Assessment Strategies Paper

A Letter From Saudi Arabia Essays - Sahabah, Arab People

A Letter From Saudi Arabia Essays - Sahabah, Arab People A Letter From Saudi Arabia Dear Mr. LMN, Hope you are doing well. How are things at the Academy? I am doing just fine here in Al Arabiyah as Saudiyah1, ever heard that name before? It is just the local short name for Saudi Arabia. It is already a year since I left US and now I am almost half way through the two years that I am spending here. Theres a lot that I want to tell you about my experience so far. I always wanted to leave Westford for good, but had never imagined that I would someday be doing a job in Saudi Arabia! It all started when I got this new job with the Saudi Arabian Specifications and Standard Organization (SASSO)2. My Uncle has a close friend in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. So one night my uncle asked me if I would like to live for two years in Saudi Arabia, and then he told me about this job opportunity for which they required a qualified engineer in structural architecture. It wasnt exactly something that I had planned in life, but I always wanted to experience life in a different atmosphere, and this was the perfect opportunity for me to do so so here I am! I work in a Water conservation-desalination1 plant in a town called Khumrah which is 30 miles south from Jeddah3. It is a small town with a population a little less than Westford3. Where I live is very close to my work, barely a 5-minute walk from the plant. Since there arent many trees around the place I live, it is usually very hot in that area. The average temperature here in Summer is really killing!! Sometimes it gets as high as 94 degrees Fahrenheit in summer, its an extreme climate here4! It certainly is a big change from Westford! It makes me sweat a lot, but I have gotten used to that. Even now I still calculate the temperature in Fahrenheit, whereas this country follows the metric system, which is sometimes confusing, but thats just part of the experience. But I am really thankful to my uncle, he did give me a lot of tips about staying here. For instance the kind of clothes that I should pack, what vaccinations I should take before leaving other than those required by the Saudi consulate such as the ones for cholera5. So I guess, I was pretty much packed up when I left America. I live in a small 2 story building, in a 2-bedroom apartment- building6 with Umar, the son of my Uncles friend. The apartment building has no parking lot, there is no reason to have one because not many people in this town own cars for themselves. At first, that really surprised me! I and Umar have become really close friends now. He too works in the same plant with me. He can speak some English, although he can understand everything I say in English, which is something that I am really thankful for- Its one of the best things to happen to me. You will not find many English-speaking people here. In only 60% of the population of people 15 years and older can read and write1. Anways.. so we live on the 2nd floor and there is an Arab family that lives downstairs. The first day, when I arrived at the Jeddah airport, I was amazed by the way the airport is designed, it looks more like the ancient Islamic architecture that I had seen much of in the travel brochures on the flight. It took a while to clear the customs, especially since the import laws here are very strict7. After clearing the customs as soon as I was at the arrival terminal Umar was there to receive me. He recognized me with the help of a photograph that my uncle had mailed to him. Since I am a Muslim, I had some knowledge of Arabic, from what Iittle I had learnt in Islamic school, but that was twenty years ago!! Anyway, so I greeted Umar, in what I though was an ancient Arabic greeting- As salaam O Alaiqum8, he replied by saying Wa Alaiqum As Salaam. But later, I discovered

