Thursday, November 28, 2019

ACT Test and Registration Dates for 2018 - 2019

ACT Test and Registration Dates for 2018 - 2019 For the 2018-19 admissions cycle, U.S. students have seven ACT testing dates from which to choose. The exam is offered in September, October, December, February, April, June, and July. The July option is new in 2018. Registration deadlines are roughly five weeks before the exam, so be sure to plan ahead. When Is the ACT in the United States? For the 2018  - 19  academic year, the ACT test dates and registration deadlines are presented in the table below. Important ACT Dates -   2018-19 Test Date Registration Deadline Late Registration Deadline June 9, 2018 May 4, 2018 May 20, 2018 July 14, 2018 June 15, 2018 June 22, 2018 September 9, 2018 August 10, 2018 August 26, 2018 October 27, 2018 September 28, 2018 October 14, 2018 December 8, 2018 November 2, 2018 November 19, 2018 February 9, 2019 January 11, 2019 January 18, 2019 April 13, 2019 March 8, 2019 March 25, 2019 June 8, 2019 May 3, 2019 May 20, 2019 July 13, 2019 June 14, 2019 June 24, 2019 Note that the February and July ACT is not offered in New York State. In California, no test centers are scheduled for July. International test dates are generally the same as those in the United States, but options may be limited. When Is the ACT Offered Outside of the United States? If youre taking the ACT outside of the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, or U.S. territories, you should register online for the exam. The test dates are the same as for the United States with the exception of February when the exam is not offered at international test locations. There is a $57.50  fee for international testing and late registration is not available. Is the ACT Always on a Saturday? The ACT test dates, like the SAT test dates, are on select Saturdays throughout the year. For some students, however, religious convictions make Saturday testing impossible. For these cases, the ACT is offered at a limited number of testing locations on Sundays. Youll be able to locate these Sunday test centers on the ACT website when you register for the exam.   It is also possible to apply for arranged testing  if there is no Sunday test center near you, you live in a country where the ACT is not offered, or if you are confined to a correctional facility on all of the test dates. Note that non-Saturday testing is not an option for the great majority of high school students, and you should make every effort to sit for the ACT during one of the Saturday exam administrations Is the ACT Offered Near Me? On the ACT website, youll find a tool for finding your nearest test center. The great majority of students should be able to find a test center within an hour of home, and you may even find that your own high school is a test center. Some rural students, however, may find that the exam will require a bit more travel. The situation can be even more challenging for international students. Some countries have just one or two test centers, and a few countries have none at all. Some international students may need to travel long distances or to other countries in order to take the exam. How Does ACT Test Registration Work? To register for the ACT, youll need to create an online account on the ACT website. The process can take about 40 minutes because the registration form will ask you about your personal information, interests, and high school course details. Youll also need to locate the test center where you want to take the exam, and youll need to have a credit card or other form of payment handy to pay the registration fees. Finally, youll need to provide a headshot photo for your registration ticket. This is a security measure to ensure that the person taking the exam is the same person who registered for the exam.   When Is the Best Time to Take the ACT? When you take the ACT is entirely up to you, but some exam strategies work better than others. Because the ACT is an achievement test (rather than an aptitude test), it asks you about information you have learned in high school. The result is that taking the exam in 9th or 10th grade may not be the best idea for the simple reason that you probably havent yet covered all of the material that will appear on the exam. One of the common approaches to the ACT is to take the exam in the second half of your junior year (February, April, May, or June). If you dont get good ACT scores from that test, you have time to prepare further and then retake the exam at the beginning of your senior year (July, September, or October). Be careful with the December test date: youll want to make sure the scores will be available in time to meet all of your application deadlines. It is always an option to take the ACT more than twice, but doing so shouldnt be necessary for the great majority of students. In many cases, in fact, a single testing in the spring of junior year can be more than adequate if you find your scores are in line with your target schools. What Does It Cost to Register for the ACT? At the time of registration, you will need to pay the fees for the ACT. The current fees for some of the most popular exam services are as follows: $46.00 for the basic ACT. This fee includes score results for the student, the students school, and four colleges$62.50 for the ACT with Writing$29.50  additional fee if you register late$53.00  additional fee if you register for standby testing (after the late registration deadline)$13  for additional score reports As you plan your college budget, be sure to keep these costs in mind. College expenses arent just about tuition, room, and board. Applying to college is also expensive, and standardized tests are a big part of that cost. If you take the ACT twice and need to send score reports to a dozen colleges, your ACT costs will most likely be several hundred dollars. The good news is that fee waivers are available for qualifying students from low income families. A Final Word About ACT Test Dates and Registration For better or worse, standardized tests are an important part of the college application process. Even if you are applying to test-optional colleges, you may need to take either the ACT or SAT to qualify for scholarships, to be placed into the appropriate classes, or to meet NCAA requirements for athletic participation.   Finally, dont put off thinking about the ACT. Youll want to carefully plan when you take the exam, and youll also need to plan ahead so that you dont miss registration deadlines.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Define Parameters in Computer Programming

Define Parameters in Computer Programming Parameters identify values that are passed into a function. For example, a function to add three numbers might have three parameters. A function has a name, and it can be called from other points of a program. When that happens, the information passed is called an argument. Modern programming languages typically allow functions to have several parameters. Function Parameters Each function parameter has a type followed by an identifier, and  each  parameter is separated from the next parameter by a comma. The parameters pass arguments to the function. When a program calls a function, all the parameters are variables. The value of each of the resulting arguments is copied into its matching parameter in a process call pass by value. The program uses parameters and returned values to create functions that take data as input, make a calculation with it and return the value to the caller. The Difference Between Functions and Arguments The terms parameter and argument are sometimes used interchangeably. However, parameter refers to the type and identifier, and arguments are the values passed to the function. In the following C example,  int a  and  int b  are parameters, while  5  and  3  are the arguments passed to the function. int addition (int a, int b){   int r;   rab;   return r;} int main (){   int z;   z addition (5,3);   cout The result is z;} Value of Using Parameters Parameters allow a function to perform tasks without knowing the specific input values ahead of time.Parameters are indispensable components of functions, which programmers use to divide their code into logical blocks.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Individualism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Individualism - Essay Example This means that external forces do not have the right over the desires or goals of an individual. This includes the government, institutions or the wider society. Logically, the focus of individualism is the individual. This is because the individual is the focus as people try to obtain liberation. Moreover, people have the right to realize themselves and obtain their freedom. It is also logical that individualism is closely associated with one’s lifestyle and behavior that are led by ethics and positions that are philosophical. The world idea seems to appreciate that western civilization has promoted individualism. This is because capitalism promoted individualism as every individual works towards his or her goals in life. However, some people did not seem to agree with this because capitalism did not provide employment to all people. However, people still fought until capitalism was re-introduced. Arguably, this means that even people in Russia believed that capitalism was t he best was towards achieving one’s goal. In summary, individualism focuses on an individual and allows him or her to independence, which in the idea has been enhanced through capitalism. Body Section One People have over the time argued on the connection between individualism and capitalism. Ironically, this is an ideology since individualism believes that one is above all else. However, capitalism can be argued to show individualism only from an economic point of view. This is because what one obtains economically belongs to him or her. This is unlike what communism believed in, that what one has belongs to the whole society. Moreover, individualism rose when capitalism was introduced. This is because people were allowed to do what they desire to as long as it did not negatively affect another individual. For example, one can make a decision of what to or not to sell in the market or even what to buy. This means that people were free to make their decisions without external input while in the market setting. Some of the essays also agree with the fact that capitalism contributed to individualism. However, individualism is just an illusion (Fromm 329). This means that individualism will never be fully achieved. Moreover, it presented to people a lifestyle that was categorized into classes. However, some argue that the world will be chaotic as each person seeks self or individual satisfaction. In my own experience, capitalism has given me a sense of independence. This is because while earning my money, I am in control of my life. Therefore, I can buy go, buy or do what I want since I have my financial freedom. On the other hand, I also have my goals that I work hard to attain regardless of the goals that my family and friends have set for their own lives. According to the essays, capitalism has contributed to individualism. However, each one notes that individualism is just an illusion because it does not exist wholly. This is because one cannot be a co mplete individual due to many factors that ties individual. For instance, the market may seem free, but the financial ability of an individual allows him to buy or not buy certain goods. Moreover, employees have to work in accordance to the terms set by the employees. Consequently, individualism is an illusion. Body Section Two Individualism is about a person, the self. Moreover, the individual has desires, needs and goals that are separate from other persons. Arguably, an individual looks into his or her interest , does also consider that of

