The Concept Of The Fourth Estate - 1485 Words

It is also a struggle for the respect of self-awareness that translates the symbolic end of a communicational paradigm based on the principle of socialization and social control (Beaulieu, 2005) . It is true that this paradigm has dominated the public communication system for decades and was regarded as a representation embodying the concept of the Fourth Estate (Kaspi, 2004) . With the growth of cyberspace, the idea of the Fourth Estate is devalued in a media context favoring self-expression (Fichte, 2007) . The question of  « me  » has interested philosophers throughout history. It occupies a central place especially in German philosophy, that addressed this issue nearly two centuries ago, beginning with Kant (1835), who considers the  « me  » as the center of the universe, with Fichte and Schelling, who left the Kantian duality stating, firstly, the existence of the thing in itself and, secondly, the existence of the human mind as a generator of truths and phenomena. Both philosophers show, in their own way, the Kantian postulate, check its mysteries, redefine it according to their own philosophical vision. And in these visions, it appears that to think me, is to think of liberty (Goddard, 2000: 3) . In today’s society, media is omnipresent. The Y generation is interconnected; smart phones and the internet are glued to its hands. As technology has massively evolved in the last twenty years, society has followed its path. Something considered a luxury, is in today’s societyShow MoreRelatedMobile Phones : A Way Of Making Phone Calls On A Wireless Device1697 Words   |  7 Pagesintroduced to mobile phones: a way of making phone calls on a wireless device. This first â€Å"brick† may have been hefty and clunky (NBC News, 2005) but it laid the foundations for a dramatic change in technology. Ten years later, 1993 presented us with the concept of texting. Then, in 2002, came the invention of the smart phone. Over the past three decades, phones have revolutionised our lives (Boy Genius Report, 2013). And more recently, they have transformed the way we seek and digest news. As a teenagerRead MoreThe French Revolution And The Declaration Of The Rights Of Man1361 Wor ds   |  6 Pageswas significantly influenced by open-minded concepts. The citizens who constructed the Declaration of the Rights of Man used enlightened ideas, such as the separation of powers, separation of church and state, and the social contract (written by Rousseau). One of the main causes of the French Revolution was the social structure of France. The first estate was made up of the clergy and the church. The second estate consisted of nobles. The third estate contained the middle class and peasants. TheRead MoreMedia And Its Influence On The Public1646 Words   |  7 PagesFOX News depends on funding to make a profit and since there is no system in place where the funds can come from unbiased sources, they look to companies who are interested in building their audience. When we think of the media as working as a fourth estate, I believe that the media should hire journalists and producers to find the best products for the public to invest in and purchase. However, that i s not the case; rather, they look to companies who are willing to pay the highest price or fit theRead MoreEffectiveness Of Gatekeeping By Bruns906 Words   |  4 Pagesjournalism is increasingly influenced from the outside. According to Bruns (2005) â€Å"the fourth estate is in danger of being overwhelmed by the ‘fifth estate’, the growing number of PR merchants and spin doctors influencing the news agenda undermining the reality of the gatekeeping process itself†. Furthermore, in this day and age 24 hours news broadcast results in journalists relying on material from the so called fifth estate rather than investing time and money on independent research (Bruns, 2005). TheRead MoreThe Pros And Cons Of The Massachusetts Association Of Realtors987 Words   |  4 PagesOn behalf of over 24,000 members, the Massachusetts Association of Realtors ® (MAR) hereby express our strong opposition to S.1839 An Act relative to home energy efficiency. As outlined in greater detail below, this bill would disrupt the real estate marketplace by complicating and delaying home sales, negatively impacting those who do not have the resources to invest in energy efficiency, and would replace a successful program with a state mandate that would punish many homeowners in the CommonwealthRead MoreQuestions On Sustainability Of Real Estate1422 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction This report focuses on the review and discussion of three scholarly papers related to sustainability in real estate. A section will be dedicated to each of the three papers. Within these sections, the nature of the work and its key findings will be reviewed along with the author’s motivation and intentions. Additionally, different types and sources of data that is used in the papers will be examined and analyzed in order to enhance the topics discussed. The final section of this reportRead MoreEffects Of Nationalism In The French Revolution1501 Words   |  7 Pagesby Ancient regime in which common people have had not freedom and rights. The financial crisis made by Louis XVI compelled to establishment of Estates General in which heavy taxes were imposed on third estate including common peoples. These people were majority of the France population consisting of middle class and lower-class people. The decision of Estate general made by king started revolt against his regime. E ssentially, the ideas of enlightenment significantly influenced the revolution. The participationRead MoreEssay The Tragedy of Othello1292 Words   |  6 PagesWilliam Shakespeare masterfully crafted Othello, the Moor of Venice as an Aristotelian tragedy play. The main protagonist of the play, Othello, is the perfect example of a tragic hero. Shakespeare was influenced by Aristotle’s concept of a tragic hero and used Aristotle’s principles to create Othello. William Shakespeare attempted to create an Aristotelian tragedy play with a tragic hero and succeeded in Othello, the Moor of Venice by weaving in pity and fear into each line and action. The powerRead MoreMortgage Fraud And The Big Short By Starring Christian Bale And Ryan Gosling1447 Words   |  6 Pagesmortgage fraud that are the most common and well known. These three types are â€Å"fraud for profit†, â€Å"fraud for housing† and a third type that deals with overestimating a property’s value or submitting a false appraisal (Schmalleger, 2016). A relatively new fourth type of mortgage fraud that quickly escalated following the economic crash of 2008 involves a series of scams claiming to save property owners from foreclosure. A criminal that commits fraud for profit essentially inquires about a home or propertyRead MoreThe Ascent Of Money By Niall Ferguson1524 Words   |  7 Pagespresentation of key concepts in chronological order, which lets the reader easily follow the evolution of money. The book consists of an introduction, six chapters, and an afterword. In the first chapter, Ferguson describes the beginning of money, banking, and credit. In the second chapter, Ferguson explains the beginning of the bond market, and in the third chapter, the stock market. In the fourth chapter, Ferguson presents the story of insurance, and, in the fifth chapter, the real estate market. In the

The Health Insurance Portability And Administration Act (...

The Health Insurance Portability and Administration Act (HIPAA) is legislation that was signed into law by former president Bill Clinton on 21 Aug, 1996. This legislation was introduced 18 Mar. 1996 by Bill Archer, TX (R) (Health Insurance). The purpose of this legislation was aimed at improving the portability and continual health care insurance coverage of American citizens and reduce the overall waste in medical spending. Not only did it provide the ability to keep ones’ health insurance it also provided protection of patient’s personal health information (PHI), but also provided provisions to simplify billing, expedite the migration to electronic medical records (EMR), and processes for individuals to make complaints and that the complaints be documented along with their disposition (Columbiana County). The HIPAA privacy rules, and its provisions, can be specifically located within 45 CFR 164, Under the provisions of HIPAA, specific information, known as PHI is pro tected from the unauthorized disclosure of any demographic information that relates to: †¢ the individual’s past, present or future physical or mental health or condition †¢ the provision of health care to the individual, or †¢ the past, present, or future payment for the provision of health care to the individual, and †¢ that identifies the individual or for which there is a reasonable basis to believe it can be used to identify the individual. Individually identifiable health information includes identifiersShow MoreRelatedThe Health Insurance Portability And Accountability Act Of 19961022 Words   |  5 Pagessectors of health care, managed care arrangements, integrated service networks, or community agencies. To be an effective manager, it is important to understand the legal and ethical principles that are included in this environment and the legal relationship between consumer and the organization. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, also known as HIPAA, was created to prevent the unauthorized release of patient information. The Office for Civil Rights enforces the HIPAA PrivacyRead MoreThe Health Insurance Portability And Accountability Act1438 Words   |  6 Pagestype of power you can bet that the country would be corrupt. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act is there to prevent such events happening. HIPAA, or Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, was implemented to help serve the people and keep information safe. Originally it started out as a way to ensure that Americans going between jobs would still be covered by their insurance companies. Since then the act has came a long way in protecting the American citizens. It preventedRead MoreEssay On Public Need For Health Care1023 Words   |  5 Pages Public Need for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act was signed into a federal law in 1996. During the early 1990’s there was a public need to alter the way that medical records were discussed between insurance, doctors and patients. Prior to the advancement of computers into the medical world, the industry was mainly paper records that were written and stored in file rooms. Only people who were authorized could get toRead MoreWhat Is The Health Insurance Portability And Accountability Act860 Words   |  4 PagesHealth Insurance Portability and Accountability Act HIPAA is the acronym for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act that was passed by Congress in 1996, Federal law that restricts access to individuals private medical information: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 was enacted by the United States Congress and signed by President Bill Clinton in 1996. . HIPAA does the following: Provides the ability to transfer and continue health insurance coverageRead MoreSEC440 Week 7 Essay1041 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿ Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Compliance By Christopher Knight SEC 440 16 Oct 2014 TO: Company Chief Security Officer FROM: Security Engineer DATE: 16 Oct 14 SUBJECT: HIPAA Security Compliance for Alba, IA Hospital Any patient that is seen by a physician within the United States is to be protected by the â€Å"Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act† or HIPAA, which was passed into law in 1996 (Jani, 2009). All health care facilities dealing withRead MoreThe Health Insurance Portability And Accountability Act1609 Words   |  7 PagesIt has always been the job of health care providers to maintain doctor-patient confidentiality. Not only is it a legal obligation it is also an ethical obligation to many doctors, nurses, physician’s assistants and many other medical staff. Until recently medical records were primarily recorded on paper and stored in cabinets and locked in what was believed as a secure room. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act also known as HIPAA, was passed on August 21, 1996. Although the lawRead MoreAnalyzing The Past, Present And Future Of The Congressional Attempt At The Health Care Reform1704 Words   |  7 Pagescongressional attempt at the health care reform. Originally presented to congress was the Health Security Act in 1993, which was not enacted until June 2014. The Health Security Act started the foundation for patient privacy and the security of an individual’s health information. As the years passed the Health Security Act became quickly outdated and needed to be updated to complement the sudden progression of current technology advances. Congress was presented the Kennedy-Kassebaum Act, which defined patientRead MoreEmerging Healthcare Technology Presentation1353 Words   |  6 PagesEmerging Healthcare Technology Presentation HIPAA: Protecting the Privacy of Patients How important is it for you to keep your medical records private? Many people dont realize how easily accessible their medical records are, or perhaps it is just assumed that what goes on between a doctor and a patient stays between a doctor and a patient. Well, you know what they say about assuming. In actuality, your medical records can probably be accessed by any employee at your Read More The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)882 Words   |  4 PagesHealth Insurance Portability and Accountability Act The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, most commonly known by its initials HIPAA, was enacted by Congress then signed by President Bill Clinton on August 21, 1996. This act was put into place in order to regulate the privacy of patient health information, and as an effort to lower the cost of health care, shape the many pieces of our complicated healthcare system. This act also protects individuals from losing their healthRead MoreHealth Insurance Portability Act of 1996 (Hippa): Is It Best for Us of Not?1073 Words   |  5 Pagesfor the Health Insurance Portability Act of 1996. Confidentiality is a huge issue to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (Hippa) mainly due to protection of the clients. The act sets standards for the storage and privacy of personal medical data. The rule was enacted on August 21, 1996 by the 104th United States Congress and was signed by Bill Clinton. It was introduced in the house by Bill Archer on March 18, 1996. Health Insurance portability and Accountability Act of 1996 helps