An Assessment Of Whole Foods Value Chain. Memorandum Case Study

An Assessment Of Whole Foods Value Chain. Memorandum - Case Study Example It is quite heartening that in such a competitive environment Whole Foods has been able to record revenues of $5,607.4 million during the fiscal year ended September 2006 with an increase of 19.3% over 2005. This has been possible on account of a strong value chain at Whole Foods. The revenue growth forms a core component of the strength of the company. Some of the strengths can be enlisted as; Strong revenue growth: During the previous five years when the market forces became much more competitive credit goes to the management of the company for coming out with impressive revenue figures. As compared to the industry average of 6.2%, during 2002-2006, Whole Foods recorded a revenue growth of 19.8%. Wide range of products: Company's product profile appears equally impressive with natural and organic products like seafood, meat and poultry, bakery, Gift Cards, prepared foods, specialty (beer, wine and cheese), nutritional supplements and vitamins, grocery, body care, books, floral products, pet products and household products. Focused growth strategy: Company's decision to contest1 the decision of Federal Trade Commission (FTC) challenging the merger of Whole Foods Market and Wild Oats, provides a glimpse into the aggressive strategy that the company has adopted over the years. In the year 2006 itself company opened 13 new stores with a view to reaching out to newer customer base. Company has also been successfully pursuing the acquisition strategy to leverage the economies of scale. Dedicated Workforce: The Company could not have written the success story without an active support and cooperation from the dedicated workforce. But there are some weaker areas which need constant attention as well; Lesser presence on the International horizon: Though the company has been able to establish itself firmly in US, its international is still limited to couple of stores in UK and Canada only. Minimal media presence: Today we are living in a media savvy society, therefore having a good presence in media and advertisements provides an edge to a company and its products. But so far Whole Foods has relied more on word-of-mouth publicity and keeps ignoring the strengths and advantages of being in media. For example in 2006 the company spent only 0.4% of total revenues on advertising. Rising rental costs: Whole Foods has been operating with rented space at many places. This forms a major cost component for the company. With rising rental costs and decreasing profit margins, the situation may become alarming if the requisite attention is not paid to the issue. For example, during the fiscal year 2006 itself the company paid approximately $153.1 million as rental expenses. Primary activities in the value chain include (Appendix-1); Inbound logistics: Raw material supplies, knowledge sources, consultancies, supplier management etc. Production: The inbound logistics are put in use to give out a finished product or a full-fledged service component. Outbound logistics: Taking care of distribution network, inspecting the quality of goods and services, planning out marketing and sales strategies etc. Marketing and sales: It forms an important component of the value chain as it is the main interface between the company and the customer. Service: Once the product or service is delivered to the customer, then comes taking a feedback from the customer. This has become very important in order to establish the company's brand equity and customer's loyalty. Futuristic needs are also projected by way of accepting

Merck Pharmaceutical Company Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Merck Pharmaceutical Company - Essay Example Merck Pharmaceutical products are mainly therapeutic agents, for the treatment of various human and animal disorders. In fact the basic source of income for the company comes from the revenues derived from the filling and management of prescriptions and health management programs (Banks, 2001). Merck & Co., Inc. is also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme or MSD outside the USA and Canada, with the headquarters of the company located in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey and was established as the United States subsidiary of the German company which is currently known as Merck KGaA. Similar to the German assets in the United States, Merck & Co. was expropriated in 1917 during the First World War and set up as an independent company. In fact statistics and data suggest that this company is presently one of the seven largest pharmaceutical companies in the world both by market capitalization and revenue. Merck & Co. or MSD is also known as a global research-driven pharmaceutical company. It discovers, develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of unique products to improve human and animal health. Each and every organization requires leadership because all of them are affected by their contexts, philosophies, governance structures, value systems, and the legal ground rules under which they operate. These are the forces and factors that control their leadership needs. When it comes to community or social responsibility, it is said that the Merck Company Foundation has distributed over $480 million to educational and non-profit organizations since it was founded in 1957. This company is also today involved in bringing out various medical publications as it publishes the "Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy" that is considered as the world's best-selling medical textbook, and the "Merck Index" which is a collection of information about chemical compounds. Over the years there are several challenges that the company has faced. For instance, Attorney General Coakley's Office filed a settlement with drug manufacturer Merck and Company, Inc. (Merck) resolving concerns about the company's misleading advertising and promotion of the "Cox-2" inhibitor drug Vioxx. This drug is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat arthritis. The complaint, filed in Suffolk Superior Court, claims that Merck failed to reveal to consumers that Vioxx posed an increased risk of heart attack. The consent judgment, also filed in Suffolk Superior Court prohibited Merck from further mislead consumers in advertising for any Merck product and requires full disclosure of all known risks of Merck drugs. The complaint asserts that Merck began marketing Vioxx in May 1999 with an aggressive and deceptive promotional campaign directed at both consumers and at health care professionals. However, they hide the fact of high risks of heart problems. When promoting Vioxx directly to patients of arthritis as well as the health care professionals, Merck allegedly misrepresented the cardiovascular side effect. As a result the company's ethics were questioned and subsequently the drug was taken off from the market. In September 2004, Merck admitted that Vioxx caused serious cardiovascular events and withdrew the drug from the market. Further, when the multistate group investigated this case in December 2005, it exposed that in addition to the deceptive and misleading adverti

