Am Certain and It Is Certain

Two very specific different messages are conveyed when one says â€Å"l am certain† versus â€Å"it is certain. When one says â€Å"l am certain,† it is understood by the recipient to mean that the individual is in the highest mental state of being without a doubt. However, this differs from â€Å"It Is certain† because the word â€Å"It† Implies a consensus genteel, an agreement, without a doubt, between many humans In making a knowledge claim. In both cases a knowledge claim Is being made with confidence, but one person's certainty Is based on the Individual's perception, Intuition. Season or emotion, whereas a whole group of mankind making a knowledge claim depends on many different people's perceptions, reasons, and emotions. Since a great number of people consists of many individuals and their unique perceptions, reasons, and emotions, when a knowledge claim is made by all, the claim is transferred from simply a belief to a Justified belief. However, even though the number of people may vary from one to many, we must take into consideration the fact that there are various degrees of certainty.How would one quantify amount of certainty one holds, or be able to create a universal scale for measuring degrees of certainty? Certainty within a people or an individual can have been rooted from many efferent factors, of which one is passionate conviction. The question, addressing passionate conviction, Inquires whether It Is ever sufficient for Justifying knowledge claim. The question Is Implying whether passionate conviction alone, not Including reason, is sufficient for justifying knowledge claims.Passionate conviction that does not take root in reason must be coming from solely the emotional state, which is not sufficient for Justifying knowledge in most cases because further evidence should be presented and should be able to be agreed upon from one's perception (if possible ND reason. â€Å"l am passionately convinced that daffodi ls bloom in the springtime† is a knowledge claim that is based on reason and perception, which fuel the passionate conviction.However, passionate conviction that isn't based on other ways of knowing is usually not sufficient for Justifying claims. However, there are a few instances where passionate convictions may be sufficient for Justifying knowledge. Since passionate conviction Is rooted In emotion, an emotion can dictate your passionate conviction. If I feel empathy for someone being treated abusively, my passionate invention may be enough to Justify my â€Å"knowledge† that the other person desires to not De put tongue ten solution.However, tender are, again many Deterrent levels AT passionate conviction. How would you measure the degree of passionate conviction? Furthermore, is one basis for passionate conviction more valuable than another basis for passionate conviction, and does that change the strength of one's passionate conviction? These are a few knowledge i ssues that need to be identified and taken into consideration when deciding whether passionate conviction is sufficient for justifying knowledge.

Bewitched Analysis

Evaluating Sitcoms – Bewitched Bewitched is a situation comedy, produced in the year 1964 and set in America. The main characters include Samantha and Darrin Stephens. The program Bewitched conveys the premise to not make assumptions about someone instantly – because there may be more to a person then what meets the eye. The pilot of Bewitched begins with the orientation, establishing the status of the newly wed couple. Darrin is portrayed as the breadwinner of the family, and Samantha is presented as the perfect wife, which fulfils all of the criteria of a typical suburban housewife.The complication is then introduced when Samantha reveals she’s a witch. The complication is followed by a series of events, which begin with an invitation to Shelia’s -Darrin’s ex-fiance- house. At arrival they are both greeted with a warm welcome, but soon things begin to get messy. Shelia starts to belittle Samantha’s appearance, making her uncomfortable and a nnoyed; but to make matters worse Shelia begins to flirt with Darrin whilst occasionally glancing over at Samantha, in order to her to make her feel insignificant and envious.Samantha comes into conflict with herself in whether or not to use magic, but she decides using magic is the only way to go –even after promising Darrin no more witch craft – Samantha uses her magic in order to teach Shelia a well learnt lesson, to keep her hands of her man. The complication is soon resolved with Darrin and Samantha returning home to discuss her behaviour and the use of magic. Darrin becomes upset with Samantha for breaking her promise, but as any wife would do, Samantha almost instantly apologises and tells Darrin she won’t use magic again.The coda is illustrated in the end of the episode, despite Darrin’s request Samantha finishes by saying, â€Å"Maybe I can tamper off,† hence staying true to herself and not letting anyone change who she is. There are aspec ts of this storyline, which are plausible where the audience sees the common character/figure of the seductive ex-fiance/girlfriend. The credibility is generated with the behaviour of Samantha and Shelia.In Shelia wanting to make Samantha jealous and herself the centre of attention the plot is made credible, but the audience is then drawn to feel that the plot is more relatable and convincing with Samantha’s response to the situation, feeling annoyed, envious and angry. The relationship between Darrin and Samantha portrayed in the episode is clearly strong and affectionate. The Bewitched pilot reveals numerous characteristics of both Darrin and Samantha. Darrin is seen as the stereotypical husband, with his strong and demanding personality, which demonstrates that he obtains the authority between the two.However the audience becomes aware of the love and affection Darrin has for his new wife, Samantha. Samantha is also portrayed as a stereotypical housewife, who follows her h usband’s expectations of a Good wife, by cooking, keeping the household clean and being Normal. Bewitched reflects the values of the time, including some now-dated ideas about men and women's roles in society. The main characters, Darrin and Samantha are featured as binary opposite characters in the sense that Samantha is not you would call normal, being a witch.However Darrin is just an ordinary typical man, who happened to fall in love with a not so normal woman. Wanting to use a bit of magic once in awhile and hoping for a one-day normal family, are expectation Darrin and Samantha both have for their relationship, which of course are completely different and contradicting. A situation comedy wouldn’t be one without any humour. Humour is an important component of a sitcom and like expected Bewitched definitely has humour.In this episode there are numerous techniques used to generate a humorous response. This is evident in the use of irony when only minutes before She lia had been commenting on Samantha’s appearance, focusing mainly on her â€Å"Hard-to-manage hair† and haughtily referring back to herself as having â€Å"Not a hair out of place† but ironically Shelia’s wig is ripped off and flies into the strong -magic made- winds, to reveal her very impressive hair, the use of the irony in this scene conveys a very humorous response from the audience.Furthermore the use of the visual scenes with Samantha using magic, creates a sense of humour as the audience witness strange happenings as do the characters, but the audience knows the cause of these strange happenings -magic- whereas the characters in the program seem not to. Hence the audience responds to the confused and perplexed state of the other characters with humour. Thus, the pilot uses numerous techniques in order to receive an entertained and humorous response from the audience.Bewitched is a fantastic example of a situation comedy as it obtains and fulfils a ll of a sit-com’s characteristics and criteria, having an orientation, complication, resolution, coda and most importantly family and humour. Bewitched evidently represents concepts referring to family and family relationships, through the status of the couple where the male figure, Darrin is seen to obtain the authority and the female, Samantha to simply be the perfect housewife.Family relationships are represented through affection, kindliness and compassion. The program exhibits ideas about family values, where without these values there would be no family; a family without forgiveness, honesty, generosity, curiosity, communication and respect isn’t a family at all. Thus the family representation in Bewitched obtains all of these values in order to create the perfect household and television sit-com.

BLR Savings Project P

Data Code of Conduct We, in our dealings, are self-regulated by a Code of Conduct as enshrined In the Data Code of Conduct. We request your support In helping us adhere to the Code In letter and split. We request that any violation or potential violation of the Code by any person be promptly brought to the notice of the Local Ethics Counselor or the Principal Ethics Counselor or the CEO of TTS. All communication received in this regard will be treated and kept as confidential. 2 Table of Content 4 2. Project 3. Scope of 4. Suggested Solution by TTS 6 5. Technology and Tools ? 7 6.Facts and 9 7. Highlights . 8. Benefits to the Customer ? 3 The customer is one of the leading financial services companies in the United Kingdom (I-J). They have over 7. 5 million people investing in various life assurance, pension, investment and general insurance plans. This is one of Auk's top 50 companies in the Financial Times and Stock Exchange (FETES) Index and its operations are spread across the wo rld, mainly in the United States (US), France, Netherlands, Germany and I-J. This leading financial services company makes financial security easier to achieve for millions of people.Through the range of general insurance and protection products that the company offers, it helps protect lives, health, homes and belongings of millions of people. 2. Project Background The customer, based in the I-J, has entrusted Data Consultancy Services (TTS) with the task of managing the today-day IT operations of various business units. This engagement aims to deliver administration services of high quality to the customer's Wealth Business Unit at reduced costs, increased efficiency and reduced time to deliver projects. The following systems form a part of the Wealth Delivery Unit: Future ProductFramework The Future Product Framework (OFF) system plays a central role in the customer's Pension and Investment business and in the customer's strategic Pensions and Bonds administration system. OFF was implemented in 1999. It was designed to provide flexibility in products to meet customer requirements. OFF is a rules and derivative system and has the capability to launch products to the market quickly. UNIt Linked PENsion UNIt Linked PENsion (UNEVEN) is the customer's legacy system that was developed in- house and was originally implemented in 1980.Since 2001, many of its functions eve been replicated within the newer OFF system, and as a consequence almost all new pension contracts are set up on OFF rather than on UNEVEN. Some parts of UNEVEN have been replaced by separate applications such as Individual Pension Claims (PC) and Pensions Increments (PINCH). PC The PC is an online system that enables the creation, maintenance, and printing of Personal and Corporate pension quotations based on the customer pension plans. This system handles retirement, death and transfer out. It is predominately an online system. Quotation documents are composed using SF. PC was implemented in 199 2.PINCH The PINCH system was built to replace the existing UNEVEN renewal routines and to provide dados Benefit Statements and online illustrations. It is primarily used to produce Benefits Statements and Incremental Illustrations for Individual and Occupational Pensions. It was implemented in 1994. Group Pensions The Group Pensions system handles the administration of the following pension products: POP, POP and the Group Pension schemes with respect to maintaining member records and renewal processing. It also administers the settlement of claims for deaths and retirements, including producing claim quotations. ValuationsThe Valuations system performs the valuation of policies across various applications within this account to finally arrive at a valuation of customer's business. Agency, Customer, Finance and Healthcare These systems coordinate with the business to align with the business with respect to Agency and customer details. 5 3. Scope of Work The scope of this engagement is to provide application development and maintenance services across both the legacy and strategic systems of the customer's Wealth Business Unit. TTS provides the following services to the Wealth Business Unit: Management of all the phases of the project lifestyle