Jewish Marriage free essay sample

Marriage is a significant part of Judaism bringing together a woman and man under God’s reign. It is the mitzvah (122) â€Å"To marry a wife by means of ketubah and keddushin† (Deut 22:13), all Jewish adherents see marriage as a necessity in order to obey God and to experience the fullness of life. In Genesis God says: â€Å"It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him. † It is a link between individuals and the wider community as it recognises two individuals coming together, celebrated by the wider community.Also the marriage ceremony itself contains symbolic significance to Judaism, conveying Jewish beliefs through symbols, actions and words. The mitzvah of marriage is especially important as it involves what Jews believe to be the purpose of human life: unity to procreate. This belief is modelled by the creation story in Genesis where Adam is made a partner (Eve) through one of his ribs â€Å"For this reason man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife† (Genesis). We will write a custom essay sample on Jewish Marriage or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The idea of a â€Å"bashert† or ideal partner makes marriage especially important as it creates a bond between two souls, just like Adam and Eve, fulfilling God’s will.Once unity between woman and man is achieved, a married couple are able to carry out the next mitzvah (125): â€Å"To have children with one’s wife† to fulfil God’s wish to â€Å"be fruitful and multiply† (Gen 1:28). Due to this law Jewish people see marriage as the only way of being able to have children, so in marriage, a Jew is able to adhere to two mitzvoth. To be Jewish one has to be born of a Jewish marriage; therefore, Jewish marriages are significant ensuring Judaism remains through generations due to procreation and the adherence of individuals marrying.

The play An Inspector calls Argumentative Essay Example For Students

The play An Inspector calls Argumentative Essay It was a known and accepted fact that nearly eight million people earned less than twenty-five shillings (1.25) a week, were under housed, underfed and not properly clothed.  The play was written to show that you must have respect and take care of other people. It was brought out just after the war to encourage people to work together and not be ignorant to other people. J.B Priestley was trying to get the message across to people to say that if they carried on acting the way they were, there would be many more wars and conflict. The purpose of the inspector was to tell people that they needed to take responsibility for their actions against other people otherwise there would be much more suffering. No one knew who the inspector was when they found out he wasnt a real inspector; was he a hoax that knew very little about them and coincidentally managed to get a story out of them? Was he some sort of ghost looking into the future warning them? Was he psychic and knew what was coming? Was he trying to ruin the family celebration? We will write a custom essay on The play An Inspector calls Argumentative specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now There are many explanations for the inspectors presence. It was intended that you interpret this part for your self. I think the play had this twist in order to get people to think about and discuss how this has an impact on their own lives. He hoped that it would make people aware that they also do things similar to the Birling family, who did not take responsibility for their actions or reflect on how their actions affected others. By doing something because you are angry, or selfish or not thinking about the consequences your actions have on others, you could cause further conflict or harm to yourself or others. JB Priestley creates good effects with the lighting, it influences on the mood of the setting, for instance, at the beginning of the play when the family are seated around the table having a happy, relaxed celebration, the lights are warm and calm giving a soft effect. When the inspector enters and starts challenging the characters, the lights are bold and vivid; this gives the impression of insecurity and pressure. Each member of the family was involved in killing Eva Smith;   Just as the inspector thought hed made an impact on the family, they found out that he wasnt a real inspector, Mr and Mrs Birling and Gerald went back to being okay about what they had done, believing that it didnt matter now because the terrible things they had done were not going to be publicised. However, Sheila and Eric were devastated at what they had done and where very ashamed of themselves. Mr. Birlings business was not going to get a bad reputation, and that was the most important thing for him. Throughout the play, Mr Birling made it clear that he didnt care about how badly he treated his employees. For example, he had sacked Eva Smith and a group of other women for asking for a small pay rise. They asked for this because their income was so low that they couldnt afford to live to a basic, reasonable standard. He called them trouble makers. When Mr Birling realised that the inspector was likely to make this well known to people, he said, look inspector-Id give thousands-yes, thousands-. He was trying to bribe the inspector into keeping this event quiet. This resulted in the inspector replying youre offering money at the wrong time. He meant that the right time would have been to have given Eva the money in the form of a pay rise in the first place. After the inspector had gone and he found that he wasnt a real inspector, he was extremely overwhelmed because this meant that the case was not going to be publicised so his business wasnt going to get a bad reputation. .u92ef99e7c6bc1b0ccd5939dc26812b2f , .u92ef99e7c6bc1b0ccd5939dc26812b2f .postImageUrl , .u92ef99e7c6bc1b0ccd5939dc26812b2f .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u92ef99e7c6bc1b0ccd5939dc26812b2f , .u92ef99e7c6bc1b0ccd5939dc26812b2f:hover , .u92ef99e7c6bc1b0ccd5939dc26812b2f:visited , .u92ef99e7c6bc1b0ccd5939dc26812b2f:active { border:0!important; } .u92ef99e7c6bc1b0ccd5939dc26812b2f .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u92ef99e7c6bc1b0ccd5939dc26812b2f { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u92ef99e7c6bc1b0ccd5939dc26812b2f:active , .u92ef99e7c6bc1b0ccd5939dc26812b2f:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u92ef99e7c6bc1b0ccd5939dc26812b2f .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u92ef99e7c6bc1b0ccd5939dc26812b2f .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u92ef99e7c6bc1b0ccd5939dc26812b2f .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u92ef99e7c6bc1b0ccd5939dc26812b2f .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u92ef99e7c6bc1b0ccd5939dc26812b2f:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u92ef99e7c6bc1b0ccd5939dc26812b2f .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u92ef99e7c6bc1b0ccd5939dc26812b2f .u92ef99e7c6bc1b0ccd5939dc26812b2f-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u92ef99e7c6bc1b0ccd5939dc26812b2f:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: How does Juliet's Language change manifest the course of play? EssayShelia abused her power because she had wealthy parents and when she got angry with a shop assistant (which happened to be Eva Smith), in the shop- Milwards, she threatened to withdraw her account at the shop if the manager did not sack this shop assistant. Because the family were such good customers to the shop, Eva Smith was sacked. Shelia ruined Eva Smiths last form of decent income. Now Eva had nothing-she was stuck. Shelia recognised she had done something very wrong, evidenced by her feelings of shame. She had learnt from the experience, which was demonstrated by her ownership of her part in the deat h of Eva and her challenge to the Birlings when she said I behaved badly too.Im ashamed of it. But now youre beginning all over again to pretend that nothing much has happened- Gerald was the one that figured out that the man wasnt a real inspector. Although he was a clever man, he did not seem to think that there was anything wrong with betraying and lying to Shelia. His assumption was that his and Sheilas relationship would be unaffected now that they would not be involved with the police, failing to realise the impact his actions towards Eva had on his relationship with Sheila. Eric was angry with his mother accusing her of being the cause of Evas death. His anger was fuelled by the realisation that because she was pregnant, his own child had also been killed. He was also angry with himself and, therefore, sorry for what he had done and consequently agreed to work for his father until all the money he had stolen was paid off. The money he stole was to help Eva, so at least he put it to good use and demonstrates some good will and he recognised how his drink problem made him turn nasty and that it contributed to her becoming pregnant.

Free Essays on Chess And Computer

Chess is a very versatile game that can be related to or compared with many other things. Such as philosophy, war, film, etc. But the topic that I have chosen to research on is â€Å"chess and computers†. Since the birth of the technology i.e. Computer, chess players are being compared to artificial intelligence. Researchers are trying to find out who can play better chess. Humans or Artificial Intelligence. At present computers can only use the intelligence that is load in it. But it can have many more moves than human chess player can think. Such as computer chess program â€Å"Deep Blue†, which has beaten few chess grand masters. However, when computer plays chess, it does not think about the move it makes but performs a series of calculations to make the right move. This all based on the positions of the pieces on the board. Human chess players use their skills, judgment and previous experiences to decide about the moves they are going to make. Many chess computers can play at high levels due to fast calculations, but at this speed the computer has an advantage over human chess player because human brain cannot perform calculations at the speed a computer can. Despite this all, a human chess player can also have the advantage of thought and the abilities, which he had gained from his previous experience. If a human chess player made some unusual chess moves, which computer cannot predict because all computer intelligence is based on algorithms and any unusual move can throw computer off guard and that gives the human chess player advantage over the computer in the chess game. So the question here is, â€Å"Is the artificial intelligence is at level of human intelligence or not?† According to Boden, â€Å"The human brain is the most complex part of the human body if not the most complex subject known to human kind. Although a computer may work on a complicated series of circuits and processors it is a relatively simple item to ... Free Essays on Chess And Computer Free Essays on Chess And Computer Chess is a very versatile game that can be related to or compared with many other things. Such as philosophy, war, film, etc. But the topic that I have chosen to research on is â€Å"chess and computers†. Since the birth of the technology i.e. Computer, chess players are being compared to artificial intelligence. Researchers are trying to find out who can play better chess. Humans or Artificial Intelligence. At present computers can only use the intelligence that is load in it. But it can have many more moves than human chess player can think. Such as computer chess program â€Å"Deep Blue†, which has beaten few chess grand masters. However, when computer plays chess, it does not think about the move it makes but performs a series of calculations to make the right move. This all based on the positions of the pieces on the board. Human chess players use their skills, judgment and previous experiences to decide about the moves they are going to make. Many chess computers can play at high levels due to fast calculations, but at this speed the computer has an advantage over human chess player because human brain cannot perform calculations at the speed a computer can. Despite this all, a human chess player can also have the advantage of thought and the abilities, which he had gained from his previous experience. If a human chess player made some unusual chess moves, which computer cannot predict because all computer intelligence is based on algorithms and any unusual move can throw computer off guard and that gives the human chess player advantage over the computer in the chess game. So the question here is, â€Å"Is the artificial intelligence is at level of human intelligence or not?† According to Boden, â€Å"The human brain is the most complex part of the human body if not the most complex subject known to human kind. Although a computer may work on a complicated series of circuits and processors it is a relatively simple item to ...