Silver and gold Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Silver and gold - Research Paper Example This paper seeks to analyze the historical background of silver and gold, their ancient and modern uses, the manufacturing process, the impact the materials have on the environment, their cultural significance, and future innovations on the usage of the metals. Silver History of Silver The first major silver mines were discovered in Anatolia, which is the modern day Turkey, in 3000 BC. In the 1st Century AD, Spain became a key silver producer due to Roman discoveries. In early 1500s huge silver deposits were found in Bolivia, Peru, and Mexico which enriched the Spanish empire for a period of 300 years. In the period 1500 to 1875 about 1.5 billion ounces of silver were mined in Mexico with a large percentage mined in the 1700s. In the 1700s, silver became the backbone of Spanish Empire and 1 billion ounces was mined in the Veta Madre in Mexico. 1857 saw the state of Nevada adopting Silver mining as a major industry when Comstock Lode was found in Nevada. Nevada became to be known as t he silver state because of the silver mining. From 1857 to 1877, Comstock produced gold and silver of an approximate value of 400 million US dollars which could have been worth about 500 Billion US dollars in the modern days. There was a 50 percent increase in the global yield of Silver between 1900 and 1920. This amounted to about 190 million troy ounces per year and discoveries were made in other countries such as the United States and Canada. From 1921 to present improved techniques has led to separation of Silver from Zinc, copper and lead. This has led to an increase in production of Silver and its usage. Silver was among the first metals known to man. The other metal is gold. The ancient population valued Silver because of its white color, brilliant luster, non-corrodibility nature and it was relatively easy to work with. Today, silver still stands out as one of the most valued metals because of the above properties but several other characteristics have changed the trend of s ilver usage from being merely monetary and decorative metal to being predominantly an industrial metal. Usage of Silver Silver is a soft, malleable and the most ductile among the metals. These properties have led to it being fabricated into personal adornment items and decorative items of various types. Hence, chain necklaces, neck rings, silver bracelets, and other jewelry items were developed as from ancient times. In the later days, silver was used to make decorative things such as handles for swords and daggers and later when approaching the modern times it was fashioned into eating utensils and various tableware items. The industrial usage of silver arose in the 19th and 20th centuries. The following section illustrates the chronological account for the usage of silver. In the 1820s, silver and silver salts became major component for the development of photography. Since the late 1830s, silver has been used in the manufacture of silver-mercury amalgams that are used for restori ng teeth. In the third millennium BC the Egyptians made mirrors of polished silver while â€Å"silvering† of mirrors with metals such as mercury, tin and lead was adopted in Europe before Renaissance period. In 1835, Justus von Liebig invented the process of large scale production of silvered glass through a chemical reduction of silver nitrate compound. In 1840, the process for electroplating of silver was granted a patent and it was the first patent to be granted for electroplating any metal. Alessandro Volta used silver and zinc for making