Role of Nutrition Information is Influencing Consumer Choice Essay

Role of Nutrition Information is Influencing Consumer Choice - Essay Example ind out the level of awareness on the importance of labels on food products, and identify the factors that customers consider before purchasing a food product based on its label (Verduin, Agarwal and Waltman, 2005). Aim and Objectives The aim of the project is to understand the relationship of buying habits for food products as influenced by product labels. The objectives of the study include: To examine the behaviour of customers as they make purchases at a local supermarket To establish the level of customer awareness on the various requirements for food labelling To identify the relevant words that customers look for in labels when making choices on food products To determine the most significant details on food products to customers To identify if customers consider the health benefits of a food product or absence of health hazard before making a purchase To review literature on the effects of labels on customer choices when shopping for food products To discuss the reasons for t he choices that customers make after reading the labels on food products Literature Review Verduin, Agarwal and Waltman (2005: 2597) state that the consumer is the central player in the decisions that could help the nation reverse the obesity situation, and should be informed on the importance of keeping watch on the contents of foodstuffs that one consumes. In addition, the writers emphasise on the need for the food industry to be truthful in providing information to consumers, and adherence to other guidelines provided for ethical advertising. In addition, they assert that manufacturers should work in cooperation with the government (2610) and research institutions (2612); the government gives recommendations and enforces standards, while the research institutions ensure that the use of... This report stresses that this study is likely to encounter several limitations that may reduce its efficiency, and it has some shortcomings that may have a negative effect on the usability of the results for generalisation. First, the data collection approaches are expensive in terms of time and money, both of which may not be enough since the researcher may have other commitments. Second, the management of retail stores may not cooperate with the researcher, while customers may perceive the study as a waste of time or an infringement into their private lives. Third, the study makes many assumptions that may reduce the confidence level of the results; however, this can be countered by the use of secondary sources that allow the researcher to make exclusions and differentiations. One of the main assumptions is that a customer’s choice is informed by the contents of the label, and other factors, including price have little or no role to play. Finally, there is one ethical conce rn that the researcher has to deal with; observing customers and recording data without their knowledge may amount to doing research with people as subjects without their informed consent. Therefore, the researcher has to consult the ethics department of the institution before doing the study to clarify the matter. This essay makes a conclusion that the proposal is part of the process of preparing for a study, and every aspect of study must be cleared up to save on costs, identify potential obstacles and other unforeseen aspects of the study. The proposal must have the aims and objectives, and methodologies that will be used to answer the research question.

Applications of the Scientific Method Assignment - 1

Applications of the Scientific Method - Assignment Example s, a business introducing its product to the market for the first time need to develop passion and care of the customers’ feelings with a special focus on the anticipated value and benefits. This special focuses will help the competitor build up a strong foundation that will later become the competitive edge and assure the competitor of continued survivor. A number of steps have been used in decision making and information input, more so when it comes to the successful developments of new products as discussed here below (Mital, 2008). The first step is to evaluate whether the product to be designed fits in the mission, vision, and overall strategy of the business. To get this information, brainstorming is done internally with the conclusions to be done by the purchasing personnel. The information can also be sought externally through an external market research where secondary research and competitor analysis are done. Second is the screening of ideas which later paves way for the initial design of the idea by the development teams (Mital, 2008). The third step will be the formulation of a marketing plan where market researcher may go a step further to seek external input and also come across the real products in addition to other various elements of the product including; pricing, optioning, and advertising (Fleisher, & Bensoussan, 2007). To come up with a solid decision, a marketer may opt to observe the reactions of a customer before he even introduces his products to the market. Observing customers’ reactions will also provide important information related to understanding the product and estimated purchase prices as well as the value that the product has to its customers. If the feedback from the customer is negative, adjustments will be made directly and if positive, the products will be ready to be launched (Fleisher, & Bensoussan, 2007). Lessons from concept testing and market testing will greatly help in the launching of the product. The best

Economic Development More Important Than Democracy in Promoting a Essay

Economic Development More Important Than Democracy in Promoting a Welfare State - Essay Example Essentially, this paper provides various definitions of the â€Å"welfare state condition,† attempts to juxtapose the democratic view with the perspective that favors economic development, and presents a plausible explanation why economic development is more important than democracy. Also, this paper will enumerate several practices that contribute to economic development, thereby, increasing the chances of attaining a welfare state. Definition of Welfare State Over the years, there has been no strict and general definition of the welfare state. Some relate the term to power and industrialisation while others try to refer it as one of the capitalist contradictions. A classic definition of the term is the state’s â€Å"responsibility for securing some basic modicum of welfare for its citizens† (Pierson & Castles, 2006, p.160). Apart from this definition, Asa Briggs (as cited in Flora & Heidenheimer, 2009, p.29) also defined the welfare state as the condition chara cterised by an organised power that uses politics and administration to change the direction of market forces. This can be done in three ways: (1) through ensuring that individuals and families could receive a minimum income regardless of their properties’ market value, (2) by assisting families and individuals meet their social needs, thereby, reducing their sense of insecurity, and (3) ensuring that all citizens, regardless of social class and status, are given the highest standards of social services (as cited in Flora & Heidenheimer, 2009, p.29). The Democracy View vs. Economic Development After the in-depth discussion of the term welfare state, it is worthwhile to present the split views of paternalism and the democracy. Paternalism connotes economic development while democratic views favor a free market model. Throughout the years, there has been an existing clash between paternalism model followed in the 18th century and the emerging free market model that was especial ly advocated by Adam Smith. As a result, there were several insights generated to support its stand as well as to oppose each other’s perspectives. Paternalism, as defined by Abercrombie and Hill (as cited in Varano, 1999, p.26), is an economic institution that organises the productive unit and regulates the relationships between the owners of the means of production and their respective subordinates. Moreover, it is composed of different access to power and resources and an unequal distribution of goods and services. Oftentimes, paternalism emphasises elite control and privilege towards the subordinates. It also attempts to lessen the worst effects of industrial capitalism through combining traditional and community norms. Contrary to this view, some sociologists and economists alike such as Richard Sennett (as cited in Varano, 1999, p.27), contend that paternalism was intended to mask the hidden interest of the industrialists to enforce high level of production. He continue s by citing that paternalism only connotes elite oversight and community welfare instead of advancing the morale of the workers (Varano, 1999, p.27). The free-market model also extremely contradicts to the paternalistic model since the latter was based on some statute laws, common laws, and customs while the former allows the exploration of the

GW Restaurant Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

GW Restaurant Project - Essay Example Gantt, an American engineer and social scientist. There are now many other PM tools available, for project design, analysis, control, and decision-making, such as Microsoft Project 2002. The ultimate goal of the project is successful establishment of the new restaurant named GW Restaurant. The project is important for expansion of George Wright's empire. Team has become an increasingly important part of business success. Efficient people management can lead the project to good result, while inefficient one often becomes the main reason for project failure. Therefore a great responsibility is incumbent on project manager. The project manager has sole responsibility and authority for project and contract direction and control, however he or she may delegate single or multiple responsibilities. A Project Management Plan is commonly used to document key management parameters in a central location and is updated throughout the project focusing on recognition of changes in program planning and management of those changes. (WBDG Project Management Committee 2005) As Gray and Larson write, projects must have a defined endpoint - this is contrary to the ongoing duties and responsibilities of traditional jobs. (Gray, C.F. and Larson, E.W. 2000, p.2) Duration of the GW Restaurant Project is 52 days; it starts 1st October 2005 and finishes 9th December 2005. All project participants are working without overtime. I think that absence of overtime produces more effective and qualitative work of personnel. Also if something goes wrong, it would be possible to make the team work on weekend and in that way to keep time limits. The time schedule for the project is built based on the Work Breakdown Structure. The Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is used to provide a... As the report declar the ultimate goal of the project is successful establishment of the new restaurant named GW Restaurant. The project is important for expansion of George Wright’s empire. Team has become an increasingly important part of business success. Efficient people management can lead the project to good result, while inefficient one often becomes the main reason for project failure. Therefore a great responsibility is incumbent on project manager. The project manager has sole responsibility and authority for project and contract direction and control, however he or she may delegate single or multiple responsibilities. According to the report findings a Project Management Plan is commonly used to document key management parameters in a central location and is updated throughout the project focusing on recognition of changes in program planning and management of those changes. The time schedule for the project is built based on the Work Breakdown Structure. The Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is used to provide a framework for breaking the GW Restaurant Project into Stages and Activities and then organizing them in a logical way. The critical path is a sequence of activities through a project network from start to finish, the sum of whose durations determines the overall project duration.

