Monday, September 30, 2019

Maid Abuse in Malaysia

Maid abuse is no longer a new issue in Malaysia. What is maid abuse? It is known as an assault and coercive behaviour, which mainly includes physical, psychological and at times sexual too, by employer or household members of employer against a person hired as a domestic help. Malaysia is one of wealthiest countries in South East Asia and therefore acts as magnet for migrants fleeing here to work. In Malaysia, majority of the domestic workers are full time workers and most of them come from neighbouring poor countries. There are various factors that lead to maid abuse in Malaysia. The unfortunate thing is that maid abuse does not only cause both mental and physical injuries to the maids, but it also jeopardize our international friendship with countries involved. Hence, there is an urgent need to solve this social issue. One of the major causes of maid abuse over here in Malaysia is the lack of comprehensive national policies for maid protection by our Malaysian Government. As pointed out by D’Cruz (2009), foreign domestic workers here are vulnerable as they lack of legal protection, which subjects them to any kind of working condition an employer sees fit. There is also no specific law in Malaysia on violence against domestic workers (wao. com. my). As stated by Lourdes (2008), maids are stuck in a Catch -22 situation because the second they seek for help from the authorities, their employers or agents will lodge reports against them. The Employment Act provides them the right to redress but the Immigration Acts removes it by making them illegals living here. According to Dass (2008) in Lourdes (2008), the employers will be informed by the agents that maids who misbehave would be given counselling but this counselling turns up to be filled with punishing and abusing. Maids are being told that if they repeat their mistakes, they will be sold into prostitution. Other than that, they are slapped and beaten in beaten in front of others so that the rest will feel threatened. In addition, the maids’ very own attitude too, contributed to the many cases of maid abuse. They are not serious in their work and as an example, according to Ho, his maid washed one bucket of the family’s clothes and hid the other behind the house under a shed below the mango tree. There are maids who also tend to take advantage of their employers by stealing things and using stuff without permission. Based on Ho’s statement, many of his family’s belonging including his underwear have been stolen by his maid before. This is just a real life example of what may lead to why employers lash out all their temper by abusing the maids. The abusive mindsets and attitudes towards maids too, contribute to maid abuse. Many Malaysians have negative perceptions of migrant domestic workers which contributes to the frequency and severity of abuse. They are often viewed as culturally inferior, sometimes â€Å"less than human†, and not considered as deserving of the same respect and consideration given to other human beings (wao. com. my). Adiwara stated that Malaysians have the tendency to look down on Indonesians because of the economic gap between the two neighbouring countries. Employers misjudge the performance of the maids and scold them unnecessarily and this may be due to some shortcomings in the employers themselves. There are certain employers who are concerned that there might be a rift between the child and parent when the children are culturally influenced by the maids (wao. com. my). Another party that should be put to blame for is the involvement of non-professional maid recruitment services, or more generally known as the maid agencies. According to Wong (2008) in Azizan (2009), a lot of money will be charged by the maid agencies and in order to meet the market demand, a few of the agencies will hunt for girls from the village, get them cleaned up and will send them right away to their respective clients without any training. This issue of untrained maids is supported by the Malaysian Association of Foreign Mai Agencies (PAPA) president Alwi Bavutty as he admits that PAPA is hold responsible for the maids. Throughout so many years, there are quite a number of negative effects that are being identified which are caused from maid abuse and many people are reatly affected by all these consequences. One of the major negative effects and is usually published in local newspapers are that the victims suffer both mentally and physically from maid abuse. As stated by D’Cruz (2009), the types of physical abuse are they are beaten, raped or tortured with hot boiling water. To make matters worse, there are several maid abuse cases where babies are born from the result of rape. Besides that, nearly all maid abuse victims have been treated like slaves. According to D’Cruz (2009), they are given only plain rice, several occasions with non-halal food even for those who are Muslims. Lourdes (2008) too, states that permanent working hour, termination benefits, sick leave, rest days, public holidays, overtime and every other benefit that a normal employee is entitled to are not provided to them. To further add on, as mentioned by D’Cruz (2009), the victims are not paid wages for months or even years of tiring work. All of the above clearly violates basic human rights and the employers need to be taken into action legally. Negative effect is also present during the legal process to claim their rights as it is mentally damaging for the victims as stated by D’Cruz (2009). It is hard for them to avoid depression as they are forced to put their lives on hold while reliving the trauma of the abusive days. Referring to Earth Times (2009), the economy and lifestyle of the community will be disturbed due to maid abuse. For example, Malaysia maid agencies are predicted to suffer massive losses due to Indonesian’s indefinite ban on sending maids over. This will somehow affect the productivity of Malaysia’s economy since because a large amount of domestic help comes from Indonesia. Apart from that, lifestyle of the community will be disturbed as tens of thousands of household would face difficulties due to the delay in the arrival of their maids and this would lead to a larger obstacle in the long run as families will have a hard time coping with work and family without any extra hands. Subsequently, relationship between countries involved will be jeopardized. As emphasized by The Star (2009), In Malaysia, when maid abuse became a hot topic among both Indonesians and Malaysians, it resulted in causing Indonesia taking a serious action of threatening to temporarily stop sending heir people to work in Malaysia. This has caused the political relationship between Indonesia and Malaysia to become awkward and it took a lot of effort to restore the friendship between the two countries. The maid abuse cases which were made known internationally have indirectly portray Malaysia as a cruel country. Every problem has its’ own solution and this goes to maid abuse too. This problem can be curbed through the roles of government and community. Both have to perform their roles in order to overcome this issue. The government can tackle issues related to the interest and welfare of maids. For instance, the government may to resort into measures like conducting random checks on homes. Through this, the early signs of mistreatment can be detected which will prevent this issue from getting worse. Referring to Boo (2010), there are no simple solutions in solving the issue of maid abuse. The solutions in the end lead to the importance of education and enforcement. An agency responsible in managing the welfare of maids should be set up as a channel for the maids to know who to contact and how to report against their bosses who abuse their rights. However, education on their rights needs to be supplied to the maids first. Cooperation between Malaysian government and related countries such as Indonesia government is important in curbing this problem. As stated by Malaysian Digest (2010), there are several cases involving the abuse of Indonesian maids had been solved through the close cooperation between Malaysian and Indonesian officer It shows that this issue can be solves peacefully as long as both countries are willing to cooperate. Based on Malaysian Digest, (2010), our government and Indonesian government has taken a smart action by signed a Letter of Intent on the sending of Indonesian maids to Malaysia. This letter requires Malaysian employers to give one day off in a week to their Indonesian workers and their passports be kept by the workers themselves unless agreed upon by both sides that the passport be kept by the employers which occurs in certain cases. This had prevented misunderstanding between the maids and the employers regarding the maids’ day off and passport matters. As suggested by Hariani Azizan (2009), another solution to this problem is through the roles of community. There are quite a number of ways on how the community can help the government to overcome this issue. For example, authorities can organize a weekly meeting among its community and invite the officers who are experts in the field of the maid’s rights to speak to the maids as well as provide check-ups and counselling for the maids without invading people’s privacy. Another alternative solution is to actually build shelter homes for the maid abuse victims. According to Malaysian Digest (2010), â€Å"Rumah Kita†, a shelter home that was launched to provide temporary accommodation and food for Indonesian female migrant workers who are faced with difficulties such as being cheated by employment agencies or abused by their employers. It is more effective when everyone in their respective neighbourhood take on the role of looking out for any abuse in their community and report them to the authorities. To conclude, there is an urgent need for maid abuse to be curbed as it brings negative impacts to many parties, especially to Malaysia as a whole. Therefore, everyone including the maid themselves must come together as a unit and cooperate to demolish this issue.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Succubus Shadows Chapter 5

