of the twentieth century was because of anti-Semitism. Over the course of the second half of the past century, particularly following World War II, Jews were among the strongest voices in the civil rights movement. Jews became financial power houses and supported the candidates of their choice with money. The events of the last century: the Vietnam War, women’s movement, and environmental programs inspired many American Jews to enter politics, for the very purpose of improving the world. As Senator Lieberman says in his introduction to Jews in American Politics, it is the practice of Jews to want to make the world a better place to â€Å"repair the world† in Hebrew, â€Å"Tikkun Olam† (Maisel and Forman XXII) In the history of the United States before the New Deal was created by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the â€Å"the Jewish community was politically weak and its role in American society precarious. During t... ... strength† (â€Å"Policy Dispatches No. 52†). Joe Lieberman helped to pave a road for all ethnicities, as Mario Cuomo the former governor of New York commented, â€Å"if the Jews can make it, then Italian Americans can make it, Hispanic Americans can make it and African Americans can make it† (â€Å"Policy Dispatchers No. 52†). Throughout time Jews have faced anti-Semitism and criticism. However, they have excelled and Joe Lieberman after the 2002 election has become the icon of â€Å"a historic step forward in the complete integration of Jews in American society† (â€Å"Policy Dispatchers No. 52†). Works Cited Maisel, L. Sandy, and Ira N. Forman. Jews in American Politics. New York: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, Inc, 2001. Policy Dispatches No. 52. World Jewish Congress 5 Dec. 2002 .

Delinquency Deterrence Response Essay

It is said that the human mind can be a very complex web of thoughts. Thoughts that can sometimes lead to good or bad actions. Does the actual threat of punishment deter or does it encourage juvenile delinquency? This question happens to hold two answers one being yes and the other no. Juvenile delinquency has existed for years but as we all know it is not a problem that blooms overnight. Juvenile delinquency is a manifested state that is learned and its causes are manifested from in the home (dysfunctional or broken), school (pressure to succeed), friends (peer pressure) and family (need to scape for some reason or another). According to Thomson Learning Inc. Juvenile Delinquency: The Core (2005), for some children and teenagers the threat of punishment is so realistic that this method provides an opportunity for those individuals to do right. This may be because the individuals rational thought process and the enforcement of punishment either has been already enforced or the fear of being caught is too high of a price for the individual to accept. On the other hand there are children and teenagers who do not ear punishment or any other consequences that may come from their bad actions. Furthermore, for some individuals the thought of being punished only enrages and encourages some individuals to continue their bad ways. It s said that in order for a plant to grow and bloom it has to be fed and nurtured. This process is no different when it comes to raising children and teenagers. When children or teenagers are raised in dysfunctional homes with parents that encourage bad behavior and no discipline enable these individuals to do wrong. Living in a home ith parents that consume alcohol, do drugs, steal and party on a regular basis encourages these individuals to become delinquent. A child or teen being raised in that type of environment may assume and be encouraged to think that it is okay to live that way. Being encouraged by peers to do wrong is not right but to be encouraged by ones own parent is considered an act that deems detrimental to any child or teenagers life. The reason for this is because consequences and correction for their bad actions does not exist (Thomson Learning Inc. 005). Some examples of general deterrence, specific deterrence and situational crime prevention strategies are as followed. General deterrence basically is if an individual believes that they will be caught in an act for example like holding up a convenience store and their punishment will be executed to the fullest for that crime. There is the possibility that the crime will not be committed because the punishment far outweighs the crime. Specific deterrence is used to lessen the probability of having a repeat offender. An example of specific deterrence is the three strike law. This method plainly states that a person who is tried for the same offense will go to jail for committing the same crime on a third offense. There are no breaks or excuses due to the fact that the three strike laws were implemented from a previous offense. Situational crime prevention is the ability to reduce and curb the tendencies of criminals by making their actions harder to commit. This can be done by having neighborhood watch groups in conjunction with police patrol at simulated times of the day. Store owners can have cameras placed in inconspicuous areas of their stores along with having tampered proof glass or window bars on their stores. The key in situational awareness is to make the offender thinks twice about their actions and how will it benefit them if they are caught (Thomson Learning Inc. , 2005). As kids growing up we were always told that prevention was always better than a cure. We were also told that for our bad choices made there will always be consequences for those actions. Knowing our boundaries we always stayed within them. My parents taught us right from wrong and they guided us through our childhood right into our teenage and adolescent years. It is in my observation through their hands on ways and always being active in our lives we stayed away from trouble. It is my belief that crime prevention strategies are always the best to start with. When an individual realizes that it is harder to commit a crime whether it is through parental involvement or because of the elements that are in place they may find something that will be more beneficial than getting into trouble. .