Why might a healthy psychological contract amonst its employees be Assignment

Why might a healthy psychological contract amonst its employees be important to an organisation's effectiveness - Assignment Example This concept has been widely discussed by the scholars lately and showed to have certain impact on the overall performance of an organization. However, in order to determine why a healthy psychological contract among the employees is important to an organization’s effectiveness, it is necessary to build a clear definition of what a psychological contract is first of all. Defining psychological contract Since the concept is relatively new, the scientists are still arguing on what exactly psychological contract is. The classical definitions state that psychological contract is either â€Å"the perceptions of both parties to the employment relationship, organization and individual, of the reciprocal promises and obligations implied in that relationship† (Guest and Conway, 2002, p.1) or â€Å"an individual’s belief in mutual obligations between that person and another party such as an employer† (Rousseau and Tijoriwala, 1998, p.679). A quite similar definition have Hall and Moss (1998), who claim that psychological contract consists of the mutual expectations in the employer-employee relationship. So, in general it seems that the concept of psychological contract is more related to employees, because organizations, as employers, cannot have any beliefs or expectations. People are the ones who have them. Therefore, in short it can be said that a psychological contract might be described as an unwritten agreement between upper management and employees, that outlines how both parties see and understand their cooperation. Importance of healthy psychological contract to organization’s effectiveness It is rather well-know that a happy and satisfied employee is a good worker. Consequently, good employees that show loyalty and devotion to their companies must have all their needs met and, thus, be happy. This is, according to Cyril van de Ven (2004), one of the major goals of psychological contract. It reduces employees’ insecurity regarding their jobs. Since it is physically impossible to state all the aspect of employee-employer relationships in a written contract, the psychological contract helps by means of filling the gaps of the official one. The psychological contact, consequently, helps employees to evaluate and measure their obligations to the company and those of the organization to employees. So, if an employee believes that both parties fulfill their obligations, he or she is likely to show positive behaviors that contribute to the quality of his or her job performance. Another important function of psychological contract is giving employees the feeling that they have some power over events within the organization (Anderson and Schalk, 1998). This means that with the help of psychological contract employees percept the interrelation of roles and events as something they have agreed upon and have control over. As a result, even their self-esteem gets higher. So, if the psychological contract does n ot get broken, the employee will feel secure in the job. In addition, he or she will be performing well, thus fulfilling own obligations on the contract, in response to the company’s fulfilling its obligations on the psychological contract. Consequently, when employees perform their jobs well the organization in general becomes more effective. A Healthy psychological contract ensures that employees are satisfied with their jobs, loyal to the organization, have adequate work-family balance, and feel fair treatment form the side of the employer. As a result the company gets reduced employee turnover and absenteeism, as well as improved individual and organizational performance. Employers’ influence on the state of the psychological contract Employers, in their turn, should take all the possible measures

Business Process management as a real , meaningful change strategy Essay

Business Process management as a real , meaningful change strategy - Essay Example When speaking of BPM one is simply speaking about formalizing the business processes in order to direct efforts to best accommodate the needs of clients through controlling the entire organizational efforts. Broadly speaking it is the case that BPM incorporates an approach that aims to improve management activities in six specific categories. The first category covered under BPM is company vision which aims to generate what the strategic vision of the firm should be. The following process category is design, which focuses management efforts to identify the existing work processes and potential future design processes. After this point, attention is given to the modeling process which looks to separate variables to help determine what effect larger organizational changes might have. Building on this previous point attention is given to execution which is the actual pursuing of the steps involved in the process. As a significant component of BPM is monitoring, it as at this stage where it is implemented and special consideration is given to collecting as much data as possible. As a final point of the BPM process, optimization is incorporated in which based on relevant feedback from the monitoring process changes can be made in order to ensure better work flow in the future. As with any business process change strategy, one operates under the assumption that the main benefit of BPM is to streamline all business processes to improve the satisfaction of customer needs or increase profits. The consequence of implementing BPM would supposedly generate an improvement in overall customer satisfaction (Through faster turnaround or improvements in product quality), improved customer relations, increased profits etc. One major concern that BPM hopes to improve is the idea that different stakeholders within an organization often have very different goals. It could be argued that marketing professionals within an organization often have different objectives than computer pro grammers. For example, programmers often may develop programs that are best suited for the purpose but may be technically abstract for clients yet marketing professionals look to promote products that are best suited to accommodate the customer needs yet may be technologically deficient. In this scenario BPM would look to align all work processes from first point of contact though to the delivery of the final product. Where this differs from other management process such as Six Sigma according to Breyfogle (2004) is the example that BMP effectively enhances six sigma based initiative by providing a software based solution to measure, define, analyze as well as control business processes. By incorporating a technological aspect to the process one gains a better control on the effectiveness of protocols. The issue of whether or not BBM is merely a fad or here to stay is tricky. Over the years there have been many business improvement initiative processes that have fallen by the waysid e. However a strong argument can be made that this process is here to stay. Where this process differs from its contemporaries is that it seeks to incorporate a technological monitoring process that generates meaningful control and feedback. From an IT perspective, when incorporated effectively the process would require the development of software monitoring solutions as a means of generating meaningful feedback. As it

The Tempest - William Shakespeare Essay Essay Example for Free

The Tempest William Shakespeare Essay Essay Although William Shakespeare’s The Tempest is often categorized as his late romance, its plots reflect the major social movement of that time—the Europeans settling in the New World. As the Europeans eagerly set out to find the New World, they left behind hopeful citizens pondering over what they would find. In The Tempest, through the characters, we can infer that the Europeans’ intentions ranged from creating the perfect government to interacting with the inhabitants. They discovered that their idea of the perfect government in which everyone is equal failed to exist. Nonetheless, they were correct in their anticipation that the New World would already be settled—by savage ‘Native Americans’. They eventually integrated the Native Americans into their society as slaves. In their journey to the New World, the Europeans failed to establish an ideal government, yet succeeded in incorporating the natives into their own society. One of the Europeans’ expectations of the New World was a perfect government in which everyone would be equal. In The Tempest, Shakespeare’s character Gonzalo describes it as a government where there would be â€Å"no occupation; all men idle, all;/And women too, but innocent and pure;/No sovereignty. † (II. 1, ll. 154-156) Even as his comrades ridiculed him, he is steadfast in his belief, and simply labels them as â€Å"gentlemen of brave mettle. † (II. 1, l. 181). This would seem like the ideal government, and would work in theory. In European society in the early seventeenth century, much emphasis was placed on class. The lower class faced many restrictions, and many citizens were infuriated with the class system. To the lower class, the hope of a perfect government in which everyone was equal was ideal. Another one of their hopes was that the natives, although barbaric, would be of great use to them when they first settled. They hoped to incorporate the Native Americans into their own society. In The Tempest, Caliban, the original native of the island, originally greeted Prospero with respect: â€Å"When thou cam’st first,/Thou strok’st me and made much of me†¦then I loved thee/And showed thee all the qualities o’ th’ isle,/The fresh springs, brine pits, barren place and fertile. † (I. 2, ll. 333-338) When Prospero first came to the island, Caliban went through the trouble of finding him the best food and water sources. Because of Caliban’s kindness, this shows that the Europeans believed that the Native Americans would be easy to manipulate, and thus, easy to control. They hoped to be in command of the Native Americans so that the task of controlling North America would be easier. To gradually incorporate the natives into their own society as slaves was one of the hopes of the Europeans. However, their hopes and predetermined ideas were found to be inaccurate. The reality was that the utopian government that the Europeans dreamed about did not exist. In fact, Gonzalo’s government was impractical. There would always be conflict, and if everyone was equal, they would feel equally poor. This would call for a sovereign, which would defeat the purpose of everyone being equal. Hierarchy will always exist simply because it is human nature to strive for the best. For example, in The New World, this was reflected in the colony of Jamestown. There was always a captain in charge. A chain of order was important in order to prevent chaos in times of distress. Conversely, one of their expectations became a reality. They believed that the natives would be savages. The Europeans looked down upon the Native Americans because they appeared in many ways to be subhuman. This was due to non-Christianity, a primitive dress style, and a sense of filth: â€Å"Their hair is usually black, but few have any beards. The men wear half their heads shaven, the other half long†¦some are of disposition fearful, some bold, most wary. All Savage†¦For their apparel, they are some time covered with the skins of wild [beasts]†¦There is yet in Virginia no place discovered to be so Savage in which Savages have not a religion†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The Europeans viewed the Native Americans as inferior beings. At first, the Native Americans were inclined to incorporate the Europeans as an intermediary: â€Å"Americans sought to incorporate the newcomers into their universe. † (Kupperman 175) They also concluded that the Europeans would be of great use to trade with. As time progressed, both the Native Americans and the Europeans strived to merge the other into their own hierarchy. (Kupperman 174) However, this attempt at incorporating the other soon proved to be futile. In The Tempest, Caliban is always plotting to overthrow Prospero (conversation with Trinculo and Stephano). This is paralleled in the Europeans’ constant, underlying worry that the natives would revolt against them: â€Å"Both the Roanoke and Jamestown  colonists reported that conspiracies against them were planned. † (Kupperman 175) The Native Americans knew their territory, and gradually developed tactics to fend off attackers. The Native Americans were highly skilled warriors, yet lacked the technology that the Europeans had. (Barbour) In addition, the Europeans had resistance to disease that overwhelmed the Native Americans. Eventually, the Europeans managed to seize power in their settlements, and incorporated the Native Americans into their civilization as slaves. Although the Europeans failed to establish a utopian government, their efforts to merge the Native Americans into their society were successful. Their ideal failed to exist simply because of human nature. Nonetheless, they integrated the Native Americans into their society as slaves. Albeit unconventional, the expectations of the Europeans were portrayed to some degree. Through The Tempest, the Europeans’ hope of establishing an model government did not become a reality, yet they managed to incorporate the natives.