I stared at him, and the world stood still for a moment. â€Å"Wait†¦Seth was meeting Simone there?† Roman shook his head. â€Å"I wouldn't say that exactly. It was more like she sought him out. He looked like he'd been working there for a while when she showed up.† â€Å"And then?† My voice was very small. â€Å"Then, she walked over to him and shyly introduced herself as a fan, saying she recognized him from his website. Picture perfect demure coquette.† â€Å"And then?† â€Å"She said she wished she had a book with her to sign and asked if he'd sign a piece of paper instead. He said he would, and then she sat down, all apologetic for bothering him. She said she had a couple questions and hoped he wouldn't mind if she stayed for a few moments.† I noticed then that I was clenching my fists. With a deep breath, I released them. â€Å"Seth wouldn't strike up a conversation with a stranger like that. Not without being horribly uncomfortable.† â€Å"Yeah,† Roman agreed. â€Å"He definitely had some of that social awkwardness.† There was a wry note in Roman's voice that I didn't like. The two men had once been rivals for my affection, and apparently, Roman was still holding on to some bitterness – and a feeling of superiority. Roman could be quite charismatic when he wanted. â€Å"But she did a pretty good job at playing just as shy and nervous. I think it made him feel better.† â€Å"So she did sit down?† â€Å"Yup†¦and stayed for about a half-hour.† â€Å"What?† I exclaimed. My volume made Godiva jerk her head up from a nap. â€Å"Did she try to seduce him?† Roman's expression turned considering. â€Å"Not in the usual way. I mean, she wasn't as boring as usual. But she put him at ease enough that he relaxed and seemed to like talking to her. She wasn't overtly sexual, and he didn't look like he wanted to jump her. It was just†¦I don't know. A nice conversation. Although, it had a few of those annoying facts she likes to drop.† He paused. â€Å"Oh, and she went brunette.† That bothered me more than it probably should have. â€Å"But he sent her away, right?† â€Å"No, Maddie showed up, and he left with her – after telling Simone it was nice to meet her.† Oh, irony. Never, never would I have imagined I'd be so relieved to have Maddie show up and take Seth home. I also never thought I'd be glad his devotion to her would keep him from falling prey to another woman's charms. I took a step toward Roman, my fists clenching again. I didn't blame him as messenger; I was simply driven by my own fury. â€Å"What the hell?† I demanded. â€Å"What fucking game is she playing?† He sighed. â€Å"I don't know. Maybe no game at all. She likes coffee. I've certainly seen her buy it before. She could have ended up there by coincidence and thought he looked like a good catch. God only knows why.† I ignored the barb. â€Å"Oh, come on, Roman. You're not that stupid. Do you honestly think that in a city like Seattle, out of all the men here, it's a coincidence that she shows up and starts hitting on my ex? You know as well as I do that there aren't many coincidences in our world.† â€Å"True,† he admitted, setting the remnants of his dinner on the coffee table. The cats went for it. â€Å"Will you stop doing that?† I demanded. â€Å"They're not supposed to be eating that kind of stuff.† â€Å"Don't take your bitchy attitude out on me.† But he stood up and took the plate to the kitchen. When he returned, he crossed his arms over his chest and stood in front of me. â€Å"Look, you're right to a certain extent about coincidences. It is weird that she would hit on Seth. But think about this too: don't you think there are a few things around here a little more important than your ex-boyfriend? Jerome's theory makes the most sense, you know. Hell let him keep his job, but that doesn't mean they're letting the whole incident go. They're the ultimate grudge-holders. They'd want to assess the situation. That's why she's here.† â€Å"Except that she's not assessing anything! Unless you consider my friends' Pictionary skills.† â€Å"You should have seen them play Jenga.† â€Å"This isn't a joke. I need to figure out what her game is. You have to take me with you when you spy on her again.† He raised an eyebrow. â€Å"I think that's a terrible idea.† â€Å"I can go invisible.† â€Å"She'll still sense you.† â€Å"You can hide my signature. You told me before that you could. Was that a lie?† Roman grimaced. Just before things had literally blown up between us, he'd asked me to run away with him, promising he could conceal me from the greater immortals. â€Å"I can,† he admitted. â€Å"But I just think you're asking for trouble.† â€Å"What am I risking?† â€Å"A lot. Whether it's Seth or Jerome, there's obviously something going on. Get tangled up in that, and you could be risking your life. I won't let that happen to you.† â€Å"Since when do you care what happens to me?† I asked incredulously. â€Å"Since you became my ticket to rent-free living.† And with that, he turned invisible, hiding his signature as well. â€Å"Coward!† I cried. My only answer was the front door opening and then shutting. He was lost to me, and I realized I'd again missed my chance to bring up my weird encounters from these last couple days. I tossed and turned again that night, but it had nothing to do with my fear of walking off the balcony or into Puget Sound. I was filled with rage, both at Simone for making the moves on Seth and at Roman for abandoning me. When I woke up in the morning, I took comfort in knowing I didn't need Roman to confront Simone. I could do that on my own. Of course, there were a few complications there, the first being I didn't know where Simone was. Her hotel was probably the logical place to start, though most succubi – even a bland one like her – wouldn't spend a lot of time hanging out there. Well, unless she had company – and I didn't really want to walk into anything like that. And anyway, I had one tiny commitment to attend to before I could go bitch-hunting. Maddie. I'd regretted my decision to go shopping with her the moment the words had left my mouth. Yet, somehow, I'd totally blocked out those feelings yesterday when I'd been sitting with Seth. A brief thought about the wedding had flitted through my mind†¦and then it had been gone. I'd spent the rest of the time laughing and talking with him as though there was no Maddie in the world. But as I headed over to the bookstore, where she and I had agreed to meet, I had to accept reality once more. Seth was no longer mine. He also wasn't Simone's. But I'd deal with that later. Maddie was waiting for me downstairs, but I used the excuse of needing coffee before we left, in order to dash up to the caf? ¦. I wanted to see if Simone was lurking. No matter her shape, I'd know if she was there. Yet, as I casually waited in line for my white chocolate mocha, I sensed nothing immortal. Seth was there, engrossed in his work, and never even saw me. Apparently, his muse was still going strong. I let him be and joined Maddie downstairs again. She had a list of eight store names and addresses. Most were dress shops, and I was skeptical that we could make them all before we were due into work. She was more optimistic, but then, that was typical of her. â€Å"No point in worrying right now,† she said. â€Å"We'll just do them one at a time and see where that gets us. Besides, the last few are bakeries, and we wouldn't want to eat a bunch of cake before trying on dresses.† â€Å"Speak for yourself,† I said, sliding into her passenger seat. â€Å"I'm not trying anything on.† She gave me a wry smile. â€Å"Aren't you? You're my bridesmaid, remember? We talked about it at the party.† â€Å"No,† I said swiftly. â€Å"I said and did all sorts of crazy stuff that night, but I never agreed to it. That I do remember.† Maddie's expression was still light, but I thought I heard a little hurt in her voice when she spoke next. â€Å"What's the big deal? Why don't you want to be one? You know I'd never dress you in anything horrible.† Why? I pondered the answer as she pulled into traffic. Because I'm in love with your future husband. I could hardly tell her that, of course. As it was, I could see my continuing silence was making her feel worse. She was reading it as a slight to our friendship. â€Å"I just†¦I just don't like all the, uh, fanfare that goes with weddings. There's so much planning and stressing about little details. I'd rather just sit back in the audience and watch you go down the aisle.† Well, actually, that was one of the last things I wanted to do. â€Å"Really?† Maddie frowned, but thankfully, it was more out of surprise than disappointment. â€Å"You're always so good at planning and little details. I thought you were into that.† That was a fair point. It was why I made such a good manager. â€Å"Yeah, kind of†¦but I mean, at the receptions, drunk guys always hit on the bridesmaids, you know? They think we're desperate because we're the ones not getting married.† Also not entirely far from the truth in my case. Maddie's smile returned. â€Å"Those are some pretty lame excuses.† They were indeed, but she said nothing more as we drove. After Maddie's initial failure with picking flattering wedding dresses, she now threw her faith completely into me to lead her to fashion success. It wasn't the first time this had happened, and I found myself slipping into style-advisor role pretty easily. In fact, if I was able to preoccupy myself with the objective parts of this process – flattering fit, color, etc. – it was easy to block out the big picture of her and Seth. The saleswomen working at the stores soon learned who was in charge here and backed off with their recommendations, simply fetching the dresses I indictated. I studied each one Maddie tried on, keeping my standards high. With so many stores to choose from, we could afford to be picky. â€Å"That one's good,† I said at our third store. It was corseted, narrowing her waist, and had a skirt that didn't flare. Those puffy ones always made the hips look bigger, though no one ever seemed to realize that. You had to be tall and thin to get away with that, not short and buxom like Maddie. She admired herself in the mirror, a look of pleasant surprise on her face. She was still drawn to ones that I didn't think were good choices, and this was the first of my picks that she really liked. The eager saleswoman jotted down the style number, and then Maddie started to turn around and try on the rest waiting in her dressing room. As she did, a dress on a mannequin caught her eye. â€Å"Oh, Georgina, I know what you said, but you have to try that on,† Maddie begged. I followed her gaze. The dress was slinky and sexy, floor-length violet charmeuse with straps that tied around the neck. You were wearing that color the first time we met. I averted my eyes. â€Å"Not ugly enough to be a bridesmaid dress.† â€Å"It'd look great on you. Everything looks great on you,† she added with a shake of her head. â€Å"Besides, you could wear that to other things. Parties and stuff.† It was true. It didn't scream bridesmaid. Not taffeta or bright orange. Before I could protest further, the saleswoman had already fetched one from the rack, guessing my size with that uncanny ability her kind had. So, reluctantly, I tried the dress on while Maddie went to her next option. The size wasn't perfect, but a little shape-shifting neatened it up where it needed to be. Maddie was right. It did look good on me, and when I stepped out, she took it as a done deal that I'd buy it – no, she offered to buy it – and would be in her wedding. The saleswoman, seeing an opportunity, and possibly getting back at me for my tyrannical attitude, had â€Å"helpfully† fetched two more dresses for me to try while I waited for Maddie. Maddie claimed she couldn't stand the thought of me waiting around with nothing to do, so I reluctantly took them into the dressing room. They too looked good, but not as good as the violet. I was returning them to the saleswoman when my eye caught something. It was a bridal dress. It was made of ivory duchess satin, the fabric wrapping around the waist and halter top. The skirt was draped, pulled into little tiers. I stared. It would have been a disaster on Maddie, but on me†¦ â€Å"Want to try it?† asked the saleswoman slyly. Something told me that bridesmaids covertly trying on brides' dresses wasn't a rare phenomenon around here. The desperate and mournful not-getting-married attitude in action. Before I knew it, I was back in the dressing room, wearing the ivory dress. You were wearing that color the first time we met. Seth had been wrong about that and corrected himself, but for some reason, the words came to me yet again. And the dress looked great. Really great. I wasn't overly tall but was slim enough that it didn't matter – and I filled out the top beautifully. I stared at myself in a way I hadn't with the other dresses, trying to imagine myself as a bride. There was something about brides and weddings that instinctively spoke to so many women, and I shared the impulse as well, jaded succubus or no. The grim statistics didn't matter: the divorce rates, the infidelity I'd witnessed so often†¦ Yes, there was something magical about brides, an image fixed into the collective subconscious. I could see myself with flowers in my hands and a veil on my head. There'd be well-wishers and joy, the giddy faith and hope of a beautiful life together. I'd been a bride once, so long ago. I'd had those dreams, and they'd blown away. I sighed and took the dress off, afraid I might start crying. There would be no wedding for me. No bridal hopes. Not with Seth, not with anyone. Those things were lost to me forever. There was only an eternity alone, no lifelong lovers, only those I shared a night with†¦. Unsurprisingly, I was kind of depressed for the rest of the day. Maddie bought the violet dress for me, and I was too glum to protest – which she read as acceptance of my bridesmaid fate. We made it through the rest of our dress stops but didn't get to the bakeries. By the end of it all, we had four candidates for her dress, which I regarded as good progress. My mood didn't abate at work. I holed up in my office as much as I could, seeking solitude and my own dark thoughts. When I finally made it home after that eternity-long day, I found the condo empty and was astonished at how much that hurt me. I wished with all my heart that Roman was around, and it wasn't even to talk about Simone or other immortal mysteries. I just wanted his company. I just wanted to talk to him and not be alone. He was an infuriating part of my life, but he was also turning into a fixed infuriating part of my life. With a gloomy eternity ahead, that meant something. I knew better than to wait up for him†¦but found myself doing it anyway. I lounged on the couch with Grey Goose and the cats, taking some small sweetness from those warm, furry creatures that loved me. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind was on, which didn't cheer me up any. Like the masochist I was, I watched it anyway. At least, I thought I was. Because suddenly, the loud shriek of a car horn blasted into my ears. I blinked and jerked my head around. I wasn't on the couch. There were no cats, no vodka. I sat on the railing of my balcony, precariously positioned. The horn had come from below, on the street. One car had nearly swiped another, and the near-victim had honked in his outrage. I didn't exactly remember the trip out here. I did, however, remember the force that had drawn me – largely because it was still there. The light and the music – that feeling of comfort and rightness that was so hard to articulate hovered before me, off in the air. It was like a tunnel. No, it was like an embrace, arms waiting to welcome me home. Come here, come here. Everything will be all right. You are safe. You are loved. In spite of myself, one of my legs shifted on the railing. How easy would it be to step over, to walk into that sweet comfort? Would I fall? Would I simply hit the hard sidewalk below? It wouldn't kill me if I did. But maybe I wouldn't fall. Maybe I'd step into that light, into the bliss that could block out the pain that always seemed to surround me lately†¦. â€Å"Are you out of your fucking mind?† The driver that had nearly been hit had gotten out of his car and was yelling at the other. That driver got out and returned the insults, and a loud tirade began. One of my neighbors on the floor below opened his patio and shouted for them all to shut up. The argument, that jarring noise, brought me back to myself. Once more, the siren song faded away, and for the first time, I almost felt†¦regret. Carefully, I climbed off the rail and back to the solidity of the balcony. A fall might not kill me, but good God, it would hurt. I walked back into the condo, finding everything exactly as I'd left it. Even the cats hadn't moved, though they looked up at my arrival. I sat between them, absentmindedly petting Aubrey. I was scared again, scared and eerily attracted to what had just happened – and that scared me more. Despite the vodka tonight, my last encounter had proven alcohol wasn't to blame. No connection. Yet†¦it occurred to me there had been a common link all three times. My mood. Each time, I'd been down†¦sad about my lot in life, seeking reassurance that wasn't to be found. And that's when this phenomenon would happen, offering a solution and the comfort I thought was beyond me. That was bad news for me. Because if this thing was drawn to woe and unhappiness, I had plenty of it to go around.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Human Rights Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Human Rights - Research Paper Example orts and medical personals who attended to these patients, the symptoms were largely internal including breathlessness, foaming from the nose and mouth, dizziness, running nose, irritation and constriction of the eye pupils, blurredness, nausea, vomiting, general body weakness and loss of consciousness. These symptoms were consistent with exposure to neurotoxic substances The US assessment confirmed the death of more than 1400 people including many children (The White house, 2013; Syria chemical attack, 2013). Experts believe that this attack by the Syrian government aimed to eradicated opposition forces in the Damascus regions. In its previous attacks using most of its conventional weaponry the regime has been unable to clear the region of the opposition elements and hence has resorted to chemical warfare. The Syrian government has loads of chemicals in stock including sarin, mustard, VX, and munitions to deliver these agents to the target locations. The Syrian military is believed to possess thousands of tons of chemicals and its precursors including huge quantities of sarin along with the required knowledge and expertise on the use of chemical warfare (The White house, 2013; Syria chemical attack, 2013). The final call for carrying out a chemical attack rests with the Syrian President, Bashar al-Azad, who had initiated a similar chemical attack, but on a smaller scale last year in the Damascus region. Further reports have also confirmed that personal from the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Center (SSRC) were involved in the preparation of the chemical weapons before the attack. The chemicals used for the attack were mixed in a nearby region and the regimen employed surface to surface rockets and artilleries to carry out the attack. Within three hours following the attacks, many hospitals in the Damascus region received thousands of people displaying symptoms of neurotoxin exposure. The role of the regimen in the attack was further confirmed through

