African Americans and Slavery Essay

The American Revolution was a time of great turmoil for all men and women in the United States. Great debates came and went during this time; slavery and the freedom of black men being the main problems in these debates. Slaves were used for a great number of things during the American revolutionary period. The arrival of slavery to the American colonies began in the 1600s and started out in Virginia. As the years passed more and more African-Americans were brought into the colonies to be used as labor workers. The beginning amount of slaves continued to grow and by the beginning of the revolution there were about 273,000 slaves spread throughout the American states. With the coming of the revolution all African-Americans, slave or free, knew something was coming and each had a different response to these comings. There were differences in the responses of slaves and free men during the American Revolution. There were also consequences to their choices. â€Å"Gaining freedom in a land of captivity and wresting equality from a society whose founding documents guarantee it has been the consuming desire and everlasting hope that has kept harrowed bodies and weary souls going. † In the southern states African-American slaves were treated harsher than those in the north. The plantations down south required back –breaking hours of work in the sun that White Americans believed could only be done by those they had bought. There was a reason for them to be there and until they could no longer work they were to do all things imaginable for their owners, no questions asked. Some of these slaves thought it was easier to run away from their owners and that in doing so they would have a chance to fight for their country. Slaves could either flee to the north or they could flee to Spanish owned Florida. In cases where a master was called upon to fight, they would send a slave in their place and if they lived long enough to return home they earned freedom. Many of the slaves decided that if they had a chance to gain their freedom by joining the war effort then they would gladly take their masters place. They also believed that with the beginning to the revolutionary period would bring a new deed to the land and when it was over there would no longer be a need for slaves. The consequences for slaves in the south were innumerable. Like many slaves, they took this time to run from slave masters and plantations. If these southern slaves were caught, depending on the owner, the slave could suffer mild to severe consequences. Depending on the demeanor of the owner a slave could be punished in several different ways. Whipping, branding, slapping, being dunked underwater, and kicking were just some forms of punishment. The most severe punishments were to cut off a body part like an ear in the hopes that the slave would learn and never run again. There were also â€Å"nice† slave owners that chose not to punish their slaves. There justification for not punishing their slaves was so that they would continue to work and so that the owner could buy more slaves with the money that they continued to pool in from the work. Because of some owners that continuously harassed Washington, he stopped allowing slaves into his army. But General Washington, fearing rebellion, created an order that stated that all blacks were not allowed to fight. Later he partially reversed the order and allowed only free black men to fight with him. Some slaves believed that taking a chance to flee towards the north was a far-fetched idea. They were seeking freedom in the quickest possible way. Lord Dunmore sent out a proclamation that stated in exchange for freedom any black that came to him would fight against the patriots and become a loyalist. Dunmore’s promise of freedom fueled black slaves to escape and even some patriots fled to fight as a loyalist. After the war, true to his word, slaves gained their freedom. Some of these newly freed slaves went to Britain but many of them stayed in the Americas. On the other hand free men in the north believed the revolution would bring about change for the better. Their idea of the revolution was that they were being given the chance to gain independence from Great Britain and also for themselves. It was a defining moment in history that they were to be a part of. Fighting with white men gave these free black men a sense of honor and it also gave them a job where they could earn a little money to put towards getting homes and things of that nature. Men from the north gradually began to realize that they could fight with their brethren and bring independence to the land. General Washington passed an order stating that no black man was allowed into his army. This order came about because of general angst from some slave owners. These owners believed that there should not be any blacks fighting for the independence because they were only good for being slaves and they would never have say over anything. After some time Washington, fearing not having enough men to fight against the British, partially reversed this order to allow only free black men. Other than this there were not many consequences that are recorded for free black men. These free men not only fought for the independence of the nation but also for their independence and the independence of other black men and women. African-Americans from the north and south chose to join the continental army because they believed that they should help make the place the lived independent from a tyranny that had no say in the matters of a new country. They felt that this tyranny could take their rights and place them under unfair rule once again. Some of the freemen and slaves that had started out in the continental army decided to run to the British army but were not successful in their plights. Nash called the revolution the ‘greatest slave rebellion in American history’ because it was just that. The revolution opened up new grounds for slaves to rebel against owners because it was the most opportune time for them to do so. â€Å"If any group within America’s diversified people came close to answering John Adams’s plea that ‘we must all be soldiers,’ it was black Americans. No part of revolutionary society responded to the call for arms with anywhere near the enthusiasm of those who were black. Proportionate to their number, African American males— and some females— were more likely to join the fray than white Americans. † According to this excerpt from another one of Nash’s books, African-Americans were much more adept to answering the plea of John Adams. If there were more African-American fighters than white that meant that more black males were subject to put themselves in danger in order to gain freedom. They would rather have one day of freedom, not knowing if they would die in the next second, hour, or day, than be a slave for the rest of their lives. This is one of the reasons why Nash called the revolution the ‘greatest slave rebellion in American history’. â€Å"Desperate to fill the thinned ranks of its regiments, states offered freedom†¦ to serve during the continuance of the present war with Great Britain. Every black enlistee would be ‘immediately discharged from the service of his master or mistress, and be absolutely free, as if he had never been encumbered with any kind of servitude or slavery. † If states were desperate to have more men come into their ranks then there was nothing really stopping slaves from escaping their masters and coming to fight. They all wanted freedom from someone. Slaves wanted freedom from their bonds that were tied to the soil they worked and the Americans wanted freedom from Great Britain. Both groups had their reasons to fight and the only way slaves knew how to become free was to rebel and run to an army. This was a time for large rebellions on all fronts not just from the slaves. It was a rebellion against the British from the former colonists and a rebellion against the men and women that were taken from their homes to somehow create new ones. â€Å"It may have been, as Nash says ‘the greatest slave rebellion in American history,’ but for most of the rebels it ended like the others, in death. Slaves who supported the American side fared better, but not much better. Only with great reluctance did Washington allow some to join his army. Other Virginians had another wartime use for them. In 1780 the state legislature offered salves as a bounty for enlistment in the war against British tyranny. The revolution did see enactment of measures for gradual emancipation in the northern states, but the number who benefited was small. † My view on the American Revolution has changed somewhat because of how the African-Americans were treated during and after the period of war. The Americans act as though they had not been fighting alongside each other and because of this withhold distaste for the blacks. The completely disregard the idea that every man is created equal and has certain unalienable rights. They do not extend these ideas that were written down on the Declaration of Independence to the free black Americans. Men that had fought with and under Washington were not looked as the same because the color of their skin and were not given the same rights. Because of how they were treated I see the Revolution more as a war against Britain to save other whites from tyranny rather than to gain independence for all mankind. ——————————————–.of Revolution (Harvard University: 2006), 1. [ 2 ]. Taymor, . â€Å"US History Documents. † Last modified 2005. Accessed January 27, 2013. http://inside. sfuhs. org/dept/history/US_History_reader/Chapter2/Nashfighting. pdf. [ 3 ]. Taymor, . â€Å"US History Documents. † Last modified 2005. Accessed January 27, 2013. http://inside. sfuhs. org/dept/history/US_History_reader/Chapter2/Nashfighting. pdf. [ 4 ]. Edmund S. Morgan, review of The Unknown American Revolution:  .

