Politics and the Media Essay - 2295 Words

Politics and the Media It is a reasonable expectation that the media will gather the facts and report the news fairly, accurately and responsibly. The American public relies on the media for a great deal of its information. The role of the press in American politics has become a major source of discussion and controversy in recent years (Davis, 1). The question raised in this paper is, Does the media present the news fairly, accurately, and completely? The short answer is no, the long answer will be examined throughout the following essay. This essay will examine the media and its influence and effects on politics and government. Publick Occurrences was the first newspaper to appear in colonial America. This publication†¦show more content†¦It wasnt until 1850, with the invention and development of photographs, that newspapers included pictures accompanying the stories reporters covered. By the end of the nineteenth century, newspapers took on a similar form to that of newspapers today. The above brief history of newspapers demonstrates the growth of a free press in America. The benefits of a free press in a democracy include: the free and open exchange of ideas including ideas critical of government, widespread distribution of differing views on controversial issues, open debate during local and national elections, and access to information by a literate public. However, a free press is not free of detriments. It would be inaccurate to suggest or imply that the press in particular and the media in general are always responsible and truthful. One example of how the print media can affect and influence the views of its readers and the politics of a nation came at the end of the nineteenth century. In Mightier Than the Sword: How the News Media Have Shaped American History, Rodger Streitmatter provides a brief account of yellow journalism. Joseph Pulitzer, publisher of the New York World, and William Randolph Hearst, publisher of the New York Journal, battled each other for increased circulation. In New York the World and the Journal were ranked number one and two respectively. Pulitzer and Hearst revolutionized journalism and maintained a heated rivalry for increasedShow MoreRelatedMedia And Politics : A Brief Note On Media Politics2454 Words   |  10 PagesTawhida Rahman Media Politics Midterm 1) There are several landmark U.S. court cases pertaining to the media and free press which changed the laws on behalf of journalists and reporters. One of the earliest cases of such cases was Crown v. John Peter Zenger. In 1734, a news printer named John Peter Zenger of the New York Weekly Journal was arrested for seditious libel against Governor William Cosby when Zenger’s publication criticized the politician for corruption. The charge of libelRead MoreThe Politics Of The Media873 Words   |  4 Pages In an article written by Michael Robinson, a retired government department professor for Georgetown University, he states that, â€Å"America is not as politically divided as the media and politicians of both parties claim†(â€Å"America’s Political Divide Exagerated†). What Robinson means is that despite the reportings of the media, and how the two major political parties of the United States, Republicans and Democrats, present the differences, b oth sides are closer than they would care to admit. WhileRead MoreThe Politics Of The Media2464 Words   |  10 PagesNews media Is the American news media being honest like it was to be back when our great nation begin? Many American’s don’t believe the media today because of the views that the media takes. The 2016 election year was one of the ugliest presidential elections in the history of the United States between Donald J. Trump and Hillary Clinton. The news media play a big role in the election as they bring the news to the public about Clinton and Trump. The media is has changed the delivery form the traditionalRead MoreThe Media And Its Influence On Politics1643 Words   |  7 Pagesa reasonable world we expect that all sources of media will gather different acts and situations and broadcast it fairly, and responsively. Each individual relies on the media in order to receive information daily. The question raised in this essay is â€Å"Has the media shown news accurately, fairly or even completely?† And â€Å"How has it brought down the economy†. Throughout this essay I wi ll look into the media and its influences that it has on politics, Its Government and the economy that surrounds itselfRead MoreThe Media and Comparative Politics 550 Words   |  2 PagesToday, in our society, a major form of educating the public is through media. Media is constantly playing key roles for our political system along with informing the public with crucial knowledge about other countries. It has helped changed the way the human population interacts with each other as well as developing a more unified opinion among the subjects, which it affects. Media is a form of communicating with one another that tries to provoke a certain message. Usually it is opinionated in someRead MoreRole of Media in Politics5070 Words   |  21 PagesThe Influence of the Media in Politics, Campaigns and Elections - Yaho... http://voices.yahoo.com/the-influence-media-politics-campaigns-and-6... Voices Entertainment History Auto Business Creative Writing Politics Health Home Improvement Lifestyle News Sports Tech Travel Sign in Sign up Mail All Categories Opinion and Editorial The Influence of the Media in Politics, Campaigns and Elections Laura Lane, Yahoo! Contributor Network Nov 14, 2007 Share your voice on Yahoo! websitesRead MoreMedia And Its Impact On Politics2005 Words   |  9 Pages Media today has become extremely corrupt while spreading news about today’s politics. Today s new articles on politics are usually either bias, the story is slightly altered, or the information in the articles are just found to be rumors later on. There aren’t many news sources today that are producing reliable articles that aren’t biased one way or another towards politics. I believe that all sources of media today have had a combined negative impact on politics today because people use news mediaRead MoreMedia And Its Impact On Politics1325 Words   |  6 Pagesupon thousands of media platforms exist, it’s not surprising that media is one of the strongest, if not the biggest, influences in our current presidential election. No matter where each of us turn, whether it be to a newspaper, social media, or our televisions, every single one of us has seen some sort of news report or article discussing presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. However, every year, there seems to be this constant struggle when it comes to the media coverage, as itRead MoreMedia s Influence On Politics1742 Words   |  7 Pages In the Public Eye: Politics and the Media Much of American life is guided by the influx of information received from the media. This results in the ability of the media to shape or mold the opinions of American society. Media is used in numerous areas concerning politics. â€Å"Without the media’s investigations, citizens would be forced to rely entirely on the information provided by politicians and the government, and would be deprived of an indispensable opportunity to evaluate issues carefully andRead MoreMedia s Influence On Politics932 Words   |  4 PagesMedia and politics are different entities with distinct aim; however, both depend on each other. Politics use media to be known by the public and to advertise their campaigns while media needs politics to inform the public by giving visibility to politics. Media and politics work together and even though they are different, both impact each other . Since politics need media to provide good image and information about them. Media also can use its authority t o exploit information on politics; in contrast

Food Trends Of Western Countries - 968 Words

Introduction Problem Statement / Definition of Research Area Food trends in Western countries are causing malnutrition in developing countries. This is due to the mass exportation of crops from poorer countries to supply the heightened demand in more developed countries. This process results in a severe shortage of the local population’s staple diet as their harvest is exported out of the country instead of supplying the needs of the country’s own citizens. An example of this is the quinoa ‘superfood’ fad which is causing starvation in Bolivia (see Appendix A). In Bolivia, quinoa was once a nourishing staple food; however, the local population can no longer afford to eat it and imported highly processed junk food has become a cheaper commodity. This is a severely prominent issue as 795 million people in the world do not have enough food to lead a healthy active life; which equates to one in nine people on earth (World Food Programme, 2016). This problem could be resolved by strengthening the food security of develope d countries and lessening the country’s reliance on imported foods. At least 12 of the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals contain indicators that are highly relevant to nutrition (see Appendix B). This reflects the central role that nutrition plays in sustainable development. Improved global nutrition is the platform for progress in health, education, employment, female empowerment, poverty and inequality reduction (International Food PolicyShow MoreRelatedCharacteristics, Issues And Trends Of The Region From An Agricultural Perspective1308 Words   |  6 Pagescharacteristics, issues and trends of the region from an agricultural perspective. To provide an introduction and insight first a brief summary of East Asia will be provided. East Asia includes approximately 15 countries, within this there is a population of 1.974 billion people. Of the total population 51% live within rural areas resulting in agriculture making up 11% of GDP, which is considerably more than the likes of the US (1% of GDP). There is considerable diversity between countries within East AsiaRead MoreGenetically Modified Organisms : Do You Really Know What You Are Eating?972 Words   |  4 PagesGenetically Modified Organisms:Do You Really Know What You Are Eating? Trends and correlations between the foods we eat, and the disorders we are developing are rising tremendously. Some would even use the term epidemic when looking at the data comparing the use of genetically modified food, like corn and grain, as well as the meats eaten, and the increase of neurological disorders like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Pesticide and the engineering done to plantsRead MoreGolden Arches East Essays1166 Words   |  5 PagesMcDonald’s is not some ordinary fast food restaurant with its trademark logo advertised almost everywhere in the U.S., many people all over the world know about these famous golden arches. The McDonald’s franchising started in 1955 and in less than fifty years, McDonald’s was introduced all over the world in countries such as, China, Japan, Great Britain, Sweden, France etc. McDonald’s global expansion has intermingled with cultural traditions because these countries are becomi ng more westernized. SinceRead MoreCultural Integration And Cultural Assimilation1038 Words   |  5 Pagesbeing assimilated into the Western way of life. The cultures of ethnic groups in the United States and other countries are constantly influenced by the Western culture through movies, singers, clothing brands, food companies, and new technology inventions. Immigrants are expected to resemble the dominant culture in terms of norms, behavior and values. The three factors that contribute to cultural assimilation are: people throughout the world are influenced by the western fashion and can buy the sameRead MoreHigh Fat Diets And Western Eating Habits1714 Words   |  7 PagesFigure 2. Trends over time in average global body mass index and global mean difference in GDP per capita (a) and KOF economic globalization index (b) for 127 countires 1980-2008 (Vogli et al. 2014). Additionally, these trends suggest a historical anomaly that has occurred over the last three decades. High fat diets and western eating habits were restricted to rich industrialised nations with higher Gross National Product levels (GNP). The consumption of animal products high in fat and proteinRead MoreChina and India, Western Influence on Youth924 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿ China and India, Western Influence on Youth BUS 330 Over the last decade China and India have adopted trends from western-styles. These are two heavily populated countries and their youth are gravitate more to western styles. There are many goods and services that can be offered to their marketers. This paper will describe the products that interest these youth markets. Compare and contrast the micro- and macro-environmental forces that influence the marketing strategies for these goodsRead MoreProposal for Overfishing in the Pacific Ocean1122 Words   |  5 PagesOcean: For human populations, particularly people in the poorest countries across the globe, fish is an important source of nourishment and food. As a result, fisheries catches represent a huge export of energy and mass that can no longer be utilized by trophic levels that are higher than those fished. For a long period of time, several human populations across the globe have continued to depend on fish as a significant source of food and nourishment, which has contributed to widespread overfishingRead MoreInternational Business- Assignment 4 Essay1200 Words   |  5 PagesDate: June 26, 2014 Re: International Business- Assignment 4 Questions 1. Discuss the implications of globalization on the food industry in China. 2. What makes China so attractive to U.S. food companies? Discuss why it is important to gain 3. Reflect on the standardization versus adaptation debate as it relates to marketing fast food and processed food in China. Using the ‘4Ps’ of marketing, discuss how companies should approach the market. Which elements in the marketing mix canRead MoreRelation Between Fast Food Restaurants and Obesity1195 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Fast Food Restaurants and Obesity Introduction The combination of increasingly sedentary lifestyles, two-income families with children, busy single professionals and the proliferation of fast food restaurants in recent years has created a perfect storm of obesity in the United States as well as a number of other countries. Further exacerbating the problem is the lack of nutrition and high levels of fat content in many fast food restaurant products, making their consumption a high-risk activityRead MoreChinese Food As A Multicultural Country852 Words   |  4 Pagesmulticultural country. How can the new immigrants adapt to themselves to live in different lifestyle and culture? According to the author Arlene Chan, â€Å"Canadians celebrate on July 1 because that day is Dominion Day, but for Chinese is â€Å"Humiliation Day† (Chan, 1878). It means Chinese immigrants refused to celebrate like what the Canadians do in July 1. Thus, different cultures cannot be merged easily due to food culture, wedding culture and education culture. First of all, based on the countries food culture