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Project - Essay Example Also known as innate needs, these are vital for the survival of an individual. Psychogenic Needs are more acquired in nature – they include the need for social belongingness, recognition and self-esteem. (Solomon, M.R., Dann, S., Dann, S. & Russell-Bennett, R. 2007). Motive, on the other hand, is an intensified need. One can argue that the reason(s) for which people are moving in numbers to the online communities and different online groups and platforms are more of an acquired nature. The internet has been successful in giving acceptance, love, and self-fulfillment as achievements to separate individuals. Every need brings along an appropriate and distinct goal into the limelight. The specific goals are often interdependent on specific variables like the person’s age, gender, experience, prevailing cultural values and norms, and the degree to which the goal is accessible in the present social setup. (Farrior M., August 2005) Social communities often help the individual to set up specific goals for themselves which might not have been possible for them to set for themselves in the real world. A person sets a goal for losing a few pounds, which he is unable to accomplish in real life. However the internet provides him with the option of being the real ‘Marlboro Man’ – lean, rugged and handsome. So it, in turn, helps him to achieve the goal of becoming accepted due to bringing up a new identity for him. (Jonathan L., 2002). Second Life goes further than the online communities, it is a virtual world, which is accessible by users online. Users develop their own avatars, or profiles, and interact with other users. They lead a complete life online – they socialize, travel, participate in activities, own and trade in commodities, and can even enjoy live music and theatre (Au, W. J., 2008)! Second Life is an online, multi-user, fully integrated,

Monday, November 18, 2019

The role of Contract Manufacturing Service (CMS) Providers in the Term Paper

The role of Contract Manufacturing Service (CMS) Providers in the global manufacturing supply chain - Term Paper Example Broadly, there are two types of CMS, one involving supply with materials and the other involving only labor contract. The growth of CMS has been phenomenal in the recent years due to globalization. In order to preserve the core competency, the companies in the manufacturing sector setting up plants overseas to meet the consumer demand rely heavily on CMS, and the industry has evolved into a major economic force worldwide in the recent years. Factors influencing CMS The factors influencing the decision making process of an organization with reference to contract manufacturing service are multifarious of which, the opportunity cost of capital, marginal efficiency of the capital, benefits of mass production, cost-volume-price relationship, indigenization commitments required to be made in line with the economic policies of the host countries and cost structure in manufacturing versus CMS are the most important ones. The degree of the influence of each factor in the decision making varie s from product to product, industry to industry and the company to company based on the circumstances obtained in each case. These factors are considered very important since they are related to the growth of CMS industry and the competitiveness of the companies utilizing CMS, by tilting the balance towards CMS in manufacturing. A product primarily considered for in-house production might be switched over to CMS at a later stage due to the developments taken place in the intervening period. The CMS is on the growth path and Weber (2002) states â€Å"As OEMs slim down, electronic contract manufacturers have been bulking up. Indeed, these growing companies have become the new heavyweights of production in many industries†. Opportunity Cost â€Å"Cost of using something in a particular venture is the benefit foregone (or opportunity lost) by not using it in its best alternative use†. (Lipsey, R. G. p. 259) If the capital could be deployed in another economic activity inst ead of investment in machineries, buildings or facilities required for the manufacture of the product by offloading through CMS, the company takes the decision based on the opportunity cost of capital for increasing its competitive advantage. Marginal efficiency of the capital The returns expected on different capital investments are compared by the company, and if efficiency in the case of the alternative investment is higher compared to the investment that may be required to be made for manufacturing the product which could have otherwise been off-loaded under CMS, the decision in favor of CMS is taken by the companies. Mass production Economy of mass production is an important feature that many a times tilt the balance towards CMS. The auto manufacturers throughout the world prefer to procure standard components through CMS for cost advantage in view of the benefits of mass production enjoyed by the contractors. Janet (1992) states â€Å"The contract distribution operation has a nd will continue to play an increasingly important and rapidly developing role in the physical distribution scene†. Cost- Volume-Profit Analysis The benefit of volume in operations could be effectively achieved by the contractors and could be leveraged by the companies through CMS. Parasuraman (2000) says â€Å"If a linear relationship could be established among costs, volume and profits, it would help