The Rite: The Making of a Modern Day Exorcist | Critique

The Rite: The Making of a Modern Day Exorcist | Critique Reading The Rite was an intriguing experience for me since as young as I can recall I have gone to church, so the concept of Lucifer and demons is far from new to me. While reading this book by Matt Baglio the resounding question that crept into my head was what was his purpose for writing this book? There are enough movies out there satiate peoples hunger for exorcisms, I didnt think anything new would come of it, but as I read I realized that Baglios perspective was no ordinary approach. When I read of his account about studying exorcisms I was surprised to hear that there was a University class to textbook study the science which really caught my interest. After doing some research myself I learned that there was a need for Exorcists, and in America alone there should be 200, but we have only 50 in America, so the Vatican created a course for people interested to become Exorcists. I came to learn that Baglios purpose for writing The Rite was to write the truth about Exorcisms and give an accurate representation about them since the media has embellished exorcisms. As I read about Father Gary Thomas under goings I learned that exorcisms often arent accomplished and finished in one fell swoop. Hollywood has put people under the impression that an exorcism is a onetime event that frees the person from a demon in some dramatic and climatic fashion, but that is not how it works. The afflicted individual undergoes numerous exorcisms, resulting in temporary liberations which eventually can cause a demon to flee. Present day that is a screening process that happens before someone is exorcised with psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists involved because the Church has come to realize that a lot of people are mentally afflicted and need help. Another reason Baglio wrote The Rite is to convey the idea of personal responsibility and how it is up to us to make the right choices in our lives. He tries to convey to us the reader that were in control, the free will that w e possess, and how we cannot ignore this concept of evil because evil is real so we cannot simply ignore it. Yet dont let the fear of evil consume you and become obsessed by it. Which leads to Baglios thesis of The Rite which is to diminish fear and to talk about exorcisms in a way that people could put the concept of evil into a theological context. The reader learns throughout the book that demons often exhibit similar behavior when manifesting. Yet sometimes behaviors are unexpected. This is where the array of experiences among the exorcists is especially useful when developing the Churchs and individuals knowledge of the subject matter. Baglio didnt want to over-dramatize anything and give an accurate account. When reading The Rite, I learned that supernatural occurrences happen during exorcisms but that is not a common occurrence and during the writing of The Rite Father Gary did not witness it himself but other exorcists have like stuff flying across rooms, speaking is other tongues, and the afflicted throwing up objects that then liquefy. On one occasion Baglio describes the disparity of experience by different people present at the same exorcism, Dur ing the exorcism, Father Gary had the overwhelming sensation that the room was suffocatingly hot, while the priest from Indianapolis smelled a terrible over-powering stench, (page 149). Its details such as these that Baglio wanted to convey to the reader to give an accurate account to write the truth, but keep it in a theological context while not over-dramatizing the occurrences while still maintaining objectivity. As one reads The Rite its clear that Baglio is a serious journalist as he examines what popular culture takes as truth and corrects misconceptions. As well, he thoroughly examines many of the questions that occur to any logical person when faced with the idea of demons and possession in modern times. To this end, he interviews psychologist, doctors, and other specialists for information. All of this is told without ever inserting himself into the book which allows the focus to stay on the subject and on Father Gary, whose journey yielded spiritual growth in several ways. That is what Baglio is trying to convey. One of the main observations I made while reading The Rite is the concept of trying to be a good person which Baglio conveys relies heavily on the choices you make as an individual. Baglios accounting of the information from classes amounts to a brief catechism of Church teachings about anything to do with this subject including among other things angels, free will, Gods power, and human ailments. As a priest, Father Gary learns that one must be understanding and forgiving. While its technically true that any priest can perform an exorcism, not every priest should. Guideline thirteen of the Ritual states that the bishop can only nominate a priest who is distinguished in piety, learning, prudence, and integrity of life. In addition, The priest [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] should carry out this work of charity confidently and humbly under the guidance of the Ordinary, (page 72). We as the reader get a peek into the mind and teachings of an exorcist and even though an Exorcist can perform exorcism s as they please, they learn just how sacred and important undergoing such an act can be, and they must remain humble and understanding of a situation before they move forward and perform the exorcism. A second observation I made while reading The Rite is how Baglio goes about to shed light on the truth about Exorcisms. The Rite helps us realize just how thoroughly our popular notions of exorcism have been fashioned via cinema and fiction. Exorcisms often arent accomplished in one fell swoop. Instead, the process may take years of repeated encounters and prayers and this surprises some, People dont understand what we do, says Father Gramolazzo. People come to see us expecting to be healed right away. [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] Instead, as Father Gramolazzo explains, exorcism is more akin to a journey, with the exorcist acting as a kind of spiritual director helping the victim to rediscover the grace of God through prayer and the sacraments [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] Getting people to see it this way is not always easy for the exorcist. Half the battle is to change their whole purpose so they dont see it in the light of getting rid of a problem, but see it in the light of being more fully converted or being converted at all, says English exorcist Father Jeremy Davies, (page 167). Baglios work examines pop-culture misconceptions-about exorcism, demons, the church and more-by countering them with probing questions to psychologists, doctors, and other specialists; and the focus remains well-centered on Father Thomas, and the spiritual growth that the priest has experienced in his journey. The third observation I made is the fact that a person or exorcist is still unsure and not one hundred percent convinced about everything occurring throughout The Rite; that the doubt and skepticism still exists. While reading, we can notice that in Father Gary Thomas, and how there is still a lot of mystery about the matter; how suspicion grows about the people who are one hundred percent certain about the exorcisms. The exorcists are just like a guy and they hope what God is doing is real but they just rely on faith and leave it to God. This book relates to Anthropology 55 in many ways. As we reviewed earlier there is no uniform anthropological theory of religion and Baglio states that the concept of demons, exorcisms, and the afterlife date back to the dawn of time. This concept is not new and is applicable across all faiths. This plays a factor as to why there cannot be a uniformed anthropological theory of religion. As well everything we see and touch, feel and experience is only one path. There is an unknown but we cannot reach it or channel it. That is where exorcisms come into play, and studying that can help anthropologist better understand religion. The exorcist acts as a medium, the middle point to help exorcise the demons which we cannot channel or sense. Studying exorcists and exorcisms can help anthropologist better understand the concept of faith because the study of exorcism is not a science but also plays heavily on faith, so it is not something everyone can learn. Exorcisms can also be defined as rit uals and the reasons why we practice rituals can be applied as to why people study and practice exorcising. When they feel they have tempted fate, to diminish negative feelings, and bring about a sense of peace and comfort. Rituals are beneficial for helping us feel a sense of peace and familiarity in a world where we can feel very unfamiliar with and have a hard time maintaining our sense of peace. Since exorcisms can be called a ritual since rituals and exorcisms share many traits they can relate back to anthropology. The Rite helped me better understand the concept of demons and other worldly supernatural phenomena. I use to be a Christian due to my parents when I was younger but when I came of age and could make my own decisions about my life I questioned a lot of Churchs teachings. Reading Baglios book gave a much-appreciated insight into the life of an Exorcist because I doubted that what was portrayed in film was what occurred in real life, more so I thought that the concept of exorcising was an old-world practice and wasnt taught and executed today. Contrary to what I believed reading Baglios book showed me otherwise. Bibliography Baglio, Matt. The Rite: The Making of a Modern Exorcist. New York: Image , 2010. Print.