Medieval Ireland the Coming of the Normans, 1167â€1185 Free Essays

By the 12th century, Ireland was divided politically into a shifting hierarchy of petty kingdoms and over-kingdoms. Power was concentrated into the hands of a few regional dynasties contending against each other for control of the whole island. The Northern Ui Neill ruled much of what is now Ulster. We will write a custom essay sample on Medieval Ireland the Coming of the Normans, 1167–1185 or any similar topic only for you Order Now Their kinsmen, the Southern Ui Neill, were Kings of Brega (Meath). The kingship of Leinster was held by the dynamic Ui Cheinnselaigh dynasty. A new kingdom rose between Leinster and Munster, Osraige, ruled by the family of Mac Giolla Phadraig. Munster was nominally controlled by the Mac Cartaig, who were however in reality often subject to the Ui Bhriain of Thomond. North of Thomond, Connacht’s supreme rulers were the Ui Chonchubhair. After losing the protection of Tyrone Chief, Muirchertach MacLochlainn, High King of Ireland, who died in 1166, Dermot MacMurrough (Irish Diarmait Mac Murchada) , was forcibly exiled by a confederation of Irish forces under the new High King, Rory O’Connor. Diarmait fled first to Bristol and then to Normandy. He sought and obtained permission from Henry II of England to use the latter’s subjects to regain his kingdom. By 1167 MacMurrough had obtained the services of Maurice Fitz Gerald and later persuaded Rhys ap Gruffydd Prince of Deheubarth to release Maurice’s half-brother Robert Fitz-Stephen from captivity to take part in the expedition. Most importantly he obtained the support of the Earl of Pembroke Richard de Clare, known as Strongbow. The first Norman knight to land in Ireland was Richard fitz Godbert de Roche in 1167, but it was not until 1169 that the main forces of Normans, Welsh and Flemings landed in Wexford. Within a short time Leinster was regained, Waterford and Dublin were under Diarmait’s control, and he had Strongbow as a son-in-law, and named him as heir to his kingdom. This latter development caused consternation to King Henry II of England, who feared the establishment of a rival Norman state in Ireland. Accordingly, he resolved to visit Leinster to establish his authority. The Papal Bull and Henry’s invasion: Pope Adrian IV (the first English Pope, in one of his earliest acts) had already issued a Papal Bull in 1155, giving Henry authority to invade Ireland as a means of curbing ecclesiastical orruption and abuses. Little contemporary use, however, was made of the Bull Laudabiliter since its text enforced papal suzerainty not only over the island of Ireland but of all islands off of the European coast, including England, in virtue of the Constantinian donation. The relevant text reads: â€Å"There is indeed no doubt, as thy Highness doth also acknowledge, that Ire land and all other islands which Christ the Sun of Righteousness has illumined, and which have received the doctrines of the Christian faith, belong to the jurisdiction of St. Peter and of the holy Roman Church†. References to Laudabiliter become more frequent in the later Tudor period when the researches of the renaissance humanist scholars cast doubt on the historicity of the Donation of Constantine. Henry landed with a large fleet at Waterford in 1171, becoming the first King of England to set foot on Irish soil. Both Waterford and Dublin were proclaimed Royal Cities. Adrian’s successor, Pope Alexander III ratified the grant of Irish lands to Henry in 1172. Henry awarded his Irish territories to his younger son John with the title Dominus Hiberniae (â€Å"Lord of Ireland†). When John unexpectedly succeeded his brother as King John, the â€Å"Kingdom of Ireland† fell directly under the English Crown. Henry was happily acknowledged by most of the Irish Kings, who saw in him a chance to curb the expansion of both Leinster and the Hiberno-Normans. This led to the ratification of the Treaty of Windsor (1175) between Henry and Ruaidhri. However, with both Diarmuid and Strongbow dead (in 1171 and 1176), Henry back in England and Ruaidhri unable to curb his nominal vassals, within two years it was not worth the vellum it was inscribed upon. John de Courcy invaded and gained much of east Ulster in 1177, Raymond le Gros had already captured Limerick and much of north Munster, while the other Norman families such as Prendergast, fitz Stephen, fitz Gerald, fitz Henry and le Poer were actively carving out virtual kingdoms for themselves. How to cite Medieval Ireland the Coming of the Normans, 1167–1185, Papers

IRSE Accounting Software Package

Question: Discuss about the IRSE Accounting Software Package. Answer: Introduction IRCL is a local retailer that deals with the fast moving goods. The accounting package used by IRCL Company has been reported to carry a lot of inefficiencies in the operations of the organization. This necessitated some study to establish if it is really necessary to see possibility of implementing a better product. Analysis of IRSE Accounting Software Package. Why the current accounting system is not appropriate The ICRL in-house developed accounting software package is favorably suited for the companys operation and as such we can say is non-beneficial. The reason for this is its inability to support the companys large volume daily transactions and the data inconsistency and inaccuracy as reported in the case study. The system cannot support transactions of over 1000 orders in a day and this directly affects the companys ability to produce and hampers future growth. This further means that the company is most likely to fail in meeting customer demands which is disastrous to every business venture. Inconsistencies and inaccuracy of data in the inventory and sales databases could easily lead to the problems in overstocking or understocking. The ultimate effect would be failing to meet customer needs and possible loss of customer satisfaction. Having explored the above reasons, we can confidently affirm that this current accounting software package is not suitable for IRCL and should be replac ed for a better. Why IRCL need to invest in ERP ERP is a software that integrates all the business functions in all departments of an organization for efficient management. ERP helps a business manage the supply chain, inventory, human resource, procurement, finance, and product life cycle and other important components making up a business. Many businesses invest in ERP because of its ability to reduce cost, and enhance productivity. Some of the reasons why they are important are discussed in the following paragraphs. Since ERP integrates all integral parts of an organization, it helps decrease order-to-cash cycle. The order-to-cash determines how fast a company pays and receives payments for its goods and service. This is achieved since data flow from various departments are accessed and integrated together to complete a transaction and thus time taken to receive payments from customers is reduced. This increases a companys cash flow, (Premaratne, 2009) ERP is very scalable. Because of its integrated architecture, ERP system can be used across multiple geographies. A company with headquarters in different regions can still utilize the same ERP. For example, a company that uses ERP can have its warehouse in New York, the customer service center in Johannesburg and main office in Qatar. This is made possible by the ability of the system to present same data to all the offices regardless of the location. ERP also eliminates requirement that each location uploads, or extracts data to and from the central database. Data inconsistencies are eliminated here. ERP increases productivity. Since data are integrated from multiple departments and locations, a company can process order over short time, move product very fast, rapid invoicing of customers, and reconciling shipment without delays (Premaratne, 2009). This increases customer satisfaction and in return a wide customer base will be realized as well as a customer loyalty. ERP allows a company access accurate and timely information. This information may not have been available previously or it was just hard to get it with other systems. This information is more accurate as it comes from one source and also very relevant. Such information is very vital for making decisions concerning challenges that a business faces (Premaratne, 2009). Why Jenny need to be extra cautious with proceeding with the project One of the key reasons for project failure is poor governance. A project rarely starts without a sponsor. A sponsor is a person who has discovered a problem and is fully willing to be part of the solution and plays crucial role in ensuring the project succeeds. This can be through provision of resources with are important in ensuring a project succeeds (Montequn et al., 2016). Project is also surrounded with a lot of uncertainties. The two month time assigned for the project creates a real risk to development of the ERP. If time allocated is exceeded, Mr. Louise, the CEO, says that there would be no more funds to support the project. In this case, project will be left bending and likely not to be completed. Secondly, implementation of a system is a delicate stage that requires efficient management of risks, team and constant communication with stakeholders (Montequn et al., 2016). Ms. Jenny need to be cautious when agreeing to the project timeline to avoid blames at the end. I advise her to object the conditions since they would result into more problems. Traditional system development life cycle- a better methodology for use Traditional system development life cycle is a methodology that are mostly utilized by a team of developers working on a project. The methodology is comprised of five stages and one stage has to be completed before moving to the next. The traditional methodology fits the problem at hand as it focuses on deep understanding of user needs which ensures a flawless designed system thats satisfactory. Scenarios where users reject the new system is very minimal here since there is a constant involvement of system users throughout system development life cycle. Methodology also emphasizes on thorough planning so as to deal with high risks. There is also an excellent technical documentation that is produced as part of the deliverable. A good documentation is essential in system maintenance and makes the task actually very easy, (Ahimbisibwe, Cavana, and Daellenbach, 2015). Mr. Louse Tips Jenny about the $200,000 that the project will be allocated. In this methodology, it is easy to establish the projects total cost after requirements have been identified. It is therefore the best model which will help jenny estimate the project cost during the project early development stage. Outsourcing Methodology Outsourcing is an emerging methodology where a firm hires another independent firm to undertake its functions. According to Meehan (2016), Outsourcing refers to hiring an outside, independent firm to perform a business function that internal employees might otherwise perform. Outsourcing is an advantageous method of getting things done as it enables a company to enjoy services of highly qualified professionals that they may not be able to afford to employ. The outsourced company always boast of superior technological capabilities. Outsourcing is a cost effective way of achieving the desired goals since all projects work is shifted to a second party. However, outsourcing is not that best as it completely eliminates direct communication between the client and the company. The lack of communication during system development highly leads to dissatisfaction of the delivered system. Also, with outsourcing, a company loses control of its activities to the contracted company especially during implementation. Another danger arises whenever a contracting company terminates contract. The sensitive and confidential information is jeopardized. It therefore has to be deliberated in depth before using this methodology, (Meehan, 2016). Recommendations Based on the above presented facts concerning the scenario, I recommend that the IRCL Company adopts a new accounting system that will bring more benefits to the firm as has been enumerated above. However, enough resources should be made available prior to the project start dates. Mr. Louis has to commit himself to support fully the project management team for successful project completion. Word count = [1188] Reference Ahimbisibwe, A., Cavana, R.Y. and Daellenbach, U. (2015) A contingency fit model of critical success factors for software development projects,Journal of Enterprise Information Management, 28(1), pp. 733. doi: 10.1108/jeim-08-2013-0060. Meehan, C.L. (2016) Advantages disadvantages to Outsourcing IT,Small Business Chron, . Montequn, V.R., Fernndez, S.C., Fernndez, F.O. and Balsera, J.V. (2016) Analysis of the success factors and failure causes in projects:,International Journal of Information Technology Project Management, 7(1), pp. 1831. doi: 10.4018/ijitpm.2016010102. Samaranayake, P. (2009) "Business process integration, automation, and optimization in ERP,"Business Process Management Journal, vol. 15, no. 4, pp. 504526.