Forming Declarative Sentences - Exercise

Forming Declarative Sentences - Exercise This exercise will give you practice in changing word order and (in some cases) verb forms as you convert 12 interrogative sentences (questions) into declarative sentences (statements). After completing this exercise, you can also try forming interrogative sentences. Instructions Rewrite each of the following sentences, turning the ​yes-no question into a statement. Change the word order and (in some cases) the form of the verb as necessary. When youre done, compare your new declarative sentences with the sample answers below. Is Sams dog shivering?Are we going to the football game?Will you be on the train tomorrow?Is Sam the first person in line?Was the stranger calling from the clinic?Does Mr. Amjad think that I will be waiting for him at the airport?Do the best students usually take themselves too seriously?Does Ms. Wilson believe that everybody is watching her?Am I the first person to make fun of the idea of calorie counting?Before going away on vacation, should we cancel the newspaper?Wasnt the boy in the snack bar wearing a bright Hawaiian shirt and a cowboy hat?Whenever you leave a young child with a babysitter, should you give her a list of all emergency phone numbers? Answers to the Exercise Here are sample answers to the exercise. In all cases, more than one correct version is possible. Sams dog is shivering.We are going to the football game.You will be on the train tomorrow.Sam is the first person in line.The stranger was calling from the clinic.Mr. Amjad thinks that I will be waiting for him at the airport.The best students usually dont take themselves too seriously.Ms. Wilson believes that everybody is watching her.I am not the first person to make fun of the idea of calorie counting.Before going away on vacation, we should cancel the newspaper.The boy in the snack bar was wearing a bright Hawaiian shirt and a cowboy hat.Whenever you leave a young child with a babysitter, you should give her a list of all emergency phone numbers.

Activity and Resource Organizer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Activity and Resource Organizer - Essay Example Ask the learners to make the name for their vessels for instance with the names of cities, animals, film stars or let them find their own favorite names. Request them to select the Shooter and the Captain. The captains job is to remember his ships name, so he/she can answer if somebody calls his/her vessel’s name. The shooters task is to remember the names of the vessels of their rivals, so he/she can shoot them through calling their vessel’s name. Such an activity, memorizing various vocabularies, will assist the English Language Learner understand various vocabularies (Tomlinson, 2010). This is because they will be able to grasp various vocabularies in the English language. When you are done reading, they will have to choose the correct one. (It does not, however, matter if none of the explanations is correct). After they have selected and none of the groups gave the accurate meaning, you read the right one aloud. In an academic content, students will be able to utilize their understanding of vocabularies to instruct others. By discussing the meaning of the word warmonger, the will be able to settle which best suits the situation. A mind map refers to a diagram utilized to visually sketch information (Rose & Meyer, 2006). It is frequently created around a single text or word, positioned in the middle, to which related ideas, concepts and words are put. Key categories emit from a mid node, and minor categories are sub-branches of wider branches. Groups can symbolize words, tasks, ideas, or other items associated with a central idea or key word (Rose & Meyer, 2006). Mind maps aid in summarizing (Rose & Meyer, 2006). They are also used as a mnemonic method, or to sort out a complex idea (Ramsden, 2010). They are also considered as a way of collaborating with color pen creativity in order to assist an ELLs understand English. By utilizing graphic organizers across every subject area, a teacher

Privatization in Public Administration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Privatization in Public Administration - Essay Example Developing countries have adopted the privatization for planning as a policy and system for national socio-economic development. Privatization involves strategies that would reduce the task of the state by assigning larger roles for the private sector. Despite all identified challenges and disadvantages, the privatization of public administration would bring forth more effectiveness in organizational management and service delivery. Although the change is a major threat to the job security of public employees, it is more likely to continue as the improved level of productivity has already been proved. In delivering the public service, privatization can make use of the advantages of competition and flexibility. These advantages also help in attaining greater effectiveness and increased response to the needs of customers. These objectives are very difficult to be achieved within the public sector either due to the incapability of the government or due to the slow procedures of the gove rnment machinery. When the government plans for the privatization of any stream of public administration, it has to enter into a â€Å"performance contract† with the commercialized enterprise to determine the post privatization relationship between government and the firm. The performance contract must; Specify the long-term objectives involve performance criteria between the government and the firm specify the level of performance of the enterprise specify the certain penalties if the enterprise fails to fulfill any agreed performance. As Cook and Uchida point out, in many developing countries as well as in the developed countries privatization and commercialization have gained recognition and adequacy (1-23). It also helps the government in putting the government structure on track and strengthening industries controlled or administered by the state. Considering all the aspects of privatization, some support the view that ‘privatization is always political’, by political they mean governments have aims which are non-economic. To illustrate, privatization leads to the transfer of assets into the undesired private hands with the complete knowledge of the government, aiming at only special classes of buyers. On the way to privatization, there would be some political impediments too, such as conventional or disruptive attitude of existing managers and employees of state-owned enterprise who are afraid of the challenges of privatization. A well formulated privatization policy with strong determination can overcome such impediments. On the way to privatization there are many political and economic goals to be achieved and there are some political impediments to overcome. According to Donaldson; -It is the level of government’s strength and commitment that determines the precision in launching privatization. -It is the business needs that describe what sort of buyer should be invited. -Mass privatizations can be welcomed, but they may not help in adequate corporate governance. -A pro-competitive structure is an essential element of privatization which must be obtained. (Source: Donaldson, 19-37). One among the several advantages of privatization is that privatization brings more revenue to the government when compared to the public enterprises; so government can easily earn a little more by leasing out an enterprise to private undertakings. As the private organizations are very much concerned about the quality of service they provide, there will be increased levels of accuracy and commitment towards the job. Besides, the privatization of the public enterprise helps in getting out of the political interference. They have the expertise in proper

Significant Business Risk Factors Essay Example for Free

Significant Business Risk Factors Essay 1. Limited Shelf Life Empirical evidence suggests that retailers must adapt to new product style trends in order to satisfy consumers and other key stakeholders (Ryan, 2011). In respect to Harvey Norman (HVN), failure to adapt will entail lower consumer demand, hindering growth and profitability. It is important to note a limited shelf life of HVN’s products exists due to changing trends. This in turn gives rise to the risk of inventory becoming obsolete and rising excess stock in the warehouse. Therefore, HVN should further emphasise on its inventory management, in order to minimise inventory build up and overall expenses in the entity. 2. Increased Competition from online shopping Studies reveal that Australian consumers have embraced online shopping, recording a 23% growth in 2012 (Irvine, 2013). In order to combat the fierce competition in the online market, HVN introduced its ‘Omni-strategy,’ which focused on the enhancement of its digital store. There is evidence of success from this strategy with the firm recently named as ‘The Best Multichannel Retailer’ in the ORIA 2013 awards (Chanthadavong, 2013). Despite this acclaim, it is of paramount importance that HVN considers enhancing its distribution channels, especially its digital store through better pricing on delivery times for online purchasesand a greater focus on personalised services for internet empowered consumers. This will sustain consumer expectations and ensure the firm captures a greater portion of its target market (Chanthadavong, 2013). 3. Threat from domestic competitors Despite being one of Australia’s retail giants, HVN in recent times has been battling it out in the domestic market due to growing competition. In 2012, HVN was labelled as the most expensive Australian electronic giant recording a severe slump in its pricing position in comparison to its counterparts such as Dick Smith Electronics and JB HI-FI (Jager, 2013). The underlying reason for the slump was predominantly due to the high costs from GST and compliance laws (Morley, 2013). Additionally, three of HVN’s recently acquired subsidiaries failed during the 2011/2012 financial years. This  proved to be a costly investment for the firm reduced its competitive position in the furniture and electrical goods industry (Coyne, 2013). Furthermore, the entity’s poor pricing position detrimentally impacted the electronics giant’s sales (-4.9%) and profitability (-2.38%) (Harvey Norman, 2012). This suggests that HVN may have inventory build-up, excessive discounting and price deflation due to staggering consumer demand. 4. Stagnating growth in the global retail industry Stagnating growth in the global retail industry has resulted in lower consumer demand and expenditure. A study from IBIS reveals that Australian appliance retailing has fallen by nearly two percent (IBISworld, 2013). Additionally, declining consumer demand has influenced a fall in the Australian dollar (AUD), which has negatively impacted sales in HVN Australian and international stores such as New Zealand and Ireland (Harvey Norman, 2012). HVN’s 2012 Annual Report reinforces that the negative growth has inhibited a reduction of HVN’s profitability, revenue and thus increasing the risk of obsolescence of inventory. 5. Natural Disasters affecting Harvey Norman Stores Recent natural disasters have damaged many HVN Australian and New Zealand stores. For instance, a fire in the storage area of Harvey Norman in Porirua New Zealand heavily damaged a HVN store earlier in June 2013 (New Zealand Herald, 2013). This has had detrimental impacts on HVN’s sales revenue in its New Zealand market (Harvey Norman, 2012 p. 10). It is important to note that these disasters increase time wastage spent on rebuilding stores and increases the risk of overstatement of assets, as they may not have been properly removed off premises. 6. Misleading advertising It is of paramount importance that a company doesn’t engage in false and deceptive marketing; especially if the products fail to exist in the warehouse. HVN was recently fined through infringement notices worth $6,600 for advertising stock they did not hold in a bid to mislead customers. According to the ACCC, this act breached the Trade Practices Act in promoting material. Moreover, this has had financial and non-financial impacts for the company, specifically affecting future sales and brand image  on reliability of the company’s stance to deliver with full efficiency. This is also known as operational and compliance risk. 7. Threat of the geographical location of franchises According to the entity’s 2012 annual report, franchising is deemed to be HVN’s predominant source of its revenue. Whilst, HVN has franchise locations globally, its New Zealand stores attract the highest level of sales revenue (Harvey Norman, 2012). Growth in sales have peaked in stores located around the mining districts such as Western Australia, Hunter Valley, but have dropped in performance in the capital cities such Sydney and Melbourne. A financial risk of going on concern can be indicated from here as the need of consumers shift and with competition HVN may not be selling and trading as much in the cities leading to inventory overload and incremented liabilities affecting overall business performance. 8. Currency Fluctuations During the 2012 financial year, the AUD fluctuated a significant amount against the most popular currency for trade (USD) by about $0.9544 to $1.1055 (RBA 2012). A fluctuation of $0.1511combined with trades amounting in millions would potentially lead to a large discrepancy to HVN’s Accounts receivable and payable accounts. Additionally, a lower AUD reflects that HVN would have to increase the retail prices in order to achieve the same profit margin (Campbell Phillips 2013). Empirical evidence reveals that if the dollar drops to around $0.80AUD compared to the USD, Australian consumers can expect an increase in prices of about 25% (Campbell Phillips 2013). This increase can be counteracted through hedging of the currencies, however volatility of the commodity market could potentially reduce HVN’s sales. Specifically, if sales decreases the risk of inventory obsolesces and write downs through idol stock increases.