Friday, November 15, 2019

Discussing Teens Drug Abuse Problems Social Work Essay

Discussing Teens Drug Abuse Problems Social Work Essay There are various drugs which are abused by teenagers and adults. Most of these are addictive and have adverse health effects to users. The common drugs of choice are alcohol, cigarettes, speed, prescription drugs, heroin, cocaine and marijuana. Alcohol is the most abused drug, and it inhibits judgment among users (Stimson 34-48). Long term use leads to liver and kidney failure. Tobacco, or cigarettes are one of the most addictive drugs and their long term use leads to development of cancer, impotency, lung collapse and others. Cocaine and heroine are drugs which are injected, smoked or taken orally. They are very addictive and they distort reality among users. Long term use may lead to heart problems, mental disorders and high blood pressure. Sharing of needles may transmit STDs while drug overdose may be fatal. Marijuana is another common drug abused and it distorts reality among users. Long term use may lead to mental damage, and some researchers have linked it to development of s chizophrenia. Prescription drugs are also commonly abused by the old and young alike. Although done innocently, these drugs may cause sudden death due to overdose or fatal combination of drugs, as has been witnessed among many celebrities who have died early due to use of prescription drugs (Isralowitz 122-123). Causes of drug abuse There are various causes of drug abuse. Drug abuse can be blamed on parents, friends, individuals and society at large. These causes will be briefly discussed to show how everyone is responsible for the problem of drug abuse. Lack of parental supervision Parents have an important role in their childs upbringing. They serve an important purpose of instilling values in their children through socialization at early age. Parents should ensure that their children are morally upright and that they do not engage in social vices. However, in the modern world, parents have put professional lives ahead of their families and delegated the role of raising children to nannies and teachers. As a result, the children do not acquire much needed guidance on lifes issues, and many end up taking drugs through peer influence. Lack of supervision from parents, who pursue their careers at the expense of their families, can therefore be blamed for the high number of drug abuse cases among teenagers. Parents should supervise their children at all times to avoid negative influence from peers. Poor communication between parents and teens Lack of communication between children and parents, especially during teenage years is also another causality of drug use. Many teenagers are unable to effectively communicate with their parents since neither group understands the others needs. Parents appear too harsh to teenagers while teenagers appear to demanding to parents. When parents and teenagers are unable to effectively communicate about issues teenagers face, teenagers are left to seek advice from peers, who may influence them to take drugs. Parents should understand childrens needs and vice verse, if drug abuse is to be eliminated. Mental Physical abuse Domestic violence and abuse has been one of the most common triggers of drug abuse. When people are emotionally or physically abused, and they do not seek help, they may engage in drugs to forget their problems. Since most abuse cases are perpetrated by close family members, this makes it harder for victims to overcome, and many opt to try out drugs, which they perceive will distort reality and make them forget their concerns (United States Department of Justice Website 2000). Drugs of choice in such circumstances include alcohol, tobacco and marijuana. However, victims are unaware that use of drugs increases their problems since it leads to addiction, which needs to be treated. Publicizing abuse, passing tough laws and offering free help to victims will help reduce abuse cases and thereby reduce drug use cases. Media influence Media influence is a major causality of drug abuse, especially regarding drugs such as alcohol and tobacco. The media makes it appear cool to use such drugs through flashy advertisements in the media. However, less emphasis is placed on adverse effects of such drugs; hence teenagers are influenced to use them without enough information on repercussions faced due to drug use. This leads to addiction, and by the time victims realize, they cannot do without drugs. This influence from media can be stemmed through use of warning labels and bans on certain forms of drug advertising which targets the youth. Warning signs There are various symptoms and warning signs which are associated with drug use. These symptoms vary according to drugs used, genetic make up of users, quantity used, personality and other aspects. It is important to note that presence of a particular symptom does not automatically means that the individual abuses drugs, rather that it shows that further investigation should be done to ascertain drug use by the individual. Some of these signs are discussed below; Dropping Grades Sudden drop of grades without clear reasons may indicate drug use. This may be linked to missing of classes when taking drugs, or harmful effects of drugs which affect the brain and cause poor academic performance. This behavior is usually accompanied by disrespect for school authorities and fellow students. Missing Curfew Missing curfews without adequate explanation of ones whereabouts may also indicate drug use. When teenagers are unable to explain their movements, this shows that they are secretive, and drug use may explain this situation. However, teenagers movements should be established before accusing them of drug use. Disrespectful to parents Drug users are usually disrespectful to other people. This is due to the label which society gives them of drug addicts, which makes them harbor hatred towards society. Teenagers who use drugs are unable to explain their odd behavior to parents and much resort to disrespect as a means of covering up drug use (Giannini 69-73). Others are influenced by drugs to make irrational choices leading to disrespect of family, friends and the community. Stealing lying Stealing is a common trait amongst drug users and it emanates from the need to purchase drugs. Drugs are expensive to purchase and drug users may be forced to steal from family and friends to maintain the vice. When questioned about it, they are likely to lie about it. This makes it a symptom of drug abuse, and parents should be careful to note such behavior from their children. Who to blame Various discussions have centered on who is to blame for the problem of drug abuse. However, there is consensus that everyone is to blame for the problem. Parents have neglected their children and left nannies and teachers to raise them, as they pursue professional goals. Teachers have also neglected students since they focus on academic curriculum at the expense of social development. The society has tolerated drug abuse and perceived it as normal behavior without taking action against drug users (Roleff 39-44). This has left adolescents to seek advice from peers, who may influence them to abuse drugs. Teachers and parents ought to give attention to teenagers and advice them on harmful effects of drug use. The society should also condemn and punish drug users, since this will deter them from practicing the same. Risks involved There are many risks which are involved in drug use. These risks affect the health of the user, their relationships with family, society and friends, and their ability to achieve full potential in later life. In addition to this, some risks may be potentially fatal to users. Risks associated with drug abuse include addiction, health problems, transmission of STDs, accidents, mental disorders and problems with law enforcers. These risks will be discussed below in more detail; Addiction Most drugs are addictive to users. The degree of addiction varies according to several factors including specific drug used, genetic make up of user, quantities used and other factors. However, since most drugs are addictive, users become dependent on the drugs for performance of everyday activities. Drug addiction is the most harmful effect of drugs since it ensures that users are unable to quit drugs, and instead use more quantities of drugs to achieve the state of intoxication over time. Some of the most addictive drugs include cocaine, heroine and tobacco. However, other drugs such as alcohol, prescription drugs and marijuana are also addictive and may make users dependent on them. This makes it expensive to sustain abuse, and users may use illegal means of getting money to satisfy the addiction. Drug manufacturers use the aspect of addiction to ensure they have a steady supply of cash from addicts. STDS Many drugs affect the ability to make reasonable judgments by users. Some drugs, especially alcohol, marijuana, cocaine and other hard drugs interfere with decision making abilities of users and may allow them to engage in irresponsible sexual behavior. This behavior may lead to transmission of STDs among people who engage in this behavior after drug abuse. In addiction, users who share needles when injecting themselves may acquire STDs as a result. Some STDs such as HIV are incurable and developing them leads to fatalities after a period of time. Others which are curable are expensive to treat, which leads to financial burdens on families of such drug users. Health problems Several health problems are linked to drug use. In fact, all drugs have a side effect or health problem associated with it. Drugs such as alcohol lead to kidney and liver failure while others such as tobacco may lead to development of cancer or lung damage (Learn about alcoholism website 2009). Hard drugs such as cocaine and heroin may lead to high blood pressure and heart problems. As earlier stated, sharing of needles may transmit STDs. It is clear that all drugs have adverse health repercussions. This leads to high medical costs to victims, and these problems may also lead to fatalities. This is an economic cost to families and governments around the world. Drug overdose may lead to instant death to users. Mental disorders There are various drugs which may lead to the development of mental disorders amongst users. These drugs adversely affect the brain leading to distortion of reality, leading to mental disorders. Drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin and others have been known to cause psychosis and illusions, which may develop into mental disorders. People with such disorders may perform unreasonable acts as they perceive themselves as normal and the rest as abnormal. These disorders are expensive to treat, and may at times be incurable to victims. Accidents Many accidents are caused by drivers or pedestrians who have taken drugs. Alcohol is the most common drug linked to accidents, although others also lead to accidents in our roads. In the US, over 37,000 people died as a result of accidents caused by drink-driving, while this figure exceeded 41,000 in the previous year. These figures show the severity of the matter. This is a matter of great concern especially when sober drivers are exposed to accidents caused by drunk drivers, which end up taking their lives. There are also other accidents at the workplace which are caused by working while intoxicated, especially in industrial plants where there is dangerous machinery. Accidents cause serious injuries or fatalities to victims. Trouble with the law Many drug users are arrested at some point in their lives due to drug use. Drug use causes addiction, which forces users to seek more. Since most drugs are illegal, law enforcers arrest drug users through elaborate schemes and plans put in place to deter drug use. Arrests over drug use have adverse repercussions including heavy fines and prison sentences. It also leaves a record which may affect future employment opportunities. Families suffer when breadwinners are arrested, and one loses employment when arrest over drugs is publicized. This creates a large population of social deviants who are a liability to society. Solutions In order to solve the problem of drug abuse, each society stakeholder should join efforts to fight the vice. The problem of drug abuse needs to be publicized and help given to drug users. In addition, stiffer punishment should be given to traffickers. These and more interventions will be discussed below; Family Counseling Counseling is the first step in solving the drug abuse problem. Users need to accept that they face a problem and counseling will enable them see the effects of drugs to themselves and their families. Family counseling also teaches families to be supportive of drug users in attempts to stop drugs (Evans Sullivan 75-76). This is important as drug users have families as primary socialization units. Family counseling should also address problems such as domestic violence which are causalities of drug abuse. Community and youth programs Community and youth programs educate youth on harmful effects of drugs. These programs also offer youth alternative activities to do with leisure time such as sports activities. When youth are aware of harmful effects of drugs, they are likely to avoid using them, thereby reducing the problem of drug abuse. Harsher punishment In order to deter trafficking and sale of drugs, laws which heavily punish drug use and trafficking ought to be passed. These should involve heavy fines and long prison sentences. When such laws are passed, they will deter drug traffickers, and when drugs are unavailable, the problem of drug abuse will reduce, if not completely eradicated. Harsh laws are very effective in deterring commission of crime. Communication In order to solve the drug problem, better communication between teenagers, teachers and parents should be developed. This will enable teenagers to share their concerns with parents and guardians, who will advice them on choices to make as opposed to peers, who may give wrong guidance and direction. Communication will also provide opportunities to teenagers to be aware of adverse effects of drug use. Summary The problem of drug use has been discussed in detail. Common drugs abused have also been discussed. Drugs have been seen to be harmful not only to users but also to their friends and families. Their harmful effects include health complications, fatalities, loss of employment, and economic burdens amongst other effects. Every member of the society is responsible for the problem of drug abuse and appropriate interventions should be implemented to discourage the vice. These include communication with teenagers, stricter laws against drug trafficking, family counseling and community programs which publicize the problem of drug use. This will ensure that teenagers are safe and free from drug abuse.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