Nation Convention On The Rights Of The Child Education Essay

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child ( UNCRC ) creates the consciousness of the predicaments of kids in poorness or who are being discriminated against. Thus, issues refering to kids are given higher precedence during policy-making in international every bit good as national dockets. UNCRC recognizes the kid as an person who is entitled to his rights as a member of the community. It sets the basic criterions for local authoritiess to supply for and to protect the kids in footings of basic demands like wellness, nutrition, instruction and other facets. It was adopted by United Nations in 1989 as a tool to protect the best involvement of the kid and to guarantee that every kid enjoy equal rights to life, endurance and development. Since 1989, UNCRC has been adopted by all but two states. As states are obliged to do regular studies to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, the province authoritiess have moral duties to supply for the kids as stated by the UNCRC. State authoritiess are besides farther required to carry through certain demands when using for AIDSs from international bureaus. One of the conditions may be to supply for and to protect kids ( Bellamy, 2005: p.30 ) . In add-on, since the bend of the century, authorities organic structures and international bureaus have focused largely on the rights of kids. Most of the United Nations ( UN ) millenary development ends are focused on the realisation of the rights of kids, such as to convey kids out of poorness, rights to wellness, endurance and instruction ( Bellamy, 2005: p.8 ; Woodhead, 2007 as cited in Woodhead & A ; Moss, 2007 ) . Further to UNCRC avowal on rights of instruction, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child interprets instruction as kid ‘s right to larning and development which start from birth ( Woodhead, 2007 as cited in Woodhead & A ; Moss, 2007 ) . As such, much significance is given to Early Childhood Education and Care ( ECEC ) in policies development globally. Surveies have shown intercession in early childhood may be important for the development of a kid. Early childhood instruction and attention ( ECEC ) may be referred to high quality attention for immature kids from birth. It includes educating parents to supply and care for kids in the facets of wellness, nutrition, larning and development ( Annan, 2001: p.63 ) . An baby, from the twenty-four hours he is born, needs quality attention. Inadequate nutrition and unhealthy life conditions may adversely impact a kid ‘s development and ability to larn. As such, quality attention and instruction from birth may hold positive consequence on kids ability to larn ( Engle, 2009 as cited in Siraj-Blatchford & A ; Woodhead, 2009 ) . Children may hold equal opportunity to travel out of the poorness rhythm through early instruction as early intercessions may hold positive benefits in the long tally ( Grantham-McGregor, 2009 as cited in Siraj-Blatchford & A ; Woodhead, 2009 ; Rosemberg & A ; Pu ntch, 2003 ) . Through early intercessions, these kids may be exposed to values and cognition that may non be inculcated in their place. For illustration, they may larn societal and cognitive accomplishments which may be utile when they attend formal schooling. With the cognition and life accomplishments acquired in schools, they may be able to lend to their community. Therefore, ECEC may be utile tool for province authoritiess and international bureaus to protect act in the best involvements of the kid and to protect kid ‘s rights. Economic benefits may be generated from investings in ECEC. Governments and international bureaus invest in early childhood attention and instruction as the economic benefits generated from investing in ECEC will churn greater additions in the hereafter because it may take down wellness and societal hazards, like offense rates. Children who are gainfully engaged in acquisition may be able to lend to the economic system in future. Foreign investors may put in a state if there are skilled workers who are able to work in their industries. Investing in kids will supply them with the necessary accomplishments to pull investings and to hike the economic system of the state ( Barnett as cited in Siraj-Blatchford & A ; Woodhead, 2009 ) . In conformity to the non-discrimination rule in UNCRC, all kids may be given equal opportunities in life. Governments and international bureaus may be committed to guarantee all kids have the same rights to instruction. Every kid may hold a right to instruction as kids will larn cardinal values like moral and ethical values, acceptable attitudes in community every bit good as basic accomplishments. For illustration, if kids populating in poorness are non educated, they may non be able to achieve cognition to assist them travel out of the poorness rhythm. There are different ECEC programmes to provide to the demands of peculiar community of kids. In developing states, female parents may necessitate to be educated on taking attention of their kids. For illustration, the mother-child instruction programme in Turkey provides others support for female parents in footings of kid wellness issues. Mothers are taught to take attention of their kids and educates female parents on kid wellness, rearing accomplishments every bit good as to back up kid ‘s development ( Annan, 2001 ; Bekman, 2009 as cited in Siraj-Blatchford & A ; Woodhead, 2009 ) . In developed states where wellness attention are more advanced, the kids may necessitate support in holistic development. In United Kingdom, the effectual pre-school and primary instruction prepare kids for primary schools ( Sylva, 2009 as cited in Siraj-Blatchford & A ; Woodhead, 2009 ) Surveies have shown that the more effectual programmes include all facets such as wellness, nutrition and development every bit good as parental and community engagement. Nimnicht ( 2009 ) as cited in Siraj-Blatchford & A ; Woodhead ( 2009 ) concur intercession programme for kids may be effectual if they is active engagement from all the stakeholders such as familes, communities and the regulating organic structures. This is in the instance of PROMESA in Columbia, whereby the households and communities are actively involved in the programmes. As such, UNCRC may do a difference if there are commitment and active engagement from regulating organic structures, international bureaus, communities and households to advance kid ‘s right ( Woodhead, 2009 as cited in Siraj-Blatchford & A ; Woodhead, 2009 ) . It may be disputing to supply quality early childhood attention and instruction to battle poorness. The province of kids ‘s wellness and development are adversely affected in kids populating in poorness. The relevancy of early childhood theoretical accounts, societal and cultural context, co-ordination within households, communities and authorities organic structures play an of import function in developing appropriate intercession programme to assist kids in poorness ( Woodhead, 2006 ; Siraj-Blatchford & A ; Woodhead, 2009 ) . For illustration, in the instance of a developed state, like USA, one of the aims of ECEC is to enable adult females to hold equal engagement in the work force and to enable kids to larn and socialise ( Penn, 2005 ) . As early intercession to control poorness may non be the chief precedence, ECEC is left to private operators which result in inequalities in quality of programme ( Tayler, 2009 as cited in Siraj-Blatchford & A ; Woodhead, 2009 ) . Inequality of quality and entree as private sectors tend to provide to the flush and non put up in poorer parts of the states. For illustration, in USA, ECEC is left to single suppliers so the quality of attention and instruction is variable and there is unjust entree to these services ( Penn, 2005 ) . Individual suppliers are besides more likely to put up ECEC Centres in urban countries and this may be incompatible with the authorities purpose to supply quality instruction for all kids. In the instance of a underdeveloped state, like Malawi, the ECEC set up in rural countries are community-based with hapless plan and unqualified staff. Policies develop at national degree may non be implemented consequently at land degree due to miss of resources. There may be unqualified instructors, irrelevant course of study every bit good as deficiency of support from the households and community. For illustration, the kids may necessitate to work to back up the households. In some instances where there is AIDS in the households, they may be ostracized by the communities and hence ECEC programmes may non be accessible to them ( Clark & A ; Tucker, 2010 ) . As such, the effectivity of early childhood instruction and attention may non be positive and therefore kids in some of the poorest states may non profit from UNCRC. In the twelvemonth 2000, UN millenary development ends were established to better the societal and economic conditions of developing states ( Bellamy, 2005 ) . Majority of the ends were related to kids and are expected to be achieved by 2015. Some of these ends include cut downing poorness, bettering wellness and life conditions, primary instruction, gender equality and households. However, statistics have shown that there has non been much betterment since these ends were set. Childs are still populating in poorness and hapless wellness. Diseases such as HIV, TB and malaria are prevailing ( Bellamy, 2005 ) . International bureaus have been working with some of the poorest states to guarantee that precedences of international AIDSs go to kids for wellness and development. These strategies have non been successful due to hapless co-operation between province and local authoritiess and the communities ( Bellamy, 2005 ) . Although many states have become more flush in the last decennary, the hapless still remain hapless as the spread between the rich and hapless states widen. This may be due to worsen in international AIDSs, struggles and war every bit good as to inappropriate usage of supports province authoritiess. Therefore kids in poorness may still be populating in hapless conditions ( Annan, 2001 ) . UNCRC may be an international jurisprudence, besides, the legal legal power in the states which have adopted it, it calls upon the moral duties by province authorities for enforcement ( Annan, 2001 ) . In order for UNCRC to do a difference to kids, province authoritiess and international bureaus must be committed puting kids in first precedence. All determinations in nation-building every bit good as economic growing should be considered with the rights of kids in head. In add-on, all stakeholders, such as, international bureaus, authorities organic structures, communities, households and kids need to play their portion in accomplishing the aims set by UNCRC.

Electronic Evolution in Negotiability of Negotiable Instruments Essay

Electronic Evolution in Negotiability of Negotiable Instruments - Essay Example Throughout the legislative process, attention was constantly given to the areas like, Governments, banks, trading and other interested circles. The Convention applies only to international bills of exchange and international promissory notes when they comply with certain requisites of form. The use of an instrument governed by the Convention is thus entirely optional. Ratification or accession by a State does not subject all international instruments issued in that State to the legal regime of the Convention but merely opens the door for bankers and merchants to opt for this new legal regime if they deem it preferable in their professional judgment.(1) The United Nations Commission on International Trade Law Model Law on Electronic Commerce 1996 (2)is a set of rules that provides a model for reform in this context. It is recommended that the Model Law should be adopted to increase certainty in relation to the enforceability of electronic bills of exchange. The Convention defines the terms "bill of exchange" and "promissory note" and states the conditions on which a bill of exchange or promissory note is considered to be int ernational. A bill of exchange is a written instrument which contains an unconditional order whereby the drawer directs the drawee to pay a definite sum of money to the payee or to his order, on demand or at a definite time. It should be dated and it should be signed by the drawer. A promissory note is a written instrument which contains an unconditional promise whereby the maker undertakes to pay a definite sum of money to the payee or to his order; on demand or at a definite time and it should be dated and it should be signed by the maker.(3) Modern commercial practice has been influenced to a considerable degree during the years by electronics and computers in numerous ways. With all scientific developments within the business environment the pace of adjustment corresponds to a challenge to the traditional legal notions regulating patterns of trade. The development of such electronics and computers influence the instruments of trade also. Before taking peer in to the impact of such electronic evolution in negotiability of Negotiable instruments, let's have deep look into the scope of Convention on international transaction with reference to Bills of exchange and Promissory notes. Scope of the Convention In its desire to win commercial acceptance and free circulation of its instruments in international commerce, the Convention firmly upholds the principle of negotiability. The Convention considers the jurisdictions as per a

Poetry Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Poetry Review - Essay Example The language used moves in a melodious iambic meter, both lulling us to drift with the speaker and awakening us to the paces of life. The first stanza uses repetition and alliteration to help soothe us into the quiet world of the hospital ward even as the tulips are seen to be a rude interruption into this world. Repeated whispers keep the tone quiet: â€Å"how white †¦ how quiet, how snowed-in† (2) and the soothing sound of the ‘th’ letter combination continue in â€Å"this bed, these hands† (4). The speaker is â€Å"learning† and â€Å"lying† (3), the â€Å"light lies† on â€Å"white walls† (Dickie, 1979), giving us a pattern of movement that is rocking on rhythm. As she wakes up, though, focus on the bright red of the tulips forces a quickening pace that is also reflected in the language. Things are â€Å"coming and going† (51), â€Å"the air snags and eddies† (54) and the tulips â€Å"concentrate my attention† (55). The tulips are filling the air â€Å"like a loud noise† (52). It is mostly due to this quickening pace toward life leading into the end of the poem that we are led to believe the poem is an affirmation of life, even though the tone remains as emotionless and detached as it first began. In â€Å"The Fish,† Elizabeth Bishop describes the perfect catch of a venerable old fish as she observes him hanging from her line. The fish hasn’t fought at all to prevent being reeled in and his skin hangs in strips â€Å"like ancient wallpaper† (11), the pattern reminding her of â€Å"full-blown roses / stained and lost through age† (14-15). These images conjure up thoughts of the family home, old and empty now that the children are grown and gone, maintenance no longer a priority in this advanced age. The fish is coated with barnacles, lime and sea-lice, with strings of seaweed attached to his underside. Through this

Defense of Arrested Persons Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Defense of Arrested Persons - Essay Example It will then go further to distinguish between these law enforcement agencies, which one is state and which one is local, also which one is criminal law enforcement agency or which one provide defense service to the accused. The document is organized into five sections each sections addressing the agency in each regions. Northeast The office of the Windsor County State Attorney is in Vermont and is found in the Northeast region. Its main function is to prosecute persons who have been arrested in the district court or county court. It helps victims to get justice in the prosecution of criminal offenses, child abuse and neglect cases, juvenile delinquencies, mental health proceedings and other civil matters. The office collaborates with law enforcement agencies, social service agencies, victims and members of the public to seek justice in the cases under investigation. The department protects and promotes public safety (DSASA, 2012). Southeast Georgia Department of Corrections is a sta te agency in the Southeast. It is located in Georgia State. It enforces criminal law. It functions to protect and serve the public by managing the offenders and creating a safe and secure environment for Georgia residents. It achieves its goal by providing correctional industries where the offenders are taken used to manufacture various commercial products. These products are targeting mainly the government agencies as the consumer. The government is the sole preferred consumer for these products to ensure that the market for the products is maintained and the correctional process through labor is thus maintained (GDC, 2012). The Department of Business and Professional Regulation, also in the Southeast region, is a state agency mandated to issue licenses and regulate businesses and professionals in the Florida state. It is therefore a law enforcement agency. In business, the agency licenses and regulates five major industries which are: alcoholic beverages and tobacco; Condomiums, T imeshares and mobile homes; drugs, and cosmetics; hotels and restaurants; and Pari-Mutuel Wagering. The agency is divided into various divisions of which each deal with a specific industry under the mandate of the agency. The division of alcoholic beverages and tobacco issues licenses necessary to operate these kinds of businesses. The division of condomiums, timeshares, and mobile homes protects the consumer from malpractices by this category of business. It regulates yatch and ship brokers, cooperatives, timeshares and mobile home parks. The division of drugs, devices and cosmetics safeguards health, safety, and welfare of the local Florida residents against injury from the use of adulterated, contaminated, misbranded drugs, drug ingredients and cosmetics by administering the Florida Drug and Cosmetic act. The division of building codes and standards ensures the residents safety in staying is safely constructed buildings. The division of hotels and restaurants licenses inspects an d regulates public lodging and food service establishments in Florida. It also regulates and licenses elevators, escalators and other vertical conveyance devices. The division of pari-mutuel wagering is vested with regulation of the state’s mutual, cardroom and slot gaming industries. It is also charged with collecting and protecting associated revenues due to the state (DBPR, 2012). Midwest The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation under the Office of the Attorney