The Globalisation Of The Rastafari Cultural Studies Essay

The Globalisation Of The Rastafari Cultural Studies Essay Globalization of Rastafari is a highly rich historical and ethnographic work exploring Rastafarian from its origin in the early twentieth century to the world today. The book analyses the political, cultural, spiritual, geographical, political, sociological and psychological aspects of globalization on the rastafari movement, and provides a carefully weighed and richly illustrated assessment of the benefits and ills that have flowed from globalization as well as suggestions for steering it towards more positive outcomes in the future. It highlights the pursuit for change among an oppressed people and how they settled in other countries. This literary work serves to show how the Rastafarian movement created their own dogmatic ideology. The articles in the book focus most particularly on the latter two concerns: first, how does the global context of Rastafari affect the dynamics of the movement and the forms the movement takes? Second, how do we understand the potential impact of Rastafari on the larger world when we view it in a global light?  [1]   As we link the inception of the Rastafarian movement in the 1930s to todays time, it can be implied that they are still trying to get global recognition of their unique syncretic religion. There is still a struggle even now to regain their African heritage and cultural identity and ideologically distance themselves from what many perceive to be the misguided and unjust societies in which they live.  [2]   The first chapter seeks to give an overview of the general content of the collection of articles that were used to create this literary work. R.C. Slater through his methodology gives us a very lucid explanation of the term Globalization as relates to the Caribbean and the wider world. He shows that since the time of Columbus, the population of the Caribbean has been a truly global population, comprised of Africans, Asians, Native Americans and Europeans.  [3]   He postulates that Rastafari is a syncretic religion derived from Christian and African sources continues to expand globally via foreign missionaries and as believers participate in a new Diaspora in search of work and livelihood. Not only do these religions spread religious ideas and practices, but they also have become sources of inspiration for art, literature and music around the world. He introduces the term Babylon, which can be definitively traced to Marcus Garveys teachings, which liken the Afro-Caribs in the West to the Jews Exile into Babylon. The institution of slavery created tremendous suffering for those that were enslaved in both of these cases. The term Babylon is used in Rasta terms with much negative connotations. It is something that they are radically opposed to. Corruption, politics, police, laws, and cities are often referred to as Babylon  [4]   In chapter two, Richard Slater seeks in defining Who are the Rastafari? stating the negative connotation that the world at large may label them. He writes that despite the many and confusing answers to the question, it is undeniable that people who identify themselves as Rastafari exist. He stresses the difficulty in defining Rastafari and states, I do not believe it is possible to present an all-encompassing definition of Rastafari, but a workable minimum characterization of it will be helpful. My focus here will be on Rastafari I-consciousness as an element of the movement.  [5]  He goes on to show how this I indicator relates to the Rastafari identity and that the central features of Rastafari are not necessarily found in either beliefs or practices, but a set of unorthodox religious practices when compared to established religions. He further mentions that there are major differences in the Rastafi core belief system with respect to Leonard Barretts six tenets of Rastafarian beliefs. He writes, I met many people who identified themselves as Rastafari, but who did not acclaim Haile Selassie to be the living god, others considers Selassie to have been a corrupt sham.  [6]  ; and also , no Rasta whom I have ever met would claim that it is by virtue of smoking ganja that one is a Rasta. In fact, if one is reliant on ganja if one cannot exist without it one certainly has been trapped by Babylon. In chapter four, Slater interviews Mutabaruka, who is a DJ for Jamaicas IRIE FM radio station, a poet and some consider him as an international emissary of Rastafari. Matabaruka is very unorthodox in his beliefs, he openly states, As a matter of fact, you will hear purely negative things about Jesus when you come to I. Because I and I dont have anything good to say about Jesus, because Jesusà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ because Jesus became like the Devil.  [7]   Mutabaruka meticulously answers the questions put to him by Slater, and very candidly allude to the fact that the majority of Rastafari have deviated far from Rastafari true essence and way of life. Mutabaruka attribute the spread of Rastafarism out of Jamaica is via the reggae music and that many reggae artists can only articulate Rastafari in the music but not outside the music. Also the culture of Rastafari can spread, can be identified with, can be lived true by anyone who identifies with oppression and anyone who feels disenfranchised by the colonial system or white supremacist system that maintains itself all over the world would gravitates towards Rastafari. Mutabaraka does not foresee Rastafari being decentralised from Jamaica due to globalization but rather he thinks Jamaica is almost like Jerusalem when it comes to experiencing Rastafari. He argues that Rastafari is not a religion but its a way of life. In chapter five, the article by Jan DeCosmo explores the shape Rastafari identity has taken in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, from its introduction through reggae music and its revaluation of African heritage, to its ambivalent relationship to Afro-Bahian spirituality.  [8]  DeCosmo shows that amidst the racial discrimination that Afro-Brazilians face in line with poverty, oppression, and social injustice, they still manage to keep alive their Rastafarian culture via the reggae music. Such poverty, constructed on the shoulders of a colonial and racist history, and supported by continuing legacies of that colonial and racist history, is one context in which Bahias Rastafari community has arisen to resist oppression, to call for justice, and to revalorize Bahias black African heritage.  [9]  DeCosmo writes that some of the Rastafarians she interviewed were proud of having rejected the globalized world, or what they call Babylon and replace it with a divine order, an order of spirit, of love, of African roots. As such, Rastafari identity continues to be linked with cultural resistance and a desire to radically change the world. DeCosmo further writes that there are differences between Bahian and Jamaican Rastafari. Thus, there are two differences between Bahian Rastafari and Jamaican Rastafari that deserve attention. First, among Bahian Rastafari there is much less emphasis placed on physical repatriation to Africa than in ideal typical Jamaican Rastafari especially in its early stages. Second, Bahian history has given Rastafari there a special relationship to the religion and culture of the orixas.  [10]   With respect of the connation globalization of the Rastafari as it applies to Bahian Rastafari, we observe the prevalence of distinctly African cultural practices in Bahia. One of the interesting differences between orthodox Rastafari and cultural Rastafari is the different levels of tolerance each has for the religion and culture of the orixas. Unlike cultural Rastafari, the orthodox stand opposed to indigenous forms of Afro- Bahian religion and culture, such as Candomblà © and Carnival. Thus the globalized Rastafari in Bahia is far from being achieved since each group see their roots in a distinctively different location. In chapter seven Michael Barnett explores from a Jamaican diasporic perspective, the impact that the migration of Jamaicans to England, the United States and Canada has had on the globalization of the Rastafari movement. Barnett gives a clear picture of the reality that the Jamaicans faced when they migrated to England as recruits to help to rebuild England and its economy after the devastation it suffered during World War II. They were to be given the opportunity to improve and develop their social and economic life but they were greatly deceived. As Barnett writes, There were in fact no institutions established in England to welcome and process the Jamaican newcomers. As a result Jamaicans had to learn to cope on their own in their new home, against a background of racial discrimination and prejudice. Notting Hill, West London was the scene of major race riots in England and gave birth to the now famous Notting Hill Carnival.  [11]  It is said that this incident gave birth to the Rastafari movement in England in 1950s. Black power movements soon developed over the next few years where we saw many Black power leaders emerged and some were imprisoned for inciting racial hatred after making what w ere considered inflammatory speeches to their audiences. After years of struggle, reggae had experienced its definitive breakthrough into the mainstream pop culture of England mainly due to effective marketing of Bob Marleys music. The popularity of reggae music during the seventies served to secularize the Rastafari movement, with many youths embracing the political, social and cultural message of Rastafari, and not necessarily the religious beliefs of the movement. With respect to Rastafari groups in Canada,during the late sixties the Civil Rights struggle in the USA spread across to Canadian Blacks This helped to fuel the growth of the Rastafari movement. Rasta was seen as a bizarre cult and faced the same hardship as was in England. Two distinct Rastafari group emerged,the more politically oriented Rasta tended to participate in the general struggles of the Black community while those Rasta more steeped in religiosity tended to remain as mere spectators on the sidelines. In the USA, the presence of the Rastafari movement is due to Caribbean migration. The Jamaicans have infiltrated the USA whereby in Brooklyn in New York is frequently referred to as Little Jamaica. They are well established having regular reggae concerts and setting up clothing and record stores. And similarly to the other countries, the Rasta is seen as criminals, thugs etc. Barnett ends his article by mentioning two Rastafari services, Nyahbinghi Rastafari binghi and the Boboshante binghi. At the Nyahbinghi Rastafari binghi, the core of the activity was significantly at the Tabernacle where the drummers pounded away incessantly but rhythmically, lulling much of the crowd into a semi-hypnotic trance. The air was thick with the smell of ganja,and just in front of the tabernacle a group of brethren smoked their spliffs as they observed the proceedings. At the Boboshanti ceremony, they read Psalms from the bible, whereupon after every verse or so, everyone would say, Holy Emmanuel I, Selassie I, Jah Rastafari with the accompaniment of drums. Barnett commended the Binghis at both mansions for their authenticity and their Jamaican-ness., and it is fair to say that one could not tell that one was not in Jamaica. The exposition and general discussion throughout the book have established and did justice to the term, Globalization. We can clearly get an insight into how the Rastafarian movement has managed to extend its reach and influence throughout the Caribbean, from England to Zimbabwe and also as far north as Canada and as far south as Brazil and South Africa. The book is well worth the price and I strongly recommend this book to anyone desirous of getting a deep insight into the historical development from early stages to modern times of the Rastafari and their struggle through racism, labelling, oppression and all such negative conations. The book clears any misconception that one may have about their rituals, beliefs, culture and most of all their music, reggae, which seems to be the one thing that formulates this whole idea of a globalized Rastafari.