The Funding of Making Chemical and Biological Weapons :: Chemical Biological Weapons War Essays

The Funding of Making Chemical and Biological Weapons Will the human race still be in existence in fifty more years? Although likely, there is a very real possibility that we will not be here. For example, after the Gulf War, we found Saddam Hussein stockpiling Weapons of Mass Destruction. Did you know that he had enough weapons to kill every single human, dog, and cow on the face of the earth? When I found that out, I thought it was very interesting, so I decided to do a report on it. If you keep reading, you’ll find out what I’ve found out. Who funds the making of chemical or biological weapons? The answer is many people. However†¦ the government is the main source of money. For example, they make labs built to find defenses against new chemical or biological weapons. The catch is that in order to find new defenses, they must first build new weapons. That brings us to terrorists. Government officials make the information on how to make these weapons of mass destruction too accessible to terrorists, which eventually results in successful terrorists attacks that injure or harm many people. An example of this was in the spring of 1995 when a Japanese mafia gang set off sarin gas and killed 12 people in a subway, while injuring over fifty. Now, you might be asking yourself, what’s the difference between chemical and biological warfare? Some major differences are when each has been used in history and / or what makes up a chemical or biological weapon. First, there’s the obvious difference of what makes up a chemical or biological weapon. Chemical weapons use chemical agents while biological weapons use bacteria from the earth and weaponizes the bacteria. While biological weapons have never been used for a modern war, they were once a very common weapon. You see, biological weapons were used for centuries in such ways as throwing dead bodies into their enemies’ water supply to sabotage it. Chemical weapons were never used in ancient times, as they didn’t have the technology. They have however found much use in our modern world. In fact, during World War I, chemical weapons found more use than ever before. The main weapon was mustard gas, it was responsible for two percent of the total deaths during that period. The next time chemical warfare was used on a large scale was during the Vietnam War. The Funding of Making Chemical and Biological Weapons :: Chemical Biological Weapons War Essays The Funding of Making Chemical and Biological Weapons Will the human race still be in existence in fifty more years? Although likely, there is a very real possibility that we will not be here. For example, after the Gulf War, we found Saddam Hussein stockpiling Weapons of Mass Destruction. Did you know that he had enough weapons to kill every single human, dog, and cow on the face of the earth? When I found that out, I thought it was very interesting, so I decided to do a report on it. If you keep reading, you’ll find out what I’ve found out. Who funds the making of chemical or biological weapons? The answer is many people. However†¦ the government is the main source of money. For example, they make labs built to find defenses against new chemical or biological weapons. The catch is that in order to find new defenses, they must first build new weapons. That brings us to terrorists. Government officials make the information on how to make these weapons of mass destruction too accessible to terrorists, which eventually results in successful terrorists attacks that injure or harm many people. An example of this was in the spring of 1995 when a Japanese mafia gang set off sarin gas and killed 12 people in a subway, while injuring over fifty. Now, you might be asking yourself, what’s the difference between chemical and biological warfare? Some major differences are when each has been used in history and / or what makes up a chemical or biological weapon. First, there’s the obvious difference of what makes up a chemical or biological weapon. Chemical weapons use chemical agents while biological weapons use bacteria from the earth and weaponizes the bacteria. While biological weapons have never been used for a modern war, they were once a very common weapon. You see, biological weapons were used for centuries in such ways as throwing dead bodies into their enemies’ water supply to sabotage it. Chemical weapons were never used in ancient times, as they didn’t have the technology. They have however found much use in our modern world. In fact, during World War I, chemical weapons found more use than ever before. The main weapon was mustard gas, it was responsible for two percent of the total deaths during that period. The next time chemical warfare was used on a large scale was during the Vietnam War.