Friday, September 27, 2019

Valuation of Corporate Social Responsibility Report Article

Valuation of Corporate Social Responsibility Report - Article Example One of the first findings of the investigation in regards to how Lithuanian companies report social responsibility was that there is a great variation in the content, volume, and indicators disclose by different companies. This can be a problematic issue because investors are not able to compare the information from different companies in a consistent matter. One of the greatest attributes of the financial statements used in the United States by public firms is that they are all prepared in the same manner. Another issue with the practices of Lithuanian companies in regards to social responsibility reports is that very few companies share the information with their shareholders. The culture in this country does not value the importance of social and environmental factors. Most scientists analyze the content of CSR reports separate from reports that illustrate financial information. I believe that this practice might be flawed because the use of a sound corporate social responsibility strategy can greatly impact the behavior of the customers of the company. For instance, Starbucks Cafe is selected by many coffee drinkers over the competition due to its support of green practices such as its use of Fair Trade Coffee. The four main issues included in the CSR report are human rights and human resources, product design and development, environmental protection, and community. The lack of generally accepted principles makes CSR not easily measurable. The firm’s reputation is closely connected to its social responsibility practices. Companies that undermine CSR aspects such as the community can have devastating public relation problems. Back in the late 1990’s Nike Corporation’s reputation hit an all-time low after the revelation of the sweetshops scandal. Many companies use CSR disclosure as an instrument for advertising purposes. On many occasions, CSR information is fragmented in the annual reports, websites, and other company reports. There is a lack of investigations related to valuation methodologies of social information. The GRI framework is an effective methodology used by many Spanish companies to report social information. The GRI is a long-term multi-stakeholder, international process whose mission is to develop and disseminate globally applicable sustainability reporting guidelines. Non-financial reporting provides information regarding ethical, environmental and social aspects. The essential aim of social reporting is to create a social transparency system for responsible decision making. Other names used for CSR disclosure documents are social progress reports, social responsibility reports, social reports, and sustainability reports. CSR philosophies should be integrated into all company activities in order to increase the efficiency of the firm. Some elements that help companies achieve better CSR results are good stakeholder management and leadership, prioritizing CSR needs, coordination with governmental a gencies, and regulations. Empirical studies showed that in Italy firm stock prices are not affected by the release of CSR reports even if firms pay close attention to social responsibility practices because the Italian financial market is not efficient and transparent. In the United States, CSR reports have the greater impact in investor decisions and ultimately in the prices of common stocks.

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Research J 5.3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Research J 5.3 - Essay Example The researcher must support with an explanation each item on the questionnaire what it is expected to measure. Face validity can take items by face value and exactly assess the face value. Some items can have lower face validity than what it appears to have. It involves the assessment of normal people in the field. Content validity involves the assessment of experts in the field, but it is non-empirical and judgmental (Adler & Clark, 2014). Reliability is measured by test-retest which is obtained by running the same test twice on the same test subject in a given period. The results from both tests are evaluated for test of stability over that period. Example, a test done for a particular crime can be retested in the occurrence of another similar crime. The correlation will give a stability score. Construct validity is assessment based on variables that are related. Construct validity carries weight when proof or of evidence is provided. Interrater reliability is used where results for one observer are strategically used in comparison with another using the same method. Interrater reliability is used when two or more measures are not reliable. They can compare correlatively those results using interrater (Maxifield & Babbie, 2012). A scale is defined as a measure of responding to a question, compilation of statements or questions used to respond to a concept studied. There are three types of attitudinal scaling used in criminal justice. Thurstone scale uses paired comparisons and equal appearing intervals methods to scale. Judges are given several pairs of questions and choose which would most fit the concept of study. The one picked most becomes part of the questionnaire. The judges are required to give a number scale on the strength of each question. The researcher then takes the questions that showed the strongest agreement from the judges. The weak questions are eliminated when

Marketing strategies Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Marketing strategies - Case Study Example Equal also used pricing strategies to market its products. It has been reported that Equal priced its product 3 times more than its competitors in order to recover the higher branding cost it incurred as well as to attract customers through unique pricing strategies (Buss, p.193). On the contrary, Sweet’n Low’s utilize advertisement strategies brand positioning marketing strategies. It can be observed that Sweet’n Low’s had created a unique brand image before and after the introduction of Equal. In addition, Sweet’n Low’s utilized promotion-marketing strategies. It has been reported that Sweet’n Low’s had spend 5 million on adverting. However, Sweet’n Low’s relied heavily on brand positioning strategies to market its products. 2. The product-line branding strategies of Cumberland and Nutra Sweet in 1990’s may be described in various ways. It can be observed that Cumberland used Brand extension strategy by launching a new multipurpose product called Sweet One. This product could be used as both a baking and a sweetener. In addition, Cumberland used the blue color similar to the one used by Nutra Sweet to package its products. On the other hand, Nutra Sweet used extended product-line branding strategies by maintaining the existing product and making additional innovations to attract more consumers (Buss, p.193). 3. (a). Based on the evidence provided, I think the market of tabletop artificial sweetener is at maturity stage in the product life cycle. This is because at this stage a promotion may be required to help the product to become differentiated from those of other competitors. Moreover, additional features may be added to enhance the product quality and differentiate it from that offered by the competitors in the market. In addition, the company is should lower the prices of its products to attract more customers. Further, the company is encouraged to utilize both intensive and