John H. Johnson :: essays research papers

John H. Johnson was born January 19, 1918 in rural Arkansas City, Arkansas. His parents were Leroy Johnson and Gertrude Jenkins Johnson. His father was killed in a sawmill accident when little John was eight years old. He attended the community's overcrowded, segregated elementary school. In the early 1930s, there was no public high school for African-Americans in Arkansas. His mother heard of better opportunities for African-Americans in Chicago and saved her meager earnings as a washerwoman and a cook and for years until she could afford to move her family to Chicago. This resulted in them becoming a part of the African-American Great Migration of 1933. There, Johnson was exposed to something he never knew existed, middle class black people. Johnson enrolled in DuSable High School and was an excelling student. Because of his achievements, Johnson was invited in 1936, to speak at a dinner held by the Urban League. Harry Pace, the President of the Supreme Liberty Life Insurance Company, was so impressed with Johnson's speech that he offered him a job and a scholarship to attend college part-time. But his interest focused primarily on the operations at the insurance firm and eventually he dropped his studies at the University of Chicago. In 1939 at the age of 21 he became the editor of Pace's in-house magazine. Collecting articles culled from national publications, Johnson realizes he had struck gold. In 1941, Johnson married Eunice Walker and found a full-time position at Supreme Liberty Life. One of Johnson's job descriptions at Supreme Liberty Life was to collect the news and information about African-Americans and prepare a weekly digest for Pace. He thought that a "Negro newspaper" could be sold and marketed and have people to be very interested in it. In 1942, Johnson borrowed $500 from his mother's furniture and started the Johnson Publishing Company. Johnson got idea, The Negro Digest, and modeled it after the Reader's Digest but it took aimed at African-Americans. He launched the Negro Digest, which took a serious look at racial issues and featured articles from prominent black and white writers. The Negro Digest circulated around 50,000. The magazine featured articles about the social inequalities in the United States and gave a voice to the concerns of African-Americans. Within eight months the Negro Digest reached about $50,000 a month in sales. In 1945, Johnson launched his second publication, the Ebony magazine, in which focused on the diverse achievements and successes of African-Americans.

Coca Cola in Africa Essay

1. Why is Coca-Cola so interested in Africa, which is typically regarded as part of the base of the global economic pyramid? Coca-Cola is an organization that has been around since 1892. Coca-Cola is looking for new emerging growth markets and Africa has proven to be that. Combined, 12 of the African countries have a GDP greater than that of Chine. Coca-Cola has 29% of the market share in Africa. 2. What unique resources and capabilities does Coca-Cola have that will help it compete well in Africa? Coca-Cola has the ability to conduct street by street campaigns, to reach the towns and villages. This will assist in improving it marketing and distributions to areas off the beaten path. The manual distribution centers will also assist to grow sales, by coaching and directing small bottlers and residents to own their sales and delivery. 3. What are the drawbacks of making such large scale commitments to Africa? Yes there are drawbacks. There are still many areas in Africa where the government and physical infrastructure is not stable. With Coca-Cola investing large amounts of money in Africa, the instability could prove disruptive to Coca-Cola operations. 4. Do stakeholders in the United States and Africa who criticize Coca-Cola have a reasonable case against it? Yes, it is a valid criticism that Coca-Cola is depleting fresh water, and encouraging environmental harmful refrigeration. Coca-Cola needs to find a way to create sustainable manufacturing that will not pillage natural resources. Why go to Africa Coca-Cola was founded in 1892, but began business in Africa in 1929. Despite the belief that Africa is unstable government, lacks infrastructure, and great conflict and turmoil, Coca-Cola decided to enter Africa and is the largest private sector employer in Africa. $12 billion was allocated towards building distribution centers and plants in Africa. Sales in the United States are declining due to the public concern over sugar. Sales in Europe and Japan are flat, while markets in China and India offer up strong completion for Coca-Cola. Africa’s middle class population is growing at a steady rate, so the disposable income is increasing. This creates an opportunity for Coca-Cola to tap into growth opportunities (Natalia Cheverri 2012). How does it work? Although there are areas in Africa lacking infrastructure, Coca-Cola operates in every country. Coca-Cola utilized a franchising manufacturing model that works perfectly for operating in Africa. Coca-Cola partnered with local licensed bottling groups to help create the product. Coca-Cola manufactures the syrup concentrate and sells to the bottlers. The bottlers add filtered water, carbonation, and sweetener to make the final product. With this model, Coca-Cola is sharing the wealth with local investors/community members. This creates sustainable business and improves community buy-in with Coca-Cola’s existence in Africa (Maritz Jaco 2010). Because partnerships are formed with local bottlers and local members of the community, there is a vested interest by the locals to keep Coca-Cola’s business successful. Through these partnerships, Coca-Cola is able to help build the socio-economic system in different towns. Distribution Coca-Cola was having difficulty distributing product to different area of Africa with no roads. In 1999, local bottlers came up with the idea to cover off the beaten path areas by any means necessary. This included distribution by bicycle, pushcart, hand-carry and even donkey-cart. This distribution method is called manual distribution and has been adopted by many organizations all over the world (Maritz Jaco 2010). Manual distribution method was even adopted by an innovative non-profit named Colalife. This organization distributes medicine all over the continent of Africa. Summary Coca-Cola took a gamble in making the decision to enter Africa. This gamble has paid off, because Coca-Cola is now one of the largest organizations in Africa and sees growth profits. References: Maritz, Jaco (2010), â€Å"Report: Doing Business in Africa, the Coca-Cola way† http://www.howwemadeitinafrica.com/doing-business-in-africa-the-coca-cola-way/2433/. Date accessed May 17, 2013. Steakley, Lia (2013), â€Å"Using the Coca-Cola supplier network to distribute medicines in Africa,† http://scopeblog.stanford.edu/2013/04/26/using-the-coca-cola-supplier-network-to-distribute-medicines-in-africa/. Date accessed May 17, 2013 Cheverri, Natalia (2012) â€Å"Coca-Cola in Africa,† http://www.thepolisblog.org/2012/03/coca-cola-in-africa.html