POLICE SCIENCE, 2 page Criteak Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

POLICE SCIENCE, 2 page Criteak - Essay Example For example in the issue of child brides where the majority of which are seen in India, studies show that women in these countries are wed or engaged as children as part of their custom and traditions. Because it is a local custom, this abuse is seen not only among women children but even among males who are married before the age of ten. Even if there were missing data from some countries, the report was able to show the current issues faced by children and women in terms of violence and abuse. These countries that had no data provided such as China which has the largest population in the world and have a one-child policy may have declined giving data. There is also a recommendation to improve the gathering of data in these countries in order to strengthen the cases of reported abuse among children in these regions. Poverty was also targeted as the cause for the majority of children not being registered at birth in South Asia. This non-registration according to the report makes these children ineligible for basic rights such as voting, going to school or getting passports.

Castillian Lyric 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Castillian Lyric 2 - Essay Example The final phases of the evolution of the Castilian took place subsequent to the Arabic Invasion. In the early part of the fifth century, the Visigoths entered Romanized Spain but was not much impressed by its culture or language. They strictly followed the traditions and language of their homeland. As time went by, they began to inter marry and therefore allowed their children to learn the Roman Tongue which in turn evolved to be a kind of Pidgin-Latin. Since Latin was used as a literary tongue in that part of Spain where the Castilian speech evolved, over time became a proper language. Three Romance or Roman languages were in the hands of the Christians in that part of Spain – in Catalonia and Argon, the Provencal, Catalan or Limousin; in Asturias, Old Castile or Leon the Castilian; and in Galicia, the Gallego. During the Provencal – Catalan period, courts of love were held with great seriousness and proved that the art of love competed with the forces of law and religion. From the glorification of the relations between the sexes, there arose a science of chivalry which gradually spread to Castile. This fired the imagination of the Spanish mind and they came to accept and appreciate Romantic Literature. In time, all foreign languages lost their alien character and evolved from the crucible of Spanish thought- Castilian. The Troubadour poets of Provence and Catalonia were responsible in accomplishing the perfection of rhyming verse. These songs have great musical sense and the predominant theme is –â€Å"the exaltation of love† Castilian poetry and romance was greatly influenced by Provencal and Catalan troubadours. The Galician, a romance language which grew from the same root as the Portuguese, was nearly akin to Castilian. It is not rich in guttural sounds and has less of the Teutonic in its compositions. Galician influence upon Castilian literature ceased at an early period. The evolution of the Castilian from the original Latin

African American Empires Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

African American Empires - Essay Example This was then used for trade along trans-Sahara trade network. (Ancient Civilizations Website). Anything that the Wagadugu society required could be traded for gold, and this meant that the society soon became well established and very wealthy. The introduction of the camel increased the range of trading groups. (The Ghana Guide Website) Resources alone do not make a great nation. The second key success factor was the ability of the people to govern themselves wisely. They also made profits and distributed them widely. Taxes were levied from passing traders. An effective legal system based on tribal chief authority kept order and peace within the territory. Good leadership was a critical factor in Wagadugu’s success. When invaders arrived, there was a ready army for defence. Other nation wanted to have good relations with this territory. It was a beacon of enlightenment in Africa. This it was a combination of good fortune in terms of resources, and hard work in terms of organization that enabled the Wagadugu empire to be so

Multiculturalism Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Multiculturalism - Research Proposal Example Different people have addressed this topic but I have seen it important to address the topic and try to come with a remedy to ensure that people can embrace each other’s cultural diversity. This will also prevent cultural profiling which is common among different people in the society. On the bid to address the issue, many writers have tried to project ways in which people can take advantage of the situation without allowing the division to creep in. According to Clarence Page a contributor in the Chicago Tribune, the way the issue is being addressed in the United States has left more rifts rather than proposing a reconciling strategy. Mathew Lynch writing about multiculturalism in schools notes that it is important to teach students at an early age how to embrace each other’s diversity instead of profiling each other negatively based on their different cultures. He also adds that blending of the different cultures can be both a blessing and a curse according to the way that the issue will be addressed. Bafford adds that there is no harmonized American culture and so the people living there should show high levels of cultural tolerance. Responding to the issue of multiculturalism is the main issue as Valerie, an editor with the Los Angeles Times puts it. Th e education system should therefore address it to ensure that people embrace each other’s uniqueness and different cultural orientation. The research will cover the topic in a different way to address the limitations of the previous researches and come up with a working model for the same. The research should also come up with recommendations and the relationship between multiculturalism and other social aspects that are evident in any given society. The leading question will be on ways to address

Italy and Japan Essay Example for Free

Italy and Japan Essay World War II caused greater destruction than any other war in history. The war took the lives of about 17 million soldiers and an even greater number of civilians, who died as a result of bombings, starvation, and deliberate campaigns of mass murder. The war also ushered in the atomic age and was quickly followed by the collapse of the wartime alliance between the United States and the Soviet Union and the beginning of the Cold War. World War I created the conditions that led to World War II. The peace settlement ending the war, which stripped the Central Powers of territory and arms and required them to pay reparations, left lasting bitterness in Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Turkey. The peace treaty also disappointed two of the victors, Italy and Japan. In addition, the war severely disrupted Europes economies and helped set the stage for the Great Depression of the 1930s. General histories of the war, which examine the wars origins, military history, and consequences, include John Keegan, The Second World War (1989); C. L. Sulzberger and Stephen E. Ambrose, American Heritage New History of World War II (1997); and Gerhard L. Weinberg, A World at Arms: A Global History of World War II (1994). Valuable reference works include I. C. B. Dear and M. R. D. Foot, eds. , The Oxford Companion to the Second World War (1995); John Ellis, World War II: A Statistical Survey (1993); and John Keegan, ed. , The Times Atlas to the Second World War (1989). To understand the wars outcome, see Richared Overy, Why the Allies Won (1995). The most thorough and balanced recent history of the American role in World War II is David M. Kennedy, Freedom from Fear: The American People in Depression and War, 1929-1945 (1999), which examines the causes of U. S. involvement in the conflict, wartime diplomacy, military strategy, and the wars economic and social implications. The question of how Japan was able to carry out its successful surprise attack on Pearl Harbor is thoroughly examined in Gordon W. Prange, At Dawn We Slept: The Untold Story of Pearl Harbor (1982). The wars European theater is discussed in Stephen L. McFarland and Wesley Phillips Newton, To Command the Sky: The Battle for Air Superiority Over German, 1942-1944 (1991); Nathan Miller, War at Sea: A Naval History of World War II (1995); and James Polmar and T. B. Allen, World War II (1996). Soldiers wartime experiences are examined in Gerald F. Linderman, The World Within War: Americas Combat Experience in World War II (1997). On the Pacific War, see John Dower, War Without Mercy: Race and Power in the Pacific War (1986), Akira Iriye, Power and Culture: The Japanese-American War, 1941-1945 (1981), and Ronald Spector, Eagle Against the Sun (1985) World War II transformed the American homefront. It jump-started the economy; ended Depression-era unemployment, relocated Americans in unprecedented numbers, and permanently altered the status of women, adolescents, and racial minorities in American life. The wars impact on the homefront is analyzed in William L. ONeill, A Democracy at War: Americas Fight at Home and Abroad in World War II (1993). Oral histories from the war years can be found in Studs Terkel, The Good War (1984). World War II had a dramatic impact on womens lives. The most visible change involved the appearance of large numbers of women in uniform, as more than 250,000 women joined the WACs, the Army Nurses Corps, the WAVES, and the Navy Nurses Corps. The war also challenged the conventional image of female behavior, as Rosie the Riveter became the popular symbol of women who worked in defense industries. Wartime transformations in womens lives are examined in Susan M. Hartmann, The Homefront and Beyond: Women in the 1940s (1982) and DAnn Campbell, Women at War with America: Private Lives in a Patriotic Era (1984). World War II affected children and adolescents no less than women. In fact, the word teenager first appeared during the war. William M. Tuttle, Jr. , Daddys Gone to War: The Second World War in the Lives of Americas Children (1993) traces the changes in young peoples lives. During World War II, African Americans waged battles on two fronts. They helped the country win the war overseas and pressed for equal rights at home. This dual struggle for victory against fascism and discrimination, known as the Double V campaign, is examined in Neil Wynn, The Afro-American and the Second World War (1976). The internment of 112,000 mainland Japanese Americans, one of the most shameful chapters in American history, is examined in Peter Irons, Justice at War: The Story of the Japanese Internment Cases (1983). A 1942 government report on the Pearl Harbor attack, written by Supreme Court Justice Owen J. Roberts, which claimed without supporting evidence that the Japanese had received support from some Japanese Americans, helped to create a climate of opinion that led to internment. World War II marked the dawn of the atomic age. The development of nuclear weapons is thoroughly examined in Richard Rhodes, The Making of the Atomic Bomb (1986). The decision to drop two atomic bombs on Japan remains one of the most controversial decisions in military history. Martin Sherwin, A World Destroyed: The Atomic Bomb and the Grand Alliance (1975) analyzes the factors that went into this decision.