Human rights education for indian armed forces

Human rights education for indian armed forces HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION FOR INDIAN ARMED FORCESCHAPTER INTRODUCTION AND METHODOLOGY When asked what should be done about human rights, the French philosopher Voltaire answered:- â€Å"Let the people know them!† Over the years there has been considerable deterioration in the internal security environment in various parts of our country. JK and NE states have been the theatre of ethnic, regional and state sponsored turmoil for decades for various reasons, the primary one being isolation of the region from rest of the country and the lack of social and economic development of the area. The rise in the law and order problems and failure of the government to control the situation eventually led to the long drawn involvement of the armed forces in the region. The efforts of the security forces to control insurgency and terrorism in the area have brought up the issue of violations of human rights by the security forces. The paradoxical situation now is that while there is an increasing and widespread concern for observance of human rights by the security forces operating in the environment, gross violations of the same by the militant organisations continue unabated. â€Å"Extremist organisations find terror desirable to attract attention whereas counter measures by security forces are restrained when militants blend into the local population, making it impossible to attack their bases or personnel without collateral damage. Here in lies the dilemma for the security forces to conduct operations effectively within the constraints of ethics and the need to respect human rights. (Jasjit Singh) Terrorism and human rights cannot co-exist. They are mutually destructive of each other. Where there is terrorism there cannot be human rights. One of the greatest threats to the future of democracy is terrorism which is increasingly becoming a way of life in the disturbed states. Low intensity conflict operations today includes in its gambit operations against insurgents, militants, terrorists, and any other non state actors that jeopardises national security and sovereignty. The armed forces are being increasingly used in Low Intensity Conflict Operations (LICO) or Counter Insurgency (CI) Operations, which brings it in the media lime light. Certain restrictions have to be imposed on the basic rights of people when combating terrorism, but those restrictions have some norms to be followed. The principles of humanity suggest that military action should not cause unnecessary or disproportionate damage or suffering. When entrusted with a task of this magnitude, human rights violations do take place, but what is important is that the state remains fully aware of its obligations to eradicate the occurrence of such instances and takes prompt measures against the erring personal. It becomes imperative on part of the organisation to educate and train the personals involved in such duties with the basic rights of an individual as a human being and the steps to prevent its violation. METHODOLOGY Statement of the Problem This paper aims to formulate and suggest the Institutionalised Human Rights Education and Training as a means to reduce Human Rights Violations by the Armed Forces operating in low intensity conflict environment. Justification of the Study Human rights now constitute the common heritage of humankind; accordingly, human rights education is a means of accessing that heritage through the universal commitment to the dignity and worth of each human. The evils of injustice, exploitation, impoverishment, tyranny, civil strife, genocide, abuses of power, and catastrophic state failures have plagued humankind from time immemorial and produced humiliation and despair. They also spur action for social and economic transformation, which human rights education helps to define and put into practice. Human rights education reinforces the human rights to peace and to development, that is, the rights of human beings and nations to be free from aggression or other unlawful use of armed force and from mass impoverishment. Genocidal practices and other massive human rights violations are a particular challenge for human rights education. Every human being should be empowered through human rights education to expose and undermine the very possibility of such practices before they emerge and to join with others in ending such practices and holding the perpetrators accountable for their deeds and those who could help accountable for their silence and inaction. The dedication of nation-states and of the United Nations system to human rights education is a first step and the modest efforts pursued during the first United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education (1995- 2004) and this effort must be redoubled by the Armed Forces as a responsible organisation to build stronger solidarities through the message of the dignity and equal worth of every human person. Scope This study focuses on establishing a framework of Human Rights Education and Training to the armed forces in low intensity conflict operations environment. It also attempts to suggest functional parameters that will assist in adopting a universal, holistic and integrated approach to Human Rights. Methods of Data Collection The source of data has been the abundant literature on the subject available in the College Library. A bibliography is appended at the end of the text. In addition to it, explicit use of means of mass media including internet has been made. The thought process of eminent personalities and experts on the subject, both in India and internationally, have also been incorporated as they manifested in Interviews and public shows. Organisation of the Dissertation It is proposed to study the subject in the following manner:- Chapter I. Introduction and Methodology. Chapter II. Human Rights A basic Study. Chapter III. Interplay of Human Rights and Armed Forces in LIC Environment. Chapter IV. Relevance of Human Rights Education for Armed Forces. Chapter V. Approach to Human Rights Education. Chapter VI. Effective Human Rights Training. Chapter VI. Conclusion. CHAPTER II HUMAN RIGHTS A BASIC STUDY Human Rights Evolution of the Concept. In the simplest of terms, human rights could be regarded as involving all those aspects which add to dignity and free existence of human beings. Historians credit the origin of this concept to MAGNA CARTA, AD 1521. On scrutiny however, it would emerge that this document actually was a petition urging the king to concede certain rights to a particular section of his people. It neither had a direct reference to the common mans basic freedom nor the required range of application. The term â€Å"Human Rights† was introduced in the United States Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the US constitution embodied a â€Å"Bill of Rights†. The French resolution later on in 1789, ushered in the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen. Much later in 1929, the Institute of International Law, New York, USA, prepared a Declaration of Human Rights and Duties. In 1945, the Inter American Conference passed a resolution seeking the establishment of an international forum for the furtherance of human rights of the whole mankind. The World War II was probably the turning point, which drew the required attention towards human rights. The atrocities committed on ethnic grounds by the axis powers shocked the conscience of the international community. The allied powers then vowed to usher in a world order for promoting respect for the observance of Human Rights and fundamental freedom. The United Nations charter, in its preamble declared, â€Å"we the people of the United Nations Organisation†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..reaffirm faith in the fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of human person, in the equal rights of men and women and the Nations large and small†¦..†. The charter then went on to declare that the purpose of the United Nations is, â€Å"to achieve international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedom for all, without distinction based o n race, sex, language or religion†. The United Nations proclaimed the universal declaration of Human Rights in 1948. The United States defined Human Rights in a policy document in 1978 , which includes the following aspects:- â€Å"Freedom from arbitrary arrest and imprisonment, torture, unfair trial, cruel and unusual punishment and invasion of privacy, rights to food, shelter, health care, education, freedom of thought, speech, assembly, religion, press, movement and participation in Government†. Human Rights The International Endeavour. The United nations Organisation in keeping with its charter to promote respect for fundamental freedom and Human Rights for all without any distinction, came out with an International bill of Human Rights consisting of the following:- Universal Declaration of human Rights, 1948. The International Covenant on civil and Political Rights, 1966. The International covenant of Economic social and cultural rights, 1966. The optional protocol (1966) providing for the right of the individual to petition international agencies. The principles on which this bill was based on are as under:- All human beings have been brought within the scope of this bill, without any distinction. Equality of application without any distinction of race, sex, language or religion. Emphasis on international cooperation for implementation of the bill. UN Declaration of Human Rights. The UN General Assembly on 10 December 1948 approved and accepted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Further on 16 December 1966, two covenants were also approved by the UN General Assembly on â€Å"Economic, Social and Cultural Rights† and â€Å"Civil and Political Rights†. These covenants are legally binding and came into force in 1976. Some of the important aspects of UN Declaration are as under:- Right to life, liberty and security of person (Art 3). Right against slavery or servitude (Art 4). No one shall be subjected to torture, cruel, in human or degrading treatment or punishment (Art 5). Equality before Law and equal protection under law (Art 6 and 7). (e) Right to effective remedy against violation of Fundamental Rights (Art 8). Right against arbitrary arrest, detention or exile (Art 9) Right against interference with individuals privacy (Art 10 and 11). Right to a free and fair trial (Art 12). Right to freedom of movement, residence and nationality and to seek asylum in other countries (Art 13, 14 and 15). Right to marry and to form a family (Art 16). Right to property (Art 17). Right to freedom of thought, religion, freedom of opinion and expression (Art 16 and 18). Right to work, reasonable working conditions and to receive equal pay for equal work (Art 23, 24). Right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association and to be a member of a society (Art 20 and 22). Right to a standard of living, conducive for health, well being and social protection (Art 25). Right to education (Art 26). Right to participation in cultural life of community (Art 27). Right to a social and international order in which the right and freedom set forth in this declaration can be fully exercised (Art 28). Human Rights The Scenario in India. India does not have a known convention on human rights. However, India is a signatory to the various conventions proclaimed by the United Nations organisation. Traditionally, Indian culture has always stressed the observance of human rights. Our constitutional founders have given this aspect the due prominence in the form of fundamental rights, which has been embodied as Directive Principles of State Policy. The important aspects are as given below :- Right to equality (Art 14). No discrimination against any citizen based on religion, race, caste, sex etc (Art 15). Right against untouchability (Art 17). Right to freedom. Right to freedom of speech and expression (19(i)(a)) Freedom to assemble peacefully without arms (Art 19(i)(b)). Freedom to form associations (Art 19(i) (c)). Freedom to reside and settle in any part of country (Art 19(i) (f). Freedom in choice of profession (Art 19(i) (f)). Right not to be compelled to be a witness against himself (Art 20(2). Protection of life and personal liberty (Art 21). Protection against arrest and detention (Art 22). Right against exploitation by traffic in human beings, beggary and other similar forms of forced labour (Art 23 and 24). Right to freedom of Religion (Art 25 to 26). Right to move Supreme Court for enforcement of fundamental rights (Art 32). CHAPTER III INTERPLAY OF ARMED FORCES AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN LOW INTENSITY CONFICT ENVIRONMENT â€Å"When the soldier is fighting against an adversary in war, considerations of Human Rights are secondary principles. Practices and usage of war are the best guide. But during peace time employment, in addition to the guidelines laid down in various conventions, it is essential that the environment that the soldier has to operate is clearly understood. -Army Training Note S/1/95 Six decades after our independence, country finds itself beset with terrorism and insurgencies in many states simultaneously. The security forces have been actively involved in counter insurgency operations in Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Jammu and Kashmir and more recently, Naxals in as many as twelve other states. Involvement of non state actors in promoting insurgency in our border states is also well established. The insurgencies and terrorism are quite different from a full scale conventional war and thus demand the utmost attention of a government and the people. The counter insurgency operations must differ materially from regular warfare for which armies train and equip themselves. Environmental Realities in LIC More often than not the armed forces are deployed for operations at a very belated stage, when the situation is almost out of control. The prevailing environment that is likely to be encountered by the army therefore assumes a great degree of importance. Some of the salient aspects of the environmental realities are given in the succeeding paragraphs:- Public. There is a prevailing sense of in-security among the general public. People tend to either silently obey the militants or to migrate to safer places. They are very reluctant to cooperate with the security forces. Militants. There is an overpowering cult of the gun and defiance of authority. They acquire sophisticated and lethal weapons by establishing nexus with powers inimical to the state. They have no desire for peaceful negotiations, unless the government out rightly succumbs to their demands. Bureaucracy, Politicians and Judiciary. These come under tremendous pressure because of the constant threat of retribution. Police/Paramilitary Forces. Militants endeavour to induce fear in them through intimidation, and other forms of retribution. This coupled with inadequate equipment and training has adverse effects on the morale and efficiency of these forces. As a result their credibility gets eroded and they fail to induce any confidence among the people. Media. The official media and some of the national dailies are viewed as the mouth piece of the government and its credibility with the masses is usually low. Reporters have scant knowledge of LICO and tend to sensationalise events. Civil Administration. The general conditions prevailing amounts to the civil administration being ineffective and the authority of the government gets eroded with the writ of the militants running supreme. Law of the Land. The law of one state is not always applicable in the other states. This facilitates the militants shifting their bases and operating from areas where they can escape the law. Once certain special laws are enacted, these are portrayed as draconian in a democratic society, thereby providing sufficient cause for propaganda and also drawing attention of the Human Rights Organisations. The militants also thrive on the various existing lacunae in our legal system. Neighbouring States. Inimical neighbours exploit the instable situation to the full extent and resort to waging a proxy war. The Nexus. Militants tend to establish a nexus with identical anti government movements. Even some religious fundamentalist extends their direct support. State and Central Agencies. There is a plethora of state and central agencies operating in such an environment. They usually lack unity of purpose and operate at cross purposes. Impact of Environmental Realities. All these environmental realities given above have an impact on the operations carried out by the army. These are as given below:- The army gets involved when things have gone out of hands of the police/para military forces to handle thereby making their task much more difficult. Operations tend to become long drawn and the army gets involved over protracted periods to effectively neutralise the militants potential. The resources required are also out of proportion invariably. The army invariably has to operate in an intelligence vacuum. Barriers of language pose additional problems. Militants also manage to infiltrate various civil and police organisations compromising security. There is often an absence of clear cut political directive, making it difficult for the army to understand the charter and to evolve its aims, objectives and plans n a long term perspective. There is inadequate cooperation from the local public, bureaucracy and the politicians. Media gets exploited by the militants to discredit the army, thereby imposing great caution on operations by the army. There is a lack of integration between various agencies, thus making problems of coordination acute. Where the militants enjoy public support, willing or forced, it is difficult to sift and isolate the militants from the public. Law of the land often provides great immunity to the militants and imposes numerous constraints on conduct of military operations. Where the inimical neighbours provide active support to the militants, a great deal of effort is diverted to check infiltration of such support. Where Armed Forces Go Wrong. It is now evident that the whole problem is intensified due to proximity of civilians to the area of operations. The following issues form part of the media campaign and cause concern to various Human Rights Organisations:- Curbing of Fundamental Rights. Operations of cordon and search, vehicle checking etc, cause harassment to people. As these operations cannot be done away with, it must be ensured that these operations are done on firm intelligence only to avoid any unwanted fallout. Rape/Molestation. Reports appearing in the media are a min of actuals and the malicious propaganda being launched by militants. Illegal Detention. As per rules, any offender is required to be handled over to the police within 24 hours of apprehension, for filing of a case. Problem arises when due to mistaken identity an innocent citizen is detained by an enthusiastic unit and the legal formalities get delayed due to efforts to extract information by that unit. Fake Encounters. Stage managed encounters in the vicinity of population centres come to the knowledge of human rights organisations. Attack on Civilians. Bomb blasts, proxy actions in populated areas and seemingly intentional killing of civilian population in hostile territory, becomes a media headline, and draws adverse propaganda. Custodial Deaths. In a bid to extract information, no suspect should be tortured. Failure to carry out a medical check up before handing over to the police authorities, could result in reasons for an eventual death of the individual at the hands of the police, being attributed to alleged torture by army prior to handing over. Compensation. All victims should be compensated at the earliest. Rules should be framed on various contingencies and offenders if any should be made to pay compensation, and punished as well. Special powers to the Army. Special powers conferred should be understood in its totality. Legal constraints like carrying police representative for cordon and search operations, frisking of women by women police, signing of â€Å"No Claim† certificates etc have to exercised with due care. Cross Fire Tactics. Militants employ this tactics of firing from a crowd or putting civilians in front of them as shields. Indiscriminate reaction by armed forces will not go well with the media and public at large. Prolonged Operations. Our experience of operations in North Eastern states have amply proved that when units are pressed to achieve quick results and prolonged operations conducted, instead of achieving tangible results, what actually took place was alienation of the population, besides causing discomfort to own troops. â€Å"To extricate information from an apprehended insurgent/militant regarding their crime, intentions, information regarding operations in progress and whereabouts of their bases, some force is required to be used against the norms of human rights. No individual will ever divulge information if treated well.† Lt Gen (Retd) VK Sood, PVSM, AVSM Human Rights Record of Army Indian army has achieved a great degree of success in this genre of conflict due to the highly successful operational style and technique adopted. This is based on a very humane approach of psychological dissuasion and winning the hearts and minds of the population. It is a â€Å"discriminate† approach, in as much as it relies upon large scale application of trained manpower as imposed to indiscriminate use of heavy fire power and airpower. Operations in LIC are complex. The difficulty in identification of the militants and their affinity to the local population, make the task of security forces difficult. In such operations, therefore, a certain amount of human rights violations are likely to take place. The Indian Army however, takes such incidents very seriously, not only because of the violations by themselves being criminal acts, but also due to the fact that it adversely affects the units discipline. ‘The Pledge We are the human rights generation We will accept nothing less than human rights. We will know them and claim them, For all women, men, youth and children, From those who speak human rights, But deny them to their own people. We will move power to human rights CHAPTER IV RELEVANCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO ARMED FORCES Increased awareness of human rights over the last thirty years has led to new standards for state actors in peace and war. Since the Cold War, democratic governments have promoted constitutional reforms aimed at subordinating the military to civilian control and preventing human rights abuses.Militaries have also undergone a self examination to adapt their roles and missions to the changing strategic environment. By and large they have endorsed democratic principles and human rights. In India, we have a commitment by the armed forces to remain subordinated to civilian authority, act within constitutional bounds, and respect human rights. Reflecting changes in national security strategy, the Indian Armed forces need to play a critical role in promoting democracy and human rights. Rooted in a belief that there is an affinity between democratic systems and free market economies, and that democratic states are less likely to go to war with each other, this strategy aims to ensure that regimes consolidate democratic institutions and increase respect for human rights. The incorporation of democracy and human rights as national security policy objectives has been accompanied by operational changes in the role and mission of the forces as per our military doctrine. Existing Human Rights Safeguards Historical Legacy This Humane characteristics of the Indian Army and its soldiers have been exemplified in the history : During the Police Action against Razakars in the state of Hyderabad in 1948. Gen J N Choudhry, commander of the Indian Forces, reminded the Indian troops that they should be absolutely humane while dealing with the local population as they were their own countrymen particularly the woman, children and the infirm. (b) Similarly, in December 1961, after the military operations in Goa the then Chief of the Army Staff in a message to the troops said ‘ In Goa, you are in India and with your compatriots. Your duty is at home. Go and protect the people. Let no one suffer violence. At the end of the operations the then Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in his message to the operating forces said â€Å" You, and officers and men serving under your command in Goa Operations, have my warmest congratulations on the splendid way all of you have carried out the allotted task- with efficiency, courtesy and humanity†. (c) As mentioned earlier 93,000 Pakistani troops surrendered in 1971 Bangladesh operations. At the time of surrender Lt Gen J S Aurora gave a solemn assurance that â€Å" The personnel, who surrender, shall be treated with dignity and respect that soldiers are entitled to in accordance with the Geneva Convention and protection shall be provided to the foreign nationals, ethnic minorities and the personnel of West Pakistan origin†. The Indian Army has stood the test of time as regards the Human Rights issue wherever and whenever deployed for counter insurgency or conventional operations. History is on its side to prove the point. After the end of 1971 Indo-Pak war, 93,000 Pakistani soldiers surrendered. While treating the POWs, the Indian Army not only complied meticulously with the Geneva Conventions on POW, but also gave them free access to their friends and relatives in West Pakistan. It also gave them freedom to celebrate their religious festivals. The Indian Army is fully aware of the pitfalls, nuances, implications of Human Rights violations and the resultant adverse effect on its operational efficiency and morale. It has therefore taken comprehensive measures at all levels to safeguard and prevent Human Rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir. The measures undertaken at the macro level to the grass root level of troops operating in LIC operations in Jammu and Kashmir are enumerated in the succeeding parag raphs. Humane Fibre of Indian Soldiers By and large, the basic instinct and reaction of an Indian soldier in most of the situations is to protect the Human Rights and uphold human dignity. The factors responsible for development of this attitude and reaction to a large extent are military discipline, compassion and camaraderie and apolitical entity. Indian Army in Peace-keeping Operations Outside India The contributions of the Indian Army to the Humanitarian cause in United Nations peacekeeping operations outside India is well known, appreciated world wide and well documented. The Indian Army has earned for them the praise and admiration of the warring factions, the United Nations and the Government of their own country. Peacekeeping operations in Korea, Gaza, Congo, Somalia, Cambodia, and Rwanda are some of the shining examples of the legacy of the Indian Army to the Human cause. 30. Human right training has been intensified and efforts to reform military justice in Indian Army have been introduced. While these initiatives have lowered the decibel level between human rights advocates and the military, there is no consensus on their effectiveness. Two crucial dilemmas arise in attempting to harmonize such efforts with other objectives. First, training has met obstacles that limit its impact. The backgrounds of many militaries have afforded them considerable freedom from civilian control while portraying them as guarantors of the state. Another dilemma involves threats such as drug trafficking, organized crime, and terrorism. In most mature democracies responsibility for dealing with such threats falls to civilian institutions. But in much of the country, these challenges have overwhelmed new democratic governments, leading to a call for the army to play a central role. The democratic transition in many nations removed the armed forces from internal security op erations; thus human rights organizations and democracy activists fear that proposed roles and missions will reinforce impunity and lead to a return to violations. There is a greater focus required on incorporating human rights issues in operational training exercises and developing more pragmatic and mission related arguments for respecting them. The Army needs to sponsor a collegium or working group which could compose of representatives of various international and regional organizations and officials with responsibility for human rights training. It will need to produce a consensus document that specifies objectives for doctrine, education and training, internal control systems, cooperation with external control systems, and the delineation of police and military functions. Deliberations earlier have highlighted possibilities and difficulties of reaching a consensus between civil and military representatives on advancing human rights. On the positive side, a relatively detailed consensus does exist. At the same time there are major differences over priorities. Military officers stress education and training as key to improving performance. They acknowledge the importance of incorporating support for democracy and respect for human rights in doctrine. Civilian participants, on the other hand, emphasize the need for both internal and external control mechanisms to ensure accountability for violations. New Threats, Ancient Rights