Monday, November 11, 2019

 The Construction of Self-Ownership

The construction of Self-ownership through reflective surfaces.None of us have ever really truly saw our faces. We saw ourselves through mirrors and reflective surfaces, which posses a primordial role for viewing the self. But what if the mirrors we are using everyday are lying to us?Ourselves experiencing our own body is very different than imagining our body or seeing it in front of a mirror or experiencing ourselves looking out of our eyes. We are likely to experience our body as something apart from ourselves, something we have to look upon. The body seems to be more of a an external instrument for who you are than who you are. Our body is a tool where we can inhabit who we really are. Our minds fool themselves believing that this tool is who we really are, but the body is only an interim transporter for the consciousness that is looking throw our own your eyes. Our minds bear off from the truth through the our own constructions of our inner image, which is made by mirrors or other reflective surfaces. In the absence of them, we might would not know what we look like. We would just experience our persona and the environment without a full awareness of our external physical image. Our mind would still build other self-images, maybe even a made-up picture of ourselves based on how people react to us, but it would be much arduous to identify with an image that was not constantly being reinforced by mirrors. How we perceive and think about ourselves is the self-concept. Being aware of it is having a concept of ourselves, a feeling of being disconnected and divergent from others. Corporal self-consciousness refers to the awareness of the interaction of our body in space with other objects. The occurrence of seeing ourselves with a third-person point of view threw reflective surfaces or mirrors. How see ourselves through a mirror influences the representations we have of ourselves compared with an accurate third-person point of view. Mirrors are fundamental instruments for understanding and reviewing the self. Mirror reflections of one's constitution can be identified the near person's body space, which empowers overhauling of our bodies representations. We use mirrors for visual references and navigations of complex actions and to acknowledge ourselves. We can intuitively perceive how a mirror's reflections relate to our real bodies when we are situated facing one. Viewing the self in a mirror of a reflective surface involves a spatial transformation process over and above pure recognition of oneself in pictures and images.We use mirrors for visual references and navigations of complex actions and to acknowledge ourselves. We can intuitively perceive how a mirror's reflections relate to our real bodies when we are situated facing one. A spatial transformation is affecting by watching ourselves in a mirror or reflective surface, differing from the process of the recognition of the self through photographs. Mirrors poses the power to steal our peace. Some people want to feel good about themselves but what they see on a piece of metal devastates them. A lot of us can probably recall hearing someone describing themselves with a list of negative adjectives and the next step they they take is standing in front of a piece of metal and in their eyes their lives are ruined. Did this person ever saw their face with their naked eye? No. This implies that we, human beings, let myths and hypothesis dictates our lives. It is a lie that we are telling to ourselves. A piece of a metal that is a human invention and has the power to give you pain or satisfaction, amongst other positive or negative feelings. It can maybe be considered that this artefact is one of the ultimate methods of self-imposed distress due to the fact that it plays with the ones unconscious and conscious fears. As Jorge L. Borges wrote in the first paragraph of his poem â€Å"Los Espejos† (The Mirrors): â€Å"I, who have felt the horror of mirrorsNot only in front of the impenetrable crystalWhere there ends and begins, uninhabitable,An impossible space of reflections† The visual material from a mirror's reflection of our body is directed back to the body itself in front of the mirror. During the mirror complete body illusion we do not experience a referral of touch towards the location of the observed image or feel as though we are filling the place in the same spatial position as the image that we see. Instead, due to our inherent knowledge of the mirror's transformations, the visual content from the mirror reflection is interpreted back to our own body. The global experience of the complete body illusion is thought to comprise of diverse components. These components include referral of touch, the feeling that the touch one feels are the same as those one sees, as well as explicit feelings of ownership. The mirror surrenders us to a extracorporeal experience. The sensation of the projected out of the body and the allowance of seeing one's own body from the point of view of an external observer or even be able to project other places. There is a confrontation to an encounter that can be claimed to be experienced as a separation or unfolding of of the body. Reflective surfaces and mirrors help us to have a relationship and connect with the person we really are as a whole being. We don't see ourselves as someone but as an image of ourselves. We construct a subjective trace of our portraits, maybe this is the challenge we must phase.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Sonny Terry and His Harmonica Teaching People to Laugh Again

Sonny Terry and His Harmonica Teaching People to Laugh Again People rarely expect this kind of an instrument and this kind of a performer on stage, and the U.S., caught in the grip of the Great Depression, amidst the I and the II World Wars, could hardly believe that a plain Georgian man with a plain harmonica would win over the hearts of his audience in a millisecond.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Sonny Terry and His Harmonica: Teaching People to Laugh Again specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Sonny Terry, however, did not expect anything, either; he just did what he could do best – he simply told his Southern blues stories to the accompaniment of his harmonica. Surprisingly enough, his songs were exactly what America of the post-WWI depression needed. Although traditional commonplace phrases also occurred in Terry’s songs, most of his repertoire consisted of his observations of the United States at the verge of a major change, which made these songs documentarie s of the U.S. of the 1930ies. I’m a Stranger Here might seem a weird choice for a song that will make the audience feel happier about their lives. Indeed, the song tapped into the pace that was set by Guthrie, Moses Asch, and many other musicians of the decade. However, even with a song title that sounded no merrier than knell, Terry still managed to jazz the tune up a bit by introducing an upbeat rhythm and an optimistic â€Å"Woo-yes!† (Terry and McGhee). More to the point, the song represents the needs and wishes of the people of the epoch, therefore, serving as a documentary of people’s emotions: â€Å"I’m gonna write home to daddy, / send me my railroad fare† (Terry and McGhee). It is truly amazing how both economical (â€Å"railroad fare† (Terry and McGhee) and social (â€Å"write home to daddy† (Terry and McGhee) aspects of a documentary are intertwined in a single line. Despite its title, Mean Ole Frisco does not harp on the e conomical, racial or financial issues of the city, but, in fact, allows seeing the U.S. with the eyes of a person, who used to live in a happier place and, thus, makes one feel the loss of this place all the stronger. Although technically, the song does not render any obvious economical or social issue, when taking a closer look at the lyrics, one will be able to see what lies beneath the surface and read an idiom of men and women losing their homes, hopes and each other as they roam to larger cities in search for a job to earn some pennies into the image of a girl luring the leading character into San Francisco.Advertising Looking for essay on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Thus, the girl in the song appears to be a metaphor, which stands for a more promising fate, which the residents of the U.S. were so mercilessly ripped off. The â€Å"ole dirty† (Terry and McGhee) San Francisco does n ot have much to offer, either, which tells the audience that for most Okies, the search for the â€Å"Promised Land† did not end well. However, Terry still manages to add more vivacity into the gloomy context of a seemingly silly song. One of the songs that Sonny Terry is known best for, Born and Livin’ with the Blues might not sound as happy as one would expect it to, given some of his early and more upbeat performances; however, it still hit the chord with the post-WWI American audience, who wanted to hear about the family values, the strength of a community, faith in God, and the rest of the unshakeable elements of the life that they strived for. On the one hand, the song appeals for the numerous Okies, who abandoned or, more probably, lost their property due to the economical disaster: â€Å"I’d use my guitar for my pillow† (Terry and McGhee). On the other hand, it shows people the glimpse of hope that they wish they could see: â€Å"From my childhoo d, where I am now, / I ain’t gonna worry, I’ll get by somehow† (Terry and McGhee). While seemingly describing his childhood, starting, properly enough, from the time when he was a kid, to the point when he grows up into a disappointed adult: â€Å"Just look at what a hole I’m in† (Terry and McGhee), Sonny obviously refers to the situation that the entire South, predominantly â€Å"Okies,† was trapped in. Classified as a mix of a social documentary and a traditional one, the song provides an account of both the historical events (though in a metaphoric way) and the emotions of the people who suddenly lost everything. With Sonny Terry on stage, the darkest times of the American history did not seem as gloomy as they were. While other musicians of the era explained though their songs that it was all right to cry, Sonny Terry showed that it was fine to laugh – and the audience smiled as soon as the first chords of his songs started ringing .Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Sonny Terry and His Harmonica: Teaching People to Laugh Again specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More While remaining a striking contrast to what most artists of the epoch preferred to perform on stage, Terry’s songs gave people lust for life, which was truly a breeze of fresh air for the United States of the 30ies, when every single citizen was caught in the Dust Bowl, with no ray of sunshine getting through. Terry, Sonny and Brownie McGhee. â€Å"Born and Livin’ with the Blues.† YouTube. 1 Mar. 2009. Web. Terry, Sonny and Brownie McGhee. â€Å"Mean Ole Frisco.† YouTube. 2 Jun. 2010. Web. Terry, Sonny and Brownie McGhee. â€Å"I’m a Stranger Here.† YouTube. 28 Jun. 2010. Web.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Free sample - The Battle of Algiers Movie Review. translation missing