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Critical review of Narratives of Islamic Origins, The beginnings of Essay

Critical review of Narratives of Islamic Origins, The beginnings of Islamic Historical writing, by Fred M Donner. On Introducti - Essay Example Donner succinctly outlines some of the main problems with the early Islamic sources in his introduction: ‘Chronological discrepancies and absurdities abound, as do flat contradictions in the meaning of events, or even, less frequently, on their fundamental course. Many accounts present information that seems clearly anachronistic; others provide ample evidence of embellishment or outright invention to serve the purpose of political or religious apologetic’ (6). The late Albrecht Noth opened the debate which challenged the conventional, almost literal approach to the Islamic source material in 1973, arguing that many of the accounts were merely anecdotes and themes used by the authors in the contexts they thought appropriate. In this latest work, Donner has built heavily on the work of the latter. Wansbrough produced a more radical critique in 1977, which was developed by Crone and Cook. They asserted that many of the established ‘truths’ concerning the Proph et’s lifetime could not be taken for granted. ... Narratives of Islamic Origins, from the introduction to the conclusion, Donner makes clear that he is an opponent of Crone’s Hagarism, which he refers to as the radically ‘skeptical’ approach. Much of the introduction of devoted to this refutation. Even from this summary, it is clear that the history of early Islam is one of the most bitterly-contested fields in modern historiography, and due to the polarisation of the debate, it is unlikely to be smoothed over in the near future. With his contribution, Donner can scarcely have been hoping to categorically resolve any of the issues at stake. However, in a way somewhat similar to the work of Robert Hoyland, Donner is beginning to build a middle ground in the debate, in which the Islamic sources need not be rejected or passionately advocated, but can be included in a careful and scholarly analysis of the period. Donner’s Narratives of Islamic Origins is just that – a comprehensive and thoroughly schola rly analysis to a wide body of primary sources, which adds little new to the overarching debate, but does distil some important issues. We are concerned in this review with the introduction of the book, which offers a basic summary of Donner’s main argument, and the preoccupations which have motivated the study, and with chapter 5, entitled, ‘Themes of Prophecy’. The introduction focuses on the intellectual context of early Islam, and especially on the key issue of establishing the Quran as a text which existed in some form from the earliest period. This is obviously crucial to the way in which we view this document. Those who tended towards Crone’s view argue that the Quran is a later construction, put together from legendary sayings of the Prophet. It is held by this school to be a collection of sayings

Monday, September 23, 2019

America's Post-Civil War Growing Pains Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

America's Post-Civil War Growing Pains - Essay Example The period was also meant to resolve issues caused by reunion of the 11 states which had seceded before the outbreak of the Civil war. The period witnessed a race struggle between the two races i.e blacks and white where the whites attempted to make blacks second class citizens with little involvement of running public issues. The whites had occupied the economic and political power houses until 1890s which witnessed the rise of populist members’ movements. The reconstruction period was also meant to insure the freed blacks from the draconian laws and policies of the white. Worth noting is that during the America Civil war, president Lincoln had declared a state emergency, and consequently assumed most of the congress powers and this had caused a lot of friction between the congress and the presidency. This would later spill in the reconstruction period where the two centers of power would fight over who lead the reconstruction period. Most members of the congress, more so tho se referred as the â€Å"Radical Republicans† vigorously rejected the president’s assumption of the congress powers. ... According to Altbach, P.G and Umakosh T. (2004) another major turning was the adoption of the three constitutional amendments 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments commonly known as the Reconstruction Amendments. The three amendments generally sought to abolish slavery, guarantee all citizens of United States citizenship irrespective of their birth status and a guarantee of federal civil rights. According to Nicholas Lemann, (2007), the passage of the three amendments marked a legacy in the constitutional development of United States as it gave rise to serious and extensive litigation which led to pronouncements of progressive judgments by Supreme Court leading to striking down of discriminatory state laws. These amendments have had an effect to the current America current society, economy, politics, and culture as it has allowed Americans from all corners of the world to have citizenship and participate in its economic and cultural life. Ways in which reconstruction period could have been different if Lincoln had not been assassinated If President Lincoln had not been assassinated, the reconstruction period would have seen more twists and turns than the ones experienced during his successor’s Presidency. Peterson (1995) argues that he would have interacted with Congress in a fairly far less difficult due to his superior political skills, pragmatism and flexibility. On the other hand, Rawley (2003) believes that there would have been attempts by the Radicals to impeach Lincoln and this would have complicated the reconstruction period. Effects of industrialization and urbanization on the average American between 1865-1900 The end of the Civil War provided a great

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Religious Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Religious Summary - Essay Example The situation of famine in Canaan gave way for the men to move with their respective families towards Goshen in Egypt. The Jews within Egypt was not appropriate for the same. The Israelites became the slaves of the pharaohs and thus built the huge statues and monuments which exist even to this day. (Rousseau, 1983) The book of Exodus states that the new leader of the Jews - Moses led the people from their state of bondage within Egypt and thus the defining moment came within the Jewish tradition when God spoke to Moses and presented him the Ten Commandments which were engraved on different stone tablets. In a period of forty years, the Jews did come back to Canaan and thus drove out the present day inhabitants as well as named the city as Jerusalem, which was in essence the capital. The religion of Christianity is focused on the teachings of Jesus Christ while Islam derives its basis from Mohammad, the last messenger sent by God on earth. Christians believe Jesus Christ as the Son of God while the followers of Islam, called Muslims do not believe in God having anyone in His family, let alone anyone related to God. For the Christians, Jesus Christ has revealed the basis of God which is not different for the Muslims for whom Mohammad discovered that there was One God alone upon whom Muslims should base their thinking ideologies and beliefs. (Swidler, 2002) Christians are of the view that Jesus has ascended into heaven and he is the one who will eventually differentiate between the living and the dead whilst allowing the everlasting lives to those who follow the teachings preached by him. This is pretty true in the case of Islam where Mohammad will pave the way for the Muslims to enter heaven on the Judgment Day and will ask God to allow the followers of Islam to enter heaven and thus seek an everlasting life full of God’s bounties and splendor. Christians base their beliefs on the Holy Book

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Diversity, equality and inclusion in a work setting Essay Example for Free