The Giver :: essays research papers

He was a peaceful looking man, with a large round belly and rosy red cheeks. Jonas couldn’t help but smile as he stared at the gentle looking figure. The man looked down at the freezing pair. He noticed Jonas’ trembling blue lips and the tiny shaking bundle of blanket that was Gabriel. The man immediately invited Jonas into his home and screamed for his wife to grab blankets and hot chocolate. Jonas sat shyly bundled in blankets as all of the strangers around him whispered to each other about him and Gabe. After a few awkward minutes the man who answered the door appeared with a steaming cup of â€Å"hot chocolate†. The man placed the mug in Jonas’s hands and told him to drink it, and that it would warm him up. Jonas peered over the edge of the goblet at the steaming hot brown liquid. Jonas had never heard of hot chocolate nor tasted it, but was delighted to have something to drink after his lengthy journey. He put the cup up to his mouth and took an enormous gulp. The children in the room giggled as he ferociously clawed at his tongue to try to get rid of the burning feeling. A woman in the room stood and walked over to Jonas and blew gently across the top of the cup. Jonas took another sip, but was more careful to take small amounts this time. He felt the drink flowing through his veins muscles. Jonas let the hot chocolate cool a little and then gave s ome to Gabriel also. Gabriel was now asleep in Jonas’ arms. The owners of the house left Jonas and Gabe alone to warm up, but now Jonas was warm, and curious. He found the adults in the kitchen because the children had been put to bed hours ago. After a complete interrogation by Jonas to the adults, he learned the man who opened the door was named Paul. His wife, the woman who blew on Jonas’ hot chocolate, was named Isabel. The other people who were in the home earlier were simply friends and relatives of Paul and Isabel. Jonas also learned of the name of the town he was now in, it was called Columbus, after an ancient explorer who existed over two-thousand years ago. After Jonas was done asking questions he started telling his story, of how he got there, why he had Gabriel with him, who The