Sex in Indian Society

Hindu views of homosexuality and, in general, LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) issues, are diverse. Same-sex relations and gender variance have been represented within Hinduism from Vedic times through to the present day, in rituals, law books, religious or so-called mythical narratives, commentaries, paintings, and sculpture. The extent to which these representations embrace or reject homosexuality has been disputed within the religion as well as outside of it. In 2009, The United Kingdom Hindu Council issued a statement that ‘Hinduism does not condemn homosexuality', subsequent to the decision of the Delhi High Court to legalise homosexuality in India Unlike the West, the Hindu society does not have the concept of ‘sexual orientation' that classifies males on the basis of who they desire. However, there is a strong, ancient concept of third gender, which is for individuals who have strong elements of both male and female in them. Third genders include males with a predominant feminine soul or gender orientation. These males are not classified as men. Only non-feminine gendered males are classified as ‘men. ‘ The Hindu society, since the ancient times, does not consider the men's desire or sexual activity with men, the same as that of a third gender's desire or sexual activity with men. Although, the society, formally does not acknowledge sexuality between men, it formally acknowledges and gives space to sexuality between men and third genders as a variation of male-female sex (i. e. , a part of heterosexuality, rather than homosexuality, if analysed in western terms). In fact, Hijras, Alis, Kotis, etc. — the various forms of third gender that exist in India today, all are characterized by the gender role of having receptive anal and oral sex with men. Sexuality between men (as distinct from third genders) have nevertheless thrived, mostly unspoken, informally, within men's spaces, without being seen as ‘different' in the way its seen in the West. Like in other non-western cultures, it is considered more or less, a universal aspect of manhood, even if not socially desirable. Its the effeminate male sexuality for men (or for women) which is seen as ‘different,' and differently categorised. Men often refer to their sexual play with each other as ‘Masti. Western concept of Homosexuality seeks to break this distinction between third gender and men, and to isolate sexuality between men along with the third genders, with all its negative consequences. As such, men in India have long resisted the concept of ‘gay,' and have sex with men without identifying as a ‘homosexual. Gay activists, have sought to introduce a locally acceptable term for ‘homosexual' for two decades, without success. Finally, the term MSM was taken, because it was technically difficult for men to avoid, if they had sex with men. However, it too was rejected by Indian men, as if was seen as just another term for ‘gay. ‘ In the past few years, however, the concept of ‘homosexuality' has finally taken root, as men's spaces have weakened because o f Westernization and gay groups becoming strong with years of gay and AIDS activism. A significant fallout of this has been that sexual desire between men, which was near universal earlier, is now become more and more isolated from the mainstream, as men are distancing themselves from it because of the stigma of effeminacy or third gender attached to the notion of ‘gay. ‘ Things have become so bad in some westernized urban spaces, that two men can no longer hold hands — something which was a common sight in India, not too far back. Contemporary Hindu society Sexuality is rarely discussed openly in contemporary Hindu society, especially in modern India where homosexuality was illegal until 2009, due to colonial British laws. On July 2, 2009 The Delhi High Court in a historic judgement decriminalised homosexuality in India; where the court noted that the existing laws violated fundamental rights to personal liberty (Article 21 of the Indian Constitution) and equality (Article 14) and prohibition of discrimination (Article 15). Even before this judgement, in India homosexuals were very rarely prosecuted despite the existence of such laws in the penal code. Even though Hinduism is never known to exclusively ban homosexuality, certain Hindu nationalist factions are opposed to legalizing homosexuality while certain others choose to remain silent. However, in the last twenty years homosexuality has become increasingly visible in the print and audio-visual media, with many out LGBT people, an active LGBT movement, and a large Indian LGBT presence on the Internet. From the 1990s onward, modern gay and lesbian Hindu organizations have surfaced in India's major cities and in 2004, plausible calls were made for the first time to repeal India's outdated and nontraditional laws against homosexuality Deepa Mehta's 1996 film Fire, which depicts a romantic relationship between two Hindu women, was informally banned for â€Å"religious insensitivity† after Hindu Nationalists attacked cinemas where it was being screened on the grounds that it denigrated Indian culture, not on the grounds of homophobia per se,a position shared and confirmed by feminist Madhu Kishwar. In addition, The Bharatiya Janata Party (Hindu Nationalist Party) who were in power in India at the time, refused to ban it Similar protests occurred in 2004 against the lesbian-themed film Girlfriend — even though the portrayal of lesbianism was this time distinctly unsympathetic Several human-rights groups such as the People's Union for Civil Liberties have asserted that sexual minorities in India face severe discrimination and violence, especially those from rural and lower caste backgrounds. Hijras and other third-gender groups are similarly oppressed in modern-day India, forced to live on the margins of society In her book, Love's Rite, Ruth Vanita examines the phenomena of same-sex weddings, many by Hindu rites, which have been reported by the Indian press over the last thirty years and with increasing frequency. In the same period, same-sex joint suicides have also been reported. Most of these marriages and suicides are by lower middle-class female couples from small towns and rural areas across the country; these women have no contact with any LGBT movements. Both cross-sex and same-sex couples, when faced with family opposition, tend to resort to either elopement and marriage or to joint suicide in the hope of reunion in the next life. Vanita examines how Hindu doctrines such as rebirth and the genderlessness of the soul are often interpreted to legitimize socially disapproved relationships, including same-sex ones. In a 2004 survey, most — though not all — swamis said they opposed the concept of a Hindu-sanctified gay marriage. But several Hindu riests have performed same-sex marriages, arguing that love is the result of attachments from previous births and that marriage, as a union of spirit, is transcendental to gender. Many Indian and Hindu intellectuals now publicly support LGBT civil rights. Some liberal Hindu reform movements, especially those in the West, also support social acceptance of gays, lesbians and other gender minorities. Psychoanalyst Sudhir Kakar writes that Hindus are more accepting of â€Å"deviance or eccentricity† than are adherents of Western religions, who typically treat sexual variance as â€Å"anti-social or psychopathological, requiring ‘correction' or ‘cure'†. Hindus, he argues, believe instead that each individual must fulfill their personal destiny (svadharma) as they travel the path towards moksha (transcendence). Commenting on the legalization of homosexuality in India; Anil Bhanot, general secretary of The United Kingdom Hindu Council said: The point here is that the homosexual nature is part of the natural law of God; it should be accepted for what it is, no more and no less. Hindus are generally conservative but it seems to me that in ancient India, they even celebrated sex as an enjoyable part of procreation, where priests were invited for ceremonies in their home to mark the beginning of the process[ The third gender Hindu philosophy has the concept of a third sex or third gender (tritiya-prakriti – literally, â€Å"third nature†). This category includes a wide range of people with mixed male and female natures such as transgenders, homosexuals, transsexuals, bisexuals, the intersexed, and so on. Such persons are not considered fully male or female in traditional Hinduism, being a combination of both. They are mentioned as third sex by nature (birth and are not expected to behave like ordinary men and women. They often keep their own societies or town quarters, perform specific occupations (such as masseurs, hairdressers, flower-sellers, domestic servants, etc. ) and are generally attributed a semi-divine status. ‘Their participation in religious ceremonies, especially as crossdressing dancers nd devotees of certain temple gods/goddesses, is considered auspicious in traditional Hinduism. Some Hindus believe that third-sex people have special powers allowing them to bless or curse others. In Hinduism, the universal creation is honored as unlimitedly diverse and the recognition of a third sex is simply one more aspect of this understanding. In 2008, the state of Tamil Nadu recognised the â€Å"Third Gender†; with its civil supplies department giving in the ration card a provision for a new sex column as ‘T', distinct from the usual ‘M' and ‘F' for males and females respectively. This was the first time that authorities anywhere in India have officially recognised the third gender. Hindu religious narratives The Hindu god Shiva is often represented as Ardhanarisvara, with a dual male and female nature. This sculpture is from the Elephanta Caves near Mumbai. In the Hindu narrative tradition, stories of gods and mortals changing gender occur. Sometimes they also engage in sexual activities as different reeincarnated genders. Homosexual and transgender Hindus commonly identify with and worship the various Hindu deities connected with gender diversity such as Ardhanarisvara (the hermaphrodite form of Shiva); Aravan (a hero whom Krishna married after becoming a woman); Ayyappa (a god born from the union of Shiva and Mohini, a female incarnation of Vishnu); Bahuchara-devi (a goddess connected with trans-sexuality and eunuchism); Bhagavati-devi (a Hindu goddess associated with crossdressing); Bhagiratha Maharaja (an Indian king born of two female parents); Caitanya Mahaprabhu (an incarnation of Radha and Krishna combined); Chandi-Chamunda (twin warrior goddesses); Gadadhara (an incarnation of Radha in male form); Gangamma-devi (a goddess connected with crossdressing and disguises); Harihara (Shiva and Vishnu combined); Kartikeya; Vallabhavardhana, Yellamma-devi and countless others There are also specific festivals connected to the worship of such gender-variant deities, some of which are famous in India for their crossdressing devotees and homosexual undertones. These festivals include the Aravan Festival of Tamil Nadu, the Ayyappa and Chamaya-Villaku Festivals of Kerala, the Bahucara-mata Festivals of Gujarat and the Yellamma-devi Festivals of Karnataka, among others Mahabharata In the Mahabharata, as the result of a curse he was compelled to honor, the hero Arjuna takes a â€Å"vow of eunuchism,† that is, to live as the third sex for a year: â€Å"O lord of the Earth, I will declare myself as one of the â€Å"neuter† sex. O monarch, it is, indeed difficult to hide the marks of the bowstring on my arms. I will, however, cover both my cicatrized arms with bangles. Wearing brilliant rings on my ears and conch-bangles on my wrists and causing a braid to hang down from my head, I shall, O king, appear as one of the third sex, Vrihannala by name Another important character, Shikhandi, is born female, but raised as a boy. Sihkandi's father, King Drupada, had begged the god Mahadeva to give him a son, to which Mahadeva replied: â€Å"Thou shalt have a child who will be a female and male. Desist, O king, it will not be otherwise. † When Sikhandi comes of age and marries, Sikhandi's wife â€Å"soon came to know that Sikhandiwas a woman like herself, refusing him. † Fleeing from the unnamed wife's enraged father, Sikhandi encounters a male Yaksha (nature spirit) in the forest, and they agree to swap sexes. Now in a male body, Sikhandi proves to his father-in-law that he is truly male, after the latter sends â€Å"a number of young ladies of great beauty† to Sikhandi to test him. They report back that he is â€Å"a powerful person of the masculine sex,† and Sikhandi becomes a skilled and famous warrior, playing a pivotal role in the war. Ramayana In some versions of the Krittivasa Ramayana, the most popular Bengali text on the pastimes of Lord Ramachandra (an incarnation of Vishnu), there is an interesting narrative of two queens that conceived a child together. When the famous king of the Sun Dynasty, Maharaja Dilipa, died, the demigods become concerned that he did not have a son to continue his line. Lord Shiva therefore appeared before the king's two widowed queens and commanded them, â€Å"You two make love together and by my blessings you will bear a beautiful son. The two wives, with great affection for each other, executed Shiva's order until one of them conceived a child. Unfortunately, however, the child was born boneless, but by the blessings of a sage, Astavakra, the child was restored to full health and continued the dynasty. Astavakra accordingly named the child â€Å"Bhagiratha† – he who was born from two vulvas . Bhagiratha later became one of the most famous kings of India and is credited with bringing the Ganges River down to earth through his austerities. Hindu texts Hindus have many sacred texts and different communities give special importance to different texts. Even more so than in other religions, Hindus also foster disparate interpretations of the meaning of various texts. The Vedas, which form the foundation of Hinduism for many, do not refer explicitly to homosexuality, but Rigveda says Vikruti Evam Prakriti (perversity/diversity is what nature is all about, or, what seems un-natural is also natural), which some scholars believe recognizes the cyclical constancy of homosexual/transsexual dimensions of human life, like all forms of universal diversities. People of a third gender (tritiya-prakriti), not fully men nor women, are mentioned here and there throughout Hindu texts such as the Puranas but are not specifically defined. In general they are portrayed as effeminate men, often cowardly, and with no desire for women. Modern readers often draw parallels between these and modern stereotypes of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender sexual identities. Historians Ruth Vanita and Saleem Kidwai, in their pioneering book, Same-Sex Love in India: Readings from Literature and History, for the first time compiled extracts from Indian texts, from ancient to modern times, including many Hindu texts, translated from 15 Indian languages. In their accompanying analytical essays, they also demonstrated that Hindu texts have discussed and debated same-sex desire from the earliest times, in tones ranging from critical to non-judgmental to playful and celebratory. Historian Devdutt Pattanaik summarizes the place of homosexuality in Hindu literature as follows: â€Å"though not part of the mainstream, its existence was acknowledged but not approved. † Other Indologists assert that homosexuality was not approved for brahmanas or the twice-born but accepted among the lower classes. In his book, Tritiya-Prakriti: People of the Third Sex, Vaishnava monk Amara Das Wilhelm demonstrates how ancient expressions of Hinduism accommodated homosexual and transgender persons much more positively than we see in India today: â€Å"Early Vedic teachings stressed responsible family life and asceticism but also tolerated different types of sexualities within general society Manu Smriti The Manuscript, which lists the oldest codes of conduct that were proposed to be followed by a Hindu, does include mention of homosexual practices, but only as something to be regulated. Though homosexuality was considered a part of sexual practices, it was not always well accepted. There were punishments prescribed for homosexual behaviour. For instance, the verse referring to sexual relations between an older woman and a virgin (woman) reads†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ woman who pollutes a damsel (virgin) shall instantly have (her head) shaved or two fingers cut off, and be made to ride (through the town) on a donkey†, suggesting a severe punishment. However, the verse referring to sexual relations between two virgins suggests a relatively milder punishment – â€Å"†¦ a damsel who pollutes (another) damsel must be fined two hundred (panas), pay the double of her (nuptial) fee, and receive ten (lashes with a) rod†. These provisions, quoted out of context, seem homophobic, but in fact they are concerned not with the gender of the partners but with the loss of virginity that rendered a young woman unworthy of marriage. For instance, the punishment for a forced sex act between a man and a woman states â€Å"†¦ if any man through insolence forcibly contaminates a maiden, two of his fingers shall be instantly cut off, and he shall pay a fine of six hundred (panas)†, which seems more severe in comparison to the punishment prescribed for the same act between two virgins. Sex between non-virgin women incurred a very small fine, while homosexual intercourse between men was sought to be censured by a prescription of a bath with one's clothes on, and a penance of â€Å"eating the five products of the cow and keeping a one-night fast†- the penance being a replacement of the traditional concept of homosexual intercourse resulting in a loss of caste. The discrepancy in treatment may have been due to the text's non-equal views on males and females, considering that the Manusmriti is the same scripture that has stated that the status of woman in the society is the same (or even lower than) that of a man’s land, his cattle and other possessions. For Brahmanas and twice-born men, â€Å"causing an injury to a priest, smelling wine or things that are not to be smelled, crookedness, and sexual union with a man are traditionally said to cause loss of caste In the same chapter, the atonement for twice-born men is a ritual bath: â€Å"A twice-born man who has intercourse with a male, or with a female in a cart drawn by oxen, in water, or in the day-time, shall bathe, dressed in his clothes. Here again, it can be noticed that the proscriptions are specifically for brahmana and twice-born males; there is no mention in the Manu Smriti of punishment for homosexual behavior between males of the other classes. The majority of sexual matters dealt with by the law books are heterosexual in nature, and the punishments prescribed for heterosexual transgressions are often more severe. For example, â€Å"A man who is not a Brahmana ought to suffer death for adultery (samgrahana)† (2. 8. 359). The Manu Smriti also notes the biological origins of a third gender: â€Å"A male child is produced by a greater quantity of male seed, a female child by the prevalence of the female; if both are equal, a third-sex child [napumsaka] or boy and girl twins are produced; if either are weak or deficient in quantity, a failure of conception results. † (MS 3. 49) Narada Smriti The Narada Smriti, written around 400 CE, forbids the marriage of homosexual men (mukhebhaga – men who perform oral sex on other men) to women: â€Å"These four irsyaka, sevyaka, vataretas, and mukhebhaga] are to be completely rejected as unqualified for marriage, even for a woman who has been raped. † (NS 1. 12. 15) The Narada Smriti also lists fourteen different types of panda or men who are impotent with women. Kama Sutra The Kama Sutra is an ancient text dealing with kama or desire (of all kinds), which in Hindu thought is one of the four normative and spiritual goals of life. The Kama Sutra is the earliest extant and most important work in the Kama Shastra tradition of Sanskrit literature. It was compiled by the hilosopher Vatsyayana around the 4th century, from earlier texts, and describes homosexual practices in several places, as well as a range of sex/gender ‘types'. The author describes techniques by which masculine and feminine types of the third sex (tritiya-prakriti), as well as women, perform fellatio. The Second Part, Ninth Chapter of Kama Sutra specifically describes two kinds of men that we would recognize today as masculine- and feminine-type homosexuals but which are mentioned in older, Victorian British translations as simply â€Å"eunuchs. † The chapter describes their appearances – feminine types dressed up as women whereas masculine types maintained muscular physiques and grew small beards, moustaches, etc. – and their various professions as masseurs, barbers and prostitutes are all described. Such homosexual men were also known to marry, according to the Kama Sutra: â€Å"There are also third-sex citizens, sometimes greatly attached to one another and with complete faith in one another, who get married together. † (KS 2. 9. 36). In the â€Å"Jayamangala† of Yashodhara, an important twelfth-century commentary on the Kama Sutra, it is also stated: â€Å"Citizens with this kind of homosexual inclination, who renounce women and can do without them willingly because they love one another, get married together, bound by a deep and trusting friendship After describing fellatio as performed between men of the third sex, the Sutra then mentions the practice as an act between men and women, wherein the homosexuals acts are scorned, especially for brahmanas. (KS 2. 9. 37) The Kama Sutra also refers to svairini, who are â€Å"independent women who frequent their own kind or others† (2. 8. 26) — or, in another passage: â€Å"the liberated woman, or svairini, is one who refuses a husband and has relations in her own home or in other houses† (6. 6. 50). In a famous commentary on the Kama Sutra from the 12th century, Jayamangala, explains: â€Å"A woman known for her independence, with no sexual bars, and acting as she wishes, is called svairini. She makes love with her own kind. She strokes her partner at the point of union, which she kisses. † (Jayamangala on Kama Sutra 2. 8. 13). The various practices of lesbians are described in detail within the Second Part, Eighth Chapter of the Kama Sutra.