Music as an Aesthetic Experience Essay Example

Music as an Aesthetic Experience Paper The introduction of Donald J. Funes book Musical Involvement addresses the topic of music as an aesthetic experience. The preface to the introduction is the realization that truly listening to music requires an active response, and this type of listening is not innate. All throughout the day we are bombarded with music and every day sounds, most of which remain in our periphery. It can be difficult to focus on a single event such as a concert, lecture or any other situation that requires a quite environment because we can attend to around seven sensory inputs at any one time, including our internal conversations. Suddenly our periphery senses can become distracting to the point where they detract from the single auditory source we are trying to focus on. Actively listening requires the listener to minimize the external an internal distractions so that the important details of the work are heard. Funes notes that this is a highly rewarding way of listening but it is not the only way interacting with music. Musical Involvement is a guide to learning how to actively listen to music to achieve an aesthetic experience. Funes argues that in order to have an aesthetic experience with music, then first it is necessary to perceive music as an aesthetic object which is only possible if an aesthetic attitude is adopted. There are several components to having an aesthetic attitude. The first is the realization that preconditioned responses limit experiences. Meaning, your attitude influences your perception. A negative attitude can prevent anyone from enjoying an experience. Learning to view a situation from other perspectives can improve control over mindset therefore expanding the possibilities of responses to experiences. We will write a custom essay sample on Music as an Aesthetic Experience specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Music as an Aesthetic Experience specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Music as an Aesthetic Experience specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Since a negative attitude is a contradiction to adopting an aesthetic attitude, all aesthetic listening is positive. To adopt an aesthetic attitude it is not necessary to develop a personal theory on aesthetics; it is only necessary to understand that it is possible to interact with music and sound aesthetically. The difficult part of listening to music as an aesthetic object is being distant from the music. To set aside any preconceived notions or associations about the work so that it may be enjoyed only for impractical reasons. Looking at something as an aesthetic object goes against any ideas of practicalities because it is highly improbably to enjoy something purely for itself if it is looked at with the potential of something else in mind. Another condition to the aesthetic attitude is adopting a sympathetic awareness, a willingness to experience all types of music because no style is superior to another. In the chapter on Perception in Lewis Rowells Thinking about Music, he discusses traditional problems of aesthetics for the listener. Although Rowell and Funes discuss similar ideas about aesthetic listening, the purpose of Rowells work is not to teach the listener how they should listen to music. Similar to an argument Funes makes, Rowell comments that even though some authors feel that there is an ideal way to listen, it is a good idea to understand that there is a range of possible listening experiences. The first problem Rowell discusses are the varying modes of perception. He sets the scene for exploring the listening experience with asking the question What am I doing. This question involves several other component questions that basically range around the listeners background in understanding music and how that might affect their experience. These questions only seem applicable to an experienced music listener who has some academic understanding of music. Later he discusses the idea of perception being a problem to discuss specifically because of the range of ways people listen to music. Rowell does discuss some modes of perception that can negatively affect the listeners experience and that just being simply conscious of these distractions can completely change the experience. Like Funes, Rowell discusses the idea of being detached from the music to achieve a more aesthetic experience. First he cites Kants definition of taste to discuss valid rules of judgment for all observers. Consequently, Kant determines it is necessary for all observers to look from an objective view. Rowell is not concerned at this point whether Kant is correct in his assessment of taste but instead he is only concerned that the listener detach themselves from the work for a more objective viewpoint. Although the idea of being distant from a work is sometimes ambiguous it can be interpreted at least three ways. The first as a literal distance, the second as a dimensional distance, and lastly the most important being a psychic distance in the form of emotional detachment. Like Funes, Rowell states the listener diminishes the possibilities of achieving an aesthetic experience when attention becomes focused on discovering the purpose of art. Finally, Rowell argues against a stance that various other authors have taking, the concept that the ideal musical experience is a total detachment from all contexts. Instead Rowell argues that although the ideal musical experience preserves a degree of distance by regarding all experiences as individual, it is necessary to have a sense of awareness about the style and performance of the work. Malcolm Budd begins The Repudiation of Emotion, the second chapter in Music and Emotion with a sizable disclaimer stating that although he is adopting the viewpoint of the listener it does not take any priority over the composer or executants viewpoint. For his purposes, Budd is only concerned with the listener who has achieve an aesthetic experience. The disclaimer continues to state that the purpose of compositions are not universally for active participation of the listener. Although, some music is intended to be incidental, the listener still has the capability of seeking an aesthetic experience with it and therefore all music is subject to the contents of the chapter. The purpose of this chapter is to discover the aesthetically significant relationship between music and emotions to explain why the listener has an aesthetic response. First Budd explains the irrelevance of the composers and the performers emotions when creating or performing a work. Although there may have been some emotional background for the creation or performance it does not mean the same emotion is audibly being transmitted to the listener. Therefore the only important instance of emotion is the emotion the listener experiences but the crucial question is whether the listener is has achieved this emotion from the quality (or intention) of the music. Budd establishes the only known negative response to this question is Eduard Hanslicks book The Beautiful in Music.

Worlds Worst Dictators Essay Example

Worlds Worst Dictators Essay Example Worlds Worst Dictators Paper Worlds Worst Dictators Paper World’s Worst Dictators There are many different dictators in the world, who have all done horrific and immoral things. They all have their worst points, and different people rank the â€Å"Worlds Worst Dictators† differently. I believe that Hu Jintao, from China, is the number one worst dictator, King Abdullah from, Saudi Arabia, is second, and Sayyid Ali Khamernei, from Iran, is third. Sayyid Ali Khamernei has been the dictator of Iran since 1989. Since then he has oppressed the rights of women, stored nuclear weapons, carried out public hangings, and destroyed media and music stores. Sayyid Ali Khamernei is number three on our list of World’s Worst Dictators because he has executed hundreds of people, supports nuclear activity in his country, even though the UN has restricted all nuclear weapons. King Abdullah has been the dictator of Saudi Arabia since 1995. He has led a punitive justice system, where he can sentence anyone including teens to death for little or no reason. One of the worst things about his rule is that women aren’t allowed to do anything without the permission of a male guardian. He has been suspected to be involved in the 9/11 attack, because many of the bombers were Saudi, but no concrete evidence has been found. King Abdullah is number two on out list. Hu Jintao of China has been in power since 2002. He has China locked down and ALL public news formats are censored and restricted by the Chinese government. Hu Jintao supports the â€Å"one child policy† which limits all the families in China to only having one child. In our opinion the worst thing that he has done is forced abortions because of the one child law. He enforces that law brutally and forces mothers who already have a child to abort their pregnancy. That is why we believe that Hu Jintao is the number one World’s Worst Dictator. All of these people have been dictators for a long time and have done many horrific things. Sayyid Ali Khamernei has carried out public hangings, King Abdullah sentences people to death at will, and finally Hu Jintao forces abortions. Each one has ruled cruelly and has violated the moral principals that hold the world together.