Essay --

I mere end hundrede à ¥r har byen optaget sociologer, lige fra Georg Simmel (1858-1918) til nutidens spanske sociolog Manuel Castells . Disse sociologer har anskuet byen med en modstridende fà ¸lelse. Storbyens fascinerende men pà ¥ samme tid, skrà ¦mmende stà ¸rrelse, komponeret med dens evne til, at udvikle fà ¦llesskaber men ogsà ¥ skabe fremmedgà ¸relse for det enkelte individ. Her vil jeg dykke ind og se pà ¥ de to sociologers teorier, Zygmunt Bauman og Georg Simmel. ZYGMUNT BAUMAN OG HANS TEORI Zygmunt Bauman er en polsk-engelsk sociolog, som blev fà ¸dt i 1925. Baumans teori er, at byens rum er et koncentreret billede, som er en afspejling af samfundets forandring. Hans interesse for byen kom virkelig i centrum, da han skrev bogen †Globalisering – de menneskelige konsekvenser† – hvori han skriver om rummets skiftevis globalisering og lokaliserende karakter, agorafobiens fremkomst og den urealistiske moderne aspiration . Bauman mener, at byens fysiske indretning og organisation afslà ¸rer de moralske và ¦rdier som samfundet har. Han er stor fortaler for det à ¥bne rum, det offentlige rum og inkluder...

Quantitative risk assessment Essay

Monte-Carlo simulation is carried out using a large number of computations, using a computer, with random inputs. This method is particularly useful when it comes to â€Å"predicting† the outcome a complex eventuality. Typically, the Monte-Carlo simulation is useful when predicting the outcome of a large number inter-related factors that are â€Å"uncertain†. Predictivity using Monte-Carlo simulation is far more accurate where variables under consideration are many, uncertain and random. For this particular reason, using Monte-Carlo simulation for this study is the best choice as there are many uncertain factors that need to be analyzed for computing a risk assessment. In this study, the first step begins with the production of meat and ends with health effects that meat can probably induce in consuming subjects. There is a large interplay of uncertain factors, and the entire food chain model proposed in the study has inherent variability across most levels. 2. What comment would you make about the source of data used for the concentration of E. coli in cattle feces? Prevalence and concentration of E. Coli in cattle fecal matter was used to assess the level of contamination of the meat. The level of contamination of the meat is a pointer to the probable exposure that a consuming subject could possibly have, to E. Coli. Concentration of E. Coli in cattle fecal matter is directly related to factors like seasonality, geographical properties, and feeding practices. However, the data related to concentration of E. Coli in the cattle fecal matter was constructed without consideration for these factors. Data used for concentration of E. Coli in fecal matter was obtained using enrichment methods. The results show a wide bipolar variation, from as low as undetectable E. Coli levels to as much as 5. 0 log10 CFU/g. The data for prevalence of E. Coli in cattle fecal matter was obtained from previously held studies. However, only data from those studies was used, that primarily aimed at detecting E. Coli prevalence rates in cattle fecal matter for beef that was supposedly slated for human consumption. 3. What comment would you make about the following: †¢ modeling the distribution of feces on carcass as Uniform? Slaughtering invariably causes the fecal matter to come in contact with the meat. Skinning a carcass will lead to contamination of exposed meat due to contact with the hide. Although, fecal matter is the main source of bacterial reservoir, the nature and number of agents that can directly or indirectly participate as contaminating agents is uncertain. However, the concentration of E. Coli in fecal matter is directly proportional to the extent of meat contamination. The distribution of fecal matter on carcass surface is uneven. A dilution factor was used as a model simplification. †¢ modeling fecal contamination only on the carcass surface? As a fact, E. Coli are present in the fecal matter but not inside red meat. Contamination of red meat, therefore, occurs only when fecal matter comes in contact with it. This will usually happen during slaughtering, and the following processes like packaging and trimming. For this reason fecal contamination has been modeled only on the carcass surface. 4. Briefly (less than 500 words), discuss the practicalities and likely success of implementing each of the proposed hypothetical mitigation strategies in the paper. The author has proposed three hypothetical risk mitigation strategies for risk reduction. However, the strategies have been proposed to reduce risk as per mentioned figures, assuming that the strategy is being implemented and the desired goal is being achieved. For instance, the first strategy of regulating storage temperature control norms shows a reduced risk to over 80%. Practically, this strategy can indeed cause a large risk reduction but a protocol will need to be developed that incorporates all the levels of the proposed beef-cold-chain, starting right from the farm to the retailer. Even with a concrete legislature to make sure this strategy works, it needs to be evaluated how far would this strategy prove to be practically enforceable. With definite legislature, a good compliance can be expected out of this strategy and apparently this strategy is far more practicable, and could prove successful. Pre-slaughter screening proposes to reduce risk by over 46%. However, more variables like feeding practices, geographical locations, and seasonal variation (that affect E. Coli fecal load) need to considered, before a definite â€Å"control† level can be instated to rule out slaughters for animals that have more than a certain level of bacterial fecal concentration. The consumer information program, although with a risk reduction of 16%, is certainly a very important level wherein proper intervention can dramatically decrease E. Coli related health morbidity. Even though anticipated risk reduction is only 16%, simple measures like adequate promotional tools, could significantly increase risk reduction through mass communication; the biggest limitation however, is that compliance in this case cannot be ascertained, nor enforceable. Keeping in mind the practical limitations of each of these strategies, a prudent approach would involve application of all the three strategies in conjunct, to ensure greater risk reduction. A good reason for this approach is that due to the uncertain nature of all the factors involved in E. Coli contamination and delivery to consuming host, it appears quite difficult to determine the individual potency of each of these factors, and they would easily remain relative values. ‘Evaluation of MRSA Select, a new chromogenic medium for the detection of nasal carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus’ 1. What is the ‘gold standard’ used to assess the sensitivity and specificity etc. of the different diagnostic tests? The sensitivity and specificity of a particular diagnostic test needs to be estimated before the test under consideration can be employed for practical purposes, to ensure that the results obtained are accurate, and of consequence. A â€Å"gold standard†, hence, is an absolute, against which results from a particular diagnostic test are compared. The gold standard, also called as the standard frame of reference, is a perfect test for the given condition, and is 100% sensitive and specific as well. 2. Is the ‘gold standard’ the same for all of the tests? Within the context of this paper, the gold standard used is same for all the tests. The gold standard used is identification of methicillin resistant S. Aureus, from nasal swabs of patients, confirmed for the mecA gene using PCR. 3. Can the tests be compared in this way? Yes, the tests can be compared this way. The same samples (n) were subjected to different growth mediums, to ascertain the presence of MRSA. All these media were specifically designed to promote the growth of MRSA. Hence, depending on the growths shown by these different media, results can be drawn and compared. 4. Are the authors’ conclusions valid? I think that the author’s conclusions are valid. Although, PCR will remain the gold standard in ascertaining presence of MRSA, the application of this procedure, to remain practically enforceable, is quite limiting. For instance, considering the sheer number of samples that an urban community hospital has to handle on a daily basis, using PCR for all instances may not be feasible all the times. In this circumstance, using simple tissue culture techniques would definitely prove to be more desirable, especially with faster results and low costs; like using the MRSA Select that will give results within 24 hours with a sensitivity and specificity over 99%. Moreover, simplicity of the test requires no complex skill set, especially compared with handling PCR techniques. References 1. Fishman, G. S. (1995). Monte Carlo: Concepts, Algorithms, and Applications. New York: Springer 2. Bell, B. P. , Goldoft, M. , Griffin, P. M. , Davis, M. S. , Gordon, D. C. , Tarr, P. I. , Bartleson, C. A. , Lewis, J. H. , Barret, T. J. , Wells, J. G. , Baron, R. , Kobayashi, J. , (1994). A multistate outbreak of Escherichia coli O157:H7-associated bloody diarrhea and hemolytic uremic syndrome from hamburgers: the Washington experience. J. Am. Med. Assoc. 3. Vose, D. , (1996). Quantitative risk analysis: A guide to Monte Carlo simulation modelling. John Wiley and Sons, Chichester England. 4. USDA:APHIS:VS. , 1994a. E. coliO157:H7 issues and ramifications. Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Fort Collins, CO. 5. Gehlbach SH. (1993) Interpretation: sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value. In: Gehlbach SH, ed. Interpreting the medical literature. New York: McGraw-Hill 6. Apfalter P, Assadian O, Kalczyk A, et al. (2002) Performance of a new chromogenic oxacillin resistance screen medium (Oxoid) in the detection and presumptive identification of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis;44:209–11. 7. Murakami K, Minamide W, Wada K, Nakamura E, Teraoka, H, Watanabe S. (1991) Identification of methicillin-resistant strains of staphylococci by polymerase chain reaction. J Clin Microbiol;29:2240–4. 8. Safdar N, Narans L, Gordon B, Maki DG. (2003) Comparison of culture screening methods for detection of nasal carriage of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus: a prospective study comparing 32 methods. J Clin Microbiol;41:3163–6.