Gender Discrimination Essay

Gender Discrimination Essay Introduction Gender inequality, or in other words, gender discrimination refers to unfair rights between male and female based on different gender roles which leads to unequal treatment in life. The term gender inequality has been widely known in human history but not until the beginning the 20th century has the transformation of gender relations become one of the most rapid, profound social changes (Wright Rogers 2009). And at the same time, the position of men and women were generally set. The growth of this situation has been obviously seen. According to a survey in America, females salary at work is 75% as low as males. Coming back to last century, at work, when men were paid 1 dollar, the amount that women received was just 58 cents, in accordance with the law in 1963 (Tran 2012) . And in Vietnam, gender inequality is shown in the difference between two genders in the number of babies. Statistics of Ministry of Planning Investment in 2010 reported that there were 110.6 new-born boys out of 100 new-born girls which was much higher than in the past. However, as a matter of fact, gender discrimination has made a big argument in society about whether the equality among genders should be encouraged or not. Regarding to this problem, American people seem to appreciate the position of women, meanwhile, the Chinese tend to think of higher power of men in life (Chang n.d.) Thus, this paper, with the purpose of reporting the current states of gender inequality, its impacts as well as the solutions to improve this trend, will give readers another look at this controversial problem. Discussion of findings What is gender inequality? Gender inequality is a social problem which causes unfair treatment in society between different genders. These dissimilarities are distinguished from biological factors, especially from differing reproductive roles in life (Reeves Baden 2000). This misperception comes originally from the wrong understanding about the position of each gender in life. Nowadays, the paradox that makes women suffer adversities and put women into unpleasant situation is seen in every angle of life. However, the method of gender discrimination in one place differs from that in others. For example, in workplace gender inequality accelerates when entering the job racing, not only the dissimilar salary, inequality at work is demonstrated through the differences between genders and the amount of money paid (Hsu 2012). In the aspect of education, in the past, men are prone to have more chances to go to school. Young women seemed to have fewer opportunities for higher education than young men (Dang 2008, p.25) Regarding to the reasons and the origin of gender inequality, it can be seen that Asia would be the place where gender discrimination has seemed to be a tradition. According to the General office for population family planning, the idea of distinguishing men from women came from the impacts of Confucianism and the awareness of people about life. Men were thought to have a duty of continuing the ancestral line. In that society, not having a son meant to be disrespectful towards the ancestor. Going on with this wrong conception, women are more likely to lose the role in community (Nguyen n.d.) How gender inequality affects lives? Initially, gender inequality has effects on the scale of population. According to statistics of the General office for population family planning (Nguyen n.d.), because of the discrimination of genders, the number of new-born boys and girls is unequal. To some people, the hope to have a son loses the balance between two genders. Unfortunately, this situation has occurred for such a long time, so the impacts of it in the population are rather huge. As report of Ministry of public health, it is estimated that, despite the attempt to reduce the fluctuation between the birth of boys and girls, in 2020 there will be 4.3 million men more than women. Minister of ministry of public health statement (cited in Phuong 2012), said that if this trend still keeps on going, it will lead to quite a few consequences in security and the order of society before marriage age of children because there will lack brides resulting from out-numbered new-born boys from girls. Now we can see an obvious consequ ence among the Chinese. According to a Blue Paper on Society released by the China Academy of Social Science, there will run short of brides in ten years because of severe gender imbalance among young people, particularly among under 19-aged people (Tang 2010). Secondly, the discrimination of genders leads to some problems in education. Education is an important tool, is the key to the growth of human. And no matter what gender a person is, he has right to expose to education like others. Chaudhry Rahman (2009 p.175), reported that there are many empirical evidences that, increase in female education improves human development outcomes such as child survival, health and schooling. However, lower female education had a negative impact on economic growth as it lowered the average level of human capital (Klasen 2002, cited in Chaudhry Rahman 2009, p.175). World Bank in 2001 stated that in almost all poor countries, there is a high trend of educational impacts of gender inequality. In poverty, girls are more likely to be influenced to approach education. Finally, economy is the field that is consequently affected, because there is a link between education and economy. The impact of gender inequality on economy is found through the number of male and female students in primary and secondary school which is negative (Barro and Lee (1994) and Barro and Sala-i-Martin (1995), cited Stephan Klasen 1999, p.4). And they claimed that a large gap in male and female schooling may signify backwardness and may therefore be associated with lower economic growth( Barro and Lee (1994) and Barro and Sala-i-Martin (1995)). And lets take China- a country which is famous for strong gender imbalance all over the world- as an example of modeling the impact of gender imbalances on economic performance (Golley Tyers 2012). As mentioned earlier, China is facing a lack of brides 10 years to go and this trend leads to the problems of women purchasing crime. Especially men in poor provinces now are exposing to marriage market and this situation makes the black market of selling wife on the rise, said the deputy director of the China Population Association- Tian Xueyuan (cited Tang 2010). Another economic impact of gender discrimination is unequal wages among male and female. According to Yang Juhua, a professor with Renmin University, the wages of women is much lower than mens despite the same level of position (cited Tang 2010). Tang also mentioned the chances to get a job of women are smaller and there is more likelihood of being refused on applying for jobs. How to solve this problem? Ninety-three years ago, people in some places in the world first officially celebrated the International womens day. In ninety three years, there have been a lot of changes made in terms of changing attitudes of people about the inequality of genders. Nowadays we are living in a developed world which is contributed by both men and female so why female have to suffer such that inequality which they dont deserve to? Generally speaking, this kind of inequality has existed for a long time and in every area of the world, no matter where it is (Chang n.d.). Now its time for the world together make this out-of-date conception fade away. To some extent, the Nobel Committee stated that we cannot reach democracy and peace unless we wouldnt give equal rights and chances for women have. For the sake of making economic recovery, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton claimed that promoting women to participate in economy and increasing their productivity is the key to economic growth because it will create an effect on the competitiveness and growth of our economies. (cited Sharma Keefe 2011). In the relationship between economy and education, people cannot underestimate the importance of education. To flourish the economy system, people have to make an effort on schooling. Regarding to the solutions to this, setting up gender-sensitive schools is a crucial step in making a nice environment for learning and teaching. Helping female feel more confident in studying, improving a gender-sensitive curriculum which reflects national policy on gender equality to instruct is also necessary (Clarke 2005, p.11) Conclusion From all the discussing above, gender inequality is obviously an urgent problem in the world. Despite the fact that its volume much decreases, it still exists and makes a lot of people suffer its consequences every day. And there are many reasons leading to gender discrimination which cannot be solved easily. However, with education and progressive thoughts of people, there are also reasons to trust in the future of gender inequality being stopped. Then, hopefully, people can live in fairness no matter what gender they are.

The Grapes of Wrath: No One Man, But One Common Soul :: Grapes Wrath essays

The Grapes of Wrath: No One Man, But One Common Soul         Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Many writers in American literature try to instill the philosophy of their choosing into their reader.   This is often a philosophy derived at from their own personal experiences.   John Steinbeck is no exception to this.   When traveling through his native Californian in the mid-1930s, Steinbeck witnessed people living in appalling conditions of extreme poverty due to the Great Depression and the agricultural disaster known as the Dust Bowl.   He noticed that these people received no aid whatsoever from neither the state of California nor the federal government.   The rage he experienced from seeing such treatment fueled his novel The Grapes of Wrath.   Steinbeck sought to change the suffering plight of these farmers who had migrated from the midwest to California.   Also, and more importantly, he wanted to suggest a philosophy into the reader, and insure that this suffering would never occur again (Critical 1).   Steinbeck shows in The Grapes of Wrath that there is no one man, but one common soul in which we all belong to.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The subject of Steinbeck's fiction is not the most thoughtful, imaginative, and constructive aspects of humanity, but rather the process of life itself (Wilson 785).   Steinbeck has been compared to a twentieth century Charles Dickens of California; a social critic with more sentiment than science or system.   His writing is warm, human, inconsistent, occasionally angry, but more often delighted with the joys associated with human life on its lowest levels (Holman 20).   This biological image of man creates techniques and aspects of form capable of conveying this image of man with esthetic power and conviction; the power to overcome adversity through collectiveness, or in this case, as one combined soul(Curley 224).      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Steinbeck's basic purpose of the novel is essentially religious, but not in any orthodox sense of the word.   He is religious in that he contemplates man's relation to the cosmos and attempts to transcend scientific explanations based on sense experience.   He is also religious in that he explicitly attests the holiness of nature (Curley 220).   A common fear during the nineteenth century was one of this naturalism leading to the end of reverence, worship, and sentiment.   Steinbeck, however, is the first significant author to build his own set of beliefs, which some would refer to as a â€Å"religion,† upon a naturalistic basis.   Because of his â€Å" religious† style on a naturalistic basis, he is able to relate man with a natural soul that they own, and combine them into a grouping of a larger, more important soul (220).      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   America and American literature was founded on the spirit of

Zero and Asylum in the Snow by Lawrence Durrell :: Madness Psychology Durrell Essays

Zero and Asylum in the Snow by Lawrence Durrell What is madness? Is madness a brain disorder or a chemical imbalance? On the other hand, is it an expressed behavior that is far different from what society would believe is "normal"? Lawrence Durrell addresses these questions when he explores society's response to madness in his short story pair "Zero and Asylum in the Snow," which resembles the nearly incoherent ramblings of a madman. In these stories, Durrell portrays how sane, or lucid, people cannot grasp and understand the concept of madness. This inability to understand madness leads society to fear behavior that is different from "normal," and subsequently, this fear dictates how they deal with it. These responses include putting a name to what they fear and locking it up in an effort to control it. Underlying all, however, Durrell repeatedly raises the question: who should define what is mad? In line with these questions, Durrell emphasizes that the inability to understand often leads to fear. Moreover, with little or no knowledge of an event or concept, people tend to feel powerless and out of control. Without this necessary understanding, they are unable to have any influence on the situation. One such situation is madness, which is little understood, and the source of madness virtually unknown. People often fear madness, and try to avoid others who seem "weird," different, or exhibit some sign of madness. The people who fear are "poor cattle, they do not understand" ("Zero" 266), and "they will never discover†¦for they have no faith" ("Zero" 264). Durrell encourages them to put away their fears and stop looking for a logical explanation to "madness": "Come. Enter into the creative activity in which you do not need your understandings. Do not mistake truth for the possessive process any longer – ratiocination, knowledge" ("Zero" 252; emphasis added). Durrell believes that not everything needs a "rational" and "logical" explanation. Furthermore, though "madness" cannot be completely explained, it does not need to be feared. The old man in the asylum attempts to understand, "look[ing] profoundly cautious, asking questions, and gathering the answers" ("Zero" 268), and he comes close to understanding the narrator. However, his fear keeps him from grasping the truth: "For the first time there is an understanding in him, but it is hidden in fear" ("Zero" 258). Throughout the two stories, there are many instances where Durrell portrays this fear brought by a lack of understanding.