CBT and Multi Cultural Influence

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in contrast to many other therapeutic frameworks has both an explicit rationale and an empirically demonstrable success rate. In addition to the wealth of published case histories there are a plethora of controlled studies attesting to the efficacy of CBT interventions with an equally diverse range of psychological and behavioral conditions. (Emmelkamp et al 1992). Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of therapy that aims to help a person manage their problems by changing how they think and act. It is a problem solving approach which recognizes that clients have a behavioral difficulty rather than that they are a behavioral problem. It encourages them to talk about how they think in relation to themselves, the world, other people and how what they do affects their thoughts and feelings. CBT can help to change how a person thinks (‘cognitive’) and what they do (‘behavior’), thus helping them to manage difficulties and feel better about life. Unlike most psychotherapies which only work with talk and reflections, CBT regards behavioral acts as primary. Treatment involves clients engaging in personal behavioral experiments, ‘practice makes perfect. ’ For many behaviorally based problems such as phobias obsessive compulsive disorder bulimia and the like there simply is no substitute for this way of working. Direct behavioral experience is often the most effective medium for articulating change. Action, that is, sometimes speaks far louder than words. To benefit fully from CBT, clients need to be committed to the process, maintain any homework agreed such as keeping a diary or undertaking experiments/challenges jointly agreed and/or decided upon between client and counsellor. It can help the client make sense of overwhelming problems by breaking them down into smaller parts. The outcomes of homework are reviewed and feelings discussed at each subsequent session. Most importantly CBT is a collaborative and empowering process in which the client is an active participant. Autonomy: respect for the client’s right to be self-governing BACP Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling & Psychotherapy. A principal goal of this collaborative process is to help clients effectively define problems and gain skills in managing these problems. As in other therapies, CBT also uses other elements of the therapeutic relationship, such as rapport, genuineness, understanding, and empathy. The number of sessions required varies greatly depending on the presenting issues/problems and objectives, sessions usually lasting from anywhere between six weeks to six months. The client is helped to see how their thoughts and behavior relate to the way they feel, how this might contribute to the problems being experienced and that it is not the situation itself making them unhappy, but how they think about and react to it. CBT can help clients find ways to change thought patterns and behavior and to solve problems and anxieties better, but it cannot remove the problems. The skills learnt within CBT are useful, practical and helpful strategies that once learnt can be incorporated into an individual’s life to help them handle difficult situations better when future stresses and difficulties arise. However there is always a risk that the bad feelings associated with the clients problem return, but with CBT skills it should be easier for them to control these. Even after the client is feeling better and sessions have ended, it is important to emphasis the need to practice the skills acquired. CBT focuses on the individual’s capacity to change themselves their thoughts, feelings and behaviors it can help to manage problems, such as anxiety and depression, so they are less likely to have a negative impact on their life. However because of its structured nature, it may not be suitable for people who have more complex mental health needs or learning difficulties. Some critics argue that because the therapy only addresses current problems and focuses on very specific issues, it does not address the possible underlying causes of mental health conditions, such as an unhappy childhood. Neither does it address wider problems in systems or families that often have a significant impact on an individual’s health and well-being. Research has shown that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be as successful as medicine in treating many types of depression and other mental health disorders it can be completed in a relatively short time compared with other talking therapies and because it is highly structured, CBT can be provided in a number of different formats such as through computer programs, groups and self-help books. Some research suggests that CBT may be better than antidepressants at preventing the return of depression. It is thought to be one of the most effective treatments for anxiety and depression. When considering the significance and use of Cognitive Behavior Therapy within therapeutic practice (as with any other modality used) it is necessary to consider the impact/context within todays multi-cultural society. Awareness of Multiculturalism provides a fourth dimension to the three traditional helping orientations psychodynamic, existential-humanistic and cognitive. All learning occurs and identities are formed within a persons cultural context. Cultural identity is dynamic and ever changing in todays society. Understanding the cultural and socio-political context of a client's behavior is essential to accurate assessment, interpretation and treatment. It is imperative as counsellors to have and maintain increased self-awareness, as an essential starting point in developing multicultural competence. The appropriate application of skills in multicultural settings depends on both cultural awareness and relevant knowledge of the counsellor. ‘it is incumbent upon the individual practitioner to be knowledgeable about his or her own multicultural reality in order to use that information effectively in work with clients of various ethnicities, genders, ages, socioeconomic classes, religions, sexual orientation, differing abilities, and with those who use different languages’ Baldwin 2nd ed (2000 pg 167) Recognizing the importance of the many variables within modern day society such as, ethnicity, nationality, religion, variables such as age, gender and place of residence status variables such as social, educational and economic, and affiliations including both formal affiliations to organizations or families and informal affiliations to ideas and a lifestyle is essential to the effectiveness of any counselling therapy. It takes a olistic and intuitive approach to work within todays multi-cultural society, respecting that each person has many different cultures or identities with each identity becoming relevant at different times and places. One example worthy of consideration is metaphors, clients often use metaphors within therapy, recognizing that metaphors are and can be culturally bound and reflective of particular values, for example ’time is money,’ is an important consideration when working with clients. Implicit in their use are models of perception, thus the phrase ‘things are looking up’ not only conveys the message that things are improving but also reflects the idea that ‘up’ is good. The identification of the color black with bad things is frequently used metaphorically, in a way which reflects and reinforces the negative connotation given to all people and things black. The power of metaphors derives from the models which they provide for understanding, thinking and communicating about the world. Multiculturalism emphasizes both the way we are different from and similar to other people and is a situation in which all the different cultural or racial groups in a society have equal rights and opportunities, and none is ignored or regarded as unimportant. Thus avoiding discrimination, whilst also appreciating the difference and diversity between people. Justice; the fair and impartial treatment of all clients and the provision of adequate services BACP Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling & Psychotherapy. Culture provides an adult/child with a particular way of look at the world, thus emphasizing some tendencies to the development of schemas and or rules and assumptions. In some countries the culture is still quite autocratic and male dominated, therefore leading to ideas about the importance of men, yet others are characterized as competitive and or oppressive. All these factors will affect a clients personality and ways of functioning. As we become more of a multi-cultural society culture becomes an even greater factor in the therapeutic relationship today and worthy of much care and consideration. According to Beck et al. (1979) clients tend to suffer from a ‘cognitive triad’ of negative beliefs, which includes negative beliefs about themselves, the world in general and their future. Beck also outlines three more components of his theory of depression, including automatic thoughts, schemas and logical errors. Margaret Hough 2nd ed (2002 pg,139) A central focus of Beck’s work with clients is to helping them change their faulty cognitions, including expectations and beliefs, by enlisting the clients participation as a colleague and equal rather than one of superior (counsellor) and inferior (client). The counsellors role is that of teacher and a role model of positive healthy behavior, rather than that of expert, therefore this approach should work well when working with muti-cultural cliental and because of the structured nature of CBT it is a positive approach that bares tangible effective evidence to encourage a client to tackle the presenting problem. Although CBT does not look specifically at a clients past it does help a client to look more realistically at their outdated beliefs or schemas ( I am unloveable or I am worthless) often errors in thinking picked up in childhood and early life. As counsellors/therapists it is however necessary to have in ones mind and consider client ethnicity during the various phases of therapy, however typically I believe if we are to maintain equality, we do not directly need to address ethnicity or ethnic differences in therapy sessions unless it is clearly part of the presenting problem, but maintaining an awareness to a persons ethnic origin and differences is essential for good practice. That said, this modality (CBT) would also be extremely useful in highlighting not only unchallenged beliefs and or rules, (typically rigid over inclusive, impossible to attain) but cultural differences, logical errors in thinking picked up in early life that no longer benefit or support the clients desired way of functioning. Because the approach is directive and highly structured it involves asking clients detailed and specific questions about their current feelings, whilst also identifying any automatic thoughts, thus enabling them in becoming ware of how they think about a problem, how it affects them physically and or emotionally and what they can do to alter the outcome. When a client see the sequence clearly change is possible. By encouraging the client to look at particular situations that disturb or upset them important information is elicited so that problems can be clarified from the beginning of therapy with objectives being set accordingly. The highly active, directive an d educational nature of cognitive behavior therapy serves to show clients how they disturb themselves and what they can do to change attitudes and or beliefs for themselves that no longer work. When clients become aware that they are able change themselves feelings of empowerment become evident and rapid progress is made. CBT is, as previously mentioned time limited and because of this clients develop a definite sense of purpose and awareness relating to their progress, coping strategies and developing self-help skills. Curwen et al (2000) stress the importance of empathy in the relationship, Margaret Hough 2nd ed (2002) this is essential to building trust and a genuine rapport given that the work could be extremely challenging.