The Battle of Algiers Movie Review. The Battle of Algiers Movie ReviewThesis Statement of Purpose: Verbatim report of research assignment. The Battle of Algiers: Movie Review Description of the movie The Battle of Algiers is a classic 1965 year movie based on the events of the Algerian War (1954-1962) and filmed by the Italian filmmaker Gillo Pontecorvo by the sketchy screenplay written by the former Algerian political leader Saadi Yasef with a script co-written by Franco Solinas, the Italian writer. In the original movie version there was a disclaimer: â€Å"Not one foot of newsreel or documentary film has been used.†(Johnson), however, the movie has a perfectly documentary nature. It was made black white to increase the viewer’s impression of facing the reality and not the choreographically set scenes. The movie was filmed in the natural sceneries of Algiers of 1965 and most of the cast were chosen from the non-professional Algerians picked up for their typical appearance and emotional effect. The language of the film is French and Arabic, and its latest release with English soundtrack and English subtitles was issued by Criterion Collection in a 3-disc DVD set, including interviews with the members of FLN and the discussion of Battle of Algiers's depiction of terrorism and guerilla realities by the USA counter-terrorism advisors and film directors. Exposition The movie opens with the scene of French soldiers brutally torturing an aged Algerian man and finally forcing him to agree to show them the location of Ali la Puente , the last alive member of the General Staff of FLN, the rebellion movement they are determined to destroy. The tormented man is trembling of pain and shame; the tears are running down on his cheeks, suddenly he rushes to a window trying to escape, but the soldiers catch him and force to follow them. The next scene shows the occupation of the house where Ali la Puente found refuge, soldiers drive out men and women to the hall, and the tortured traitor, dressed in the French military uniform, shows the place where La Puente is hiding with three of his companions-in-arms, one of who is a teenage boy. French soldiers are convincing them to surrender, but they stay silent and are waiting for death. The camera shows their faces – a very young man, a woman with a dark and resolute face, a boy and finally Ali la Puente himself, his eyed flashing with rage and bitter contempt. In this moment the vision becomes blurred and the film retraces to the past of the Algerian revolution and history of FLN formation, showing the viewer some random realities of treatment of Arabs by pied noirs: several French young men trip running Ali just for having fun of seeing him to fall, of French commissar provoking FLN activists by setting a bomb in one of the sleeping quarters, pied noirs enraged a fter the explosion attacking a small Arab child in a street and so on. Characters The Battle of Algiers is based on true events; nevertheless, there are used composite characters together with those depicting historical personalities. One of these composite characters is â€Å"Colonel Philippe Mathieu†, commanding the 10th Airborne Division that arrived to Algiers on the 10th of January, 1957 to organize the fight against rebel activity. He participated in campaigns in Italy and Normandy, was a member of an anti-Nazi resistance movement, and took part in the Indochina war. This character is a composite of several French officers, especially Jacques Massu and Marcel Bigeard (Maxey). This character is played by the only French actor in the cast, Jean Martin, who, ironically, was fired from the French theatre for signing a manifesto against Algerian war. Colonel Mathieu seems to be a decent soldier who is performing his duty (â€Å"We are soldiers, our duty is to win†), dissecting a problem into structural parts and trying to solve it in the most ration al way, isolating and destroying the active minority of rebellious Arabs. Though disliking the police aspect of fight against the revolution, he introduces the measures of total investigation and â€Å"exhausting† interrogations, that is to say, tortures. He states that the success is in the result if these methods. The FLN members are allowed to disclose the secret data only in 24 hours after arrest, which enables FLN to make any data irrelevant by this time. That is why the soldiers have to use other methods than common civil law procedures. Colonel Mathieu, though elegant and noble, seems to be a person who cut off his human qualities and turned into an icy machine to perform his duty.   The key character of the movie is Ali La Puente, one of the leaders of FLN, played by Brahim Haggiag, an illiterate Algerian selected for his character heroic appearance of a strong and passionate personality, and several times in the movie an accent is made on his eyes. Ali La Puente was imprisoned several times for minor crimes and vandalism, and upon his release was recruited by FLN. To ensure that he was not a spy or a traitor, he was ordered to assassinate a French policeman. In the recollections of Saadi Yasef (a prototype and a performer of the role of Jaffar) Ali La Puente appears a person of extraordinary courage, but also precise, practical and just. â€Å"After each of †¦ actions he was conscious of having carried out a doubly useful task. In fact, on one hand he eliminated a slyly effective enemy of the organization; on the other he increasingly liberated the inhabitants of the Casbah - they who were also daily victims of the often brutal conduct of these auxiliari es of the police - from fear†. (History of Algerian Independence).   Ali is a personification of thousands Muslim people crying for liberty and rights, in his eyes there is the unforgettable sharp feeling of rage and suffer, here he is truly a hero of his time.   Another prominent character of the movie is El-Hadi Jaffar, also the member of the FLN General Staff. This is a fictional character, based on the personality of Saadi Yasef, who himself also performed this role in the movie. Jaffar is presented as an intellectual inspirer and tactic organizer of all rebellious actions, including the 8-day strike in Casbah. The real Saadi Yasef was an organizer of the military wing of the Algeria National Front (Roth) and he physically conducted and led all the events that are depicted in the movie. The Battle of Algiers is based on his notes that he wrote on an envelope when he was imprisoned and spent five years in jail. (Roth). Saadi Yasef states that under those circumstances there was no another way either for French soldiers than to imply tortures, and no way for Algiers population than to react by violence to violence. Besides, french tortures caused in massive recruitment of Algerian people, which produced a strong impact to the destabilizatio n of France. Larbi Ben M’Hidi, who is now considered a National Hero in Algeria, is also an important character in the movie. He was a prominent Algerian leader, one of the headquarters of FLN, and was captured, tortured and executed by the French paratroopers in 1957. In The Battle of Algiers he is depicted as a strong personality, a political and war leader, possessing invincible will and charisma. In the scene of the press conference with Ben M’Hidi in the 4th of March, 1957, he behaves with a sense of incredible dignity and is even able to make bitter jokes, which surely causes respect towards the moral fiber and courage of this man, so strongly devoted to his ideals and his people. In the ranks of the Algerian revolutionaries there were women as well as men. In the movie veiled Muslim women hide in their wicker baskets guns for the assassinators performing hit-and-run attacks on policemen and soldiers. One of the strongest scenes on the film is the scene where three women, Djamila, Zohra, and Hassiba (one of those who joined in death to Ali La Puente), change their traditional clothes concealing all the face and body according to the Muslim laws and religion to the European skirts and blouses and even flippant trousers to pass French checkpoints unsearched, carrying bombs. One of these women even cuts her long black hair and dyes it light, another takes her son with her. They leave their handbags with bombs in a cafe, full of people, in a bar, where dozens of young people are drinking and dancing, and in the office of Air France. They see people - all civilian, practically innocent people - passengers awaiting their planes, aged people drinking coffee and talki ng, teenagers dancing, a diffident boy who is afraid to invite a girl to dance, and - as a culmination - a small child licking ice-cream - all this to be blown up in several minutes. One can only guess what might these three women feel - but nevertheless, they leave the bombs and go away, and there are dozens of victims, and blood, and fear. Petit Omar is a small hero of the Algerian War, a street urchin and a FLN messenger, who then becomes one of the most devoted fellow-soldiers of Ali La Puente and is executed by the French soldiers together with him. He is probably an embodiment of all Muslim children of Algiers of that time, maybe not understanding political motives and reasons, but strong in their hate to the enemy who killed their loved ones, and that is why devoted to the cause of the revolution. Analysis of the movie Plot Lines and Themes The film, subsidized by Algerian government, was originally intended as a part of propaganda for anti-colonialism. In 1965, the time of the movie filming, the Algerian War was still fresh for pubic, as Algerian independence was proclaimed only three years ago, in 1962, after 8 years of struggle. The movie that began as a sketchy screenplay written by Saadi Yasef in prison nowadays became one of the so-called training films for Pentagon officers for them to understand the regularities and rules of partisan war and ways of struggle against world terrorism. However, Saadi Yasef himself in his interview to Diplomatic License states that â€Å"the style, the urban guerilla style, the Chinese style, the Latin American style, South American style, did not have the same human elements, geographic elements or social elements. There is nothing comparable. So Algeria really has nothing in common with all of that†. (Roth). To make the events of the Battle of Algiers more personal and to create a single plot line, the creators of the movie concentrate the attention on Ali La Puente as the personification of the rebellious spirit, and partially the story is told as witnessed by his eyes. The camera focused on his face, as if carved out of stone, and his short biography of an ordinary street criminal is told, but nevertheless it is clearly felt that he is deemed to play the great role in the story of Algerian revolution.   