John Wayne :: essays research papers

Arguably the most popular — and certainly the busiest — movie leading man in Hollywood history, John Wayne entered the film business while working as a laborer on the Fox Studios lot during summer vacations from university, which he attended on a football scholarship. He met and was befriended by John Ford, a young director who was beginning to make a name for himself in action films, comedies, and dramas. Wayne was cast in small roles in Ford's late-'20s films, occasionally under the name Duke Morrison. It was Ford who recommended Wayne to director Raoul Walsh for the male lead in the 1930 epic Western The Big Trail, it was a failure at the box office, but the movie showed Wayne's potential as a leading actor. During the next nine years, be busied himself in a multitude of B-Westerns and serials — most notably Shadow of the Eagle in between occasional bit parts in larger features such as Warner Bros.' Baby Face. But it was in action roles that Wayne excelled, e xuding a warm and imposing manliness onscreen to which both men and women could respond.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In 1939, Ford cast Wayne as the Ringo Kid in the adventure Stagecoach, a brilliant Western of modest scale but tremendous power, and the actor finally showed what he could do. Wayne nearly stole a picture filled with Oscar-caliber performances, and his career was made. He starred in most of Ford's subsequent major films, whether Westerns (Fort Apache, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, Rio Grande, The Searchers ); war pictures (They Were Expendable); or serious dramas (The Quiet Man). He also starred in numerous movies for other directors, including several extremely popular World War II thrillers (Flying Tigers, Back to Bataan, Fighting Seabees, Sands of Iwo Jima); costume action films (Reap the Wild Wind, Wake of the Red Witch); and Westerns (Red River). His box-office popularity rose steadily through the 1940s, and by the beginning of the 1950s he'd also begun producing movies through his company Wayne-Fellowes, later Batjac, in association with his sons. Most of these films were extremely successful, and included such titles as Angel and the Badman, Island in the Sky , The High and the Mighty ( my personal favorite), and Hondo. The 1958 Western Rio Bravo, directed by Howard Hawks, proved so popular that it was remade by Hawks and Wayne twice, once as El Dorado and later as Rio Lobo.

Mari Evans’ “I Am a Black Woman”

Imani Newbill Professor Simms-Burton English 2140 21 March 2010 Mari Evans’ â€Å"I Am a Black Woman† â€Å"Mari Evans is one of the most energetic and respected poets of the Black Arts movement† (1850). The themes of her poems are very direct, but the simple lyrics make the poem eloquent (1850). â€Å"Lost love, a lost Africa, failed relationships between black woman and black men† are usually the tails of her poems (1850). Yet she also portrays that â€Å"losses summon from us the courage to struggle , to continue in the face of adversity and pain† (1850). ‘I Am a Black Woman’ whose title poem first appeared in Negro Digest, links the themes of black enslavement and impoverishment with the global oppression of the wretched† (1850). â€Å"The volume [â€Å" I Am a Black Woman†] heralded the arrival of a poet who took her subject matter from the black community, and who celebrated its triumphs, especially the focus on the beauty of blackness that characterized the black arts and civil rights movements. †(Gale ) Therefore, understanding Mari Evans’ themes and tone fuels the greatness of â€Å"I Am a Black Woman†.Mari Evans’ usually deals with the despair and loss of the African American citizen in her literary work. In â€Å"I Am a Black Woman†, Evans chooses to tell the story of the black woman. She portrays the roles and relationships of the black woman. Evans’ includes the story of all black women’s pain, their fight for civil rights, the black lover, and the black mother. The narrator of this poem describes, in lines 1-4, the pain black women experience because they are black woman:I am a black woman the music of my song some sweet arpeggio of tears is written in a minor key The â€Å"music of my song/some sweet arpeggio of tears† tells of the internal struggle of being a black woman. Also what it means to be a black woman. Evans’ portr ays the despair felt from her husband’s death in lines 11-12 when the narrator describes more pain â€Å"I saw my mate leap screaming to the sea/ and I/with these hands/cupped the lifebreath/? from my issue in the canebrake†.The mother receives more grief in lines 14-15 â€Å"and heard my son scream all the way from Anzio/for Peace he never knew† (Gates 1852). Evans’ tells of the pain of the black mother. The mothers who birth the black children whose rights are being spit on and dragged through the dirt. The mother whose black sons who fight in wars for a country that despises the black skin that they have at birth. This also portrayed in lines 16-17 â€Å"learned Da Nang and Pork Chop Hill/? in anguish† (Gates 1852) Evans’ theme of pain of the black woman is clearly shown.Evans’ shows the blues of being a black woman in stanza’s one and two, but in the last stanza she shows that even threw the pain and anguish black woman are still strong: I am a black woman ?tall as a cypress ?strong beyond all definition still ?defying place ?and time and circumstance ?assailed ?impervious ?indestructible ?Look ?on me and be ?renewed Evans’ chooses a public persona to work through her understanding of what it means to be black in the Western world, and she hopes to inspire others through their witnessing her quest. Gale ) In line 29, the narrator indicates that as a black women are imperious and one can not set their boundaries Black women can not be boxed into in situations based on circumstance because the odds can be defied place time and the black women’s indestructibility. The narrator is saying look at me defy the odds and anyone can be renewed because of the triumph from my despair. The narrator has most clearly defied the odds because of all the stress and drama that is in her life and she still stands strong. The tone changes from stanza to stanza in the poem, â€Å"I Am a Black Woman.The tone in the first stanza is filled with stress and she use humming to relieve the stress. She is actually crying in the first stanza. The tone of the second stanza is despair. She watches her mate and son die along with important figures like Nat Turner (Gates 1852) In stanza two the narrator indicates, â€Å"Now my nostrils know the gas/ and these trigger tire/d fingers† (Gates 1852) . Again the tone is despair because she attempts and contemplates suicide. However, stanza three's tone is about renewal , inspiration and strength.She indicates look at me and my struggles and still I stand strong like a cypress tree. The tone of the poem is sad at the beginning and inspirational at the end. Evan remains strong to her themes of negative love affairs between black men and women and global perspective in her writing of â€Å"I Am a Black Woman. However, the tone changes in this poem, and the lyrics are simple. An ultimately she provides encouragement and hope, which is still done in her poem â€Å"I Am a Black Woman. Therefore, understanding Mari Evans’ themes and tone fuels the greatness of â€Å"I Am a Black Woman†.Works Cited| Gates, Henry Louis Jr. and Nellie Y McKay, ed. Norton Anthology of African American Literature. 2nd ed. New York: WW. Norton, 2004. 2096| Gates, Henry Louis Jr. and Nellie Y McKay, ed. â€Å"I Am a Black Woman. † Norton Anthology of African American Literature. 2nd ed,. New York: WW. Norton, 2004. 1851-1852. | Gates, Henry Louis Jr. and Nellie Y McKay, ed. â€Å"The Black Arts Era 1960-1975. † Norton Anthology of African American Literature. 2nd ed. New York: WW. Norton, 2004. 1831-1850. Print. | |

Project Management and Coffee Shop Essay

Mission/ Purpose We are A coffee Shop aim to achieve consumer satisfaction by providing fresh brew coffee and teas at guarantied the best prices. We strive to provide a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere. In addition, we will try to preserve our reputation of providing an excellent quality of coffee. SOW The coffee shop project contains a few renovations to an old building. It is my idea to create a vintage cafà © with hopes of attracting tourists as well as locals. I hope that the idea of a vintage cafà © in the hustle of the city attracts people as well as provides them with a sense of ease and relaxation. The renovation ideas include adding new, small, dim lights throughout the ceiling, repainting the walls, the addition of darkly colored wooden floor, purchasing and hanging up vintage style pictures and memorabilia. The use of small round tables and country styled chairs. We hope to renovate a new central air system. The project will start on the 5thof January and Finish by the 26th of February. This project will include a contingency of 50%. A project management team will be assigned to manage all renovations. Objectives In our efforts as a coffee shop the objective is to provide a unique project to a community that is located only minutes from all major subway and bus stops and has many openings in the busiest location throughout the five boroughs. Business Need We are in the business of clearly understanding our project requirements and this includes choosing coffee shop activities that enable my team to accomplish true desire, while monitoring performance during and at the end of the project. We the coffee shop are focusing on meeting real needs so therefore this project main goal is to establish itself in multiple locations throughout the state and eventually throughout the country to reach an overall goal of customer satisfaction as well as a prosperous business. Project Manager and Stakeholders Project leader is no other than Earnesto the stakeholders of this project are the satisfied consumers. Milestones The Key milestones of the coffee shop are to establish its renowned name through at least Five locations throughout the state; Twenty locations throughout the tri-state area; and possibly forty locations throughout the country. Budget The order-of-magnitude budget for this project is to improve our efficiency by 30 percent. Budget cont. (Monthly) Legal/ administrative fees $20,000.00 Renovations (painting, flooring, etc) $50,000.00 Contingency Allowance (Plan A) (20%) (Plan B) $25,000.00 $15,000.00 Business Insurance $15,000.00 Supplies (cups, coffee, stirrers, coffee makers, blenders, cash registers, $10,000.00 Staff Payment $5,000.00 Total Budget $140,000.00 User Acceptance Criteria/Quality The minimum success criteria as defined by the key stakeholders are to assure that our customers are always satisfied with their orders from our business, as well as the locations, set up and environment of the business. High-Level Project Assumptions A constant flow of customers in addition to first time customers will enable us to assume that we are conducting and carrying our business successfully. High-Level Project Constraints  Limiting factors that affect the project is ensuring that the majority of our customers enjoy our brews and blends with different selections of coffee as well as our dà ©cor and arrangement of the facility. We must cater to the public’s desire and keep up to date in order to progress as a business. Exclusions and Boundaries Boundaries of the project include making sure that we have appropriate and professional staff; That our overall interior and exterior design is attractive, that the staff is welcoming, customer satisfaction, etc. Major Risks The Risks affecting the project is that we must set up the next branch of the coffee shop in an area where we are sure that we will profit the most because if we set up in an unsuccessful area we may not profit which ultimately will risk the progression of our business.