Hinduism Essay -- Religion, Dharma, Atman

Hinduism is a religion filled with many philosophical thoughts about the soul, following your duties, achieving liberation and understanding the consequences of karma. Many of the beliefs in Hinduism makes a person think of life and their own actions they do everyday since it can affect your next life. Hinduism sometimes also makes one wonder if all of these various beliefs and philosophical thoughts are true or not and if you don’t follow your duties (dharma), if consequences really do occur or not in the present life and the next life. Atman, which is the soul, is constantly craving for things and always wants something even after we obtain our desires; it is a non-stop process (Embree 33). The Self (atman) is taken over by pleasure and pain, which is true in life because there are always desires that give us pleasure and make us happy (Embree 36). But one also needs to remember that life has its ups and downs meaning, there always will be a time of pain in life. No one is ever satisfied in life, we are always wanting more and more each day. According to the Upanishadic thinker the material world is not very important, only you, your soul, and the actions you do are important (Embree 36). Nothing else is more important in the world than your personality, which is the self (atman). I don’t completely agree with the Upanishadic thinker that the material world does not matter. It does matter because our actions and the way our soul feels at certain situations, it all comes from the material world. Yes, our acti ons are just as important but the material world drives us to our actions that the soul does. Every act we make, every thought and every desire, shapes this and our future lives. Karma, action and the consequences of action... ...rma at a young age. A person has to be able to follow their dharma no matter, because it may not always be the right action but it has to be fulfilled because it is your dharma. Arjuna in Mahabharata did not want to kill his own people, because he knew it was a sin. Krishna convinced him that he would commit a sin if he failed to perform his own duty (dharma) as a warrior, because a warrior’s duty is to fight (Embree 281). Hinduism can relate everything to each other and that is why for many it is easier to understand the whole concept of Hinduism, the atman, following your duties, achieving liberation and understanding the consequences of karma. You must perform your dharma in your life and do good karma in order to either have a better soul in the next life or to escape the cycle of samsara. If one does not obtain or fulfilled, one may not achieve liberation.