Answer questions from articles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Answer questions from articles - Essay Example Schor explains that these statistics underpin the need for the revival of the discourse that will call all individuals and households to reconsider their material requirements. In order for this right to be enforced, she suggests that governments should guarantee their citizens of employment, supply their basic needs, and consider using government income vouchers or transfers (Schor 7). A second element that Schor believes can help overcome the problems in American consumerism is an emphasis on quality of life rather than quantity of stuff. Schor states that it was in the 1970s that the indicators of the quality of the life of Americans stopped reflecting their incomes and the country’s Gross Domestic Product. She states that there is evidence suggesting that earning an income above the poverty line does not necessarily improve an individual’s well-being. She asserts that the lack of emphasis on well-being among the people above the poverty line is an indication of people’s concern with relative rather than absolute income. She states that an alternative explanation to the unlikely relationship between income and well-being could be the fact that increased output undermines factors yielding welfare (Schor 7). She observes that this is seen in the increase in work time, the decline in family leisure and time for one’s community. She offers that these two things exemplify the inverse relationship between growth and social capital. Growth and increased materialism affects a person’s appreciation of personal meaning, social commitment, community, religion, and family, all of which are alternative sets of values. She advises that the labor market should be restructured to allow workers more time to themselves and that companies that require their workers to work for excessive hours should be penalized. Schor believes that this will serve as an alternative indicator of GNP,

Importent Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Importent - Essay Example To analysis how different models changes with ICT, Andriole (2015) assessed various models. When there is improved governance expansion of ICT stakeholders, there is a likelihood of increasing the importance of technology. Such steps improve governance, how business operates, how strategies are implemented, and guides the emergence of related technologies. For instance, the emergence of participatory governance correlates positively with the adoption of technology in federal and business environments. Besides, there is increased satisfaction of business requirement if cloud-computing takes a centre stage in such ventures (Andriole, 2015). Contrary, other federal governments and businesses that do not embrace computing lags behind in every aspect. There is evolution in governance technology because the emergence of technology leads to evolution of governance. However, one should ensure evolution does not affect the dynamisms of the business. Having all parties in the ICT is essential. The role of both external and internal individuals is a significant consideration in the emergence of new participatory governance matrix utilising

Factores affecting drivers behaviour at major and minor junctios ( Essay

Factores affecting drivers behaviour at major and minor junctios ( literature review , collection and analysis of datas ) - Essay Example Crossroads are then discussed within the same design and control framework, with indications of the methods used for controlling traffic though the major/minor priority areas. The next topic to be considered is the matter of multilevel road junctions – intersections: over- and underpasses – and the influence of the additional factors such as road works, the road surface, the weather and darkness. There are many government surveys which address a wide variety of geometric and other factors which can affect the speed and ease of passage through the junctions, all of which will affect the vehicle capacity. Junction design in two specific cases, in the UK – T- junctions and crossroads are considered and, where appropriate, the reasons for the design choice are discussed as well as the effect on traffic throughput and capacity. The third component of the narrative to be considered in this exercise is the driver and his/her response to the different stimuli which may contribute to his/her ability to drive safely. There are essentially three main categories (1) those which are permanent or semi-permanent; such as state of health, tiredness, influence of drugs or alcohol, age and gender (2) distractions, generally intermittent, which arise from activities within the car caused either by the driver or passengers (3) distractions which are external to the car; such as weather, other drivers and signs – whether relative to the road and junctions or advertisements. Drugs have the capacity to impair the driver’s judgement and give rise to a false degree of self-confidence. Alcohol also impairs the driver’s ability to make coherent and capable decisions, affects reaction speeds, and results in overconfidence. Distractions – both in-car and external - can cause severe lack of concentratio n. External distractions – which are quoted by insurance companies as contributing to a majority of accidents – are a frequent cause of driver lack