John F. Kennedy Essays (654 words) - City-states, De-Stalinization

John F. Kennedy Essays (654 words) - City-states, De-Stalinization John F. Kennedy John F. Kennedy was president of the United States of America from 1961 to 1963. Once he was elected Khrushchev (the Russian leader who was a Communist) tried to test the young president and see how far he could push the new American president. While in office Kennedy faced many obstacles that he had to overcome. Quite a few of them were against the Russians who were communists. After the second World War , Germany was split up into two new nations. One which was being controlled by the Russians ,that was called East Germany. In East Germany there was a communist government. The other nation was being controlled by England , France , and the US ,that was called West Germany. In West Germany there was a democratic government. The capitol of ?Old Germany? was the city of Berlin. Berlin was now located in East Germany. Berlin was split up into two different cities they were East and West Berlin. East Berlin was controlled by the communists. West Berlin was controlled by the democrats. On August 12, 1961 the Communists closed off the line between East and West Berlin and didn?t even let the commuters who worked in West Berlin but lived in East Berlin go to work. The trains and railroads were also cut off. Nobody knew how long this would be going on for. A reporter tried to cross the border of East Berlin and a guard said to him ?You are not allowed to go through we received instructions to this effect about an hour and age.? In 1961 people all over the US were debating if the US should go to war with the Russians and in August 1961 the pentagon ordered reservists to active service. Around 76,500 men most of them who were fathers and were in either World War Two or in the Korean War were being called to go back by the president. But after weeks of uncertainty and hopes and opinions that the whole crisis will ?somehow blow over? the reality of the crisis in Berlin struck America. A lot of times the crisis almost resulted in a war. One example is that two East German tankers squirted water from a powerful hose onto two young American GI?s. The GI?s were taught not to fire unless fired upon. So they reached for their grenades and were about to throw it when the tankers stopped spraying them. Events like this were not very rare. The troops on both sides were not easily provoked. The leaders on each side would try to do everything in their power to avoid a war. After a while there were rumors that Khrushchev wanted to have ?peace talks? if he really meant it the US was ready to go ahead with ?peace talks? only if the ?peace talks? would guarantee the freedom of the people in West Berlin. Most people believed that Khrushchev did not realize that by threatening Kennedy he would get the US to leave West Berlin. But a couple of people thought that Khrushchev had recognized he had not done anything by threatening Kennedy and they thought that the Russian communists really wanted to have ?peace talks? these people said that ?He now accepts that it is impossible to force the Democrats out of West Berlin by threats and that he will take care that his East German satellites don?t drive the Soviet Union into war.? {Newsweek - Berlin - p 17 } For war there are two key factors they are ?timing? and ?nerve?. ?In a free society President Kennedy was under far stronger public pressure than Khrushchev to pull back from the brink of war.? { Newsweek - Berlin - p 17 } BIBLIOGRAPHY 1 Hafner, Katie The House At The Bridge New York : Scribner 1995 2 ?Berlin? Newsweek 13 - 17 (September 4, 1961) 3 ?Warsaw Pact States Says Allies? Routes Remain Open? New York Times (August 13, 1961)

Foods that Increase Brain Activity and Prevent Decline by EssaySupply.com

Foods that Increase Brain Activity and Prevent Decline Foods that Increase Brain Activity â€Å"Smart foods,† they’re called – foods that enhance brain activity and that keep the brain healthy as the body ages. We now know, from research, that certain elements in some foods have a positive impact on the brain. While much of this testing has occurred with rats, the implications for human brains are certainly there. The elements that are now known to improve brain health and to help prevent brain health decline are Omega-3’s, glucose, blood supply, and anti-oxidants. In fact, the research shows that oxidants are more detrimental to the brain than to any other organ in the body. If you would like detailed information about these studies, there are load of essays online that summarize them. Nevertheless, foods rich in these elements should be added to everyone’s diet right now, no matter what age you are. Blueberries: Studies show that this superfood improves learning capacity and motor skills in animal studies. As well, they protect the brain from oxidants, and more recent studies indicate that there may be properties that retard dementia and Alzheimer’s. Recommended daily amount is 1 cup. Wild Salmon: Omega-3 fatty acids are known to promote good brain function and to reduce or delay effects of aging. These are also found in sardines and herring, and the recommended amount is at least one service 2-3 times a week. Nuts and Seeds: These foods are really high in Vitamin E, a nutrient that is also known to retard the aging of the brain as we age. 1 ounce per day of most any type of nut plus sunflower and sesame seeds is recommended. Vitamin E is also found in peanut butter if that is preferred. Avocados: One of the best benefits of avocados is that they contribute to good blood flow. The brain, like any other organ, relies on a strong blood supply. This food also lowers blood pressure, a condition which, over time, is a factor in the decline of cognitive abilities. Recommended amount is  ¼ -  ½ of one avocado once a week. This food is very high in fat content and calories, so this is the reason for the lower recommended amount. Whole Grains: Everyone should eat at least 3 servings a day of whole grain foods – oatmeal, whole grain cereals, and whole wheat or rye breads. First, these foods lower cholesterol, a leading cause of plaque buildup in the arteries. This buildup decreases blood supply to the brain, and can cause a stroke or heart attack. Both of these events disrupt the flow of blood to the brain. Whole grains also stimulate blood flow, so there is a double-plus to eating the recommended amount. Beans: The brain relies on glucose, and it does not store this nutrient. So, it is important that a steady supply of glucose get to the brain so that it is maintained in a healthy condition. While beans do not of themselves have glucose in them, they do regulate the flow of glucose throughout the body and ensure that the brain gets an adequate supply. Everyone should eat  ½ cup of beans every day. Pomegranates and other bright/dark colored vegetables and fruits. Pomegranates are mentioned specifically because, of all fruits and vegetables, they have the highest amount of anti-oxidants. Other fruits and vegetables include broccoli, tomatoes, oranges, dark berries and grapes, dark lettuce, carrots, asparagus, and squash. Red wines are also full of antioxidants. 5 servings a day please. Tea: If it is freshly brewed tea (no instant!), there are moderate amounts of caffeine which does enhance focus and memory. Tea, especially green tea, also contains anti-oxidants. 2-3 cups a day is ideal. Dark Chocolate: Yes! This is a huge source of anti-oxidants, and it also have moderate levels of caffeine. A recommended daily amount is  ½ - 1 ounce each day. Hopefully, there are some foods on this list that you really like. If so, and there are others you just can’t abide, at least increase the amounts of those foods that you do like. Scientists have located a protein in the brain that is definitely linked to Alzheimer’s, so keeping that protein functioning properly is important. â€Å"Brain foods† will help!

Law and Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Law and Management - Essay Example Leaders aspiring to be visionary should be able to mentor their successors at all levels and look beyond the horizon. To maintain the quality of leadership and lead people effectively, one needs to maintain the time and adopt the change required by the market. To be ahead in the competition, he should be the market leader in product development and technology. The leader should be a continuous learner, who always observes the global economic trends very closely, improves his listening skills and maintains a good relationship with his employees, while showing the empathy that will lead to better organizational culture. This will help to attract, nurture and retain the best talent in the organization. An effective leader should ask himself some retrospective questions like whether he is inspiring his own employees in the right direction or not Whether he is able to communicate effectively his vision, mission and strategic goals of the business, across the organization or not How courageous he is to implement his strategies, even during difficult times How frequently he takes the feedback whether he is in the wrong direction or right How best is he able to take timely decisions And, at the same time, whether he directs his employees towards right path or not An effective leader should maintain the simplicity and should be careful enough in matters of costs for the company and if the company is global he should not think in terms of dollars but should see each pie in terms of that country's currency. This will help him become aware of the local problems and culture that, in turn, will be helpful in solving such issues by adopting a suitable strategy related to that unit. An effecti ve leader lays emphasis on leadership principles, especially on the awesome responsibility of taking care of a good number of people's life and livelihood. According to James C Hunter, the author of "The Servant Leadership", the true foundation of leadership is not power, but authority, which is built upon relationships, love, service and sacrifice. Traditional Leadership Styles Comprehending the types of leadership styles is an essential first step in leadership development, which will help one to decide the leadership style that would work best for oneself and the organization Basically there are three classic leadership styles Laissez Faire, Autocratic, and Participative. 1. The Laissez-faire Style This style works well if one has highly skilled and highly motivated people and where direct reporting is done. The laissez-faire style employs low control; it depends more upon the leader's perception of how much freedom one should give to the people. 2. The Autocratic Style An autocratic leader is one who demands instant conformity to his words. These are the characteristics of autocratic leadership: Directs others what to do; restricts ideas or novel ways of doing things; generates fear of power, nepotism and humiliation; the team does not experience the teamwork sensation; shows immediate discontent at the petite blunder in accomplishing the business goals. This style is the least effective, because of hierarchical decision-making. It slaughters the creativity of employees. The autocratic style is found to be very effective when time is scarce, team members are unknown, persons/team lack expertise and know-how, and also in turning around a company, or in a formidable hostile takeover. 3. The Participative Style This style