Drug Abuse on High School Students Essay

The hypothesis for this report is that as an individual increases drug use, their success within their education decreases. To prove this is true, there were many investigations involved in the process. Firstly, there was secondary research provided in order to see the drug use of all teenagers in Ontario, as well as dropout rates in Ontario as a whole. As well as definitions, general drug information, and other factors of these variables. Then, there was primary research used to compare the findings from the secondary research to just a sample of students from the Catholic Central High School community. In order to further research the topic of the effects of drug use on high school students and its correlation to educational achievement, 24 surveys were conducted within the Catholic Central High School community (refer to appendix, pg. 2-3), and of these 24 participants, approximately 8% are grade 9 students, 21% being grade 10 students, 29% being grade 11 students, and 42% being grade 12 students (refer to appendix, pg. 4, graph A). Secondary research states that according to the Partnership Attitude Tracking Study (PATS, 2007), 65% of teens say they use drugs to â€Å"feel cool† and to have the approval of others, and their desire for social acceptance. Contrarily, primary research showed that 50% of students surveyed think that friends do not have any influence in their decisions regarding drug or alcohol use, whereas 33% think they do have influence (refer to appendix, pg. 4, graph B). According to Partnership for a Drug-Free Canada (2010), 73% of teens report that number-one reason for using drugs is to deal with the pressures and the stress for school. Likewise, primary research states that 70. 6% of the 24 participants have consumed drugs or alcohol before or during school hours, which shows how teenagers are using school as an excuse to consume drugs or alcohol (refer to appendix, pg. 4, graph C). Primary research indicates that 70. 8% of the students surveyed have experimented with drugs (refer to appendix, pg. 5, graph D), and also, these drugs that they have experimented with were for non-medical purposes. Surprisingly, the top 5 drugs most consumed by the participants are Marijuana (100%), Tobacco (47. 1%), Salvia (41. 2%), Mushrooms (35. 3%), and Cocaine (29. 4%). Refer to appendix, pg. 5, graph E). Similarly, secondary research shows that many teens, 51% to be exact, mistakenly believe that it’s safer to abuse a prescription drug than it is to use illegal drugs. Secondary research explains that the majority of teenagers consume drugs or alcohol because their parents are not paying enough attention to their teenage children, because of family problems, because they have family members who have drug or alcohol addiction problems, or because they are living in a single-parent household which would aslo mean that that single parent does not have enough time to know what their children are up to. Contrastingly, primary research shows that within the students surveyed, 58. 3% are part of a nuclear family (mother, father, and 1 or more biological or adopted children). (Refer to appendix, pg. 5, graph F). Also, 75% do not have family members with drug addiction problems (Refer to appendix, pg. 6, graph G). According to Canada’s Labour Force Survey (1990), nearly 340,000 young people aged 20 to 24, or 1 out of every 6 (16. 6%) had not obtained a high school diploma and were not enrolled in school due to their involvement with mostly tobacco and also illicit drugs. Canada’s Labour Force passed the same survey almost 20 years later, in 2010, the dropout rate decreased and it was now 1 in every 12 (8. 5%) of 20 to 24 year-olds that had not obtained their high school diploma due to the same reasons mentioned above. Contradictorily, primary research demonstrates that out of the 24 participants, 20 of them (83. 3%) feel that students who drop out of high school are stereotyped as people who are involved in drug/alcohol related activities (refer to appendix, pg. , graph H). And also, that 75% of the students think that alcohol and drug use has increased over time among teenagers (refer to appendix, pg. 6, graph I). To conclude, it was found that the primary research and the secondary research are both similar and different in many ways, as in some points the articles, books, and online resources agrees with what the 24 participants know and think about the topic being discussed, and sometimes it does not.