MCB Bank Pakistan: SWOT and PEST Analysis

MCB Bank Pakistan: SWOT and PEST Analysis Jump to: SWOT Analysis of MCB | PEST Analysis of MCB | Porters Five Analysis of MCB | Ecological Factors Affecting MCB This report analyses the largest bank of Pakistan, MCB. MCB was founded over 50 years ago in Pakistan, it has got a network of over 1026 branches, 750 are automated branches and 300 MCB ATMS in 41 cities of Pakistan. MCB has a network of over 12 banks on the MNET ATM switch. The aim of MCB is to rationalize expenses, realignment of back and processing to increase productivity, enhancement of customer services, increase efficiency and control. MCB is the only bank of Pakistan which introduced the innovative concept of centralizing Trade Services in Pakistan by providing centralized foreign trade services to its branches with view to improve efficiency, expertise and reduce delivery cost. MCB is the only bank who has been able to receive The Euro Money Award for the fourth time in the last 5 years. Since 2001 to 2005 MCB has won the best bank in Pakistan and in 2000 the best domestic bank in Pakistan awards. All though MCB also has distinction in winning The Asia money award in 2004 an d 2005. It has been 10 years that MCB has been privatized. MCB core businesses are corporate, commercial and consumer banking. In year 2005 MCB was the only bank of Pakistan to become the preferred provider of quality financial services. Financial services in the country with profitability and responsibility. In the year 2005 MCB was the best employers in Pakistan to employee graduates. According to the results, MCB witnessed resilient operating performance in the first quarter of 2009 with healthy growth in balance sheet and key profitability indicators. Total assets of the bank swelled to Rs 456b with an increase of 3pc over Rs 444b as at December 2008 and increased by 15pc over Rs. 397b in March 2008. Deposits showed an increase of Rs. 8b over December 2008 and closed at Rs 338b i.e. a growth of 2pc over Dec 2008. In 2007, MCB reported a profit after tax of PKR16.4 billion (US$270 million) and generated a return on average equity of 38% and a net interest margin of 8.08%. The Banks asset quality is strong with a gross NPL ratio of 4.7% and provision coverage of 100%. At the end of year 2006 MCB Bank announced it Net Income Rs. 12,541M (US$ 206M) which was an increase of 36.1% over 2005. Net Interest Income was Rs. 21276M(US$ 349M) for the year 2006, which was a healthy increase of 42% over the same period last year, with the pre provision operating profit at Rs.20, 113M( US$ 330M), a 39% increase over last year. However, the year 2007-08 has been very tough years for Pakistans economy. It is due to different factors such as political and economic events took place within Pakistan. The above explained events such as disturbed political conditions, an unstable law and order situation; supply shocks; soaring oil, food and other commodity; prices; softening of external demand; and turmoil in the international financial market. SWOT Analysis of MCB Strengths MCB Bank has earned a reputation in the market for extending quality services to the market vis-Ã  -vis its competitors. It has earned a strong Brand name in banking in a very short span of time. As customer confidence in MCB escort it towards achieving their goals and objectives. It has the premier number of linked branches in the country. The bank operates through a network of 1026 BRANCHES and over 300 ATMs across Pakistan, hence enabling them to serve customer in superior way. MCB Bank has all the products under its belt, which help it to extend the relationship with existing customer. MCB Bank has umbrella of products to offer their customers, if once customer has relationship with the bank. Some Products, which MCB Banks offering are Retail Banking, Business Banking, Merchant Establishment Services (EDC Machine), Personal loans Car loans, Demit Services with E-Broking, Mutual Fund (MCB Banks the Distributor of all Mutual Fund), Insurance and Housing Loans. MCB is having an ed ge over other banks in case of Salary Accounts. Most of the companies are having their Salary Account with MCB even if their Current Account is with any other Bank. This is mainly because of the huge network of ATMs and branches of MCB. MCB is only Bank which is having its working hours from 8 to 8 for some branches which is one of the major strength of MCB Bank with respect to nationwide business Industry. MCB Banks known for its aggressive marketing of its products. Recent Endorsement of its product by famous celebrities and superior advertisement to attract more customers. From its inception, MCB Bank has adopted a policy of selecting internationally proven and specialized Packaged Systems for its technology. MCB banks technology platform has been acknowledged globally as one of the best in terms of robustness, flexibility and cost efficiency. MCB Banks in a position to leverage this platform to further build cost and service advantage. MCB has a strong management team and have a very impressive cash flow with an excellent financial performance. As MCB was awarded 1st Asian bank providing good return on saving and current account to its customers. Weaknesses The bank targets only the top grade of clients and does not cater to the needs of small customers. Due to this reason the bank may sometimes loose good clients. As well they have to concentrate on their online banking to attract more customers as their online banking service has a weak image in front of customers. MCB Bank has a defensive approach in lending. Mainly to IT ITES companies Bank do not provide loan as these companies are not having collaterals so bank hesitate in giving loans to them. Because of this policy companies prefer nationalized banks and MCB Banking turn sometimes loose potential customers. MCB Banks having little presence Outside Pakistan, because of which companies prefer MNC Bank, mainly united bank limited (UBL). So if MCB Bank tries to emerge outside Pakistan then it has a huge potential of customers. MCB aggressive marketing has rapidly increasing its customer base. They are not however, increasing the number of employees accordingly. This is leading to c orrosion of the standard of customer service. Opportunities MCB can improve insurance services to compete in market. MCB insurance premium is high and return on claim is less in percentage. As other insurance companies are convincing their customers to buy insurance policies. It has been noticed that MCB has not been recruiting properly and their business need experts in various tax policies and service of bank. MCB has associated itself with various social causes such as helping poor people for food and medical treatment on low charges. MCB can improve their customer service as there is always a room to add innovative techniques and polices which could lead to additional proficiency of the institution. MCB recently introduces Mobile banking service, but most of the customers are unaware of the service and MCB could work on adverting it to give benefits of it to their clients. Threats MCB is having sturdy competition in market with its competitors as some of them having their branches nationwide and internationally as well. MCB is ready to provide all kind of services to their clients online but they have to make it confidential that the data is being protected and secure and cannot be leaked to third party. Branch managers are allowed to take decisions on their own in regard to their branch but decisions made by individuals will be different and a single wrong decision could escort towards intense losses to the institution. MCB has been facing trouble in providing good service to uneducated customers to use electronic and computerized machines. PEST Analysis of MCB The analysis of MCB will take in to account the general environment analysis, the competitors analysis by comparing the products offered by the competitive banks and the departmental analysis. The general environment of takes in to account the external factors like politics, economy of Pakistan, socio-cultural factors and technology. Now we will analyze these factors one by one and check how these affect the working of MCB: Political The current situation of the government in Pakistan is directly affecting the policies of banks. However, MCB tries hard to keep its business away from the politics but it is not an easy task. MCB has no accounts of political leaders or parties. However, its Customer Service Department faces peer pressure from such political parties. As MCB is trapped in dual sanctions from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and from the European Union so the changing political environment is not so beneficial for the bank to operate freely. The changing policies of the government, affects SBP which in return affects the MCB rules and policies. The government of Pakistan has privatized most of the banks. The number of government owned banks have declined constantly, so these changes directly affect MCB. Economical The economy of any country has deep impact on any financial organization. Economic indicators include Gross Domestic Product (GDP), inflation, balance of payment, debt of the government. These below graphs will explain how economic conditions of Pakistan are adversely affecting the banking system of Pakistan. The pitiable economy of Pakistan and instable government is adversely affecting MCB and its different departments; recently MCB has redundant many of its employees. The economy of our Pakistan is very poor. Due to poor economy businesses are showing low profits and Pakistan stock market is in great danger. Pakistans foreign debts are rising day by day, so such a situation is a huge challenge for MCB to survive. Due to financial crisis in Pakistan the management of MCB has to face stressful situations and also working environment. At present the MCB is not extending loans but recovering the existing ones. Social MCB has been influenced by the socio-cultural factors. At present most of the European countries are keeping their eyes on Pakistan as being the terrorist country, so people of Pakistan are emotionally getting affected by it. Most of the foreign investments have been stopped in Pakistan. Pakistani people are traditionalists who do not like the modern banking environment of MCB. Some of the customers do not use ATMs they still prefer cash counters, so these kinds of socio-cultural factors affect the banking environment and its operations. Technological Technology has a deep influence on different kinds of organizations whether banks or any kind social welfare organizations. In MCB technology has great effect on the working environment. Mostly all banks use computers none of the banks keep data manually so the bank has to be continuously in touch with the modern ways of task performance. MCB is always ahead to introduce new computer systems for keeping its staff up to date. The intranet facility is playing an important role in enhancing the knowledge of staff. Due to technology that bank staff keeps in touch with the customers through e mail; ATMs and online banking is only possible due to technology. In this way technology is playing its key role in and is helping management to further improve its functions. Conclusion: Overall we can say that MCB is influenced by the economic position of Pakistan, which has stopped it from extending loans to the customers. After that the policies of MCB are also affecting its performance and free functioning. Social and technological issues are of secondary importance but they also cannot be neglected. MCB is focusing positively regarding technological issues but it should also keep its eye on the social cultural factors also. Porters Five Forces Analysis of MCB For further analysis of MCB environment, Porters Five Forces Analysis is also applied on the bank. This analysis takes in to consideration the following factors: Substitutes Substitution of one product with another one increases the competition within an industry. However, the perfect substitutes of banks are not available in the market at present, but people still have choices of saving or investing their money. The people can save their money in their own houses or they can deposit their money in the National Saving Centers (Banking Intermediaries) which give protection to their assets. Aside from saving one can invest money in stock market in form of shares / bonds or in real estate. These kinds of substitutes increase the competition in the banking sector. Competition There is tough competition between different banks. There is a huge variety of public and private banks already exist in the market, offering products on competitive prices. If we look at banking products (loans, savings and current accounts) then Alfalah Bank, Meezan Bank, Habib Bank and many others are offering wide range of products in this sector. The tough competition between these banks increases the challenge which the MCB have to face. The competition among various banks increases the switching of the customers form one banks product to the other bank. Threat of new entrants The banking sector of any country has always potential of growth and competition. Mostly foreign banks step in the developing countries for expanding their branches, not only this mergers between foreign and local banks take place at large scale but Pakistans present economic condition and government instability has arose the feelings of awe and terror among most of the foreign banks to enter in the market. In future due to uncertainty and security problems in Pakistan investors will not be willing to invest here. Due to overall financial problems in the whole world new banks will not be entering in to the banking industry. Power of buyer Bargaining power of buyer is low where the products substitutes are not available and customers are large in number. In case of banks there are lots of other banks and banking intermediaries, having wide range of products, so power of buyer in banking sector is high. The bank cannot force any customer to buy the desired product because this directly affects its reputation. However, the bank can convince its customers by giving them special discount or rewards. If we look at MCB we will find that the competitors are also offering products due to which customer feel in power by saying that they can go to some other bank in case of dissatisfaction. Bargaining power of suppliers The lending power of bank is enhanced by its depositors as they are suppliers of the bank. It allows bank to involve in other business activities to invest such as personal and business loans. The suppliers then get interest on their amount as profit earned by the bank. Banks need to concentrate on their policies as bargaining power of suppliers is very high and they move towards highest interest rates. Conclusion According to Porters Five Forces analysis we can say that MCB has no fear of new entrants due to the poor economic position of Pakistan. However, it should keep its eyes open regarding mergers of various banks. There are two big threats; firstly from the buyers who can go to the other banks and secondly form the substitutes like investment in stock market, so MCB should carefully examine its task environment. The Ecological Responsibilities of Muslim Commercial Bank (MCB) 3 different parts are mentioned in this section: How ecological factors affecting decision making and policy at MCB How effective the action taken towards ecological environment been so far (reducing waste, reducing carbon emission, reducing energy bills, reducing airtravel, investing in sustainable project) how these have gone up and have benefited the company. What other areas of improvement that you think they should be doing to improve response of ecological factorsthink about what other banks internationally have done and suggest something to MCB. The public responsibilities of corporations, according to Harvard management ( year ), are to grow and prosper thereby providing customer satisfaction, employment, taxes, and contributions to the economyand to control their hazards. According to Milton Friedman, the only social responsibility of a corporation is to make money, by striving after profit as an efficient agent of production, although he admits that the corporation should conform to the rules and norms of society. Corporate responsibility is more composite than a simple, linear cost/benefit analysis. Using the metaphor of corporation as organism, it is possible to outline a new set of responsibilities for corporations and a series of behaviors that human individuals and communities can practice to integrate corporate behavior into the communities. With an ecological model, the ecological responsibilities of corporations, to themselves, to nature, and to human communities, are described. At MCB profit making is an obligatory part of business, but not the sole reason for business. There for MCB ensures that it serves public goods as well as private interests. This is analogous to Ruth Benedicts original anthropological meaning of synergy as applied to individuals. In secure, nonaggressive societies, an individual serves his own advantage as well as that of the group with the same act. Institution ensures mutual advantage; the acts are mutually reinforcing. Economic recession may bring a re-examination of values, not only by individuals who have less material wealth, but by corporations that have emphasized growth. The public may insist that corporations consider social performance as well as strictly economic performance. The single economic purpose may only be the focus in a social environment.MCB is highly concerned about economic actions, such as where to build, who to relocate, hire, or dismiss, may be subjected to greater public scrutiny. Business cannot assert a primary self-interest at a cost to the public or environment. Corporations need to keep track of their environmental impacts. Many of the problems that corporations face are connected to the problems of the environment and society. Corporations need to work cooperatively to make sure the costs and benefits are extended equally throughout the system. They could start by sponsoring the rational use of rare resources through taxation, and by influencing the government to determine priorities for wilderness areas or special landscapes; beautiful, fragile, unique, or endangered ecosystems and species must be protected at the expense of commercial activity. With regards to ecological factors Muslim Commercial Bank have had considerable focus on the ecological diversities in the market some of the existing factors in addition to the future polices and practice have been discussed as under; The bank created a department with ecological authority to envision long-range plans and impacts. They have realized that they need to react more quickly to monitor their ecological and social environments for the emerging patterns that determine their future. They need to anticipate and participate in the social and natural framework. A new department, with global, anticipatory functions could provide direction and continuity. Such a department could be justified in the same manner as military forces. Military expenditure is a non-productive cost; its benefits are general and long-range, that is, it must discourage war in the next decade as well as in this one. Its scope of advice would include educational services as well as advertising, capital acquisitions as well as new products, and plant engineering as well as security. Plan all foreseeable consequences of a product. Advanced technology permits the power to change to overwhelm the ability to foresee the consequences of change. Avoiding the opposite actions of intentions (recognized by the Greeks as the operation of tragedy) is extremely difficult. Good intentions are not enough: Labor-saving devices may contribute to unemployment and social problems; foreign aid may result in starvation for more millions as local agriculture cannot compete; and the environmental management of some species for sustainable yield causes the population to collapse. The bank is determined to optimum corporate size and maintains it. As they perceive that after a point, growth results in inefficiency and non adaptability. Development, on the other hand, can continue for hundreds or thousands of years. A smaller size could mean more flexibility and faster response to local conditions. Recognize material limits. The global economy is probably too large already to be supported by the natural systems of the planet. Find an upper limit to the economy of scale. Accept limits to growth based on materials and on non-renewable or dangerous sources of energy. This should not limit development based on advancing technology and knowledge. Another factor which the bank could focus on is to adjust corporate strategies to changing values. Smaller social and cultural groups have different and diverging values, so corporations are going to have to adjust to a diversity of values instead of to a monolithic standard. The structure of power is disintegrating, with information replacing things as wealth. The knowledge-driven economy is more decentralized and customized. This moves us towards customization of production and away from mass production. Change the shape of the corporation to a framework coordinating separate divisions sharing information. Each division could react much more quickly to market conditions. MCB works to delineate a new information model of production in which the stages of a process (capital, materials, workers, design, advertising, selling) are simultaneous and synthesized. The conception of the product is extended from design (even customer contributions and design of working conditions) to aftercare, including ecologically safe retirement and disposal. The notions of efficiency and productivity are changing. Innovation and computer technology shortens product life cycles. Production diversity is increasing. Convert the information model to an understanding model. Information is just data without appropriate structure. Provide a structure and material base for understanding through communication, education, and training. Furthermore MCB promotes the principle of least effort, allowing the company to consume less, recycle, use longer, and avoid waste. Corporations could develop renewable energy sources. Conduct a complete series of audits, including an energy audit for every building. Reduce office costs through energy conservation planning. Use renewable energy sources. Energy and materials can be used and reused, flowing through the system. Cars are ecologically unacceptable forms of transport, yet companies intrinsically recognize them with large, free parking lots. Discourage commuting; encourage telecommuting or even alternate forms of transportation (bicycling, buses, and trains). Minimize wastes, for instance, by using permanent packaging (milk bottles and cola bottles can be reused forty or more times). Conduct a complete series of audits, including an environmental audit to determine negative impacts, from acid wastes or product disposal, and a problem audit, to include inherited problems. Produce a comprehensive annual impact statement. MCB ensures to maintain the health of natural communities, because environmental health is the basis for community health, and community health is the basis for economic health and worker health. The quality of life depends on the quality of the environment. If the environment is degraded to raise the quality of life, the effect is very limited and can never be self-sustaining. Fitting economic costs and needs to the limits of ecosystems and monitoring the economic process would reduce wastes and pressures on natural processes. The coupling of agricultural productivity to a solar budget, and the conscious restoration of degraded systems, would contribute to the health of ecosystems. The financial institution believes that sufficient wilderness would allow the self-maintenance of global cycles. With the increase in security, wealth, and self-esteem, human populations could be dependent on ecosystem productivities and still be diverse and unique. What made us human was that, in additio n to human social groups, we lived in communities with other species. We learned spontaneously from other animals and enjoyed their company. We are poor and malcontent without them. The management of the bank tends to be accountable for ecological impacts. They believe that the bank should be held more accountable for their technological impact. New technology is more closely regulated. They comprehend this by favoring open appraisal of new technologies. By studying the potential consequences, physical, social, and ecological, as far as possible into the future, of its innovations in information technology, they can gain credibility. Otherwise, it can wait and be forced by public and governmental pressure. Integrate loops and material flows; internalize cycles. The bank tends to avoid interference with natural processes. Technological processes have been brought into balance with the cycles of the earth. They must not damage or degrade natural cycles. Avoid unnecessary harm. It may be appropriate to use trees or to compete with black bears for tree use, but it is never wise to destroy the ecosystem of trees and bears. Laws on pollution and noxious wastes have been notoriously lax and sometimes wrong-headed. Minimal acceptable tolerances are legal, yet people often prefer zero amounts of many substances. Minimal compliance with them is virtuous for many companies, but it would be better to lead to higher standards. Work toward setting zero-level goals. Do not dump exotic or dangerous wastes. Do not discharge quantities of safe wastes. The Corporation maintains building and plants in thousands of locations, each requiring support. Convert to ecological grounds practices. Forgo economic development of key ecosystems, which should not be available for human use. Consider adjusting the economic pace to natural rates; do not cut trees, for instance, faster than they grow. Consider minimizing use of ecosystem productivity to the net ecosystem productivity, rather than the gross productivity, especially as regards fisheries. Another influential feature of MCB is to promote ecological design; the institution is becoming a more responsible member of the community. Thus it would encourage an ecological approach to systems and processes in the whole environment, where the product, with its plant, engineers, and advertisers, is a link in a long biomorphic chain stretching from knives to surgical microchip memory implants. Ecological design has important characteristics for responsible technology: The products are designed by interdisciplinary teams considering all parameters and consequences; ecological sciences offer creative insights into design through a search for underlying organic principles; the product must be related to the particular environment, the tool is a link between human and environment. It is hard to protect communities when the way most business is done tends to disrupt community life. Because of its size, power, and intention (often just for profit), the corporation should take higher risks not lower than the surrounding communities. This will ensure the safety of products and wastes. The work place is not just collection of individuals. It is a number of groups. Group interaction can change attitudes. A working community can build mutual responsibility. Show proper behavior; learn community etiquette. The bank can design the corporate structure and size for the community. Limit unnecessary movement or disruption. Plan the shape, size, and products of the corporation to fit the local community. Encourage self-reliance in communities. Communities can be self-reliant: By producing enough food and shelter; by limiting their population to what can be produced; by using local products and raw materials (soil, minerals, plants); by using general and not specialized machines; by having multipurpose factories; by networking with other communities, and; by doing without things that are not needed, e.g., bombs, food additives, or plastic bottles. Muslim commercial bank is an ecological corporation and could use corporate buying power to promote acceptable technologies and discourage unacceptable practices. Deal less with nuclear weapons contractors and more with solar energy companies. Deal less with one-shot paper companies and more with recycling paper companies. Boycott paper companies involved in Rainforest destruction or old-growth forest destruction. Avoid banks that invest in anything that brings a high return, from third-world debt to Amazonian destruction and South African discrimination. Favor peace-oriented companies as business partners. And, refuse to participate in work that is socially destructive. Economic development and social progress are necessary for the welfare of humanity, but must be conducted with environmental knowledge. The goal of economics and politics is to provide suitable and comfortable human habitations and meaningful activities. Human settlements must be planned and constructed within environmental constraints and according to ecological priorities. Work to preserve the structure of the natural and social communities. Corporations can encourage decentralization and restore schools, clinics, and shops to local communities. Offer cooperative control with the community. Change the pattern of ownership to reflect employee and community participation. The bank is promoting ecological education. Encouraging cultural traditions; refusing to let social and spiritual needs be subverted by economic ends. Helping to lead the young into their adult responsibilities through training and participation, such as with apprenticeship programs. They could also educate people in appropriate ways to achieve wealth and well-being. Teach appreciation of the services rendered by nature through flows and cycling. Point out the unexpectedness of the consequences of even simple corporate interventions and innovations, e.g., positive feedback, biological concentration of poisons, and synergetic effects of simple new chemicals like CFCs. Trace the complex and reciprocal relations of soil, climate, vegetation, and human activity. Emphasize that a fixed set of ecological parameters in an ecosystem cannot be maintained in a sustainable way, because the system is dynamic and changing. Put computers in proper perspective. Children do not need computers to dev elop the powers of thought, but they do need an ecological curriculum where animals display greater powers of mind than computers or machines. The important technological advantages of a computer, word-processing, database searches, complex connections, and rapid computation, are not really needed before high school, unlike myths, languages, and physical activities. Encourage people to take responsibility for all of their actions, from reproduction to consumption and politics. The responsibility for the welfare of the citizens belongs in the community, as does education, safety, and the whole infrastructure. Corporate management is responsible for developing programs to set goals, modify structures, and introduce criteria to measure progress. The Board of Directors is responsible, as the architects of responsibility and stewards of the human and material resources; the government is responsible, in its legislative, judicial, and regulatory functions.