Open Source Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Open Source - Essay Example e accounts and financial records of such businesses, with the aim of determining how well the organizations are run, and how accurate the financial records of the business are prepared and stored. In an accounting and auditing environment, there is a variety of software that requires to be applied. While some of those software are tailor-made specifically for the accounting purposes, others are general purpose software, which can also be applied by other computer users, to undertake various activities that are not related to accounting. The basic software that must be applied in an accounting and auditing environment are the Windows XP operating system and the Microsoft office suit (Amushie, 12). These software provides the basis for which the computer is operated, and the basis for which records are made and kept, for the operating system and the Microsoft office suit, respectively. It is through the Windows XP operating system that an interface is created in the computer, through which the user of the computer can navigate variously. On the other hand, the Microsoft office suit comprises of various applications such as the Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Acces s, which are programs that are used to prepare and store records, while also being applied to undertake various arithmetic functions, especially for the Microsoft Excel (Grauer and Maryann, 33). Both the Microsoft Office suit and the Windows XP are found in different versions of software. There are some versions of both Microsoft Office suit that are proprietary and others that are open source. Similarly, Windows XP operating system has some of its versions that are proprietary and others which are open source. While the Windows XP Service Pack 3 is a proprietary software, the Windows XP ReactOSÂ ® is a version of the windows XP operating system that is open source (Gross, 9). Similarly, Microsoft office suite has Microsoft Office 2007 as a proprietary software, and another version called the

Literature review Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words - 1

Literature review - Coursework Example l development to the economic growth and on the other Robinson (1952) and Lucas (1988) opined that financial development at most might qualify as a supplementary condition to economic growth and at times extremely over emphasized. Again, MacKinnon (1973) and Shaw (1973) provide theories on how distortion in financial market hinders growth. The present paper choses to conduct a comprehensive study of empirical literatures on financial development and economic growth nexus related with China; relates the findings with the present theories on the same domain and thereafter moves to reach a conclusion. Shan and Morris (2002) used panel data for 19 OECD countries along with China over the period 1985 to 1998 to test the association between financial development and growth through a VAR model. The empirical result obtained this way depicts weak association between financial development and economic growth and cast doubts on the much celebrated association between the two. The results obtained this way is in tune with the theoretical proposition of Robinson (1952) and Lucas (1988) who have mentioned that financial development can at most be a supplementary condition to economic growth and not the propelling factor for the same. Liang (2005) has developed a theoretical model at first referring that financial intermediaries can affect economic growth. Then the author has empirically tested the model using panel data for 29 Chinese provinces over the period 1990 to 2001 through applying GMM techniques of panel data analysis. The result obtained this way refers to the fact that financial development together with government deregulation in financial sector have contributed significantly and positively to Chinese economic growth. Regarding the theoretical support; the empirical results are in tune with theoretical propositions of Bagehot (1873), Schumpeter (1912), Hicks (1969) and Grossman and Miller (1988) regarding the relation between financial development and economic