Sun Bear Facts (Helarctos malayanus)

Sun Bear Facts (Helarctos malayanus) The sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) is the smallest species of bear. It gets its common name for the white or golden bib on its chest, which is said to represent the rising sun. The animal is also known as the honey bear, reflecting its love of honey, or the dog bear, referring to its stocky build and short muzzle. Fast Facts: Sun Bear Scientific Name: Helarctos malayanusCommon Names: Sun bear, honey bear, dog bearBasic Animal Group: MammalSize: 47-59 inchesWeight: 60-176 poundsLifespan: 30 yearsDiet: OmnivoreHabitat: Southeast Asia rainforestsPopulation: DecreasingConservation Status: Vulnerable Description The sun bear has short black fur with a pale crescent-shaped bib that may be white, cream, or golden. It has a short, buff-colored muzzle. The bear has small, round ears; an extremely long tongue; large canine teeth; and large, curved claws. The soles of its feet are hairless, which helps the bear climb trees. Adult male sun bears are 10% to 20% larger than females. Adults average between 47 and 59 inches long and weigh between 60 and 176 pounds. The sun bear has curved claws and an extremely long tongue. Freder / Getty Images Habitat and Distribution Sun bears live in the evergreen tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia. Their habitat includes northeastern India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, southern China, and some Indonesian islands. There are two subspecies of sun bear. The Bornean sun bear only lives on the island of Borneo. The Malayan sun bear occurs in Asia and on the island of Sumatra. Diet Sun bears, like other bears, are omnivores. They feed on bees, hives, honey, termites, ants, insect larvae, nuts, figs and other fruit, and sometimes flowers, plant shoots, and eggs. The bears strong jaws easily crack open nuts. Sun bears are hunted by humans, leopards, tigers, and pythons. Behavior Despite its name, the sun bear is largely nocturnal. It relies on its keen sense of smell to find food at night. The bears long claws help it climb and also tear open termite mounds and trees. The bear uses its extremely long tongue to lap up honey from bee hives. Male bears are more likely than females to be active during the day. Although relatively small, sun bears are known to be fierce and aggressive if disturbed. Because they live in the tropics, the bears are active year-round and do not hibernate. Reproduction and Offspring Sun bears reach sexual maturity around 3 to 4 years of age. They can mate at any time of the year. After a gestation period of 95 to 174 days, the females gives birth to one or two cubs (although twins are uncommon). Newborn cubs are blind and hairless and weigh between 9.9 and 11.5 ounces. Cubs are weaned after 18 months. In captivity, male and female bears socialize and jointly care for young. In other bear species the female raises her cubs on her own. The lifespan of highly reclusive wild sun bears is unknown, but captive bears live up to 30 years. Sun bear cubs are born blind and furless. Christian Aslund / Getty Images Conservation Status The IUCN classifies the sun bears conservation status as vulnerable. Bear populations are decreasing in size. The sun bear has been listed on CITES Appendix I since 1979. Threats While it is illegal to kill sun bears throughout their range, commercial hunting is among the species greatest threats. Sun bears are poached for their meat and gall bladders. Bear bile is used in traditional Chinese medicine and is also an ingredient in soft drinks, shampoo, and cough drops. Despite their temperament, sun bears are also illegally captured for the pet trade. The other significant threat to sun bear survival is habitat loss and fragmentation due to deforestation and human encroachment. Forest fires also affect sun bears, but they tend to recover providing there is a neighboring population. Sun bears are kept in captivity for their commercial value and for conservation. They are farmed for their gall bladders in Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar. Since 1994, the species has been part of a captive-breeding program with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the European breed registry. The Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre in Sandakan, Malaysia rehabilitates sun bears and works toward their conservation. Sources Brown, G. Great Bear Almanac. 1996. ISBN:978-1-55821-474-3.Foley, K. E., Stengel, C. J. and Shepherd, C. R. Pills, Powders, Vials and Flakes: The Bear Bile Trade in Asia. Traffic Southeast Asia, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia, 2011.Scotson, L., Fredriksson, G., Augeri, D., Cheah, C., Ngoprasert, D. Wai-Ming, W. Helarctos malayanus (errata version published in 2018). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T9760A123798233. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T9760A45033547.enServheen, C.; Salter, R. E. Chapter 11: Sun Bear Conservation Action Plan. In Servheen, C.; Herrero, S.; Peyton, B. (eds.). Bears: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. Gland: International Union for Conservation of Nature. pp. 219–224, 1999.Wong, S. T.; Servheen, C. W.; Ambu, L. Home range, movement and activity patterns, and bedding sites of Malayan sun bears Helarctos malayanus in the Rainforest of Borneo. Biological Conservation. 119 (2): 169–181, 2004. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2003.10. 029