life :: essays research papers

Self from Religious Viewpoint The Afterlife is an area of human consciousness we all enter upon leaving the physical world at physical death. Throughout history we've questioned if there is a life after death. Along the way, our religions and various philosophers offered beliefs and opinions to answer this commonly asked question. However, many of the answers contradict each other making it hard to figure out. While some believe it's impossible to know whether there is life after death, belief in immortality is a timeless phenomenon. Through the years there have been many philosophers that do not believe in life after death. Among them is David Hume. David Hume was a British imperialist to the extreme. He only believed in what he could see. He felt that if you can't see your soul or god then they must not exist. The same holds true for the after life, or heaven. He felt that when you died that was it, your life was over and there was nothing more. Muangkram pg.2 Buddhist's also do not believe in life after death meaning heaven. Buddhist's believe that when one dies he is reborn again and this continues until the person reaches Nirvana. Nirvana is the state in which one has attained disinterested wisdom and compassion. In the Buddhist religion there is no god to save you or to show you the way. To reach nirvana you must achieve insight and wisdom. The Buddha was not saved by a revelation or from any god. He was the self-enlightened one; by the power of his own post virtue, which finally produced piercing insight and wisdom, he came to the knowledge or the saving insight into things 'as they are.' He literally made himself a Buddha and subsequently entered Nirvana. One of the great philosophers that did believe in life after death was Spinoza. Spinoza believed there was a heaven and a hell and the life here in the physical realm was just a small part of gods greater plan. Spinoza believed that man is a fleeting incident in an infinite and eternal universe. In the Christian religion it is believed that there does exist life after death. The argument to support it being that after Jesus died he rose from the dead, proving that the soul is not destroyed after death. This proof of immortality has been accepted by millions of Christians and has been regarded as one of the most precious assurances brought to mankind by Jesus.