Concentric Circle Approach To Defence And Foreign Policy Politics Essay

Concentric Circle Approach To Defence And Foreign Policy Politics Essay Security perspective after Cold War has changed tremendously. Not only that state has to deal with external military aggression, it also has to go through overwhelming challenges of non-traditional security issues. Among the issues are terrorism, ethnic conflict, sea piracy, smuggling of illegal weapon and drug trafficking  [1]  . In this case, Indonesia is not an exceptional. Although Indonesia has been cautious to any action taken by any states within its geostrategic area since 1945 (after independent today), the concentration given by Indonesia government since mid-1990s is more on the non-traditional issues that impede states domestic political stability, unity, territorial integrity and thus to its sovereignty. This is partly due to the region where it is located, that is (to a certain extent) stable and less prone to the state-to-state conflict. In this case, the traditional threat of aggression from other countries is very unlikely to happen in this region  [2]  , its military preparedness has to be intact to overcome all mentioned non-traditional security issues that it is currently confront with  [3]  . For Indonesia, the dynamic shift of threat from non-taditional to traditional security may manifest themselves in the form of invasion or aggression from other countries  [4]  especially when considering the case of 9/11 terrorist attack and the reaction taken by United States and its allies in their mission on the global war on terror in Afghanistan as an instance. Concious with the challenges that impede Indonesia lately particularly when we look at terrorist Bali bombing in 2002 and J.W. Marriott bombings in 2003  [5]  , the twin-suicide bombing at the J.W Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels in 2009, as well as its unresolve issues of armed separatist movement imposed by Free Papua Movement (OPM)  [6]  , has made Indonesia aware that if the government did not overcome such non-traditional security issues effectively, it would cause more political, economic and social instability than what Indonesia is currently facing with. Thus, in order to overcome such situations, Indonesia through its defence and foreign policy has been used as a guideline to maintain states order as well as its national interest or national security. The question is what is Indonesias defence and foreign policy? How does Indonesia utilise its resources to overcome the traditional and the non-traditional security threat considering the challenges that it has to face especially when domestic instability is eminent. Apart from that, how does Indonesia synergise its defence and foreign policy to overcome the problem? What kind of approach that Indonesia use to preserve its own national interest? And what exactly is Indonesia national interest? By considering its security threats this paper argues that i) on one hand, Indonesia mobilises or use its armed forces to tackle the problems that occur, in which the preservation of states sovereignty and territorial integrity is its primary goal. ii) Indonesia, on the other hand utilises its foreign policy as a synergy in maintaining and achieving states national interest through different type of strategies. iii) This paper will conclude that, as in the case of Indonesia; foreign and defence policy cannot be separated especially when discussing states security perceptions and the strategy that it use to overcome it. In this case, state (Indonesia) uses its two statecrafts (state strategies) through the use of force as well as diplomacy as its major instrument in preserving and maitaining its national interest. Therefore, this paper will highlight, first, Indonesia internal and external security threats. Second, Indonesia defence policy in addition to its strategic national interest and third, this paper will focus on its foreign policy and approach taken by Indonesia in synergising its defence and foreign policy as a method of preserving and maintaing its national interest. 2.0 INDONESIA INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL SECURITY THREAT As the Republic of Indonesia enters the year of 2010, and celebrates its 65th Independence Day in August of the same year, it is evident that the security concern of the state will continue to be dominated by the same issues that it faced a decade ago. In fact the major concern of Indonesian government is unlikely from external threat of aggression rather their internal or domestic political instability. It was stated in the white paper issued in 2003 when Indonesian government acknowledged for the first time on the persistence of non-traditional security issues that occurs in the country  [7]  . A glance at Indonesias security perceptions, internally; despite a relative improvement in the economic development as well as its political situation, Indonesia faces tremendous difficulty in overcoming at least three [3] key security issues or challenges: i) the threat of terrorism, ii) protracted secessionist movements, and iii) the return of communal violence. Externally, the war on terrorism both at the regional and global levels continues to place Indonesia at the centre of regional and global attention. In this case, the nature of Indonesian government responses to the problem of terrorism, in which the government is constrained with its domestics capabilities in pertaining to the communication network level and its locals sensitivity to curb terrorism within the country, is putting the Indonesian government in a state of strain particularly on its relations with the outside world; regionally ASEAN as the whole, its close neighbour Australia as well the United States. The security environment of Indonesia remains volatile since it retains independent status in 1945. In this case, the most security challenges faced by the government of Indonesia now remain the threat of terrorism  [8]  910. Being the world largest archipelago with the biggest Muslim and multicultural population in the world, Indonesia certainly has a multi-diverse complexity in maintaining order and security. In this particular context, terrorism has become the threat to the safety of the nation, even a threat to democracy and civil society  [11]  . Despite the successes of arresting and prosecuting hundreds of terrorism suspects, radical groups were still active in recruiting new members. Since the bombing of Toserba Ramayana, Jakarta on January 2nd 1999 until the twin-suicide bombing at the J.W Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels in 2009, terrorism threat in Indonesia has increased tremendously  [12]  . Ten years of receiving consistence terrorisation from the terrorist group, there has been a serious doubt, if not pessimism, in the country whether the government has the ability to find and deal with the impact in a swift and firm manner. The government faced a difficult task of balancing the need to crack down terrorist networks and the imperative of taking into account terrorist group activities  [13]  . Apart from terrorism, Indonesia at the same time faces major threats from armed separatist movement  [14]  . In fact, the armed separatist movements were not new to Indonesian government. As early as 1950s (during the tenure of Sukarno until today; President Bambang Yudhoyono), the primary objective given by Indonesia government are still the same which is maintaining order at the domestic level especially to the case that derived from armed separatist movements which happened in East Timor  [15]  (now Timor Leste), West Papua  [16]  (still happening), and even in Aceh  [17]  province  [18]  19. In other words, its main task is safeguarding Indonesias territorial integrity. Aside from territorial integrity comes national economic strategic interest and states sovereignty. All these interest embedded in the Preamble of the 1945 Constitution. Among others, State has to safeguard and protect the sovereignty of the state, territorial integrity of the Republic of Indon esia, the nations safety and pride, and at the same time involve actively in efforts to create world peace  [20]  . Communal conflicts that happened in Maluku, South Sulawesi (Poso), in Kalimantan (Sanggau Ledo, Sampit, Sambas) was also considered as one of the major security threat facing by Indonesia from within  [21]  . So much so, it requires serious attention from the central government. Indonesia is a heterogeneous state. With a vast number of ethnic residing in a country as well as the geographical characteristic as an island nation; makes it easy for communal conflicts to occur. The issue that triggered the conflict was mainly due to a religious (Maluku and Poso, Sulawesi) and racial (West Kalimantan) background  [22]  . In fact, to some extent it was also triggered by an intergroup exclusivity and the socio-economic gap. According to Jones  [23]  , in her report says, one of the things we see is how changing population balances among different ethnic and religious groups has led to certain kinds of tensions, often with one group feeling that it is under siege by another. The l oss caused by communal conflict is enormous; it causes waves of evacuation, tremendous suffering of people, casualties and large material loss. In fact, the biggest communal conflict is ruined national solidarity and the bond of unity as a nation. Indonesias external threat perceptions on the other hand remain shaped primarily by internal sources of instability and conflict and suspicious of involvement of foreign actors in those internal conflicts. Indonesias elite, both civilian and military, continue to express concern over the possible involvement of foreign countries not only in the regional rebellions such as Aceh and Irian Jaya (Papua) but also in the spate of terrorist attacks across in the country, especially the Bali bombings. Some Indonesians believe that there is an international conspiracy (especially by the West) to undermine Indonesias stability and security through the issue of terrorism  [24]  . Many also recent the fact the international community, especially the United States, has come to see Indonesia as a hotbed of terrorism. These sensitivities among government officials, political, community leaders, and the public at large have in turn brought about a degree of uneasiness for Indonesia in both its r elationship with neighbouring countries in the regional war on terrorism and its relations with the United States  [25]  . 3.0 INDONESIA DEFENCE POLICY AND ITS STRATEGIC NATIONAL INTEREST In analysing Indonesias defence policy and its strategic interest, this paper will highlight few important things. First, this paper will look at its defence policy, the nature of its national interest as well as its strategic interest in overcoming states security challenges. The map of Indonesia. Source: http://www.electricscotland.com/thomson/reflections10.htm. Date of Accessed: 1 October 2010. The primary legal documents bearing on defence policy are the 1945 Constitution and the Defence Act (Law No.20) of 1982  [26]  . Constituted under article 30 of the Constitution, it is stated clearly that the duty of the state government is to protect all Indonesians (citizens) in every aspect from any threat. The notion to protect Indonesias citizens, however, is part and parcel of Indonesias national interest that is; to safeguard and to protect the sovereignty of the state, the territorial integrity, the nations safety as well as its pride  [27]  . The foci of Indonesias defence and security are thus, represented in conventional term as a series of concentric cirle emanating from Jakarta. In providing a clear picture of this defence and security strategy, the main area that covers the most or hot area of Indonesias security is its land and maritime borders (strecting up to its Zone Economy Exclusive, ZEE). The second circle, on the other hand covers the area of its neighbouring countries as well as the region where it is located. In this particular context, what ever happens in the region will directly or indirectly gives impact on the security aspect of Indonesia especially when it is located at one of the most important trade sea-lane that connect the West and the East; streching from Indian Ocean to the Straits of Malacca and the South China Sea. Thus, on account of its strategic position, it is important for Indonesian Armed Forces to maintain its national jurusdiction especially when almost all countries in the world rely heavily on Indonesias stability and security as well as its self-defence capacity for its own national resilience  [28]  . In other words, the development of a strong and flexible state apparatus, political and social cohesion and a ruboust economic infrastructure which enables Indonesia to defend itself and contribute to the defence of the region. Defence Act 1982, on the other hand provides a basic provisions of the defence and security of the Republic of Indonesia. It is a notable document that mentioned the social and political functions of Indonesian Armed Forces. Lowry  [29]  stated that; The act states that national defence and security includes defence against both external and internal threats amd that these threats may be directed against national freedom, sovereignty, national unity and solidarity, the integrity of the nation and national jurisdiction, and the values of the national idealogy; Pancasila as well as the constitution. The Act also explained that the threat can be overcome by total peoples resistance within a system of total peoples defence (Sishankamrata). It was designed to marshal and mobilise the nations physical, moral and material resources. In order to attain the desired goals, Indonesia has highlghted few startegies. Among them are permanent strategic interest, urgent strategic interest and the international cooperation in defence which underlies in future strategic interest. All of these embedded in Indonesias Strategic Defence Interest  [30]  . The permanent strategic defence interest of Indonesia is the administration of defence to guard and protect the countrys sovereignty and the unityof Indonesia and the countrys honour from every threat, either from outside or from inside of the country. In order to protect all these interests, it is important to be prepared to defend the country without regard for the argument as to whether or not a concrete threat exists. In carrying out permanent defence interest, Indonesia will always maintain a love for peace, independence and sovereignty. Thus, in resolving every conflicts and dispute, Indonesias will always first put forward diplomatic efforts and the use of force wil l be mobilised if the diplomatic means fail. Therefore, the Indonesia chooses an active defensive strategy in its defences. Indonesias urgent strategic interest on the other hand is directed to overcome actual security issues, which action could undermine and distrupt indonesias sovereignty and unity. In line with this, there are few security threats that Indonesia has to overcome with. The security issues, nonetheless, are heavily concentrated on the non-traditional security issues that emerge within the country. This includes fighting and overcoming the international threat at home and abroad, overcome the disturbances of armed separatist movements, counter radicalism and solve communal conflicts, overcome international crime as well assisting the government in handling natural disaster or any humanitarian activity  [31]  . As part of the international community, Indonesias pursue its third form of direct defence strategy based on international cooperation interest. In this case, Indonesia realise that other than the use of force as part of its statecraft strategy, Indonesia is committed to create a peace and good relations with other countries especially with its neighbour, the regional context and the world based on trust and cooperation. In fact, it cannot release itself from any connection with the world in the effort to achieve its desired goals. For Indonesia, this is the best strategy that could protect the nation from any external aggression especially in a form of state-to-state war. It is ecapstulated as part of Indonesias regional resilience. As a former secretary general of the Department of Defence and Security put it: we must defend further forward by befriending our neighbours and even by possesing the same threat perceptions (Quoted in Lowry  [32]  ). Recognising the limitations of i ts resources, Indonesia thus seeks a balance of interest rather than a balance of power  [33]  . In order to fulfil the requirement in upholding states national interest, Indonesia defence policy has come out with a strategic defence in which it should ensure the accomplishment of its national interest and its international cooperation. 4.0 INDONESIA FOREIGN POLICY AND THE LINGKAGES TO ITS DEFENCE POLICY IN PRESERVING ITS NATIONAL INTEREST Although Indonesian government recognises and stressing oftenly on the need to maintain internal order or domestic political stability as well as territorial integrity as a primary objective for its defence strategy, this does not mean that other form of strategy is neglected. Indonesia, like other country in the world, pursue diplomatic statecraft as its first agenda especially at the international level. In this case, Indonesia apply active defensive approach or as what Lowry  [34]  coined as forward defence. As its defence policy, Indonesias foreign policy is also uniquely influenced by its domestic events. Indonesias foreign and defence policy has always been a reflection of the beliefs and the actions of policymakers who are influenced, in varying degrees and ways by the society and the international system in which it operates. Although Indonesia has withnessed different kind of leadership and approach that has been taken on its foreign policy, there has been no major changes being made by the Indonesian leaders except for some concentrations at the substantial issues like, the issuence of stabilising political order and combating terrorism by President Megawati and diliberating and extending economic resilience during the tenure of Abdul Rahman Awahid and B.J. Habibie. All of these could be said as the extraneous variables that has influnced Indonesias foreign policy. Over all, the domestic imperatives such as commitment on the need to stabilise domestic politics, to preserve states territorial integrity and sovereignty as well to maintain states economic development has dominantly influence Indonesia foreign policy until today. What kind of approach that has been taken is rather different from one leader to another. As mentioned ealier, Indonesia foreign policy is a synergy to Indonesias defence policy. In this case, it requires extensive participation at the regional level as well as at the global level. For instance, under the tenure of President Bambang Yudhoyono, Indonesia is currently focusing on a new foreign policy outlook claimed as securing Thousand friends and Zero Enemies  [35]  . Under this policy Indonesia is moving towards attaining and trying to emerge as a responsible power (Middle Power) in the Southeast Asia region. It is carefully articulated as to improve relations with every nation in the region through bilateral and multilateral means. This includes promoting justice and order at the international arena, better investment policy for economic development, democracy and consolidation in regional integration as well as maintaining national unity. All of these strategies are important for Indonesia as one of the method that could improve Indonesias image at the internatioal fora esecially against all allegations of human rights abuses conducted against armed separatist movements in Aceh and Papua. For that, Indonesia is pursuing an active and independent approach  [36]  37 The necessity in conducting its foreign policy in constructivist approach is to denotes the ability to turn adversary into friend and to turn friend into partner. All of these are important as to provide a conducive environement in the region for the better future development based on thrust, confidence building  [38]  . With such sitiation, all disputes and conflicts could be settle at the table of discussion through a diplomatic approach rather than aggressiveness. In this case, Indonesia will therefore not to use its forces as a method of finding solution. To prove this kind of things as important as it is, Indonesia, as of to this date, has not engaged in any military alliance with a foreign policy especially in securing its own capacity to influence world order or international relations. For that, Indonesia advocates that all Southeast Asian states develop their full economic, political and social potential while cooperating extensively with each other. This is the hope tha t could boster external aggression or challenges. At one level, this could be a security buffer for Indonesia if the region could be persuaded to act in unison to twart the incursion of hegemonic influence. However, no other nations are enthusiastic to serve as security buffer for Indonesia  [39]  . Indonesias contributions to international security remain limited and focused on the regional level, especially in the war against terrorism. Indonesia has signed a number of antiterrorism agreements with some regional states. The Bali bombings and the Marriott bombing have not persuaded Jakarta to publicly-support the involvement of external powers in regional problems in which Indonesia continues to prefer regional solutions to regional problems. Apart from that, Indonesias foreign policy goal is to emerge as a responsible power in the Southeast Asian region. It is a unique amalgamation of the two schools of thought and policy of adaptation to the changing geopolitical and geostrategic compulsions. Being the world largest archipelago with the biggest Muslim population is again trying to gain leadership position in the region through a constructive and cooperative gestures and balanced bargaining between major powers. In fact, Indonesias foreign policy is based upon a number of cherished principles that reflect the countrys sense of national identity, how it wishes to protect and pursue its national interests vis-à  -vis other countries, and the shape of the desirable world order. On 19 September 1999, President B.J. Habibie signed Act no. 37 of 1999 on Foreign Relations, which was actually the first such Act on foreign policy, signed since trigger Indonesias independence. This Act formally stipulates key principles of Indone sias foreign policy that had been practiced for most of the countrys existence. In that context, Indonesia consistently expresses the hope that the ASEAN will continue to serve as the main vehicle for regional countries to cope with security challenges in the region, especially non-traditional threats such as terrorism. During the 2003, ASEAN Summit in Bali, Indonesia obtained agreement from other ASEAN members to transform the organisation into a security community by 2020. Indonesia has also called for an increase in intra-ASEAN maritime cooperation to provide more and more security aspect of the region as well as to its own country. 5.0 CONCLUSION Being the world largest archipelago with the biggest Muslim and multicultural population, Indonesia is trying it best to play a leadership role and at the same time struggling to maintain order mainly from its domestic instability as well as external security threats. Overseeing its defence, security as well as its foreign relations has proven complex in sense considering its size, location, economic underdevelopment, geographical fragmentation and ethnic and religious diversity. However, since its Independence, Indonesian leaders have managed to manoeuvre the state and provide cohesion and national identity under a unitary state. Looking at its foreign affairs, Indonesia has become a major political force in Southeast Asia. With its power resources mainly from its population, huge area of territory, vast number of natural resources and its potential market makes it important at the international arena especially in the region of rapid economic growth. Indonesia has taken a traditional-middle power role or approach in encouraging continued US engagement in the region as a stabilising force during the current period of transition (referring to Indonesias domestic politics from guided democracy with vast amount of military involvement in the administration to civilian control). Moreover, the encouragement is also due to the fact of uncertainty especially with the rising of Chinas power in the future regional order. Nonetheless, it also need China to participate into the regional community is some form of cooperative or common security arrangement to prevent the formation of competing power blocs. Indonesia sought to change the pattern of its external relations. The pattern usually occurred in terms of partnership as well the type of activity that it involves. At home, Indonesias traditional defence strategy has been one of national self-reliance based on total peoples defence with the armed force as the core of the nations arms. However, there are some challenges that it has to overcome with. Indonesia in this case acknowledged that their major difficulties are to cope with the vast number of islands as well as with the vast number of ethnic residing in the country. All of these could be tackled through an active participation from the population to help maintain order. However, globalisation is somehow another and big challenge to Indonesia as more and more population becoming more political democratic, appreciate interdependence economic development based on open market, there is no way that it could avoid for the population to become more individualistic than ever. It has somehow deteriorating the nationalism of the population. ENDNOTES