Cakewalk

The nineteenth century was brought by a great emergence of music that would change history. In the late 1980’s a change in rhythm evolved in playing piano music. Ragtime piano was introduced as a new popular way to play the piano fast and shallow. The measures were used to sixteen beats just like European counterparts although the music was said to be the â€Å"afro-American† version of the polka. In this thought the stereotype is drawn as â€Å"ragtime† being associated with African American people.Based on the beats in the music which produced a sousa style march, ragtime became the melody used to perform the cakewalk dance. In this article the description of the cake walk is â€Å"an Afro-American dance initially based on an elegant, stylized parody of southern white courtly manners†, the dance is stereotyped as being made for one group of people, and that being African Americans. The first African American composer to produce ragtime music was Tom Turp in which also brought along singers to become the voice of this musical form of ragtime.Following the sensation of this music, the cakewalk was always performed which then opened doors for other types of dances and songs later known as jazz. The article â€Å"Cake Walk, Shimmy, and the Charleston† the descriptions emphasis how dances performed by African American women brought unity among white and black audiences. Dancers were referred to as â€Å"Babylon girls† who expressed a positive way in which African American women were being recognized for their gender and race. They expressed themselves in these musical forms to show black freedom and feel a part of popular music.The stereotype made in this article was based upon the sexuality presented in the cakewalk dance by African American women. Many described them as to be â€Å"sexually frank and opinionated, to be figures of independence. † In reality the African American women were just a generation removed f rom slavery in which they had to deal with stereotypes from both from white people about their sexuality and black people about black repression for respectability. Dancing just allowed them to celebrate their freedom and express themselves freely.This era of dancing and music in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s helped bring European styled music mixed with African American rhythm to beginning the jazz era to come. The picture on the sheet music doesn’t show any negative criticism. In the imagery women and men are dressed very nicely with tall top hats and long dresses. Perhaps the women are dressed more conservative than normal women that dress in shorter dresses. The men show very wide and large lips probably indicating an African American race.

Food Chemistry Essay

The chemical processes that take place inside food determine its nutritional value, taste, texture and freshness. Like any other organic material, food can decompose over a period of time. The importance of food chemistry lies in its ability to counter the effects of decomposition and spoilage and extend the shelf life of foods. Food chemistry is a science that studies the chemical processes that take place in food. All food products are made of biological materials that react and interact in different ways, and under different conditions. Carbohydrates, lipids (or fats) and proteins are the main components that make up food. Other components such as enzymes, water, minerals, additives and coloring are also areas of study within food chemistry. This branch of science plays a significant role in food processing methods designed to preserve and enhance availability and quality, according to Ohio State University. An understanding of the chemical processes that take place in foods has made food supplies available on a global scale. Methods designed to counter the decomposition process are a central area of study. The principles underlying food chemistry create the methods that make it possible to harvest, preserve, distribute, store and prepare foods for human consumption, according to Ohio State University. Grocery stores are able to provide fresh milk, canned goods, microwave meals and frozen foods because of the knowledge gained through food chemistry studies. Food chemistry plays an integral role within the food science technologies that make global supplies available, according to Ohio State University. These technologies draw from biology, physics, microbiology, nutrition and engineering to put food chemistry principles into practice. The methods used to package and label end-use products must also comply with Food and Drug Administration requirements. Also of importance is the testing and experiments that go into creating flavorful foods for consumer consumption. Foods such as meats and vegetables can contain anywhere from 50 to 95 percent water content, according to Ohio State University. Water activity involves the amount of water available, or susceptible to chemical and biological reactions within a food product. The amount of water activity present can determine the likelihood that bacterial growth and spoilage will develop within food materials. Chemistry methods work to reduce the amount of water contained in a material, or else counter its effects within a food product. Food quality, consumer satisfaction and government requirements are ll factors taken into account when designing food processing and preservation methods, according to Ohio State University. And while minimal processing enables foods to retain their original nutritional content, the need to extend the shelf life of end products makes processing and preservation methods necessary. The pH level present within a food product is another variable that influences flavor, texture and freshness. A pH level refers to acidity, or the lack thereof, with high acid contents being less susceptible to decompos ition, or spoilage, than low acid content foods.

BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL CASE STUDY Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL - Case Study Example Her case presents an insight into the effects that this condition can have on an individual’s life. Bertha started experiencing problems in her health near about the time when her father fell ill. Her initial complain was cough which was then followed by other problems which included visual and auditory problems as well as headaches. She then stopped talking for 14 days which was then followed by episodes of transition between two different personalities. After her father died, her condition worsened. Breuer was the person who was treating her. He used hypnosis on her to treat her condition. HE applied the principle of Catharsis to treat her and he used it for her different symptoms to overcome them. Though the frequency of her personality switch decreased, she was still experiencing the problem. Breuer discontinued his treatment and left her after she told him that she was pregnant and was carrying his child. This was a form of transference and this concept was not well understood at that time. Breuer declared her health to be well and left her. Following this she was sent to an institution and it was found from her reports that she had become a morphine addict and had stopped speaking in her mother tongue which was German. She also lost track of certain happenings in her life and could not remember them. Also there were periods of unconsciousness as well. Even after she left the institution, it was seen that she had two personalities for about another half decade. But she did eventually recover after about ten years and she became actively involved in social work. She worked for the rights of women as well as children. It was believed that in the case of Anna she was a target of emotional as well as sexual exploitation and it was this trauma that led her into the condition of multiple personality disorder. It is also thought that since she was an intelligent lady and women in those times were suppressed, she could have been emotionally disturbed because of this as well. Also her family was strict and she had many limitations and thus her lack of freedom ca n also be associated with this condition. Multiple personality disorder is a condition which is believed to have many reasons that lead to its causation. Biological factors have an important role to play. It has been seen that this condition is associated with trauma and such strain and disturbances can lead to effects on the life of a person. It is believed that the orbitofrontal complex is an important system of the human brain that helps in keeping memories and it is considered to be affected in this condition which can be counted as a reason for the absence of a person’s thoughts and happenings and short term memory loss. It is also involved in maintaining the emotional stability of a person. The development of the nerves and the myelination of the nervous system are at its peak in the last 3 to 4 years of a person’s life. It gets completed by the age of 12 years. Strained relationships with the parents in early ages are seen to be related with affecting this compl ex of the brain. In the case of Anna, as it is believed that she must have been traumatized at an early age due to emotional as well as sexual abuse, a possible correlation with the loss of efficient functioning of the orbitofrontal complex can be related to her condition. It is also notable that since she came from a conservative family and she was an intelligent woman, this could have also affected the early years of her life. The affect on this complex

Hazards of Aluminium welding fume Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Hazards of Aluminium welding fume - Essay Example Electric welding was introduced in 1940s. Aluminium welding has been in prominence since 1970. There are several types of welding like Arc welding and Manual metal arc is a common process where the workers are exposed to the fumes. Carbon arc, Cold welding, Electron beam welding, Flux core arc welding, Gas welding, Gas metal arc welding, Gas tungsten arc welding, Shielded metal arc welding, Plasma arc welding, Laser beam welding are the other welding processes where workers are exposed to metal fumes. The welding workers have a high exposure of metal fumes and the exposure depends on place, confined space, workshop or open air. The metal fumes depend on not only the Aluminium but also the process involved which may produce gases like acetylene, carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen , ozone, phosgene and tungsten. The metal fumes primarily enter the human system by inhalation route namely Respiration.. The deposition of these inhaled metallic particles is influenced by its physical and chemical properties and a variety of host factors. In the lungs, these particles produce a variety of reactions depending on the concentration, duration of the exposure of the particles, and degree of exposure. All Metallic particles greater than 10 are deposited on the Mucous membrane in the nose and pharynx. Particles between 3m and 10 m are deposited throughout the trachea of the lungs. Particles less than 3m are deposited in the alveoli and cause serious hazards. These particles have a fair chance of being carried into the blood stream and cause Hepatotoxicity and Nephrotoxicity. Health Hazards of Aluminium fumes : Hazards of Aluminium fumes have been well documented in various scientific journals. The health hazard assessment is done by sampling and analysis. Sampling has been well prescribed by the Draft British Standard (DD54) for breathing zone and background samples. Chemical analysis techniques for milligram amounts of fume obtained are outlined in DD54; part I.(Moreton,1982) Aluminium work related Asthma has been established by characteristic patterns of repeated peak flow measurements supported by changes in methacholine responsiveness in workers with work related asthma (Konyerud, 1994).A recent study by keith Harrison of the Queens land Fertility group, Australia has proved the testicular toxicity of such Chemicals in male workers. Studies have also proved that exposure of workers to these metal fumes aged between 20-64, admitted to 11 hospitals in England during the period between 1996-1999, caused health hazards and is a classic case of occupational hazard of metal fume exposure (Palmer, 2003). Further studies on 27 welders with long-term exposure to these metal fumes revealed a reversible increase in the risk of Pneumonia. In the sputum, cell counts, soluble levels of the metal, levels of Interleukin-8, tumour necrosis factor-, myeloperoxidase, metalloproteinase -9, Immunoglobulin (Ig)A, 2-macroglobulin and unsaturated metal binding capacity were analyzed and in the blood samples, evidence of neutrophil activation and IgG pneumococcal antibodies were analyzed. The studies concluded that the local inflammatory response was affected by chronic exposure (Palmer,2006). All welding workers thus, are exposed to acute or chronic respiratory disease. Welding fumes cause