Regulations and Policies in Europe Essay

How does it fit within the ideas of Hayek and Keynes? Use the stagflation of the 70s as an example. The post–World War II the postwar economic boom, also known as economic expansion, the long boom, and the Golden Age of Capitalism, and the Age of Keynes in western countries after the end of World War II in 1945. It was a high worldwide economic growth in Western European that had been devastated by the war such as unusually high and sustained growth, together with full employment. By the end of World War II, much of Europe was devastated. The region’s trade flows had been disrupted. Food shortages were severe in all over the Europe. The 1930’s Great Depression in Europe production had fallen far below even than usual for the entire decade due to failure of market forces to restore demand to normal levels. Hence, the biggest panic after WWII was the return of the Great Depression during 30s. After the war, the major powers were determined not to repeat the mistakes of the Great Depression. Governments might have been slow to dismantle wartime allocation controls, and so have severely constrained the market mechanism. However, Politicians were predisposed toward intervention and regulation, their principle was: no matter how damaging â€Å"government failure† might be to the economy, it had to be better than the â€Å"market failure† of the Depression. After WWII, the slightest regulations and policies are derived from The Keynesian Economy. Keynesian economists claim that the boom was caused by the adoption of Keynesian economic policies, particularly government spending. The basic idea of Keynesian thinking was to have pure free market policies rather than the mixed economy which require a significant role for government intervention. Efforts against Keynesianism took place on three fronts – in the academic world, in politics, and in the wider world of business and public opinion. In Keynes’s theory, in contrast to the previously accepted view, an economic depression might continue indefinitely unless government spending, financed by a budget deficit, were increased sufficiently. In 1948 the Marshall Plan was implemented to rebuild and modernize Western Europe. The Coal and Steel Community had which was to become the European Union lately. The Marshall Plan (officially the European Recovery Program, ERP) was a program occurred in United States to aid Europe as the US. gives monetary support to help rebuild European economies after the end of WWII in order to have a force over Soviet communism. The plan was for four years. The goals of the Marshall Plan were to remove trade barriers, modernize industry, and provide Europe to be strong again. Plan pumped over $12 billion to rebuild and modernize Western Europe. Keynesian economics period also accepted as financial repression. With these Keynesian policies such as low nominal interest rates and low or negative real interest rates and government policy, especially the US and UK both dealt with their existing government debt level from Great Depression and World War II and reduce the level of debt in the debt service without needing to direct a high portion of government spending. All of the success was coming from free market economies. After the death of President Roosevelt, a conservative control of Congress took place and try to turn the policies into Libertarian policies by rejecting numerous Keynesian initiatives, dropped many price controls, and instead cut taxes sharply. These libertarian policies are believed to have been stimulated the economy and created near full employment. During the whole period, especially Hayek was against Keynes at some points. He and a group occurred from other journalists and intellectuals had planned to displace Keynesianism and other collectivist influences. Hayek complained about economists to refuse to allow his work to be questioned after his death, it almost became a tabu. According to Friedrich von Hayek, the development of welfare socialism after World War II undermined freedom and would lead western democracies inexorably to some form of state-run serfdom so that socialism was also affecting Europe negatively. For the institutions Bretton Woods system was used after WWII until 1970s. The Bretton Woods system was history’s first example of a fully negotiated monetary order. It is an international regime which was designed to combine binding legal obligations with multilateral decision-making, which is conducted through an international organization, like the IMF, endowing money with some limited supranational authority. In 1971, The Bretton Woods system collapsed due to President Richard Nixon’s severed the link between the dollar and gold. Another policy which is used after WWII was Military Keynesianism, which sighted to devote a large amount of money spending to the military to increase the economical growth of the countries.

In Mrs Tilschers Class Essays

In Mrs Tilschers Class Essays In Mrs Tilschers Class Essay In Mrs Tilschers Class Essay Essay Topic: Poetry A skittle o f milk, this shows that they are having fun. They might be playing a game. The classroom glowed like a sweet shop, sugar paper and coloured shapes were all the things of happiness. It shows the teacher loved children, and children loved her. Its magical and looks as if there is a party because of all the wonderful decorations. The poet describes these changes very well, he tries to emphasis and make the readers experience all of the things she went through. There are small statements, which the poet tries to describe very well. A skittle of milk The word skittle might try to tell readers that the children are having fun by playing a game. Also the word milk, which might mean spread. The poet tries to persuade readers that children are having fun; by this he has said this (A skittle of milk). The laugh of a bell The word laugh means happiness, this is linked with the bell because both of them communicate with happiness. The bell ringing is a human sound. Laugh is positive and it associates with having fun. The poet does describe them well. The classroom was filled with decoration and then this is when the fun starts to end. A xylophones nonsense, someone is having fun it is not a tune. The inky tadpoles change into exclamation marks, this links them to be growing up. The children are more rood, A rough boy told you how you were born She imagines her mum with her legs wide open and thinks, is that were she comes from? This change is described well by the poet, the wording is just right. Very well done to the poet. Towards the end of the school the weather gets worse. That feverish July, the air tasted of electricity The word feverish reminds you of cold and fast winds in that month. The poet describes this well as well as, the air tasted of electricity. This describes that the primary school days are nearly over, and the weather also links with this, ideas are changing. The poet tries to link the weather with the end of the school year, and she does this extremely well. Towards the end of the school year as reports were handed out, you ran through the gates, ready to go to your next school. The sky split open into a thunderstorm The thunderstorm represents the end of the school year, which is finally over. This obviously is after all the fun and laughter in the beginning scenes. When children are filled with happiness, the entire classroom is filled with wonderful decorations. You loved Mrs Tilscher, and she also loved you. Then the thunderstorm at the end occurred because of the end of the school year, as children grew up from tadpoles to exclamation marks (adults). Children started to be more rood. Also towards the end, the weather changes, as it is fiercer towards the end of the school year. Valentine * An onion is unusual about the poets choice of a valentine gift. Its not the usual red rose or satin heart. Not a red rose or a satin heart It has a shape, which is equivalent to a sphere. It also has a brown substance, which is wrapped around it. The onion is very unusual but has lots of meanings as well as feelings for the person that will receive it. You look forward to having it because, It promises light * This particular gift was chosen because it means a lot for the person who receives it. It promises light. Brightness and positive vinculum together, thats why this gift has been chosen. Like the undressing of love This means that you can take your clothes off and start love, this is similar when the to the onion, when it has its brown paper taken of it. It contains lots of different layers. * There are several different affects that the person will receive. It will blind you with tears When you look at an onion tears start to appear in your eyes, it leads to tears just like a rose does. There will be a disowned image in the mirror, your reflection will be smudgy and will not be seen properly because of the tears that appeared on your face. Where caused by an onion that meant a lot to you. It will make your reflection a wobbling photo of grief The fierce kiss stays on your lips, which means love will last long and will carry on forever. Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips The taste of an onion lasts long. Stealing I learn that the thief is alone and has no friends; this leads to him stealing and making himself occupied. He has nothing to do; his life is dull and shadowed. What I deduce about the thief is that he has no human friends, and no relationships. I also deduce that the snow mans mind is cool as a slice of ice. He has a cold mind. With a mind as cold with a slice of ice I learn that he says, Better off dead then giving in, not taking what you want What he means by this is that you might as well be dead if you cannot take what you want. If you want something you should take it, and this is his advice for himself and also his point of view. * The thief takes the snowman because he has no human friends because if this he treats the snowman as a friend. He took him because he had a mind, which was cold, this is why he wanted him. He looked magnificent tall white mute beneath the winter moon He takes him one by one and starts with head. He said, he weighed a ton. There is some sort of vinculum between the thief and the snowman. He also takes him so children would cry in the morning. Knowing that the snowman has gone he likes to hurt children. Part of the thrill was knowing that children would cry in the morning. Lifes tough * The poet presents the ideas convincingly step by step; he explains what the thief does and what he thinks of the snowman. Sometimes I steel things I dont need The poet first writes down what he does need but doesnt say that, then he comes across what he doesnt need, all of which is only for entertainment. The poet makes the thief answer as if someone is asking a question. I took some time The poet also writes what the thief thinks of himself. Mostly Im so bored I could eat myself This shows that he has nothing to do; the poet at the end convinces readers that the thief is telling the questioner what he has said. You dont understand a word Im saying do you? This suggests that only the thief knows what he is doing and saying. It also suggests that he is completely different from other ordinary humans.

Me, myself and I (reflexive pronouns explained) - Emphasis

Me, myself and I (reflexive pronouns explained) Me, myself and I (reflexive pronouns explained) People have some pretty strong feelings about the way our language is used and abused if a recent Emphasis blog post is anything to go by. One source of irritation that stood out as a real piece of apple skin between the teeth was the incorrect use of reflexive pronouns. What are they? Reflexive pronouns are basic pronouns + self or selves. They are: myself yourself herself himself itself yourselves themselves. So whats the right way to use them? Officially, you should use reflexive pronouns in sentences where the subject (the person or thing carrying out the action) and the object (the person or thing on the receiving end of the action) are the same. For example: I patted myself on the back for mastering grammar. He dusted himself down, then rang her doorbell. She gave herself a wink in the mirror and said, Go get em, tiger. Reflexive pronouns can also be employed for emphasis (where, technically, they could be removed, leaving the sense the same): I knitted this whole scarf myself. Did you shear the whole flock for it yourself? Its advisable not to overdo this usage, however, as it quickly becomes overbearing. And the wrong way to use them? Cue much gritting of teeth. I think this house is absolutely perfect for yourselves. Id be grateful if you could send that information over to myself. Whereas what the culprits really mean is: I think this house is absolutely perfect for you. Id be grateful if you could send that information over to me. These examples make the mistake of using these words as replacements for the basic pronouns (you, me), as if they were some kind of upmarket equivalent. Sadly, there is no such upgrade: its just plain wrong. If we, ourselves, have reminded you of anything that really gets your goat or floats your boat on the English language front, please join the fun by leaving your comments at our blog yourselves (sorry).