Free Essays on Greek and Roman

Romans Did and Greeks Thought Life’s milestones have been passed through generations and to different cultures since the beginning of time. From the start, people have been able to put their minds together to come up with new and easier ways to do daily activities. These brilliant and determined minds brought forth everything from better technology, faster and more efficient food production and it all eventually led up to simply bettering the quality of life for people. The most dominating and daring cultures throughtout the world were centered in Athens, Greece and Rome, Italy. These two led the ancient world in the pursuit of expansion of their great empires as well as their desire to rule with their advanced ways of life. The Greeks, especially those in Athens, dominated the Mediterranean region. They consisted of many great minds that cultivated a time in which new ideas and inventions were being thought of and documented over and over. Although they never fully produced all that they had thought of: philosophy and arts, the Romans were not far behind with their tools to begin building upon the foundation with further advancements such as a channel of roadways, waterways, and improved architectual stuctures that allowed the Romans to further develop as an empire. The Greek Empire was full of people who enjoyed nothing more than a deep conversation full of ideas and opinions. The first pre-socratic Greek philopher was a man by the name of Thales. He pursued thoughts of mathmatics and astronomy. He constructed theories about solar eclipses and a deductive method of geometry. Not for another hundred years, would a man come along that could measure up to this philosphers ideas. But, a man named Socrates came to life and brought with him a determined mind in search of an â€Å"absolute truth†. He focused mainly on ethical and moral standpoints. Socrates was interested in Athenian justice, beau... Free Essays on Greek and Roman Free Essays on Greek and Roman Romans Did and Greeks Thought Life’s milestones have been passed through generations and to different cultures since the beginning of time. From the start, people have been able to put their minds together to come up with new and easier ways to do daily activities. These brilliant and determined minds brought forth everything from better technology, faster and more efficient food production and it all eventually led up to simply bettering the quality of life for people. The most dominating and daring cultures throughtout the world were centered in Athens, Greece and Rome, Italy. These two led the ancient world in the pursuit of expansion of their great empires as well as their desire to rule with their advanced ways of life. The Greeks, especially those in Athens, dominated the Mediterranean region. They consisted of many great minds that cultivated a time in which new ideas and inventions were being thought of and documented over and over. Although they never fully produced all that they had thought of: philosophy and arts, the Romans were not far behind with their tools to begin building upon the foundation with further advancements such as a channel of roadways, waterways, and improved architectual stuctures that allowed the Romans to further develop as an empire. The Greek Empire was full of people who enjoyed nothing more than a deep conversation full of ideas and opinions. The first pre-socratic Greek philopher was a man by the name of Thales. He pursued thoughts of mathmatics and astronomy. He constructed theories about solar eclipses and a deductive method of geometry. Not for another hundred years, would a man come along that could measure up to this philosphers ideas. But, a man named Socrates came to life and brought with him a determined mind in search of an â€Å"absolute truth†. He focused mainly on ethical and moral standpoints. Socrates was interested in Athenian justice, beau...

Reasons to Write Properly

Reasons to Write Properly Reasons to Write Properly Reasons to Write Properly By Michael Why is it important to write correctly, to use standard grammar, spelling, and punctuation? Because you want people to understand you, thats all. Why are the picky details important? If my headline had said Write Good, wouldnt you understand that I meant Write Well? Maybe so, but its less distracting and easier to understand if I say it correctly. For a split second or longer, part of your mind would be confused, wondering if I was encouraging you to write about good things or something. Certainly part of your mind would wonder why you were seeing bad grammar in Daily Writing Tips. When my colleague Mark tried it as a joke, people noticed. Are you seeing my point? Scholars talk about prescriptive grammar and descriptive grammar. Prescriptive grammar means the way people are supposed to write. That has sometimes been misguided. As recently as the 19th century, some scholars taught that English should follow the rules of Latin because I cant think of a good reason now. On the other hand, descriptive grammar means the way people actually write, and thats hard to argue with. But isnt there a connection? Youre supposed to write the way people actually write, because its easier to understand that way. And because grammar changes over the centuries, grammar books do change as the language changes. Where students and teachers get into disagreements is when the young people insist that the way they write is now correct. Older teachers can recall saying the same thing when they were young, but in retrospect, being wrong. The slang of their youth didnt become a permanent part of the English language. Some students might say, I dont have to follow no made-up rules! If they say that, they are using a double negative, which was correct in Old English, before 1000 AD. After that, it was no longer correct. My advice: if English speakers have been following a rule for a thousand years, you might want to follow it too. People are probably used to it. Recognizing a pattern makes reading easier, and that includes patterns of grammar and spelling. Of course, we recognize letters from their shape. Its possible to read a line of text thats missing the bottom half of each letter, but difficult to read it without the top half. But research also suggests that the shape of a word helps us to recognize it. Even without my glasses, I can see that loop begins with an ascending letter and ends with a descending letter it slopes down while pool slopes up. When you type in ALL CAPS, every letter is the same height, so it not only looks like youre shouting, it also makes it much harder to read. Certain parts of contracts are legally required to be conspicuous, so they are often capitalized. But why? After all, putting them in bold or larger type is also conspicuous. Attorney Matthew Butterick, the author of Typography for Lawyers, says, All-caps para ­graphs are an example of self-defeat ­ing typog ­ra ­phy. Readers inevitably skip over the most important parts because they’re so hard to read. I hope lawyers dont write Terms of Service in all-caps to keep us from reading them. My point: our brains understand things more easily because they fit our expectations. The reason I try to use proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation is not to impress my fourth grade teacher Mrs. Cascales. Alas, her jazz piano has been silent for many years, and she is no longer checking my writing for mistakes. No, I try to write correctly because its easier to read, because youve seen it written that way (AKA written correctly) before. Sometimes even minor grammatical choices can make reading slower or faster. I gave one example in my article Is That a Noun or a Verb? I’m Confused. When you dont have to struggle with understanding my spelling or punctuation, you can focus on understanding my meaning. People judge you by your language. In an article in the Harvard Business Review, Good Grammar Should Be Everyone’s Business, Brad Hoover of Grammarly studied 100 LinkedIn profiles, all native English-speakers, all working in the consumer packaged goods industry, with three employers or less in the first 10 years of their careers. He discovered the ones with fewer grammar errors in their profile were promoted to director level or above within those 10 years, while the other half were not. In the musical My Fair Lady, Professor Higgins points out a lower-class flower girl and tells Colonel Pickering, If you spoke as she does, sir, instead of the way you do, why, you might be selling flowers too. When you leave out features in your writing that children learn in grade school, such as punctuation and capitalization, your readers will assume that you didnt complete grade school. Im not arguing for exalted language, but for clear communication. Big words can be as imprecise as little words. Some academic writing styles dont communicate more clearly, but only prove that you are an academic. Teachers and professors have to fight against spreading it. The improper use of passive voice is the best known symptom: It has been been demonstrated by Jenkins that instead of Jenkins proves that Weve written several articles to help you manage your use of passive voice, such as Passive Writing and 7 Examples of Valid Passive Construction. When I was working for a phone company, an older physician called about an unexpected bill he received. He said, This will not be disbursed. I couldnt resist saying, Oh, you mean you wont pay the bill? Apparently and unfortunately, he had been taught to use language as a barrier, to keep his patients in their place so they wouldnt question the bills he sends. Theres nothing wrong with short words. Some long words are used specifically to keep from stating the truth directly. Comedian George Carlin pointed out that what was called shell shock in the First World War became battle fatigue in the Second. Four syllables now, says Carlin. Takes a little longer to say. Doesn’t seem to hurt as much. Fatigue is a nicer word than shock. A corporation does not fire an employee; it arranges a negotiated departure or makes a workforce imbalance correction. Little things can have large consequences including punctuation. Lynne Truss, English author and broadcaster, notes that the 1905 October revolution in Russia began when Bolshevik printers demanded to be paid the same rate for punctuation marks as for letters. Truss hosted a BBC Radio broadcast about punctuation, Cutting a Dash, which led to a best-selling book in 2003. The title of the book, Eats, Shoots Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation, comes from a joke: A panda walks into a bar. He orders a sandwich, eats it, pulls out a gun, and fires two shots. The shocked bartender asks him why. The panda throws him a poorly-punctuated wildlife manual. Im a panda, he says, Look it up, and walks out the door. Sure enough, the entry for Panda reads, Large black-and-white bear-like mammal, native to China. Eats, shoots and leaves. Here you see that an extra comma can lead to increased gun violence. Truss also wrote childrens books: Twenty-Odd Ducks: Why, Every Punctuation Mark Counts (2008) The Girls Like Spaghetti: Why, You Cant Manage Without Apostrophes! (2007). Notice that in each title, removing two punctuation marks completely changes the meaning. Only after Eats, Shoots Leaves went to press (naturally), Truss found details on another story she wished she could have included in her book. It concerned New England merchant Timothy Dexter (Newburyport, Massachusetts, 1748-1806), who wrote a pamphlet called A Pickle for the Knowing Ones, using his own unique spelling and no punctuation. At the back of his second edition, he included this note: Nowing ones complane of my book the fust edition had no stops I put in a Nuf here and thay may peper and solt it as they plese I cant be certain, but think he meant, Knowing Ones complain of my book. The first edition had no stops [periods]. I put in enough here, and they may pepper and salt it as they please. It was followed by a page of punctuation marks for their use. The problem is that proper punctuation, spelling, and grammar are not condiments that can be added or left out on a whim. Not bothering to get them right may be easier on the writer, but harder on the reader. I think Dexters note proves my point, though I cant be certain, because Im not completely sure what he was trying to say. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Writing Basics category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Writing a Reference Letter (With Examples)Rules for Capitalization in Titles13 Theatrical Terms in Popular Usage