Does the media lead USA foreign policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Does the media lead USA foreign policy - Essay Example The influence of media on US foreign policy is not, however, a new phenomenon. In the 1890s, two newspapers allegedly brought the Americans to the doorstep of war against a European country. The present contention on the effect of media on the US foreign policymaking implies a more pervasive, consistent and more powerful influence, although there is also an opposing contention that it is media itself which is being manipulated by the government to influence public opinion. Nevertheless, it is a fact that the collapse of the Cold War has taken away many of the constraints that used to hound media in the reportage of events all over the world. In addition, communications technology grew by leaps and bounds during this period allowing media networks access to almost anything in all corners of the world. The inevitable question that, therefore confronts many is whether or not US foreign policymaking has become susceptible to media’s growing influence and is now being led by it. Al beit media has increased its impact on public opinion and even on policymakers to the extent of speeding policymaking, studies and researches done on the subject show that its impact is not significant enough to alter foreign policies per se or change the course of policymaking. Historically, significant changes in US foreign policy occurred in turn-around periods where policies drastically changed from one paradigm to another. The 1890s and the 1930s, for example, were watersheds in US foreign policies. Today, after the collapse of the Cold War, the world is witnessing another evolution of US foreign policy as an imperceptible confluence of forces are seemingly dictating upon it to reformulate in the light of emerging events that see the economic rise of certain countries threatening to outdo and outrun America’s own (Trubowitz 1998 1-4). The change in foreign policy in the 1890s was spurred by the explosion of the economy at home. Although the US was used to dealings with

Hum final Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Hum final - Essay Example The conquest of Rome is undeniably one of the greatest if not the greatest conquest in human history. Their politics have taught humanity on first, respect for the laws and second, importance of the community as central in the development of the individual person in his private sphere as well as in his public sphere. Aside form that, they have taught humanity â€Å"that one may achieve peace of mind by avoiding burdensome responsibilities, gloomy companions, and excessive wealth. Stoicism offered a reasoned retreat from psychic pain and moral despair, as well as a practical set of solutions to the daily strife between the self and society† ( Fiero 135) But the greatness of Rome seems to be second only in comparison with the greatest man that ever walked the face of the earth – Jesus. The â€Å"search for the historical Jesus is complicated by many factors† (Fiero 163), but what is clear is that the story of Jesus have touched billions of lives all over the world. The greatness of Jesus is that he afforded us a new paradigm with which humanity may comprehend our relationship with God. Jesus has taken away the picture of the jealous warrior God that is one of the dominant images of God in the Old Testament. In fact, his entire human life is a living testimony to his claim that ‘God is Father’. Though scholars and exegetes may disagree what is clear is that â€Å"Jesus is the recognizable human face of God† (Wright 70). In the end, these readings are significant primarily because not solely because of the greatness of the topics that they have delved with but that the Roman heritage and Jesus story are contradictories yet real in the realm of human experience. Of the many things that we have discussed in class, I have come to realize and appreciate the fact that the Western Heritage is built on the sagacity of ancient men and women who have tried to understand how we can really understand the human condition. Their discourses open to us

Ethical Conduct in Scientific Research Assignment

Ethical Conduct in Scientific Research - Assignment Example In real sense, they were not being given penicillin which was the standard treatment for syphilis. The scientists who carried out the study as Tuskegee continued to examine the subjects and withheld information relating to penicillin from the patients. In addition, the scientists did not allow the participants to access syphilis treatments that were available to the other people in Tuskegee (Reverby, 2009). This resulted to suffering, pain, and even death for the participants. The revelation of the study made the federal government to have a closer look to studies involving human subjects and initiated changes to prevent ethical breaches that happened at Tuskegee. The resultant reforms in clinical research include, firstly, the researcher should notify partakers that their anonymity. This means that they will be informed that their responses will not be discussed with anyone else. Consequently, the privacy and confidentiality of the participants is maintained. Secondly, informed consent. The respondents need to be informed of the aim and nature of the study. Consent is about if a participant decides to participate in the study or not (Shrader-Frechette, 2011). The consent can be obtained directly or indirectly through third-party consent. Informed consent entails capacity which is the person’s capability to acquire as well as retain knowledge, information is where the participant accesses information regarding the study, and voluntariness involves the person willingly participating in the study. They also have the right to withdraw from the study at any time. Finally, harm protection. The researcher needs to ensure that none of the par ticipants is exposed to unwarranted psychological and physical harm (Adil & Shamoo, 2009). In the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, the scientists were engaged in unethical practice since they knowingly failed to inform the participants that penicillin was an effective cure for the

Starbucks Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Starbucks - Essay Example Each company faces problems and obstacles, even successful ones like Starbucks. One of the main challenges that Starbucks is facing is dealing with competitors. Coffee retailers are scattered all over the world in huge numbers. By involving thousands of shops operating in the coffee field, and as the competition increases, it makes the task more difficult for Starbucks to maintain its place. Also, the most obvious challenge that Starbucks is dealing with is the current financial crisis in America. Compared to other cafes prices, Starbucks is one of the most expensive cafà © shops in the world, and a number of consumers find the prices are exaggerated (Fellner 2010). A recent research made by a team of mystery coffee researchers shows that, the rates in Starbucks compared to Costa Cafà © and Cafà © Nero is the highest (Burks 2009). As seen on the graph above, Starbucks has experienced fluctuations in profit, starting from 2005 with a steady increase in the net income, and then it dropped down in 2008, decreasing the net profit from more than $600 million to less than $400 million. On the other hand, sales grew in 2010 getting the highest net income over the earlier 5 years. In 2010, Starbucks turned about 11% of its revenue into free cash flow (FCF). The company earned more than  £600 million cash on net income (Nadine 2008). Also, there has been a surprising increase in the company’s net income in the last year. In the third quarter of 2011, the income rose up to 33%, earning more than $880 million net income. Howard Shultz stated on July 11, 2006, "First and foremost I want to thank you for making Starbucks the $6.4 billion global company it is today, with more than 90,000 employees, 9,700 stores, and 33 million weekly customers." Taking the 33,000,000 weekly customers and dividing it by 7 you will get 4.7 million customers per day. Since that time Starbucks has added many, many new stores so

PUBLIC LAW Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words - 1

PUBLIC LAW - Essay Example udicial review, is where the law is contravened at some point by an administrative body in its actions or inactions, as was defined in White and Collins v Minister of Health.1 In this case, procedural ultra-vires is evident. This is whereby an administrative body fails to follow the right procedure in its actions or inactions (Fitzroy 2014, 1). As much as Catford district council is vested with the power to issue licenses, procedure as per the relevant statute law requires it to conduct consultations where necessary. Bearing in mind that the shop operates within a residential flat, it was necessary for the council to consult the adjacent household dwellers regarding the same before issuing the license. As a renter of a dwelling premise, Alya has a right to peaceful and quiet enjoyment of his property. Therefore, she has every right to protest due to the nuisance emanating from the shop during Sunday. Had the council consulted her prior to the issuance of the license, things might hav e turned differently, as some conditions could have been attached to the operating license. It was therefore illegal for the council to issue the license without conducting necessary consultations as the relevant authority suggests. Unreasonableness: The principle of reasonability is to the effect that an administrative body should be rational in acting or making its decisions. Unreasonableness is seen when an administrative body acts or makes a decision in a manner so absurd or outrageous, that a reasonable person acting in the same capacity and under the same circumstances would to do or make, as was defined in Associated Provincial Picture Houses Ltd v Wednesburry Corporation.2 In this case, the reason given for the council’s failure to conduct consultations, something which is done by all other local authorities, is so unreasonable that one would not expect such an authority to fail to act on that basis (Harel and Kahara 2010). Time and money saving is not reasonable enough to

Primary Sources Essay Example for Free

Primary Sources Essay Primary sources are the original documents that serve as a springboard for other theorists, scientists, authors, and scholars to write additional works that are added to the subject’s base of literature. Primary sources are the first indications of a particular idea or a landmark study. They serve as a scientific starting point. Secondary sources are based on extrapolations of the original version with new additions and the interpretation of the past. For the most comprehensive literature review, both types of sources should be included in the research for a particular topic. The most powerful advantage to the use of primary sources is the assurance that these documents have not been marred or misrepresented through inaccurate interpretations or external motivations. The complexity of history makes it clear that a number of motives could influence the portrayal of original sources. When citing the works of others use only part of the source and rarely include the full context of the document. Details, the writing style, and purpose intended by the original author are important components available to researchers who choose to include primary sources in their bibliographies. The most practical advantage of secondary sources is their increased availability. Primary sources often originated decades or centuries ago. Much of the context that influenced those pieces is drastically different now and a modern interpretation might be the only way to apply the original findings to today’s world. The addition of strong secondary sources can strengthen the scope of a literature review. Lastly, most students have the most experience with secondary sources. This supposition was supported by the findings in a recent study by Oldenburg (2005). While psychology professors preferred to use primary sources, they usually reserved the assignments of these readings to smaller, more advanced classes. With the progression in their education, students gain more exposure to original sources. Most will identify the need to incorporate both primary and secondary sources into their research.