Dying to be Thin Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Dying to be Thin - Assignment Example old Erin, who starved herself, under the illusion that she was fat and ugly, even when she was way below her normal weight and at the verge of death due to malnutrition. In Chapter 6, Jennifer Schmid, who is a victim of another form of anorexia, is unable to balance diet and workout. She eats well but burns a lot more, while exercising, than what she is capable of consuming. And in Chapter 7, we see Anne Chavarro, who suffers from Bulimia, taking to purging to keep up with her binge eating habits. What surprised me the most, was the fact that these eating disorders possessed the power to make human beings capable of withstanding all emotional and physical hardships or of resorting to extremely unpleasant methods like purging or of even putting themselves through starvation which is the worst a human body could suffer, just to be extremely thin. The victims seemed only too pleased about having a disease which left them a subject of admiration, even if it came with a death warrant. Towards the end of Chapter 2, Dr. Joan Jacobs Brumberg, talks about cases of anorexia recorded in history, of women who lived hundreds of years ago. She opines that the common theme in those instances is that those women were using the appetite to express different things, depending upon their historical situation. In Chapter 1, we learn about how Katey Tracey starved herself in a desperate attempt to be accepted by her teacher as the best dancer in her group. Eleena Melamed, another ballet dancer, talks out in Chapter 5, about what led her to anorexia. Her story matches more or less with that of Katey Tracey. It could be said that they were expressing their need to be accepted and admired. Erin, who felt lonely and insecure when her mother had to stay away for a year, took to starvation, to become thin and look glamorous, in order to attract the attention of those around her. She also admits to have been sexually harassed, which added to her feeling of insecurity. Here, she is

Roxbury Manufacturing Company Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Roxbury Manufacturing Company - Assignment Example Calculating the DOL for 2011 and 2012 to explain the 20% decline in profit from a 10% decline in sales; The DOL is calculated as follows; Degree of Leverage (DOL) = Contribution Margin/ Operating Income Assume that the first year is (2011); The DOL for 2011 = Contribution Margin/ Operating Income = [1,000, 000/500,000] = 2 In response to a 10% decline in sales, the operating income (profit) will decline by; 2*10% = 20% in 2011. Assume that the first year is (2012); The DOL for 2012 = Contribution Margin/ Operating Income = [900,000/ 400,000] = 2.25 In response to a 10% decline in sales, the operating income (profit) will decline by; 2.25*10% = 22.5% in 2012. Now, assuming the following changes happen; - Sales decline again by 10% The sales for the year 2013 would be; [90/100*$ 3,600,000] = $ 3,240,000 - By cutting wastage, costs can be reduced by $120,000 The variable expenses for the year 2013 would be; [$ 2,700,000 - $120,000] = $2,580,000 The Revised Income Statement, if the above changes are made will appear as shown below:

Gun shooting problems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Gun shooting problems - Essay Example These laws vary widely and there is a need of promotions or campaigns to enhance public awareness. Following measures can be taken in order to prevent gun shooting at schools. There are many varieties of solutions each has different grades of expense and levels of security. These are designing of laws and policies to inhibit children from gaining access to guns, equipping all school entries, as well as all related rooms, with bulletproof doors within a school that automatically lock upon shutting, lower technology doors that should be opened only from the inside or from the outside with keys, introduction of jamblock, a portion of steel that can rapidly be protected under a classroom door, efficiently locking it and significantly reducing the movement of anyone determined on breaking in and Having metal sensors or .,detectors at the secure entry. 4. Social and cultural contexts: Crisis in youth culture educational institutions, especially public schools, Widespread availability and acceptance of guns, Drugs and medications, bullying, media and video games, areas with a strong conservative religious population Today in United States increasing gun violence in school and other areas of society become a serious national and social issue. The United States has been suffering from prevalent levels of gun violence yearly. There are greater than 100,000 Americans who become victims of gun violence every year according to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Gun ownership is prevalent in United States and gun violence is rampant. Fatal school shootings at a widespread variety of schools have claimed over 400 undergraduates and faculty lives since columbine. In summer 2012, there have been may well publicized school shootings in America. On February 10, 2012 in Walpole, 14 year old students shoot himself in front of his fellow students. Former classmates opened fire on three students and kill them and injured six

The different forms of religious experience are nothing more than fantasy Essay Example for Free

The different forms of religious experience are nothing more than fantasy Essay Assess the view that the different forms of religious experience are nothing more than fantasy. (45) The term religious experience refers to an experience a person has which has religious qualities and significance. Many people have researched into the idea of religious experiences and it is surprising to find out that a third of people in Britain have said to of experienced some kind of religious experience. These experiences have been researched to discover what impact they have on peoples lives and whether this impact has a positive or negative result. Many scientists research the theory of religious experience to either prove or disprove the existence of God. There are four main forms of religious experience which can be considered when assessing this question that religious experiences are nothing more than fantasy. The first is Mysticism; this refers to an experience where people have had an intimate direct experience with God or some kind of heavenly spirit. William James was a philosopher who approached the idea of religious experiences he wrote a book called the varieties of religious experiences and came up with the idea that there are four main qualities that an experience should have for us to justify calling it mystical. The first is the experience should have a Noetic quality or a divine knowledge after the experience. The next is Transience the experience is only short and lasts only a small while. Passivity which is the lack of control you have when the person is having the religious experience. And the last quality is ineffability which is the fact that the experience is indescribable ands cannot be explained. Julian of Norwich was a famous English mystic who was born about 1342 and at some point during her adult life joined a religious order and became an anchoress living in complete solitude. She lived in a cell which was attached to a church in Norwich, and lived a complete ascetic lifestyle. Julian just before she died became seriously ill and on her deathbed she accounted for 16 visions she had experienced. These experiences are questioned though due to Julians poor health and cannot be used as proof for religious mystical experiences due to this reason. A second mystic is Margery Kemp she was 14th century English mystic who was from Kings Lynn in Norfolk. Margery Kemp became seriously ill after the birth of her first child and suffered from severe guilt from a past sin which had committed during her youth. She was very disturbed going to such lengths as biting through her own veins in her wrist and she also tried to jump out of a window, until one day she looked up to see Jesus and he asked her Daughter, why have you forsaken me when I never forsook thee? From then on Margery seemed to calm and she devoted her life to serving Christ. She had many experiences of Christ and each time Margery was overwhelmed and was seen to be crying. Margery went on many pilgrimages and even at one point was seen being chased by a mob from the shrine of St Thomas Becket after she was crying profusely. From these experiences of which many questions could be asked are very unreliable and couldnt be taken as proof for real religious experiences and meetings with a higher power. The next form of religious experience would be Conversion experiences. These are experiences which change a person and the direction in which there life is going. They transform a persons life and there attitude. A good example of this would be Nicky Cruz and his evangelical conversion experience. Cruz is the author of Run Baby Run which he wrote recalling his life as the leader of a notorious gang the Mau Maus. Cruz was raised by spiritualist parents in Puerto Rico. During his childhood he experienced severe physical and mental abuse. His parents took part in strange and disturbing practises such as when they sacrificed a goat and drank its blood. At a very young age Cruz tried to commit suicide and at 15 he was sent to live with his older brother in New York. This is where he met the gang members and eventually became the leader. Nicky committed many awful crimes and seemed unreachable and unredeemable; this was until he met a street preacher David Wilkerson who told him that Jesus loved him. This is when he experienced a dramatic conversion experience after a Christian meeting. After this he trained as a preacher and set up an outreach programme and teen challenge to help disadvantaged children. And he also managed to convert his parents to Christianity. Another conversion experience which was miraculous was the conversion of John Wesley who saw his conversion as a moment from academic acceptance to personal trust in Christ. At the young age of 6 he was almost killed in a great house fire at his home. From then on he decided to make religion his life and was ordained in 1725. At university he set up a group of people concerned with spiritual matters they nicknamed themselves the Methodists. Wesley became a missionary and travelled to Georgia to try and convert Indian settlers here. On the way back to England he was caught in a strong storm and he feared for his life until he noticed a group of Moravian Christians on board who were remaining calm because they felt so sure of there faith and they knew God would look out for them. And then at a Christian meeting he gained assurance that he was saved on that journey home form America. He stated that his heart felt strangely warmed and had accepted and now trusted Christ this again was an evangelical conversion experience. These are miraculous conversions and could lead to evidence of real religious experiences due to the amazing transformation both these people had, and in both cases the experience had a positive effect on there lives. Visions are also a type of religious experience. One of the most famous visions would be the visions which appeared to three young children. These children lived in Fatima Portugal. Lucia Santos was sent to live as a shepherdess she worked with her cousin Francisco and her 6 year old sister Jacinta. On the same hillside the children saw three visions these were called the three secrets of Fatima. The first vision was a vision of hell which was shown to the children as a great sea of fire with demons and souls in human form. The second secret that was predicted was that Russia would one day return to Christianity. And the last secret was a vision of a man dressed in white falling to the ground apparently dead. This is said to be the attempted assignation of Pope John Paul II. The vision was recalled and Lucia accounted exactly what happened to the pope just before he was shot at. The lady asked the children to do penance and make sacrifices to save sinners. The children wore tight ropes around there waists and deprived themselves of water and food. The lady who had appeared to them also asked them to pray the rosary everyday. The last and most incredible thing about the predictions of the lady was that she predicted the time and date of the death of two of the children. The lady had told them when and the exact hour the children would die and that they would be saved and be with her if they followed her instructions of praying the rosary and giving penance. One thing in which makes these visions different from all the other religious experiences is the fact thousands of people experienced one of the miracles brought by the lady. The children were asked to visit the lady on the 13th October and the news of the visions had become common knowledge therefore the children were followed by great crowds of people who wanted to experience a vision of the lady. At the site where the lady appeared to the children the sun began to dance in the sky and the whole crowd witnessed it. Many visions are recorded in the Bible such as Moses and the burning bush, which recalls the time God spoke to Moses via a burning bush and told him his plans for the Hebrews who had been enslaved in Egypt by the Pharaoh. These visions still have many unreliable qualities it could be said that they are more convincing than the previous religious experiences mentioned. This is because for these visions many of the predictions came true and were also seen by many others. The final form of religious experience is Revelation or divine self disclosure. Revelation can be defined as the communication of some truth by God to a rational creature. Hildegard of Bingen lived in Germany and from the age of eight she claimed that she felt God over shadowing her life. Hildegard recorded the visions she had experienced during her lifetime and she described the fact she felt she had had an insight from God about future events. From these findings of religious experiences, and the many different forms in which they can take, has aided me in answering the question about religious experiences being only fantasy. In many of these cases the individual has been in poor health and has had some kind of traumatic experience in there past. Although some of the explanations and descriptions of the religious experience have been very realistic especially those with more than one witness to them. Many of the experiences have been very miraculous and if they did occur, this could have been blamed on many factors such as ill health or poor diet, or even guilt and their mind was playing tricks on the person.