Richard Matheson

Every author has a different style of writing and getting people to read it. If it's not exciting or different you won't want to read it. Richard Matheson's stories leave you thinking what just happened? Did that really happen? Richard Matheson uses situational irony to get you interested in reading. When reading Richard Matheson's â€Å"Girl of My Dreams† situational irony is shown. For example the story is about how Carrie dreams about people and a situation they are going to encounter, her husband Greg is controlling and cruel, to where he is making these families pay money for the information Carrie dreamed.Carrie had a dream about a boy getting hit by a car; Greg wanted ten thousand dollars in cash. â€Å"†Thursday, the fourteenth! † she blurted into the mouthpiece. â€Å"Two-sixteen in the afternoon! †Ã¢â‚¬  (Matheson). â€Å"He emphasized each repetition of the word with another savage blow across her face. † (Matheson) Greg had killed Carrie because she gave the information to the lady that Greg wanted ten thousand in cash from, but before she died she gave greg information â€Å"Street† she whispered, â€Å"†¦night.†She sucked in the wheezing, blood choked breath. â€Å"Greg. † She tried to sit up but couldn’t. Her expression was becoming one of terrified concern. She whispered, â€Å"Man†¦. razor†¦. you oh no! †Ã¢â‚¬  (Matheson). Richard Matheson’s â€Å"Girl of My Dreams† in the beginning would make you think why it is like this, and wouldn’t expect Carrie to die, but yet before she dies she has a dream about Greg and dies before she can give him what day, just like he was doing to the families.â€Å"Button, Button† Richard Matheson did the same with the Situational irony. The story was about a button that if it was pressed you would receive a payment of fifty thousand dollars but someone in the world would die. â€Å"She felt unreal as the voice informed her of the subway accident, the shoving crowd. Arthur pushed from the platform in front of the train. She was conscious of shaking her head but couldn’t stop† (Matheson). This was after she had pushed the button that her husband Arthur was against.â€Å"â€Å"My dear lady,† Mr. Stewart said, â€Å"do you really think you knew your husband? †Ã¢â‚¬ . Richard Matheson had us thinking that they could have ended up with the money and not knowing who died, but in the end it was a shock to us to find out it was her own husband who was so against it. These stories by Richard Matheson â€Å" Button, Button† and â€Å"Girl of My Dreams† both prove my point of how Richard Matheson uses Situational Irony in his stories to draw the reader in and keep his stories different and keep you in shock.

Architectural Humanities Questions

Architectural Humanistic disciplines Question 1:Compare the zikkurat of Ur from Mesopotamia civilisation and pyramids of Teotihuacan from Mesoamerica civilisation in footings of stuffs, and seek to explicate how the natural environments could act upon the dominant architectural development. The Ziggurat of Ur is the most constituted staying spiritual constructions from the Sumerian Era. Located in contemporary Iraq, it is an huge stepped pyramid, nevertheless merely the first grade remains. The zikkurat was a spiritual construction incorporating a temple composite every bit good as other unidentified possible comfortss that served the ancient metropolis of Ur. In the second century BC a new unidentified civilisation ascended edifice several immense stepped pyramids, now known as the pyramids of Teotihuacan located in contemporary Mexico. The Pyramid of the Sun was built around 200 A.D, one of the largest edifice in Mesoamerica. Construction of the smaller pyramid of the Moon, was non completed until 450 A.D. The building of The Ziggurat of Ur consisted of assorted natural stuffs found locally, these were sourced from The Mouth of Euphrates. Similar the belongingss of the stuffs used at Teotihuacan are shared as the environing environment consist of a boggy basin. The nucleus of the zikkurat is dumbly filled with extended clay bricks, walls were thick to counterbalance for the infirmity of clay, most likely the bricks contained a clay compound with the proviso of straw/reeds to beef up. Much like this the Pyramids of Teotihuacan aren’t built of solid rock, alternatively they consist of clay and rock debris infill and utilize the manner of talud-tablero ( holding both inclining and unsloped panel subdivisions ) for structural strength, nevertheless both enhance the stableness to counter excess weight, by profiting from the inclining planes. The Pyramids addition great advantage being covered with beds of cut rock able to drive practically any signifier of wet, this being sourced fro m the nearby cragged part accessed through the canoe channel web. On the other manus, the zikkurat adopted a technique of utilizing beds of brick to be separated by reeds leting drainage throughout and go forthing through weep holes ; whilst the side and patios of the construction consist of Sun baked clay bricks to add a constituent of waterproofing. Furthermore, clay from the river bed was used as a signifier of howitzer to counterbalance for the comparative strength of clay and protection from air current and rain. Much like this the Pyramids adopted their chief building stuff as a mixture of dirt and H2O, similar to clay, as it was readily available in this country and hold a unafraid constituent. In my sentiment both constructions showed solidness through the creative activity of inward inclining walls, making the feeling of looking ageless. The chief maps were simply to back up a comparatively little topographic point of worship nevertheless the sheer tallness provided an feeling, sacredly, culturally and commercially through religious nutriment ; hence both constructions portion similar orientations to the Sun. Question 2:Describe how Chinese Scholar Garden ( Wangshi Garden ) and Nipponese Moss Garden ( Saiho Jemaah Islamiyah ) usage different workss as important stuffs of design, and explicate their background societal contexts ( doctrines ) severally. The Chinese Scholar have created a scenic garden manner designed in order to show the harmoniousness bing between adult male and nature, a illumination compacted environment built for pleasance and to affect ; a so called Miniature Universe. A typical layout entails an enclosed walled country dwelling of pools, stone formations/variations, and a diverse scope of workss ; making carefully composed scenery. Nipponese Moss Gardens, are premeditated designs for a balance of diversion, aesthetic pleasance, contemplation and speculation. These illumination designs frequently were in a extremely abstract and conventional mode, composed around an entwined way fluxing through the garden, leting observation of cardinal elements. Nipponese Moss Gardens were, at first, developed under the influences of the Chinese Scholar Gardens. Finally development came through the grasp and coaction of their ain aesthetics, in the signifier of Nipponese stuffs and civilization. ‘The Four Nobles’ refer to four workss: the plum, the orchid, the bamboo, and the chrysanthemum[ 1 ], which withhold many symbolic significances. The plum tree is non deemed peculiarly dramatic nor that of its flower, nevertheless its ability to exudate this ambitious status, devises this blunt contrast and serves as a metaphor for interior beauty and a low presence. The Orchid represents and exemplifies simple elegance, a delicate signifier with no inclination towards force, with its visual aspect in spring this is deemed to mean humbleness and aristocracy. The shaft of bamboo is hollow, with it huge capableness to defy immense weights and force per unit areas through strength and flexibleness, this yielded the baronial qualities of the Chinese Scholar, low, lissome and yet surprisingly strong ; this besides came to resemble incarnation and resiliency. Finally the chrysanthemum signifies calm and virtuousness as it defies the fall hoar and most workss wither and die ; i t enables a religious Utopia for one to link with nature through bravery. Nothing in a Nipponese garden is left to opportunity, each component is chosen consequently for its symbolic significance ; mosses strongly show the landform and impression of an island. These are collaborated with the apprehension of their aesthetic and symbolic significance to either fell unwanted sights, or to resemble an acquired constituent. Moss is frequently utilized to organize a dynamic composing because of its adaptability and bendability ; with the purpose to invent a carefully controlled world, an idealized version of the natural universe, stripped to its indispensable. Moss creates the kernel of implicit in breakability and mutableness, developing an feeling to promote contemplation and response. The Nipponese believe it to be a symbol of infinity, versatility and resiliency resembled by the coexistence of ocular strength and physical breakability, able to last and stay resilienteven in rough conditions, including terrible cold and drouth. [ 1 ]Hong Jiang ( 2011 )The Plum Blossom: A Symbol of Strength,Available at: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.theepochtimes.com/n2/china-news/the-plum-blossom-a-symbol-of-strength-57557.html( Accessed: 19 January 2014 ) . Question 3:Compare and contrast two domed spiritual edifices, Hagia Sophia in Istanbul and Selimiye Mosque in Edirne in footings of overall signifier, layout, construction, and map. Hagia Sophia was established in 537 AD. It is considered be one of the historical greats for its beauty and domineer with many symbolic mentions to it impressiveness and spiritualty ; It marks the startup of Byzantine architecture. The construction was the most praised and celebrated church in all Christendom for many old ages. After the corruptness of Constantinople, it was adapted to a mosque with few minor add-ons, of all time since it has been an inspiration and an model design for many of the Islamic mosques. Likewise, Edirne is known for its beautiful mosques, but none rather every bit much as the Selimiye Mosque. Considered as one of the highest achievements of Islamic Architecture, the mosques was constructed in 1575 and at present dominates the skyline of Edirne. The Mosque is non a comprehensive composite, nevertheless facilitates many comfortss, created through a more modest attack. The Hagia Sofia contains a huge inside embedded in a complex construction, all assembled from brick and howitzer. It contains two floors centered on a elephantine nave all located beneath a vaulted basilica ; with the full construction oriented on the northwest-southeast axis. The dome sits between two semi-domes at the Centre of the church, partly supported by a gallery of 40 arched Windowss. The weight of the dome is carried on four concave pendentives enabling its dealing onto equal arches, finally administering through four significant wharfs. To guarantee the burden can be suspended the wharfs were reinforced with buttresses. This design allows the aisles to be significantly taller than the galleries therefore its consequence from below is that of a weightless dome that seems inherit the symbolism of the sky and celestial spheres. The elegance and rudimental elements of Hagia Sophia inspired the architecture of Selimiye Mosque, nevertheless can non be to the full isolated to the footings of Byzantine architecture ; the construction held a much greater cultural embroidery. Much like Hagia Sophia the construction contains ; suspended arches, semi-domes, buttresses and a immense encompassing dome with an array of uninterrupted Windowss. However, in topographic point there is an octangular support created through eight pillars, the weight of the dome bears on these carried through the arches to the buttresses alternatively of straight to the walls, enabling the dome to be stabilised. The domes of Selimiye are more elevated, doing it to look much more dominant than Hagia Sophia of which has a much flatter contour, although the dome height itself is greater. The effects of the supporting elements are non seeable in the inside of Selimiye, this is composed to enrich characteristics of architectural mass and infinite. The construction is chiefly constructed of cut rock making a pure position through clean lines.