Australia Soft Drink Market Essay Example for Free

Australia Soft Drink Market Essay The FSANZ phone survey of adolescents and young adults in Australia found that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders were more likely to consume sugar-sweetened soft drinks compared to other Australians (72 per cent versus 50 per cent) and consumed significantly larger amounts (249 ml versus 128 ml per day) (Food Standards Australia New Zealand 2003a). The 2004 SPANS survey of children in Years 6–10 in NSW found consumption of soft drinks to be lowest among students of Asian background and highest among boys of Southern European and Middle Eastern background (Booth et al. 2006). Gender Fewer girls than boys consume soft drink in Australia, and among those that do, girls consume smaller amounts of soft drink than boys (section 2. 2). This gender effect has been observed in Europe also. For example, the large WHO collaborative cross-national study of Health Behaviours among School-aged Children 2001–02 showed that girls generally consume less soft drink than boys (Vereecken et al. 2005b). Psycho-Social Factors 3. 2. 1 Personal Factors Personal factors appear to moderate the relationship between environmental factors and behaviour. In Norway, personal preferences, i. e. taste, was the number one determinant of soft drink consumption, and attitude was the fourth most important determinant of soft drink consumption in adolescents, with the environmental factors of accessibility and modelling (consumption behaviour of significant others) in between (Bere et al. 2007). Soft drink consumption in school-aged children has been notably correlated with taste preferences in other studies (Grimm et al. 2004). In one study of 8–13 year olds in the US, those who reported the strongest taste preference were 4. 5 times more likely to consume soft drinks five or more times per week compared with those with a lower taste preference. A focus group study with groups of children aged 8–9 years and 13–14 years showed that younger children prefer the taste of still, fruit-flavoured drinks and adolescents prefer the taste of carbonated drinks (May and Waterhouse 2003). Attitude and subjective norm (perception of other people’s views and attitudes towards soft drink consumption), together with perceived behavioural control, explained 60 per cent of the variance in intention to drink regular soft drinks in 13–18 year olds in the US (Kassem et al. 2003; Kassem and Lee 2004). However, taste enjoyment was one of the most predictive expected outcome beliefs of regular soft drink consumption. In quenching of thirst was the second most important predictor of attitude, after taste, towards drinking soft drinks — yet soft drinks have been found to be poor at quenching thirst when compared to water (Rolls et al. 1990; Brouns et al. 1998). Parents and friends have been identified as being more influential than peers in the consumption patterns of younger children aged 8–9 years in the UK (May and Waterhouse 2003), although peer groups are considered to play a greater role in adolescence (Buchanan and Coulson 2006). Cost, availability and thirst were more important in older children aged 13–4 years. In the NSW Schools Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey 2004 (SPANS) of children aged 5–16 years, peer influences were not particularly apparent in soft drinks attitudes and intended consumption (Booth et al.2006). Adolescents who perceived more social pressure to limit soft drink consumption were found to be more likely to consume more in the Study on Medical Information and Lifestyle in Eindhoven (SMILE) study in The Netherlands (de Bruijn et al. 2007). The SMILE study also showed that moderate â€Å"agreeableness† (a measure of adolescents† willingness to comply with parental practices and rules) of adolescents is associated with less soft drink consumption, however, those that were most â€Å"agreeable† consumed a lot (de Bruijn et al. 2007). This was attributed to pressures outside of the home environment — pro-social motives where those most agreeable wanted to â€Å"fit in†. It is postulated that the more agreeable adolescents were more inclined to live up to expectations raised by prototype-based advertisements and marketing. One of the few studies examining the factors affecting soft drink consumption in adults showed that consumption of sugar-sweetened soft drinks was associated with less restrained and more external eating, i. e. sensitive to external stimuli such as taste (Elfhag et al. 2007). The study, conducted among 3265 adults in Sweden showed that, in contrast, diet soft drinks were consumed by persons with a higher body mass index (BMI) (possibly in an attempt to reduce their weight), more restrained eating and more emotional eating. Parents as Models A study in Australia showed that the influence of mothers, either as models of eating behaviours or as the providers of food, is pervasive (Campbell et al. 2007). Parental soft drink consumption was positively associated with younger children’s intake in two studies (Grimm et al. 2004; Vereecken et al.2004). Mother’s consumption was found to be an independent predictor for regular soft drink consumption among children in Belgium (Vereecken et al. 2004). In the US, children aged 8–13 years whose parents regularly drank soft drinks were nearly three times more likely to consume soft drinks five or more times per week compared with those whose parents did not regularly drink soft drinks (Grimm et al. 2004). A higher frequency of preparing food was found to be related to lower intakes of carbonated beverages among female adolescents in the US (Larson et al.2006). Parenting Styles Less restrictive parenting practices are associated with a higher consumption of healthier food options such as fruit and vegetables in children; however the evidence is not as equivocal for soft drinks. Indeed, the converse has been found in some recent studies. For example, van der Horst et al found that in The Netherlands less restrictive parenting practices, relating to specific behaviours such as â€Å"food rules†, were associated with higher consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages among 383 adolescents (van der Horst et al. 2007). This association was independent of perceived parenting practices by the adolescents, and was mediated by attitude, self-efficacy and modelling from parents (parental consumption). The association was strongest among adolescents who perceived their parents as being moderately strict and highly involved. These authors concluded that parents should be involved in interventions aimed at changing dietary behaviours including soft drink consumption and that interventions aimed at the promotion of healthy parenting practices are best tailored to the general parenting style of the participants (for example, strict and/or involved). More restrictive parenting practices were also found to be associated with less soft drink consumption (De Bourdeaudhuij and Van Oost 2000) and stricter parenting practices were found to be associated with less soft drink consumption in a recent study in The Netherlands (de Bruijn et al. 2007). However, findings from studies among younger children suggest that strict parental practices can in fact increase children’s preferences for, and intake of, the restricted foods. These different findings may relate to differences in the type of practices used between age groups. For example, parents of younger children might use pressure to get their children to eat more or may restrict access to certain foods. For adolescents, parents might use clearly defined rules about the times when a certain food can be eaten and how much of a certain food they can eat. Environmental Factors 3. 3. 1 Soft Drink Availability Availability at School Increased soft drink consumption has been related to the availability of soft drinks in vending machines in the school environment in a number of studies. However, it appears that when soft drinks are ubiquitous in schools the link between consumption and availability is less discernible (French et al. 2003; Grimm et al. 2004; Vereecken et al. 2005a). Access to vending machines selling soft drinks in schools in the US was not related to consumption in either boys or girls (Kassem et al. 2003; Kassem and Lee 2004). In Norway, most soft drink consumption occurs outside of school despite soft drinks currently still being available in schools (Bere et al.2007). Vending machines were not available in schools involved in a study of adolescent soft drink consumption in the UK (Buchanan and Coulson 2006); and this study found that consumption of soft drinks was higher at the weekends. Nevertheless, the availability of soft drinks at school, either in the school canteen or in vending machines, may send messages to children that they are suitable drinks; also their easy availability at schools negates the need to provide water. The sale of foods and drinks at schools is likely to have a ripple effect in the community (Bell and Swinburn 2005), thus banning soft drinks at schools conveys a healthy message to children and this message has the potential to affect community attitudes. In recent years four Australian state governments (New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia) have accordingly imposed a ban on the sale of soft drinks and other sugar-sweetened drinks by canteens in public schools (Bell and Swinburn 2005). In NSW this ban on sugar-sweetened drinks is part of Fresh Tastes @ School, the NSW Healthy School Canteen Strategy. Sugar-sweetened drinks with more than 300 kJ per serve or more than 100 mg of sodium per serve have not been allowed in school canteens and vending machines in NSW since Term 1, 2007 (NSW Department of Health and NSW Department of Education Training 2006). These drinks include: soft drinks, energy drinks, fruit drinks, flavoured mineral waters, sports drinks, cordials, iced teas, sweetened waters, sports waters, and flavoured crushed ice drinks. In Victoria the ban extends to high-energy, high-sugar soft drinks brought in to school. Portion Size. The beverage industry has steadily increased container sizes over the last 50 years. In the 1950s the standard serving size was a 200 ml bottle, which increased to a 375 ml can, which was superseded by a 600 ml bottle. Studies have shown that the larger the container, the more people are likely to drink, especially when they assume they are buying single-serve size containers. For example, Flood et al have shown that increasing beverage portion size from 350 ml to 530 ml significantly increased the weight of beverage consumed regardless of beverage type — in this case regular cola, diet cola or water (Flood et al.2006). As a consequence, energy intake increased 10 per cent for women and 26 per cent for men when there was a 50 per cent increase in the portion of regular cola served. Food intake did not differ under the controlled conditions; thus overall energy intake was increased as a result of the extra energy from the larger beverage intake. Most recently, a study showed that increasing portion sizes of all foods and beverages consumed by study participants by 50 per cent of baseline increased energy intake from all food and beverage categories, except fruit as a snack and vegetables, for an 11-day period (Rolls et al.2007). The amount of beverage consumed increased from about 470 ml in both women and men to 557 ml in women and 630 ml in men. Disproportionate pricing practices also encourage people to drink large servings as these often cost just a fraction more than the smaller servings (Young and Nestle 2002). Large serve sizes contribute to an â€Å"obesogenic† environment, as they facilitate excess consumption of energy (Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee 2005). Dietary guidelines and public campaigns have highlighted the importance of portion size as a central concept related to energy intake (Matthiessen et al.2003). Cost In a number of papers, Drewnoswki and co-workers purport that the main issue in relation to nutrient-poor foods and beverages and obesity is the cost; that is, nutrient-dense diets are more costly than nutrient-poor, energy-dense foods which are relatively cheap. Drewnowski and Bellisle (2007) conclude that the obesity-promoting capacity of different beverages is linked not so much by their sugar content but by their low price, although these researchers concur that taste is likely to be the main factor affecting the obesity-promoting capacity of soft drinks (Refer to Section 3. 1). Cost was reported as being an important determinant of carbonated soft drink consumption, as opposed to fruit juice and still fruit drinks, in children aged 13–14 years in a study in the UK (Buchanan and Coulson 2006). Availability and thirst were also recognised as important determinants, although foremost was taste. Exposure to TV advertising Television is a medium through which children are commonly exposed to food marketing. Food marketers advertise heavily during children’s programming in Australia (Hastings et al.2007; Kelly et al. 2007), and soft drink is consistently featured near the top of the list of advertised food items in different countries, including Australia (Kotz and Story 1994; Lemos 2004). Increased soft drink consumption has been related to TV exposure in a number of studies (Grimm et al. 2004; van den Bulck and van Mierlo 2004; Utter et al. 2006). The relationship was observed for adolescent boys only — not girls — in a recent study of children in grades 7–8 in Belgium (Haerens et al. 2007). A study of children aged 5–6 years and 10–12 years in Melbourne showed that children who watched TV for more than 2 hours per day were 2. 3 times more likely to consume ? 1 serve/day of high-energy drinks than children who watched less than or equal to 2 hours of TV per day (Salmon et al. 2006). Functional Drinks 5. 4. 1 Sports Drinks Sports drinks were designed to aid sport performance as well as provide rehydration after sporting events. They contain 6–8 per cent carbohydrates, usually in the form of sugar, plus other electrolytes (Sports Dietitians Australia 2007). As the name implies, sport drinks are designed for sports participants. Using sport drinks for normal hydration purposes is not recommended because of their energy content (one 600 ml bottle of sport drinks provides around 780 kJ) and their acidity which is associated with the same dental health problems as soft drinks. In Australia sports drinks currently account for less than 5 per cent of the more than 1. 3 billion litres of non-alcoholic beverages sold per annum, but the sale of sports drinks is growing faster than most other beverages (Australian Convenience Store News 2006). Energy Drinks In recent years, energy drinks have also been introduced as alternative premium products to ordinary soft drinks. Their sales have risen quickly and it has been reported that in the United States energy drinks outperformed all other beverage categories, with more than 500 per cent growth in sales from 2001–06 (Montalvo 2007). The Australian Convenience Store News (Nov/Dec 2006) indicates that energy drinks accounted for 22 per cent of total drink sales. Most consumers were in the 15–39 age bracket and consumption is slightly skewed towards males (Australian Convenience Store News 2006).