Virginias Role in the American Revolution essays

Virginias Role in the American Revolution essays For the next half-century these products of the golden age served as leaders successively in the War of Independence, in the formation of a new nation based on the new principles of the inalienable rights of man, and in governing the republic during its formative years (Dowdey, 337). The American Revolution spanned about 20 years. During these 20 years the colonists of America worked for independence from their mother country, Great Britain. Virginia contributed leaders, politicians, military commanders, congresses, and held battles on their soil. Virginia gave the most important contribution during the American Revolution. Virginian politicians and leaders proved vital to the American Revolution; leaders such as, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, and Richard Henry Lee. In March 1775, Patrick Henry gave his renowned Give me liberty, or give me death! speech (Stokesbury, 57). This speech helped spark revolution fever among the colonists. Henry attended the Virginia House of Burgess. He was also known for his exhilarating and rousing speeches, which sparked the Southern Colonies. Henry preached anti-British rule slogans, during and prior to the Stamp Act and Townsend Acts, Whether of not Patrick Henry was a demagogue . . . he exerted a new kind of popular appeal, and he had used this appeal to advance himself to a position of military power. . . (Dowdey, 345). Patrick Henry served a key position in the independence of America. Thomas Jefferson was given the duty of writing the Declaration of Independence. He wrote it in two days and had it reviewed and proofread by Benjamin Franklin and John Adams. Jefferson borrowed many ideas from John Locke, a famous English philosopher. In the first sentence of the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence it states: We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their crea...

The Why, Where, and How of Writing for the Christian Market

The Why, Where, and How of Writing for the Christian Market Writing for Christian markets may not be at the top of your write-for list. I grew up in church, so it seemed a natural place for me to begin my writing career. I was already familiar with publications and what types of stories and articles they used. As with any freelance market, you want payment for your effort, so all the publications listed here do pay, and most I have written for many times over the years, selling fillers, devotionals, articles, and stories. A serious freelancer is always on the lookout for new markets. Many Christian publications, especially Sunday school take home papers, publish weekly so the number of manuscripts they need is greater than a traditional monthly magazine. They accept a variety of pieces; fillers, fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and devotionals. The age range is diverse. There are publications for the smallest of children up to adults. Our Little Friend is for children from ages 1-5. They seek true-to-life stories one or two pages long. One story I wrote for them was about kids making fun of each other. Mature Living is for those facing retirement. Many older people feel as if they are used up. I offered encouragement and gave examples of things anyone could do to help others in a list article. Devo’Zine is a devotional market geared toward teens that Ive written for using lessons from teaching young people at church. Youth leaders are always looking for great activity ideas to use with their kids, and Insight Youth Resources has paid me for ideas our youth group did. ParentLife is a magazine that has published multiple funny saying from my kids as fillers. Do you work with women in the church? Today’s Christian Woman  needs articles that offer strength and encouragement for everyday women. Need more market ideas? An invaluable tool for finding these markets is the Christian Writer’s Market.   You can also ask friends for help. Do they attend a church that hands out take-home papers? Do they subscribe to Christian magazines? Ask to borrow copies and research to see if those publications accept freelance work. You could also Google â€Å"Christian magazines,† â€Å"Christian publications,† or â€Å"Christian writers wanted.† I have found some regular writing employment doing this. When considering topic ideas, note that many of the publications follow a theme list. Lookout and Youth Worker both do. Theme lists give basic ideas of what the editors want during certain times of the year. Once you repeatedly write for these publications, many will come to you with an urgent need, when something on their theme list hasn’t been fulfilled, and they know you are dependable. Some Christian publications just want to hear your story. I have used many of my own experiences, especially when it came to the teenage years, mine and my children’s (Guide). Guide wants true stories, and many of my teens experiences ended up on their pages. And keep in mind that not all Christian publications are overtly religious. Some of the children’s publications simply want stories with a moral lesson. But be aware of the diversity amongst denominations and their beliefs. For example, some conservative publications want women to wear dresses, if clothing happens to be mentioned in your story. Some denominations worship on the Sabbath, which is actually Saturday, not Sunday. Others won’t include anything about drinking. Here is a site with helpful information on denominations. Don’t underestimate the power of the Christian market for your writing. You can stretch yourself, get some new