Organized Medicne and Healthcare Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Organized Medicne and Healthcare - Essay Example This problem has been addressed and discussed by the American Medical Association in its online article which has been updated till January 10, 2008. The content for the article is provided by the ‘Graduate Medical Education’. The article states that as of present there is a growing need for physicians, who are in shortage, unlike the prediction of a physician surplus by the concerned experts in the nineties. This has been complicated by the issues between the qualified physicians available in the country and large corporate healthcare institutions, with both parties blaming the other as being responsible for economic inefficiency. The article cites Edward Salsberg of the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) Center for Workforce studies who lays emphasis on the growing patient population with increasing life expectancy necessitating the need for geriatric and psychological care. David C. Goodman (Dartmouth Medical) feels that the development of efficient medic al delivery systems should be the focus of the medical fraternity rather than spending huge amounts on training more physicians. The article stresses on the need for developing an efficient workforce of medical teams which should involve trained nurses and physician assistants rather than allowing super specialized physicians like neurosurgeons to attend to basic medical procedures inside a hospital environment. As a result there is still dearth of non-physician medical workforce in the country. As felt in the past that training of more physicians would lead to competition and lower costs, the experiment misfired because the ‘generation of more doctors lead to more money being consumed by healthcare in the society rather than driving down costs’. The article highlights the inefficiency of the so called experts on organization of the healthcare industry who

The Ethical Decision Making Process within the Law Enforcement Thesis Proposal

The Ethical Decision Making Process within the Law Enforcement Organization.An Examination of Inappropriate Unethical Behavior from Law Enforcement Officers while Working within the Communities - Thesis Proposal Example Ethical decision-making was to be treated as an essential area of concern among the local law and security enforcement agencies. One would be left to ask a number of questions that may lack a readymade answer. Why do law enforcement officers and security personnel engage in the unethical behaviour? What is the role of ethical decision making in addressing the vices of corruption and abuse of power among the police force? Is there a relationship between training and behaviour? What perception do the communities hold toward the conduct of law enforcement officers? These and many other frequently asked questions require answers that may only come along through a detailed study of the subject matter. Corruption, abuse of power, assault of women and other vulnerable groups during times of calamities have been manifest features of almost every law enforcing agency in the world. The security and other law enforcing groups have severally been reported to have used more force on the ordinary people than stipulated in the law (Caldero, Crank & Crank, 2014). The result of the tainted name of the law enforcement officers has been the fear and resentment by the communities that have fallen victims of circumstances in this regard. One would wonder the ethical picture manifested when ordinary people express their distrust and lack of confidence in a group that should perform a role that is paramount to peaceful human existence. Is it because of lack of proper training on the ethical standards and codes of moral conduct in the course of discharging their duties or is it a culture that has gradually made its roots in the system? Corrective measures are urgently needed to redeem the tainted r eputation and public image of the law enforcement and security agencies. The problem that has been identified is an increase of activity in unethical decision making by law enforcement officers on duty while serving within designated communities