After the stories of Ali La Puente, Jaffar, Larbi Ben M’Hidi and three women who carried bombs, another subtle plot line is a story of a young Algerian couple, both of them belonging to FLN. The scene of their wedding ceremony comes shortly after the scene of Algerian children kicking and mocking the alcoholic, as due to FLN propaganda alcoholism, prostitution and selling drugs in Casbah were considered illegal and such that undermine health and fighting capability of Algerians. The wedding ceremony is conducted by Larbi Ben M’Hidi himself and the marriage is registered by FLN. The bride, Fatiha, is very young, almost a girl, and so young is her chosen one, Mahmud. He will be one of those who will join Ali La Puente in death, blown up in their hiding place. There is a short prayer, the newly married sign their names, and then - another prayer, the voices of many people standing not only in the room where the marriage took place, but also in the yard, on the roofs of hou ses, join into a rhythmic choir, This prayer flows over the dirty and ragged walls of Casbah to the lighted streets and rich white houses of the European quarters. Despite its seeming simplicity, it is a very strong scene, showing the viewer the connection between FLN and civilian people of Algiers, unanimously determined to win their freedom and their right for own culture and religion.  Ã‚   Propaganda and Tortures Constant attacks on policemen and police stations keep French population of Algiers in terror. The Government is trying to introduce measures to control terrorism, such as reporting about people with gunshot wounds in hospitals and blocking entrances to the Muslim quarters of city at night and installing there police checkpoints in the daytime. Then women start carrying guns under their veils, guns can be hidden in the fruit baskets and can appear in a hand of an Algerian teenager. Yes, this is terrorism, but after the explosion of the bomb set in a Casbah sleeping quarter by French, when a viewer sees Algerian man carrying the mutilated bodies of children out of the ruined house, the crying and screaming women searching for their loved ones in the ruins, after that it is easier to apprehend the motives of FLN members setting bombs in public places. Either in guerilla or in civil war propaganda is one of the most effective ways of influence on the society and public opinion. As The Battle of Algiers is a reconstruction of the real events, this movie can be chosen as an example of such influence. Really, propagandistic appeals to the Muslim population of Algiers sounding from the megaphones in the casbah streets are a part of the natural background of these years’ city life. Such appeals have destructive strength that is hard to exaggerate, because they are intruding into thoughts of each single person, changing opinion and causing doubt in what they used to believe, especially if such propagandistic appeals were competently composed. French radio emissions in casbah contain nothing except lists of names of those who were recently arrested and killed, but considering the structure of FLN, it could be one of the best ways to convince people that hear familiar names of that the organization is on its last legs and to persuad e them to collaborate with police. One can never say now how well this worked; taking in account that fact that the police still had to imply the most severe tortures to force the arrested to disclose their fellow-soldiers. Later appeals become more persuading and non-compromising, directly stating that FLN is disorganized and the battle is lost, and convincing Muslim citizens to step under the protection of French army. In the movie these words sound in the background of frightening scenes of Algerian people standing with their faces to the walls and searched by the policemen, dead bodies lying in the streets and – there is a tear-stained Muslim child, watching a soldier to search a killed man. Propaganda can work only if it is supported by real actions, at least partially, but never if it fully contradicts the reality. Besides, people are always more likely to believe propaganda that corresponds their convictions and that is issued by someone from their own side. The strong scene of the movie is when Petit Omar steals a microphone from a police officer in the checkpoint on the 6th day of the strike. The officer was reading the text stating that FLN impedes normal prosperous life of casbah people and that France is their real motherland, all this in the background of Algerian women searching their probably arrested or killed sons and husbands in the rows of men coming back from work in the European quarters. No one believes this French propaganda, no one listens to it. But then Omar steals the microphone, and his ardent appeal to his compatriots sounds above the rows of the exhausted and despaired people – an appeal to resist and to believe in their future freedom, and this is met by the immediate furious support of people, a frightening scream of women, sending shivers down the spine, and this can not be stopped by fear of guns and arrest. This proves once more that propaganda, despite its obvious effectiveness, can not work well if it meets st rong resistance of the antagonizing population. Tortures are another important theme and problem of the movie. On the part of the French headquarters, the use of tortures seems to be justified by the necessity to get information from the arrested members of FLN as quick as possible, taking in account that fact that the police can not linger and use common methods of civil investigation while bombs are exploding in the city quarters and dozens of victims die every day. And they implied burning hot iron, waterboarding, hanging people upside down and electric shocks, and for sure, they got information, figuring out members of FLN and defining its structure. After the series of such "investigations" (Webber, Chapter 3), FLN headquarters were forced to leave the capital, and this was the first victory of France. But there was also the opposite result: these tortures completely destroyed the image of France as a democratic country and caused massive voluntary recruitment of Algerians to the ranks of FLN. Saadi Yasef says in his interview to Diplomatic License:   â€Å"I don't see how the French Army could have acted in any other way under the circumstances. We simply had to accept this fact of torture [†¦.] Automatically there was a massive recruitment as a result [†¦]. When you killed someone, 10 more recruits flocked to our side. So we needed this kind of torture, this brutality, to destabilize France, eliminate the 4th Republic, and everything else involved in terms of brutality and cruelty†(Roth). Implying tortures also caused great scandal in French society, which is almost not shown in the movie. Several brochures of the re-called reservists in Algeria were published generally in 1957, disclosing for the French public the real nature of Algerian conflict, despite the veil of secrecy and censorship. The publications in journals and newspapers involved intellectuals that soon formed networks fighting against human rights violations. The significant example of the mood of certain spheres of French society could be a phrase of the anti-colonialist historian Robert Bonnaud: "If France's honor can go along with these acts of torture, then France is a country without honor."(Webber, Chapter 3). Sometimes while watching a movie a question may appear: is the Algerian independence worth all this? Algeria had been a French colony for 130 years by that moment, so was there a reason to start a revolution? This paper is not dedicated to the reasons of Algerian War, but here is just a logical remark: people do not start rebellious actions if they have economic and cultural freedom. The obtrusive politics of France and nationalistic behavior of â€Å"pied noirs† caused indignation and insurrection, and probably there was no another way to solve the conflict except guerilla. The movie was filmed with an attempt to show the events from the neutral point of view. In fact, in such a movie there can not be any neutrality. There are two parties fighting against each other, each applying methods that have nothing in common with humanity and morality. In fact, there is no difference, whose children – French or Algerian - are pulled out of the ruins; there is no difference, with whose blood the stones of the city streets are soaked. The thing is in that any violence has its subsequences, either fear and submission, or resistance and even stronger violence, and this second effect we actually see in the events of Algerian war. Glossary of Key Terms Algerian War - a conflict between France and Algerian independence movements from 1954 to 1962, which led to Algeria gaining its independence from France. Casbah - specifically the citadel of Algiers in Algeria and the traditional quarter clustered around it. FLN (transliterated: Jabhat at-Ta?rir al-Watani, French: Front de Libà ©ration Nationale, hence FLN)   -   a socialist political party in Algeria. It was set up on November 1, 1954 as a merger of other smaller groups, to obtain independence for Algeria from France. Guerilla - a form of irregular warfare and refers to conflicts in which a small group of combatants including, but not limited to, armed civilians (or "irregulars") use military tactics, like ambushes, sabotage, raids, the element of surprise, and extraordinary mobility to harass a larger and less-mobile traditional army, or strike a vulnerable target, and withdraw almost immediately. Paratroopers - soldiers trained in parachuting and generally operate as part of an airborne force. Pieds-Noirs - a term used to refer to colonists of French Algeria until the Algerian independence in 1962. Specifically, Pieds-Noirs were French nationals, including those of European descent, Sephardic Jews and settlers from other European countries such as Spain, Italy and Malta, who were born in Algeria. Propaganda - a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position. Appendix 1. Map of Algeria at the time of the war 2. Information about France and Algeria  Ã‚     Languages   Religions  Currency  France  French  Christian  Francs  Algeria  Arabic and French  Muslim  Francs   3. Algerian War Numbers: Casualties and Losses: Algeria: 153,000 dead, 160,000 wounded, 1,500,000 dead according to the Algerian government; France: 25,600 dead, 65,000 wounded.