The doctrine of parliamentary sovereignty Essay

The doctrine of parliamentary sovereignty - Essay Example The urgent question is whether the existing doctrine may assist in adopting the constitution, which would be entrenched against the future amendments and would effectively limit the executive and legislative power in Britain. In this connection it should be mentioned, that despite the fact, that the doctrine is supposed to be the basic principle of the British constitutionalism, it has been recently admitted, that the doctrine becomes more and more inappropriate and unacceptable in the constitutional context, changing because of the British membership in the European Union, higher accents at the human rights and the transition of the legislative rights to the regional legislatures. Despite the absence of the fixed constitutional frames in the written form, which would limit the British Parliament' activity, it has long been admitted that it is impossible to take any political measures for limiting legislative or executive powers. However, it is essential to note, that the British Par liament is now more limited in its rights not on the judicial, but on the political reasons, and the sphere in which it is not able to implement its unlimited powers is increasing. 'When Dicey published The Law of the Constitution in 1885 he defined parliamentary sovereignty as meaning that, 'Parliament has, under the English constitution, the right to make or unmake any law whatever; and further that no person or body is recognised by the law of England as having a right to override or set aside the legislation of Parliament.' (Elliott, 2002) Simultaneously, it is essential to note, that any constitution without future amendments can hardly be adopted in the light of the existing Doctrine. The possible proof for such assumption may lie in the explanation as for the role of courts in the doctrine of Parliamentary sovereignty, which shows that the courts are not able to protect the absurd laws from being adopted, if the process of passing it through the both houses of Parliament has been transparent and legal. 'It has therefore been established that Dicey's doctrine of parliamentary sovereignty is, in theory, true. Parliament, it seems, can make or unmake any law it wishes and no person or body can set aside or override such legislation. However, whether this is actually true in practice remains to be seen.' On the other hand, it is also notable, that when the judges find enough competence and ability to interpret the Parliamentary statutes and acts, it hardly serves for the benefit of the society, as the laws and acts are usually written in such ambiguous wording as to adopt its interpretation to the specific situation; though taking into account the

The Benefits of Single Parenting vs Two Parents Essay

The Benefits of Single Parenting vs Two Parents - Essay Example The parents tend to bring their ego in petty matters and argue with each other. This makes the environment in the family not only uncomfortable for the child but also for the parents. A single parent does not have to go through all this. He/she is independent in his/her decisions and there is no one to challenge them. â€Å"When I call out, "Bedtime," there's no one to say, "Aw, let them stay up another half hour."† (Mohler, 2011). Accordingly, the parent enjoys complete right over the child. Stronger Bond with the Child A child’s bond with a single parent is usually stronger than it usually is with either of the two parents when he/she has both. Single parents are often the role models for their children. Children grow up imitating the attitudes, activities and ideology of the single parent. â€Å"A single parent is also more readily available to observe changes in the child's behavior and attitudes, as well as getting to know the peer group the child chooses to surro und her/him† (Squidoo, 2011). Having both parents, children tend to be careless towards their parents. They know if the mother scolds, they can side with the father and when the father is outrageous, they can seek refuge in the mother’s lap. But having a single parent means no escape whatever the parent says or does. There is nobody the child can look up to for any kind of help but the single parent. Over the time, such a bonding between the single parent and the child proves very beneficial for the parent. Many children escort their old parents to the old houses when they grow up and get married themselves. Children think that the couple would take care of each other’s needs. But a child would think a thousand times before doing this to a single parent considering he/she has been the child’s only guardian all life long and must be taken special care of now that he/she is old. The life-long struggle of the single parent pays off in the end in a vast majori ty of the cases while the opposite is true for the dual parents. Development of Solid Child Identity Single parenting develops a solid identity in the child. Single parent is like an open book. The child reads the book and does accordingly. Children who grow up under the supervision of dual parents have the tendency to become confused because of the conflicting views, beliefs and opinions of the two parents. Let’s take a case for example in which the two parents belong to different religions. The father is a Christian and the mother is a Hindu. The father goes to the Church while the mother goes to the Temple. The father eats beef burgers while the mother worships the cow. The father does not worship the idols while the mother does. All of this is very confusing for the child. Parents are supposedly the role models for the children. When the two role models display different and often conflicting characteristics, the child becomes confused and is not able to work out which of the two is correct and which is not. Such marriages have frequently inculcated such a culture in the home, wherein the child starts believing in both the religions. The mixture of the two religions gives rise to a third religion that has extremely subjective foundations and whose beliefs and perceptions are entirely challengeable. The child having multiple beliefs himself is very confused. On one occasion, he worships the cow and on another, he eats it. This