Spring Awakening Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Spring Awakening - Essay Example Discussion of sex was taken as something extremely personal and confined to closed door conversations. Parents and elders did not use to discuss issues relating to sex with their children at all. This attitude of the society was giving rise to social dilemmas within adolescents in the communities. Adolescents were experiencing emotions pertaining to sexual desires but they didn’t know the meaning behind those emotions and feelings. The play â€Å"Spring Awakening† addressed such a bold issue and brought this taboo topic to limelight in public to make them understand the changing requirements of changing times (New York Times, 2006). The theme of the play is sex orientation among teens and the arousal of feelings and emotions of youth and the desire to meet the sexual requirements of an adult human body. The play was performed in 1892, as a musical act where various scenes were articulated based on various songs that were played to entertain the audience and also to help them understand the acts being performed in a better manner. Though the play exhibited youngsters, teenagers and adolescents but its meaning and the underlying message was directed towards parents and mentors. The theme of the play demanded a change in the mindset of the audience and the need to understand the needs of maturing minds of growing children, children that are reaching puberty. The parents need to talk to their children and help them get across this very special, beautiful and significant phase of their lives. Without proper counseling and guidance children may astray away from the correct path of life and shall destroy their future forever, under the influence of intense feelings and emotions. The play revolved around the central characters of children that are depicted to be entering the adolescent phase of their lives, becoming adults and developing sexual needs and body features of a grown up. The characters in the play are shown to

The uniform Commercial Code Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The uniform Commercial Code - Essay Example The UCC is used by every jurisdiction in the United States except for Louisiana. Article 2 of the statute only governs a contract for the sale of goods (movable property only)2, and is most often used to resolve contract disputes of that nature. Other types of transactions are governed by the different Article in the UCC. The statute is governed by TARR, which refers to tender, acceptance, rejection and revocation. When a buyer intends to purchase goods, he is entitled to reject such goods, if the goods do not meet the conditions set out in the contract (tender stage). A buyer may accept the goods in such belief, that the manufacture will repair the problems, which are under warranty (acceptance stage). However, if a buyer finds a problem with the goods, he may reject the goods within the reasonable time (rejection stage), or during the revocation stage. The provisions of UCC are applicable to the sale of goods in the United States; however, it is subject to United Nations convention for the international sale of goods if parties to a contract choose not to be governed by the statute. Applicability of the UCC Sections Relative to Zabriskie Case In this case, Mr. Zabriskie purchased a new car 1966 Chevrolet Biscayne and gave a check for payment. Later on he went for a drive with the said car on the same day, it got spoilt within 2.5 miles away, and he immediately gave instructions for the said check not to be paid. The dealer argued that he (buyer) could not reject the car as he had taken a test drive and was satisfied vehicle. He also argued that it was a reasonable opportunity for him to inspect the product. The court held that: Driving for a few miles was significant to the buyer, since it was his reasonable opportunity to enjoy his new vehicle and to see if it conforms to the agreement. How long the buyer may have driven the new car under the guise of inspection is not an issue as it is within the ambit of a reasonable opportunity to inspect. If the consumer has used the new car for a long period of time, article 2 of the UCC3 provides that a buyer may refuse to accept the goods if the defects impair the goods too much. The article also provides this when the buyer has accepted the goods without discovery of non-conformity because it was difficult to discover, or if he was assured that non-conformity would be repaired. In explaining the reasoning, the court defined non-conformity substantially impairing the value of the vehicle as: 1) Having many small defects whose cumulative value added up to a big impairment- This is the â€Å"shake faith† doctrine first stated in the Zabriskie case. 2) One that includes a failure or refusal to repair the goods under the warranty- Substantial non-conformity and lemon laws often defines what may be considered a substantial impairment. Public Policy Consideration That Support the Decision in the Zabriskie Case and Other Cases like It Courts’ main function is the administration of justice to all who come seeking justice. In doing so, they are guided by the principles of fairness and reasonableness in delivering judgments. When it comes to contracts, courts may refuse to enforce contracts containing unconscionable clauses at the time of formation or only enforce the remainder of the contract without the unconscionable clause to prevent oppression and unfair surprises to buyers; this principle was considered in the Zabriski

Good Cholesterol and Breast Cancer risk Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Good Cholesterol and Breast Cancer risk - Essay Example This phenomenon reduces the risk of heart diseases but at the same time HDL also stimulates migration and activates signal transduction pathways in the human breast cancer cell lines, thus acting like a catalyst in the development of breast cancer. Thus knocking down the HDL receptor, SR-BI by some pharmacological methodologies play an essential role in regulating cellular proliferation and migration, thus controlling the growth of tumor cells, and hence SR-BI can be essentially used in the treatment of breast cancer in humans. The Popular article, Good cholesterol and breast cancer risk explains about the above detailed primary research article in a crisp manner. Though HDL that is, good cholesterol is good for health and acts like a protective shield against heart disorders, it has a negative impact on breast cancer development in humans. Higher the level of HDL in blood, higher is the risk of developing breast cancer. Thus limiting the HDL receptor, SR-BI the rapid proliferation o f tumor cells were found to be greatly reduced. The popular article also interacts with Dr. Philippe Frank, head of the research team and a cancer biologist in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Thomas Jefferson University who stresses on the importance of inventing more specific drugs to inhibit SR- BI and the safer level of HDL to be mentioned in cancer patients. How it relates to the theme – ‘Gender, Science and Technology’ Both the articles are interlinked and have a strong correlation with the theme of ‘Gender, Science and Technology’. The main focus of both the articles is about the treatment for breast cancer. Though the exact cause for breast cancer is still a topic under research, analysing the risk factors can show who is most likely to develop the disease. Lifestyle choices, genetic disorders and medications taken for some kind of diseases may be some of the risk factors for developing the disease but some risk factors are more vulnerable, particularly one’s ‘Gender’. Breast cancer is most common in women because they have more breast tissue than men. Breast cancer causes include what stimulates the breast tissue to grow and develop. Female relatives can also be a risk factor for getting breast cancer. If one’s mother, sister or daughter have breast cancer, the chances of getting the disease is doubled. Though cancer of several types is the leading cause of death in the world, medical science and technology has empowered people to make life changing decisions by matching them with modern and advanced treatment options based on individual conditions of the patients. Modern science and technology has revolutionized the breast cancer research therapies and now chances of overcoming breast cancer are much better than in earlier days. Main Scientific Claim The authors claim that their examination about the role of HDL and SR-BI in the regulation of cellular signalling pathwa ys in breast cancer cell lines and development of tumors show that, HDL can stimulate the signal transduction pathways in the human breast cancer cell lines. Then, accelerate the formation of tumors and hence knocking down of HDL receptor, SR-BI limits the