Monday, November 4, 2019

Consumer protection can best be achieved through competition Essay - 1

Consumer protection can best be achieved through competition regulation ensuring a functioning competitive market. Discuss - Essay Example Thus, to understand how competition regulation benefits the consumer, it is critical to also first appreciate how competition regulation is related to the consumer protection regime2. This paper will begin my discussing the major completion regulations in the UK, before discussing the effect of competition regulation on the functioning of a competitive market. This will lead on to a discussion on how competition regulation’s effect on market functioning strengthens the consumer protection regulatory regime. Competition regulation policy in the UK, as well as the EU, is based on four fundamental pillars. The first pillar involves cartels and anti-trust, including the elimination of agreements that act to restrict competition, such as price-fixing by dominant market players3. The second pillar involves market liberalization that seeks to introduce renewed competition in sectors enjoying monopolistic tendencies, including postal services, energy supply, aviation, and telecommunications. A third pillar is state aid control, through which competition regulation policy analyses measures of state aid to ensure they do not distort market competition. The final pillar is merger control, through which governments investigate take-overs and mergers to avoid domination of the market by large business groups. UK competition regulation is anchored in legislation and there have been sustained attempts to enhance competition regulation since 1948. The Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Act 1948 was the UK government’s first legislative attempt to regulate competitive practices, specifically by setting up the Competition Commission to block mergers that would threaten public interest4. The Monopolies and Mergers Act 1965, in turn, empowered this commission to investigate possible and actual mergers, especially where there was a risk of increased monopoly power. In the meantime, the UK government got the

Friday, November 1, 2019

Debt Cancellation and its impact on poverty in developing countries PowerPoint Presentation

Debt Cancellation and its impact on poverty in developing countries - PowerPoint Presentation Example The paper tells that debt relief or debt cancellation is partial or full forgiveness of debt from developed countries to developing or poorest countries. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development noted that debt service payments in hard currency in fact scarce domestic resources from major important investments such as in health and education and thus cause poverty as well. Debt relief is thus an integral part of the efforts taken by international community to reduce poverty worldwide. In 1996, World Bank and International Monetary Fund took initiative for Debt Relief whereby Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) will get faster, deeper and broader debt relief. This agreement was designed with a view to make these countries introduce measures to reduce poverty in these countries. By 2005, The Multilateral Debt Relief initiative was agreed to provide 100 percent cancellation of IMF, World Bank, African Development Bank and Inter American Development Bank for all those co untries that have completed HIPC initiative. The HIPC initiative has been aiming to provide debt relief to 40 most poorest countries, with a condition that all these countries must have high level of poverty and unmanageable levels of debt. In order for a country to be eligible for debt relief, it is required to demonstrate World Bank and IMF that it has plans to reduce poverty in the country. The HIP countries later have shown sincere commitment to put sound macroeconomic policies with a view to reduce poverty. ... 269). The HIP countries later have shown sincere commitment to put sound macroeconomic policies with a view to reduce poverty (IMF and World Bank, 2001). The main purpose of HIPC initiative and debt relief was poverty reduction, and this has been found to be highly effective for many countries. The debt relief or debt cancellation to poorest countries has been found to be an effective way to improve health and education in the country and thus to reduce poverty. Figure given below illustrates that spending on education and health as improved due to the HIPC debt relief. Lala, Ranganathan and Libresco (2006, p. 6) observed that debt relief was becoming an ongoing mechanism for resource transfer so that the country can free up resources for poverty reduction purposes. It is generally agreed that debt relief to poorest countries has caused improvements in health and education spending due to resources transfer and as a result poverty has been reduced in the poorest countries. But, it is also argued that it may not be the same in the case of developing countries. Cancellation of Developing Countries’ debt and poverty problem It is argued that debt relief or debt cancellation owed by developing countries may result to reduce poverty since these countries will be able to adopt domestic policies and strengthen institutions to take advantages of global markets, which in turn help them increase the share of trade in their GDP. As these countries gain debt relief, they can participate in globalization by exporting to or importing from other countries and thus to be able to maintain favorable balance of payments. These countries also would