Diversity, equality and inclusion in a work setting Essay Diversity means variety. The concept of diversity encompasses acceptance and respect. It means understanding that each individual is unique, and recognizing our individual differences. These can be along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs, or other ideologies. It is the exploration of these differences in a safe, positive, and nurturing environment. It is about understanding each other and moving beyond simple tolerance to embracing and celebrating the rich dimensions of diversity contained within each individual. Diversity is a reality created by individuals and groups from a broad spectrum of demographic and philosophical differences. It is extremely important to support and protect diversity because by valuing individuals and groups free from prejudice, and by fostering a climate where equity and mutual respect are intrinsic. Diversity means more than just acknowledging and/or tolerating difference. Diversity is a set of conscious practices that involve: ï‚ §Understanding and appreciating interdependence of humanity, cultures, and the natural environment. ï‚ §Practicing mutual respect for qualities and experiences that are different from our own. ï‚ §Understanding that diversity includes not only ways of being but also ways of knowing; ï‚ §Recognizing that personal, cultural and institutionalized discrimination creates and sustains privileges for some while creating and sustaining disadvantages for others; ï‚ §Building alliances across differences so that we can work together to eradicate all forms of discrimination. Diversity includes, therefore, knowing how to relate to those qualities and conditions that are different from our own and outside the groups to which we belong, yet are present in other individuals and groups. These include but are not limited to age, ethnicity, class, gender, physical abilities/qualities, race, sexual orientation, as well as religious status, gender expression, educational background, geographical location, income, marital status, parental status, and work experiences. Finally, we acknowledge that categories of difference are not always fixed but also can be fluid, we respect individual rights to self-identification, and we recognize that no one culture is intrinsically superior to another. Health and social care settings reflect the diversity of the population at large. Residents in a care home for elderly people – men and women, possibly gay and lesbian may range in age from 60 to well into their ninth decade. Each will have their own set of personal expe riences and in locations with an immigrant community, may hail from a variety of different countries. And preferences, for example for food and music, will vary from one person to another, as will attitudes, for example to staff and fellow residents, beliefs, for example political ideas and religious faiths, health status and physical and intellectual ability. Apart from differences in age, sex and gender, physical characteristics, ability, experiences and personal attributes, people also differ in respect of their: Diet, for example different health conditions mean that some people have specific dietary needs, and vegetarians and vegans can’t take medication that is derived from animals. Religious faith, for example some religions have specific requirements with respect to diet and method of worship, others require the use of running water to maintain personal hygiene, the right hand for eating and the left for personal cleansing after using the toilet, and so on. Need for modesty and dignity, for example some people aren’t comfortable being touched or seen undressed by someone of the opposite sex or that they don’t know; and different people have different ideas about how to be addressed when being spoken to. Communication, for example different physical and mental health conditions require the use of different methods of communication; some people express their fear, pain and grief freely and openly whilst others are more reserved; and different people have different ideas about the extent of their personal space. Working with and getting to know a diverse range of people – service users, patients, their friends and family, colleagues and other professionals enables health and social care workers to develop their knowledge and understanding of different ways of thinking and living and the reasons for different behaviours. As a consequence, tolerance of and respect for others develops, both of which are essential for meeting diverse – and individual – needs. And having their differences acknowledged and understood helps people to develop a sense of belonging. In addition, learning about different ways of thinking and living can be life-enriching. We become more open-minded to new experiences, opportunities and challenges, and are able to develop new relationships. As a result we grow as human beings and are able to achieve our full potential. Equality Equality is about treating people fairly, regardless of their differences, by ensuring that they have access to the same life opportunities as everyone else, ie that they have equal opportunities. Life opportunities include: Housing. Warmth and shelter are basic human needs. Education and employment. Just about everybody is capable of learning, and education not only enables us to find employment, it helps us to realize our full potential as human beings. Transport, without which we couldn’t get to work, to the shops, to see friends and family, to gp and hospital appointments, and so on. Health and social care, which all of us need at some point in our lives. Having enough money to buy a decent quality of life and not live in poverty. Being able to buy goods and services, in person, by telephone or online using cash, cheques, credit or debit cards or electronic transfer. Some people need extra help to access life opportunities. For example, having a physical or sensory disability can impact on gaining an education, a job, using public transport, getting to the doctors; and being elderly or mentally ill can affect an individual’s ability to maintain a decent standard of living, buy goods and services, speak up for themselves and have others listen to them. For this reason, equality is also about giving people help, providing them with appropriate services, so that they are not disadvantaged or treated less fairly than anyone else. People are disadvantaged for many reasons, but usually because they are different with respect to their: Appearance. Racial harassment and attacks are usually acted out on people whose appearance, for exam ple their skin colour and style of dress, is different from that of the perpetrator. Sex. Men are still more likely to be better paid than women and to reach the top of the career ladder, and some jobs are still perceived and advertised as being ’women’s’ or ‘men’s’ work. Sexual orientation. Gays and lesbians remain subject to physical and verbal abuse. Age. Older people often describe themselves as invisible, undervalued and a burden because of the way society treats them. Ability. A general lack of understanding about the needs of people with physical or mental disabilities results in them finding it very difficult to make the most of life’s opportunities. Imposing disadvantage on people can prevent them from entering into the everyday life of their community and of society. In other words they can become socially and financially excluded. Inclusion The term inclusion is seen as a universal human right and aims at embracing all people irrespective of race, gender, disability, medical or other need. It is about giving equal access and opportunities and getting rid of discrimination and intolerance. Inclusion nurtures a sense of wellbeing and of confidence in ones own identity and abilities. And it ensures that everyone can achieve their potent ial and take their rightful place in society. The potential effects of discrimination A prejudice is an attitude or way of thinking based on an unfounded, unreasonable pre-judgement of an individual, particular group of people or situation, rather than on a factual assessment. Prejudices can be positive or negative. If we are positively prejudiced towards someone, we think well of them. On the other hand, if we are negatively prejudiced against someone, we tolerate them less. In the main, negative prejudices develop against people who are different in some way. Discrimination happens when we act out our negative prejudices. Discriminatory behaviour results in unfair, unjust treatment. The people most likely to be discriminated against are those who are different in respect of their: Age. Age discrimination, or ageism, isn’t only targeted at elderly people – youngsters can also be on the receiving end of bullying, harassment and undeserved criticism. Sex. Men and women continue to be treated unfairly in certain walks of life, in particular in the workplace. Discrimination based on sex is known as sexism. Nationality, ethnic background, religion. Some people consider themselves superior to those from different backgrounds and faiths. Victimisation, bullying and harassment of people for such reasons is known as racism. Ability. Barriers that prevent disabled people from accessing the same opportunities as able-bodied people and the ignorant acting out of negative prejudices against physically or intellectually disabled people, for example through namecalling and damage of their property, is known as disablism. Size. Some of us are guilty of judging people by their size and treating them unfairly as a result. This behaviour is known as sizeism. Financial status. Discrimination against people on the grounds of their income, for example treating people living in poverty as inferior, is known as povertyism. There are two forms of discrimination, direct and indirect. Direct discrimination occurs when someone is intentionally treated unfairly, for example harassment on the basis of skin colour or religion. Indirect discrimination occurs when rules or guidelines meant to apply to everyone unintentionally affect one group of people more than others. For example, a company policy requiring everyone to work night shifts indirectly discriminates against single parents or people who care for elderly relatives, and menus that fail to offer a selection of food indirectly discriminates against people with specific dietary needs or preferences. Discrimination takes place in a variety of settings, for example within educational establishments, where learners may not be given support and encouragement if it’s assumed that their disability or advancing years affects their ability to learn; in the workplace, when people are persecuted on the basis of their skin colour or sexual preference. In housing, when landlords refuse to let their property to someone because of their refugee status or ethnic background; and in health and social care, when people are denied access to care on the basis of where they live – the postcode lottery. Inclusive work practice Inclusive practice is about the attitudes, approaches and strategies take n to ensure that people are not excluded or isolated. It means supporting diversity by accepting and welcoming people’s differences, and promoting equality by ensuring equal opportunities for all. Inclusive practice is best practise. Health and social care workers demonstrate inclusive practice by working in ways that recognise, respect, value and make the most of all aspects of diversity. Having a sound awareness of and responding sensitively to an individual’s diverse needs supports them in developing a sense of belonging, wellbeing and confidence in their identity and abilities. And it helps them to achieve their potential and take their rightful place in society. In addition, inclusive practice involves having an understanding of the disastrous impact that discrimination, inequality and social exclusion can have on an individual’s physical and mental health. Having such an understanding ensures appropriate, personalised care and support, thereby enabling an individual to develop selfrespect and maintain a valued role in society. Because people who fail to support diversity or promote equality are usually entirely unaware of their attitudes and the impact of their behaviour, inclusive practice in volves reflecting on and challenging ones own prejudices, behaviours and work practices. It also involves challenging those of colleagues and other service providers, with a view to adapting ways of thinking and working and to changing services to build on good practice and to better support diversity and promote equality. Discrimination is an injustice and has devastating effects. The UK has in place numerous pieces of legislation (laws), rules, regulations, guidance documents and statutory codes of practice, all of which are intended to promote diversity, ensure equality and end discrimination. In other words they are in place to promote everyone’s right to fair and equal treatment, regardless of their differences. Acts of Parliament and regulations include: ï€  Ã¯â‚¬  The Human Rights Act 1998. This covers many different types of discrimination, including some that are not covered by other discrimination laws. Rights under the Act can be used only against a public authority, for example, the police or a local council, and not a private company. However, court decisions on discrimination usually have to take into account what the Human Rights Act says. The Equality Act became law in October 2010. It replaces previous legislation (such as the Race Relations Act 1976 and the Disability Discri mination Act 1995) and ensures consistency in what you need to do to make your workplace a fair environment and to comply with the law. The Equality Act covers the same groups that were protected by existing equality legislation age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership and pregnancy and maternity but extends some protections to groups not previously covered, and also strengthens particular aspects of equality law. The Equality Act is a mixture of rights and responsibilities that have: Stayed the same for example, direct discrimination still occurs when someone is treated less favourably than another person because of a protected characteristic Changed for example, employees will now be able to complain of harassment even if it is not directed at them, if they can demonstrate that it creates an offensive environment for them Been extended for example, associative discrimination (direct discrimination against someone because they associate with another person who possesses a protected characteristic) will cover age, disability, gender reassignment and sex as well as race, religion and belief and sexual orientation Been introduced for the first time for example, the concept of discrimination arising from disability, which occurs if a disabled person is treated unfavourably because of something arising in consequence of their disabilit. Other pieces of legislation that protect the rights of people who use care services include: The NHS and Community Care Act 1980. This protects the rights of older and disabled people to receive care at home and in the community in ways that take account of their choices. The Children Act 2004. This protects children’s rights by requiring Local Authorities to be flexible in meeting their needs. Health and Social Care Act 2008. This Act established the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the remit of which is to protect and promote the right of people using health and social care services in England to quality care and to regulate its provision. CQC took over the roles of the Healthcare Commission, Commission for Social Care Inspection and the Mental Health Act Commission in March 2009. These pieces of legislation have helped us move forward on equality, but in 2009, women were still earning, on average, 23% less per hour than men; less able but better off children were overtaking m ore able, poorer children at school by the age of six; people with disabilities were still more than twice as likely to be out of work than able bodied people; and one in five older people was unsuccessful in getting quotations for motor insurance, travel insurance and car hire.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Why People Should Connect More With Nature Theology Religion Essay