The Good, the Bad and the Legal Issues of Training Security Personnel Research Paper

The Good, the Bad and the Legal Issues of Training Security Personnel - Research Paper Example The security market is among the swiftest developing sectors in North America, as private policing looks forward to more and more public part. In accordance to Figures Canada survey, there are many more Security personnel employed in Canada these days as compared to police officers (Kent & Jacobs, 2004). Personal Security workers outnumbered police officers in both 1991 and 1996. In 1996, there have been 59,090 police officers when compared with 82,010 personal security staff: 12,230 personal investigators and 69,780 security guards (Jones & Newburn, 1995). Lawbreaker exercise is not reducing in rate of recurrence. Police organizations are anticipated to carry out a lot more with fewer sources. The broadening disparity between police service and need needs to be crammed with something, and dependent on the encounters of the last couple of years in America, most likely it will likely be made up by personal policing. Though it may be unsure that a security guard will ever be called on to replicate the substantial responsibilities of law enforcement executive, one might visualize private security dealing with amplified duties under the supervision and tutelage of the law enforcement officials. As an example, Regina Police Service has identified the benefit of an immediate interaction with the personal security field, and taken on considerable actions to synchronize with that industry via its Collaborating Policing program (Johnston & Shearing, 2002). Private security: Personal security differs from public security in a number of important ways. Private security is supplied to customers for a charge, and besides in particular situations, has its jurisdiction confined to the property possessed by the consumer. Instead of support supplied in the pursuits of the public, safety is supplied to guard the interests of the client. Customarily, regulation in Canada has acknowledged these contrasts and has not expanded the

Good Cholesterol and Breast Cancer risk Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Good Cholesterol and Breast Cancer risk - Essay Example This phenomenon reduces the risk of heart diseases but at the same time HDL also stimulates migration and activates signal transduction pathways in the human breast cancer cell lines, thus acting like a catalyst in the development of breast cancer. Thus knocking down the HDL receptor, SR-BI by some pharmacological methodologies play an essential role in regulating cellular proliferation and migration, thus controlling the growth of tumor cells, and hence SR-BI can be essentially used in the treatment of breast cancer in humans. The Popular article, Good cholesterol and breast cancer risk explains about the above detailed primary research article in a crisp manner. Though HDL that is, good cholesterol is good for health and acts like a protective shield against heart disorders, it has a negative impact on breast cancer development in humans. Higher the level of HDL in blood, higher is the risk of developing breast cancer. Thus limiting the HDL receptor, SR-BI the rapid proliferation o f tumor cells were found to be greatly reduced. The popular article also interacts with Dr. Philippe Frank, head of the research team and a cancer biologist in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Thomas Jefferson University who stresses on the importance of inventing more specific drugs to inhibit SR- BI and the safer level of HDL to be mentioned in cancer patients. How it relates to the theme – ‘Gender, Science and Technology’ Both the articles are interlinked and have a strong correlation with the theme of ‘Gender, Science and Technology’. The main focus of both the articles is about the treatment for breast cancer. Though the exact cause for breast cancer is still a topic under research, analysing the risk factors can show who is most likely to develop the disease. Lifestyle choices, genetic disorders and medications taken for some kind of diseases may be some of the risk factors for developing the disease but some risk factors are more vulnerable, particularly one’s ‘Gender’. Breast cancer is most common in women because they have more breast tissue than men. Breast cancer causes include what stimulates the breast tissue to grow and develop. Female relatives can also be a risk factor for getting breast cancer. If one’s mother, sister or daughter have breast cancer, the chances of getting the disease is doubled. Though cancer of several types is the leading cause of death in the world, medical science and technology has empowered people to make life changing decisions by matching them with modern and advanced treatment options based on individual conditions of the patients. Modern science and technology has revolutionized the breast cancer research therapies and now chances of overcoming breast cancer are much better than in earlier days. Main Scientific Claim The authors claim that their examination about the role of HDL and SR-BI in the regulation of cellular signalling pathwa ys in breast cancer cell lines and development of tumors show that, HDL can stimulate the signal transduction pathways in the human breast cancer cell lines. Then, accelerate the formation of tumors and hence knocking down of HDL receptor, SR-BI limits the