Why People Should Connect More With Nature Theology Religion Essay In the twenty-first century, people have practically forgotten how important it is to connect with nature. Despite all the technological advances and scientific inventions that make us believe we have nothing in common with the rest of the animal world, we are still part of the planets fauna, whether we realize it or not. Needless to say, back when humanitys main achievements were the invention of a round wheel, or specific tools for farming agriculture, people were very dependent on nature and paid a lot of attention to the changes of its course. Now, with the technological revolutions and discoveries that made our past history, we seem to pay extremely little attention to nature, getting more and more disconnected from it every day. However, the links that were initially there, couldnt just disappear and there is a number of important reasons in favor of the statement that people should try to get back to basics and connect with nature more than they do today. First of all, nature has historically been the home for human beings, just like it remains a home for animals and plants (of course, with the exception of those that are kept in zoos and greenhouses). Nature is able to show us true beauty, without modifications, exaggerations and falseness. After all, isnt is a little ironic that people go to galleries and exhibitions to look at paintings of colorful flowers, mighty woods, green hills and fast clear streams; those simple things that they can easily observe in real life if they just get outside their urban environment that looms around them? Or the fact that people purchase recordings of calming sounds of nature, like what youd hear at night in the woods damped quavering of an owl, ringing flare of crickets and susurrus rustle of bushes. What we are in fact doing is trying to deceive our minds and make ourselves believe that we ARE in the wood, next to those owls, crickets and bushes, while we are instead trapped inside our tiny, wel l-furnished and packed-with-technology apartment. Secondly, in the era of absolute informational chaos and noise, it becomes more important than ever to be able to pause from the crazy pace of life and relax. Finding silence and peace in the global vacuum of competitiveness, haste and strain, is very challenging. We go to doctors to treat us for depression, insomnia and anxiety. We ask for prescriptions and pills, while what we should be doing instead is turning to nature for help. What can be more relaxing and stress-free, than a cup of warm herbal tea with fresh honey, on the porch of a cozy wooden country house with a view of a small natural lake, or little green forest, or beautiful mountains? Its the cheapest, simplest and most accessible treatment one can think of. We laugh at those freaks hugging trees in the park, or walking barefoot on the grass. However, these people remember something very important; something, most others have forgotten somewhere along the race to progress and prosperity: the key to being healthy, emotio nally sustained and resistant to everyday stress, is staying connected to nature and allowing ourselves to put all business on hold and take a break. Nature is about balance and harmony things we lack most living inside the swirling pit of urbanized cities. Sometimes, we escape, but so rarely and so abruptly, that such escapes can hardly help us re-establish our links with nature. People should seriously consider changing their routine and getting out into nature more regularly. When was the last time you took a walk to the nearby pond, or spent a weekend outdoors doing active sports? When was the last time you went hiking, or fishing, or took your family or friends for a picnic in the nearby park? We should try to move our weekly entertainment, as well as our holiday celebrations, parties and friendly gatherings, from homes, pubs and restaurants to lake shores, mountains, parks, forests, ponds, rivers and groves. The beautiful landscapes of America are incredibly rich and diverse and this is our true natural wealth that we unfortunately often forget about. Many parents and teachers today can remember hours spent in the great outdoors, called in only for dinner or when the last ray of summer light disappeared. Bookworm that I was, I can personally remember being told many days, Its a much too beautiful day to be inside. Go read that book in a tree! Today, childrens lives seem to be structured much differently, a world where the phrase Go play outside has been replaced by television programs, computer time, and Wii Fit. Modern humans lived in nature for most of their long history. Even once colonization into cities occurred, people were surrounded by nature in the fields and farms where they lived. And until thirty or so years ago, children still spent the bulk majority of their free time in contact with nature. Urbanization brought about parks and playgrounds to play in; fields, forests, and empty lots to explore; and even in nearby backyards. Children freely played, explored, and interacted with nature without restriction. Todays world is much different. Children no longer freely explore the world around them, and many have extremely limited contact with nature at all. Fear for safety, structured lessons and activities, and electronics are some of the main inhibitors to natural discovery that involve children today. Spontaneous interaction with nature is most often limited, at best. Free play in nature encourages children to create games with their own invented rules, conduct experiments with nature, and learn lessons that arent taught by anyone. These types of no rules situations promote inventive play and give children a deeper understanding of nature. While playground equipment is a perk of modern urbanization, its uses are more finite than those nature provides. Although equipment can be open-ended, imagined as a castle one day and a boat the next, nature is ever changing. Crossing a stream one day might become searching for treasures under river stones another day as the stream dries up. Tactile outdoor experiences teach children differently than a lesson or even reading about a subject can. Besides the educational benefits, connecting with nature has more benefits than might be obvious. Research shows that children who are allowed to explore outdoors are socially and emotionally happier and healthier. Unstructured outdoor play is also touted as one of the most direct ways to combat childhood obesity, a very real and prominent problem for children. Vitamin D exposure from the sun is known to help prevent a host of diseases, as well as treat and prevent depression. Richard Louv, author of  Last Child in the Woods, has coined a phrase to sum up the current state of the modern child: nature deficit disorder. He believes that contact with nature can aid in preventing and treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and that children need regular contact with nature to stay physically and emotionally healthy. I highly recommend his book if you are interested in learning more about these ideas. Outdoor play gives children the opportunity to value nature, and see it as an important part of of our world. This is a tangible way to ensure that we help them developing environmental stewards who will be both appreciative and respectful of nature as they grow. Here are a few ideas for incorporating natural play into childrens everyday lives: * Find a nature trail (or any place in nature, really) and encourage children to play, rather than just hike. Help children make up a game or collect bugs or leaves * Allow children a small patch of land as their own. This can be in a backyard or a school yard. One school where I worked had a childrens garden in the strip of land that ran right next to the side of the school building. Let them use their imagination to dig, garden, build, etc. * Invest in a few inexpensive outdoor exploration tools: bug box, magnifying glass, butterfly net, shovel, spade, and compass * Rather than working indoors, take lessons outdoors. Learn about water cycles from the true source, use nature to teach about categorization, or compose a symphony of nature sounds. Even a language or math lesson is more fun when done outside on a beautiful day Outdoor play gives children the opportunity to value nature, and see it as an important part of of our world. This is a tangible way to ensure that we help them developing environmental stewards who will be both appreciative and respectful of nature as they grow. Images used during study Stopping to experience our natural surroundings can have social as well as personal benefits, says Richard Ryan, coauthor and professor of psychology, psychiatry and education at theUniversity of Rochester. While the salubrious effects of nature are well documented, from increasing happiness and physical health to lowering stress, this study shows that the benefits extend to a persons values and actions. Exposure to natural as opposed to man-made environments leads people to value community and close relationships and to be more generous with money, find Ryan and his team of researchers at the University of Rochester. The paper includes four experiments in which 370 participants were exposed to either natural or man-made settings. Participants were encouraged to attend to their environments by noticing colors and textures and imagining sounds and smells. In three of the studies, participants were shown a selection of four images on a 19 inch computer screen for two minutes each. Half of the subject viewed buildings, roads, and other cityscapes; the other half observed landscapes, lakes, and deserts. The urban and nature images were matched for color, complexity, layout, and lighting. In a fourth study, participants were simply assigned at random to work in a lab with or without plants. Participants then answered a questionnaire assessing the importance of four life aspirations: wealth and fame (to be financially successful and to be admired by many people) and connectedness and community (to have deep enduring relationships and to work toward the betterment of society). Across all four studies, people exposed to natural elements rated close relationships and community higher than they had previously. The questionnaire also measured how immersed viewers were in their environments and found that the more deeply engaged subjects were with natural settings, the more they valued community and closeness. By contrast, the more intensely participants focused on artificial elements, the higher they rated wealth and fame. To test generosity, two of the studies gave participants a $5 prize with the instructions that the money could be kept or given to a second anonymous participant, who would then be given an additional $5. The second participant could choose to return the prize money or keep it. Thus, subjects had nothing to gain if they chose to trust the other participant, and risked losing their money. The result? People who were in contact with nature were more willing to open their wallets and share. As with aspirations, the higher the immersion in nature, the more likely subjects were to be generous with their winnings. Why should nature make us more charitable and concerned about others? One answer, says coauthor Andrew Przybylski, is that nature helps to connect people to their authentic selves. For example, study participants who focused on landscapes and plants reported a greater sense of personal autonomy (Right now, I feel like I can be myself). For humans, says Przybylski, our authentic selves are inherently communal because humans evolved in hunter and gatherer societies that depended on mutuality for survival. In addition, write the authors, the richness and complexity of natural environments may encourage introspection and the lack of man-made structures provide a safe haven from the man-made pressures of society. Nature in a way strips away the artifices of society that alienate us from one another, says Przybylski. Lead author Netta Weinstein says that the findings highlight the importance of creating green spaces in cities and have implication for planners and architects. Incorporating parks and other representations of nature into urban environments may help build a stronger sense of community among residents, she explains. By contrast, to the extent that our links with nature are disrupted, we may also lose some connection with each other, the authors warn. This alienation may help explain other research showing that urban as compared to rural dwellers show more reservation, indifference, and estrangement from others. On a personal level, Weinstein says the take home message from the research is clear: We are influenced by our environment in ways that we are not aware of, she says. Because of the hidden benefits of connecting with nature, people should take advantage of opportunities to get away from built environments and, when inside, they should surround themselves with plants, natural objects, and images of the natural world. The more you appreciate nature, the more you can benefit, she says.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Celie :: essays research papers

Celie   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In section three of The Color Purple, the main character is Celie. In this section she gains a little more control over her life, begins to express herself through creativity and also becomes more free and independent. Her decision to leave with Shug to go to Tennessee and begin her own pants business is good examples of these things. This section shows how much progress she has made in herself. We learn about Celie through different situations and dialogues she has throughout this section.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  On page 183, Celie decides to leave with Shug Avery to go back to her home in Tennessee. Previously in one of the lost letters from her sister Nettie in Africa, she read that her Pa wasn’t really her Pa at all. All of a sudden her world is shook when she discovers the real truth about her parents. â€Å"My daddy lynch. My momma crazy. All my little half brothers and sisters no kin to me. My children not my sister or brother. Pa ain’t Pa (Walker 183).† She realizes that everything she was told since she was a child was a lie and decides to just get away from it all with Shug. No one was there to hold her back. In leaving, she is gaining more control of her life. She is moving on to do better things for herself for once in her life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Also in this section, Celie begins her own pants business. Making these pants is more than just simply constructing pieces of fabric together for her. For Celie it’s a new road to her own freedom and independence. We learn through her that she has a creative flair and is actually quite good at making theses pants. She uses her creative abilities to make a living. We see that she begins to that she begins to feel that she has more of a purpose. She isn’t so dependent on Shug as she used to be and learns to depend more on herself. Shug says to Celie at the end of this section, â€Å"You making your living. Celie, she say, Girl, you on your way (Walker 221).† We can obviously see that she definitely is on her way to being more self-reliant and independent.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

The Love Story Interpretations of Robert Frosts Poem, Wind And Window

The Love Story Interpretations of Robert Frost's Poem, Wind And Window Flower When reading Robert Frost Poem, Wind And Window Flower, I could not help but think that love and heartache were involved. I came up with two interpretations for Wind And Window Flower. In both interpretations, the Wind and the Window Flower signify a man and a woman. My first interpretation is as follows: Lovers, forget your love for an instance, and listen to the love of these two people. The characters in the poem are a Winter Breeze and A Window Flower. The man is the Winter Breeze. This man is a man who comes and goes, you never know exactly when he is coming or when he is going. He has a cold presence to him. The woman is the Window Flower. This woman is a mature, pretty, and warm woman. She is in full bloom, meaning she has experienced love, and is now ready for romance. The Window Flower falls in love with the Winter Breeze. The Winter Breeze would continuously walk in and back out of the Window Flowers life. The Window Flower found that each time this occurred, she was le...

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

The Evasive Sonnet CXVI (116) Essay -- Sonnet 116 Essays

  Ã‚   In my survey of Shakespeare's Sonnets, I have found it difficult to sincerely regard any single sonnet as inferior.   However, many of the themes could be regarded as rather trite.   For example sonnet XCVII main idea is that with my love away I feel incomplete, sonnet XXIX says that only your love remembered makes life bearable, while sonnet XXXVIII makes the beloved the sole inspiration in the poet's life.  Ã‚   These themes recycled in love songs and Hallmark cards, hardly original now, would hardly have been any newer in Elizabethan England.  Ã‚   However the hackneyed themes of these sonnets is in a sense the source of their essence.   These emotions, oftentimes difficult to adequately articulate, are shared by all that have loved, been loved, lusted or been hurt in a relationship.   Still, it is certainly difficult to criticize Shakespeare's work as a whole.   One would only show his ignorance if he were to argue against Shakespeare's sophisticated style.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Far easier than finding inferior works from this cornucopia of verse would be to snatch and guard his more elaborate, brilliant works such as sonnet XVIII.   These lucky few need very little explanation for they speak for themselves.   Scholarly glosses, profound explanations, and critic's interpretations - needed in the more ambiguous sonnets - are not only unneeded in these sonnets but sometimes unwanted.   It is an insult to the intellect of the reader for a scholar to be as presumptuous with these jewels of verse to think that it needs someone asserting meaning ex cathedra.   They have their distinguished place because, after slow and careful reading, one may bask in meaning and beauty, contemplating the sonnets bearing on his life.   One does not need a critic to el... ...Linda Gregerson's explication of Sonnet 116.   http://www.the atlantic.com/unbound/poetry/soudings/shakespeare.htm. 8 I say that this is not a popular reading and not without error because I have not yet seen any scholarly work to confirm my reading of these lines.   In fact, I have seen much to contradict my assertion.   Helen Vendler notes that most readers, guided by the beginning of the sonnet, misinterpret it.   I agree with Vendler's assertion but not her reading (or other scholars for that matter), and hence I present my own.   9 Ingram and Redpath, 268. 10 Helen Vendler, The Art of Shakespeare's Sonnets (Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 1997) 489. 11 Booth, 385. 12 Booth, as well as Ingram and Redpath seem to be of this mind.   13 Lawrence Ferlinghetti, A Coney Island of the Mind (New York: New Directions, 1958) 30.   

Marijuana Exploratory

Jamal Mujaddidi English 205 Professor Jay 8 April 2010 Exploratory Essay Legalization: Good or Bad? As part of the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, Marijuana for all purposes was outlawed nationwide. Prior to this Act, over 30 states had prohibition laws towards Marijuana because farmers who employed mainly Hispanic workers complained that this drug would cause people to become â€Å"slow† or â€Å"lazy† and would also cause the users to become addicted. Besides the popularity among this crowd, marijuana was used as an intoxicant during the 1850’s through the 1930’s and was listed in the United States Pharmacopeia. The active ingredient in marijuana is THC, or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, but this is only one of the 400 other chemicals that are in the plant (TheWELL). It was prescribed for conditions such as labor pain, nausea, arthritis, and rheumatism (DeLisle). It was only after individuals began committing crimes while under the influence of Marijuana that the U. S. Federal Bureau of Narcotics gave marijuana the image of a powerful, addicting, substance that would lead users into a more serious addiction. In the 1960s, it was mainly used by college students and â€Å"hippies,† and subsequently became a symbol of rebellion against authority. Marijuana use became a commonplace issue in congress which led to The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 which classified marijuana along with LSD and heroin as S1 drugs, otherwise known as substances which have the highest relative abuse potential and no form of medical use (DEA). Widespread eradication of marijuana and marijuana products began. The current opponents of marijuana legalization claim that marijuana does have addictive qualities and is an epidemic on America’s youth. This crowd presents that marijuana is a â€Å"silent-killer† due to a fungus and mold which can easily grow on the part which is smoked by users (PRNewswire). This fungus can cause lung cancer and they have deemed marijuana as bio-hazardous. The opposition also goes to say that marijuana can have adverse effects on the brain and can cause brain-cells to die. Some research suggests that use of marijuana during pregnancy can result in premature birth and low birth weights and can even cause temporary loss of fertility. Along with adverse effects on the reproductive system, the opposition claims that marijuana use during adolescence can be harmful to physical and sexual development. This side pushes for further prohibition of marijuana and stricter punishments due to their beliefs that the negatives outweigh the benefits. In the middle of this debate, stand the moderate marijuana use supporters. This side views marijuana use as a potential alternative to painkillers which are detrimental to vital organs. This crowd is mainly made up of physicians and health-care professionals, as wells as patients of chronic illnesses and pain. Doctors and nurses say that cannabis is a less toxic and less expensive medicine for diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, migraines, cancers, and many other disorders which cause chronic symptoms and pain. This side also states that marijuana’s versatile nature allows patients to gain the pain relieving effects through ingestion, canceling out the negative effects of smoking. Besides all these benefits, this crowd pushes for a safe, reliable and quality-controlled source of marijuana which can only be achieved through legalization. It is believed that after this source is created, many adverse effects of â€Å"bad† marijuana will disperse. Another camp of this debate is the supporters of full legalization of marijuana use and growth for medicinal and recreational use. These supporters claim that marijuana should be allowed to be used in the way alcohol and cigarettes are used recreationally. They state these comparisons have worse long-term effects than THC and yet they are taxed and regulated. Another point they make is that marijuana would inject millions of dollars into the economy once government grown marijuana is taxed. Besides the smoking and ingesting of the drug, the plant can be used for its naturally produced fiber known as hemp. This can be cultivated from the stem of the plant and used commercially and industrially for paper, textiles, biodegradable products and medical purposes. Overall, they believe the claimed dangers of marijuana are exaggerated and not enough medical trials have been done to verify these claims. As a college level youth and the Legalization of marijuana use in California is on the ballot, I am interested in learning about this issue before I cast my vote. I have seen the benefits of medicinal marijuana in my family and can attest to the pain relieving effects. As for the recreational use, I believe that alcohol is a much more dangerous substance that can be detrimental to mental and physical health and cause irrational decisions while under the influence. Prohibition has shown to not be a viable solution in the past and I don’t think it can ever solve anything. Regulation on the other hand can prove to be effective because substances will not be bought and traded illegally. I think the legalization of marijuana will improve lives, decrease crimes, and slightly improve the economy. Works Cited DeLisle, Judi. _Medical Marijuana Research Guide. Valencia West Campus Library_. Web. 20 Mar. 2007. 7 Apr. 2010. â€Å"DEA, Controlled Substances Act. † Welcome to the United States Department of Justice. Web. 08 Apr. 2010. â€Å"The Marijuana Initiative Is a Silent Killed and It Should be Defeated – Los Angeles, March 25/PRNewswire/. †_PR Newswire: Press Release Distribution, Targeting, Monitoring and Marketing. _Web. 08 Apr. 2010. â€Å"Fact Sheet – Marijuana. † The WELL – The Birthplace of the Online Community Movement. Web. 08 Apr. 2010.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Analysis of a Mapping Programme: Neogeography