V for Vendetta Essay Example for Free

V for Vendetta Essay V for Vendetta sets the Gunpowder Plot as Vs historical inspiration, contributing to his choice of timing, language and appearance For example, the names Rookwood, Percy and Keyes are used in the film, which are also the names of three of the Gunpowder conspirators. The film creates parallels to Alexandre Dumas The Count of Monte Cristo, by drawing direct comparisons between V and Edmond Dantes. (In both stories, the hero escapes an unjust and traumatic imprisonment and spends decades preparing to take vengeance on his oppressors under a new persona. The film is also explicit in portraying V as the embodiment of an idea rather than an individual through Vs dialogue and by depicting him without a past, identity or face. According to the official website, Vs use of the Guy Fawkes mask and persona functions as both practical and symbolic elements of the story. He wears the mask to hide his physical scars, and in obscuring his identity – he becomes the idea itself. As noted by several critics and commentators, the films story and style mirrors elements from Gaston Lerouxs The Phantom of the Opera. V and the Phantom both wear masks to hide their disfigurements, control others through the leverage of their imaginations, have tragic pasts, and are motivated by revenge. V and Eveys relationship also parallels many of the romantic elements of The Phantom of the Opera, where the masked Phantom takes Christine Daae to his subterranean lair to re-educate her. As a film about the struggle between freedom and the state, V for Vendetta takes imagery from many classic totalitarian icons both real and fictional, including the Third Reich and George Orwells Nineteen Eighty-Four. For example, Adam Sutler primarily appears on large video screens and on portraits in peoples homes, both common features among modern totalitarian regimes and reminiscent of the image of Big Brother. In another reference to Orwells novel, the slogan Strength through Unity. Unity through Faith is displayed prominently across London, similar in cadence to War is Peace. Freedom is Slavery. Ignorance is Strength in Orwells book. This connection between the two can also be seen when Evey is being tortured and finds the rat in her room, akin to that being the protagonists worst fear in Nineteen Eighty-Four. There is also the states use of mass surveillance, such as closed-circuit television, on its citizens. Valerie was sent to a detention facility for being a lesbian and then had medical experiments performed on her, reminiscent of persecution of gays and Jews in Nazi Germany (see Persecution of homosexuals in Nazi Germany and the Holocaust). The name of Adam Sutler is inspired by the name of Adolf Hitler. Sutlers hysterical speech is also inspired from Hitlers style of speech although his targets for persecution now include Muslims rather than Jews. Norsefire has replaced St Georges Cross with a national symbol similar to the modern Cross of Lorraine (both crossbars near the top). This was a symbol used by Free French Forces during World War II, as it was a traditional symbol of French patriotism that could be used as an answer to the Nazis swastika. The letter V and the number 5 Voila! In view, a humble vaudevillian veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vicissitudes of fate. This visage – no mere veneer of vanity – is a vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished. However, this valourous visitation of a bygone vexation stands vivified, and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin vanguarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition! The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one-day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous. Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose, so let me simply add that its my very good honour to meet you and you may call me V. — Vs introductory monologue upon meeting Evey Similarly to the graphic novel, there is repeated reference to the letter V and the number five throughout the film (note V is the Roman numeral five). For example, Vs introduction to Evey is a monologue containing 48 words beginning with the letter V, and containing a total of 52 letter Vs. When Evey tells V her name he repeats it slowly as E V. In Eveys name, the letter E is the fifth letter of the alphabet, V is the fifth letter from the end of the alphabet and is the Roman numeral for five, and the letter Y is the 25th letter of the alphabet; 25 being 5 squared. In Latin, Eveys phonetic name means exit V; the character V acknowledges this, knowing that this event has begun the chain-reaction of events which will end in his demise. During his imprisonment at Larkhill, V was held in cell V, as is Evey during her fake imprisonment. Vs Zorro-like signature is also the letter V. In the explosion involving the Old Bailey, the fireworks form a red V configuration, completed by a circular firework, thus resembling not only V but the V for Vendetta logo. It is revealed that Vs favourite phrase is By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe, which according to the film translates into the 5 Ved Latin phrase: Vi Veri Vniversum Vivus Vici. (Vniversum is actually written with a U, but in old Latin, the letter U was written as a V. ) In a dance with Evey, the song V chooses is number five on his jukebox. In fact, all the songs are song number five. When V confronts Creedy in his greenhouse, he plays Beethovens Fifth Symphony, whose opening notes have a rhythmic pattern that resembles the letter V in Morse code (†¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¢Ã¢â‚¬â€œ). The films title itself is a reference to V for Victory. As V waits for night to fall, he arranges a complex domino pattern in black and red which forms the V logo. In the short sequence overlooking the train carriages, the railway tracks form the letter V. In a flyover shot of London towards the end of the film, Big Ben is shown, with its hour hand pointing at 11 and the minute hand at 1, forming a V shape. When the time is read, it shows 11:05, another reference 11–5, or November 5. In the battle with Creedy and his men at Victoria station, he uses five of his six daggers and forms a V with his daggers just before he throws them. As V throws two of his daggers at the men on either side of Creedy, the daggers form a V shape five times while spinning through the air. After V kills Creedys men, Creedy fires five shots at V. After the battle, when V is mortally wounded, he leaves a V signature in his own blood. The destruction of Parliament results in a display of fireworks which form the letter V, which is also an inverted Circle-A, a symbol commonly used by anarchists. Modern fears of totalitarianism We felt the novel was very prescient to how the political climate is at the moment. It really showed what can happen when society is ruled by government, rather than the government being run as a voice of the people. I dont think its such a big leap to say that things like that can happen when leaders stop listening to the people. —James McTeigue, Director With the intention of modernising the film, the filmmakers added topical references relevant to a modern 2006 audience. According to the Los Angeles Times, With a wealth of new, real-life parallels to draw from in the areas of government surveillance, torture, fear mongering and media manipulation, not to mention corporate corruption and religious hypocrisy, you cant really blame the filmmakers for having a field day referencing current events. There are also references to an avian flu pandemic, as well as pervasive use of biometric identification and signal-intelligence gathering and analysis by the regime. Many film critics, political commentators and other members of the media have also noted the films numerous references to events surrounding the then-current George W. Bush administration in the United States. These include the black bags worn by the prisoners in Larkhill that have been seen as a reference to the black bags worn by prisoners at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq and in U. S. -administered Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, though the pre-The Matrix draft of the screenplay also contains this reference to black bags. Also London is under a yellow-coded curfew alert, similar to the U. S. overnments color-coded Homeland Security Advisory System. One of the forbidden items in Gordons secret basement is a protest poster with a mixed U. S. –U. K. flag with a swastika and the title Coalition of the Willing, To Power which combines the Coalition of the Willing with Friedrich Nietzsches concept of Will to Power. As well, there is use of the term rendition in the film, in reference to the way the regime removes undesirables from society. There is even a brief scene (during the Valerie flashback) that contains real-life footage of an anti-Iraq War demonstration, with mention of U. S. President George W. Bush. Finally, the film contains references to Americas war and the war America started as well as real footage from the Iraq War. The film also makes a brief reference to wars in Kurdistan, Syria and Sudan. Despite the America-specific references, the filmmakers have always referred to the film as adding dialogue to a set of issues much broader than the U. S. administration. When James McTeigue was asked whether or not BTN was based on Fox News Channel, McTeigue replied, Yes. But not just Fox. Everyone is complicit in this kind of stuff. It could just as well been the Britains Sky News Channel, also a part of News Corp.