Introduction Neogeography, literally intending â€Å"new geography† is basically a â€Å"do-it-yourself† function scheduling, which is going progressively popular and powerful today ( Wikipedia.org ) . In the past, making maps online was left to the GIS specializers who knew the art and linguistic communication of GIS ( C. Morais, 2007 ) . Neogeography, on the other manus can be used by virtually anyone with no expertness or makings required in function, because of this some respect neogeography to be a subset of GIS, while others consider neogeography to hold killed GIS ( A. Turner, 2006 ) . Neogeography is fun as one can make things such as portion the location of their first buss, or vacation, ne'er once more will one battle to retrieve where a exposure was taken ( A. Turner, 2006 ) . In a nutshell, neogeography is all about people utilizing and making their ain maps, sharing information and locations with household and friends every bit good as geotagging images of vacations, wh ile obtaining utile penetration of that location. Neogeography Geocoding is of import in neogeography as they provide co-ordinates of a location, which can so be processed ( A. Turner, 2006 ) . For illustration, when users post a image to applications such as Facebook or Instagram, it besides lets them label the location where the image was taken and therefore, cognition is gained in this manner. Some illustrations of neogeography is Google Maps, Google Earth, Yelp, SaveMe999, OneMap, OpenStreetMap, UCrime among others ( A. Coote and L. Rackham, 2008 ) . While each of these have their utility, neogeography besides comes with the power to destruct. Neogeography-hit or lose? The advantages of neogeography is legion and each neogeography application has its ain specific power that makes a user’s life easier. For illustration, the SaveMe999 application designed in Malaysia, specifically to turn to the handicapped community particularly the deaf and deaf-and-dumb person ( R. Anas, 2013 ) . Undoubtedly, this is a great advantage to the handicapped citizens, as SaveMe999 uses â€Å"GPS information in the users’ smartphone to place the caller’s location† when they call and therefore assist can be sent to the right reference as location is one of the most of import facets in directing an exigency response ( R. Anas, 2013 ) . Disabled people can hence be more independent, every bit good as feel more safe and secure. Google Maps and Google Earth is another great illustration of neogeography. Google Maps is utile such that it shows waies from one location to another, either by auto, motorcycle or walking by demoing the relevant street maps. It besides shows the expected clip that it will take the user to make their finish and one of the most utile characteristic of the Google map is that it can be viewed in three different manners: terrain, a normal map position and orbiter position ( M. Cornock, 2011 ) . One can besides custom-make their ain maps in Google maps which can be saved, loaded or printed out at any clip ( L. Storm, 2007 ) . Google Maps, nevertheless, promotes communicating isolation, as before Google Maps verbal waies was an of import accomplishment to possess and understand but with the enlargement and turning popularity of Google Maps verbal waies are deceasing out ( L.Storm, 2007 ) . Google Earth meanwhile, shows orbiter and aerial imagination of the specified location in 3D. This is used for many positive effects. For illustration, the World Wide Fund uses it to protect the Sumatran Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelams, alleviation workers uses it for crisis response after natural catastrophe, and it is besides used for environmental issues such as pollution. Possibly, the finest illustration of how Google Maps and Google Earth came to assist an environmental issue is the instance of the Appalachian Mountaintop remotion, in which excavation companies removed the tops of mountains in order to mine for coal. By utilizing Google Earth and Google Maps conservationists were able to analyze the graduated table of a really dramatic environmental job and was besides able to pass on this issue to the people in the community who so took action to protect their mountains ( Google Earth Outreach, 2010 ) . â€Å"In the 10 yearss following the release of the Appalachian Mountaintop Removal bed in Google Earth, more than 13,000 people signed an on-line request to halt mountaintop removal† ( Google Earth Outreach, 2010 ) . Therefore, it can be seen how Google Map and Google Earth is used for positive impacts. However, Google Earth and Google maps can be misused. One of the most concerning factors is privacy and security, the fact that anyone can happen anything is rather dismaying particularly for safety grounds. Other disadvantage of Google Earth and Google Map include ; inaccuracy of information, unavailability as users need right Personal computer demands and cyberspace, less developed states are ill represented every bit good ( S. Myer, 2010 ) . Furthermore, satellite imagination can capture images that are non delighting to the oculus such as force or war. UCrime.com is a free online service that provides easy to read offense maps and have automatic qui vives for people that attend universities or montages ( A. Coote and L. Rackman, 2008 ) .Users so receive immediate electronic mails if a offense has occurred near a selected college or university and in this manner there is public safety, besides users can supply tips and thoughts to assist work out offense in the country in which they operate in ( A. Coote and L. Rackman, 2008 ) . Some general advantages neogeography has to a user are ; it helps users locate topographic points based on other peoples stations, it besides increases consciousness of geographics since anyone can larn how to utilize and make their ain maps, moreover, neogeography allows everyone to lend to the development of the digital universe and immense sums of informations and information is made available by users ( A. Schuyler, 2009 ) . Using neogeography saves clip and money for concerns and organisations and eventually, possibly the greatest advantage of neogeography is that anyone can make maps, they do non necessitate to hold makings or be a professional in function. On the other manus, there are besides several disadvantages in neogeography and one of the biggest menace of neogeography is its informations quality: its truth, completeness, consistence, and quality confidence ( A. Coote and L. Rackham, 2008 ) . Since users create the maps the information might be wrong and undependable, this can severe effects, for illustration when be aftering a holiday. Besides, when making the maps the Godheads can either add excessively much unneeded information or possibly excessively small, lending to the deficiency of completeness of the information ( A. Coote and L. Rackham, 2008 ) . Neogeographic datasets makes small mention to quality confidence, some maps created utilizing neogeography have no 1 to supervise the quality and dependability of the maps ( A. Coote and L. Rackham, 2008 ) . Security and privateness as discussed before is another disadvantage, as sometimes it so happens that when users create the maps, they may roll up informations from privat e locations which the proprietors might dislike. Finally, the enlargement of the digital universe could intend less geographic expedition in the existent universe, people might worsen in sing things foremost manus as they can research topographic points online in neogeography and therefore, people may bit by bit go stray from the existent universe. Decision In decision, neogeography, if non exploited helps us a great trade and the hereafter of neogeography is in our custodies and we have a opportunity to utilize it or misapply that power. Reference ListAndrew Coote and Les Rackham. ( 2008 ) . Neogeography data quality-is it an issue? [ ONLINE ] Available at: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.consultingwhere.com/wpcontent/uploads/resources/Neogeography+Data+Quality+-+is+it+an+issue+-+V1_1.pdf. [ Accessed 28ThursdayFebruary 15 ]Andrew J. Turner. ( 2006 ) Introduction to Neogeography. O'Reilly Media, Inc. pp. 2Caitlin Dempsey Morais. 2007. Neogeography. [ ONLINE ] Available at: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.gislounge.com/neogeography/.[ Accessed 03 March 15 ] .Earth Outreach. ( 2009 ) . Appalachian Mountaintop Removal in Google Earth & A ; Maps. [ Online Video ] . 07 May 2009. Available from: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.youtube.com/watch? v=aiSzOiGFa-0.[ Accessed: 19 February 15 ] .Google Outreach. 2010. Appalachian Voices. [ ONLINE ] Available at: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.google.co.za/earth/outreach/stories/appvoices.html. [ Accessed 19 February 15 ] .Laurel Storm. 2011. Disadvantages & A ; Advant ages of Using Google Maps Website. [ ONLINE ] Available at: hypertext transfer protocol: //science.opposingviews.com/disadvantages-advantages-using-google-maps-website-1538.html. [ Accessed 04 March 15 ] .Rozinah Anas. ( 2013 ) . SAVEME999 Application-Asia Geospatial Forum. [ ONLINE ] Available at: www.asiageospatialforum.org/2013/pdf/Rozinah % 20Anas.pps. [ Accessed 27ThursdayMarch ] .

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Arthur Miller Essay

The Crucible was written in 1952 by the writer Arthur Miller. It is a story of ‘witch-hunts’ which occurred a lot during the 1950’s. Throughout the play, Arthur Miller has talked about characters facing severe tests that have made them question their own self. It shows the extreme surprising occurrences which were often being caused by what they thought was the devil or his cohorts. The inscrutable sickness fears of witchcraft were happening and it was not long before the girls, and many residents began to accuse other villagers of associating themselves with devils and casting spells. Old grudges and jealousies spilled out into the open, making the atmosphere very tense. A lot of the residents were either forced to give in and live or lie and be put to death by being hanged. In some sense, ‘The Crucible’ has the arrangement of a tragedy, With John Proctor as the play’s tragic hero. John Proctor is an honest, upright, blunt-spoken person, however he is a very good man. The fatal flaw of him is the lust for Abigail Williams which led to an affair (this happened before the play begins). This caused jealousy of his wife, Elizabeth, which sets the entire witch exaggeration within the community in motion. Of all the major characters throughout the play, Abigail is the least complicated. She is sort of the villain in the play. She tells lies, manipulates her own friends and the entire town to her favour. Eventually she sends nineteen innocent people to their deaths due to the lies she tells and the way she manipulated people. Among the witch-hunt mania, Abigail’s motives never seem more complex than just jealousy and the desire to have revenge on Elizabeth Proctor. In the play, Abigail seems to be like a biblical character, like a Jezebel figure, always being driven by a sexual desire and a lust for power. In the first chapter, the audience learn about the affair associated with Abigail and Proctor. We learn that they have had an affair, however the audience soon see that the affair is no longer continuing. ‘Abigail: Give me a word, John. A soft word. (Her concentrated desire destroys his smile. ), ‘Proctor: No, no, Abby. That’s done with. ‘. He reacts negatively, he denies her, and he is repulsed. He is trying to put the adultery in the past. ‘Proctor: Abby, I might think of you softly from time to time. But I will cut my hand off before I’ll ever reach for you again. Wipe it out of mind. We never touched, Abby’, he tries to put his adultery in the past. He tells her that he never touched her, even though he did, and he makes it clear that It will never happen again. Throughout the monologue with Proctor and Abigail, the attitude and mood soon changes because Proctor wants to leave the affair in the past, and wipe it out of mind, like it never happened. ‘Wipe it out of mind’. However Abigail wants to carry on with the sexual desire to carry on the affair with Proctor. At the beginning of the monologue he tries to set her firmly out of his path, however later he gets angry and she can’t believe it. Abigail soon gets quite angry as well, and this part of the play expresses the anger between both of them ‘Abigail (With a flash of anger): How do you call me child! ‘ During Act 1, it seems as though Abigail wants John Proctor ‘Abigail (grasping his hand before he can release her): John – I am waitin’ for you every night’, however as the John Proctor and her keep talking there is a change in her mood because he is not giving into her sexual desire for him. Now her mood changes into anger and jealousy ‘Abigail (With a bitter anger): Oh, I marvel how such a strong man may let such a sickly wife be-‘, here she becomes really jealous that he won’t give into her due to the fact that he loves Elizabeth, and Elizabeth is his wife. The stage directions that Arthur Miller uses in the play tell the reader a lot about the character. When Abigail is going on about the affair between her and Proctor the stage directions are beneficial. ‘Abigail: (grasping his hand before he can release her): John – I am waitin’ for you every night’, this instantly helps the reader visualise the character and will aid the an actor that is performing the play, whilst playing the role to act more effectively. Arthur Miller also uses the language as a benefit for the effective of the play, Miller uses language to effectively set the period and the tone for the play. The language brings an approach of something out of the King James Bible, but somehow makes it universal to modern day, and the stage directions being out an approach of making the play more effective to both the actors and the audience. In court, Proctor has an outburst of truth and attack on Abigail. Abigail’s reaction to this, is that he is lying about what he is saying, she tries to manipulate the court room into believing what she is saying. ‘Abigail: Mr Danforth, he is lying! ‘, later on, she then makes it up that she is seeing a bird up on the ceiling, and she gets the rest of the girls to go with her lying, to make it look as though there is witchcraft going on right before there eyes. ‘Abigail, with a weird, chilling cry, screams up to the ceiling’, ‘Abigail (unperturbed, continuing to the ‘bird’): Oh, Mary, this is a black art to change your shape. No, I cannot, I cannot stop my mouth; it’s God’s work I do. ‘ Here is where she really starts to manipulate people, and lie. The language that Proctor uses to describe himself is not like his prideful ways.