Saturday, November 30, 2019

Marshall Mathers LP by Eminem free essay sample

I would highly recommend the album, Marshall Mathers LP, produced in the year 1999 and released at the turn of a new century. Marshall Mathers, Eminem or his alter ego, Slim Shady, brought change to rap/hip hop forever. Eminem uses explicit rhymes that he uses to describe and tell people about his life, although explicit he uses those words in a context that is, in a way, needed to describe his life. In the song â€Å"Stan† Eminem talks about his closest friend as a child growing up about how his life was terrible, and how his cousin had ended up going rogue and kills himself and he is saying that he thought it was all his fault and he was to blame for his closest friends death. All his life experiences leading up to his career have fueled his energy to do his job in the music industry, and all of this energy has been put towards creating the Marshall Mathers LP. We will write a custom essay sample on Marshall Mathers LP by Eminem or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Marshall (AKA Eminem) was ranked at the the top of this list of the best rappers in the world and MMLP has 21,000,000 copies worldwide and nearly half of those records were sold in the United States. Many people love his music style of rap and hip/hop mashed together and others not so much, but Eminem has changed the music industry for better and for worse with this album.

Monday, November 25, 2019

FBI Warning Regarding Phishing, Spoofing and ID Theft

FBI Warning Regarding Phishing, Spoofing and ID Theft The FBI,  the  Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and Internet service provider Earthlink have jointly issued a warning on how the growing ranks of Internet crooks are using new tricks called phishing and spoofing to steal your identity. In an FBI press release, Assistant Director of the agencys Cyber Division, Jana Monroe says, Bogus e-mails that try to trick customers into giving out personal information are the hottest, and most troubling, new scam on the Internet. The FBIs Internet Fraud Complaint Center (IFCC) has seen a steady increase in complaints that involve some form of unsolicited e-mail directing consumers to a phony Customer Service type of web site. Assistant Director Monroe said that the scam is contributing to a rise in identity theft, credit card fraud, and other Internet frauds. How to Recognize Attack Email Spoofing, or phishing, frauds attempt to make Internet users believe that they are receiving e-mail from a specific, trusted source, or that they are securely connected to a trusted web site when that is not the case. Spoofing is generally used as a means to convince individuals to provide personal or financial information that enables the perpetrators to commit credit card/bank fraud or other forms of identity theft. In E-mail spoofing the header of an e-mail appears to have originated from someone or somewhere other than the actual source. Spam distributors and criminals often use spoofing in an attempt to get recipients to open and possibly even respond to their solicitations. IP Spoofing is a technique used to gain unauthorized access to computers, whereby the intruder sends a message to a computer with an IP address indicating that the message is coming from a trusted source. Link alteration involves altering the return address in a web page sent to a consumer to make it go to the hackers site rather than the legitimate site. This is accomplished by adding the hackers address before the actual address in any e-mail, or page that has a request going back to the original site. If an individual unsuspectingly receives a spoofed e-mail requesting him/her to click here to update their account information, and then are redirected to a site that looks exactly like their Internet Service Provider, or a commercial site like ​eBay or PayPal, there is an increasing chance that the individual will follow through in submitting their personal and/or credit information. FBI Offers Tips on How to Protect Yourself If you encounter an unsolicited e-mail that asks you, either directly, or through a web site, for personal financial or identity information, such as Social Security number, passwords, or other identifiers, exercise extreme caution.If you need to update your information online, use the normal process youve used before, or open a new browser window and type in the website address of the legitimate companys account maintenance page.If a website address is unfamiliar, its probably not real. Only use the address that you have used before, or start at your normal homepage.Always report fraudulent or suspicious e-mail to your internet service provider.Most companies require you to log in to a secure site. Look for the lock at the bottom of your browser and https in front of the website address.Take note of the header address on the web site. Most legitimate sites will have a relatively short internet address that usually depicts the business name followed by .com, or possibly .org. Spoof s ites are more likely to have an excessively long strong of characters in the header, with the legitimate business name somewhere in the string, or possibly not at all. If you have any doubts about an e-mail or website, contact the legitimate company directly. Make a copy of the questionable web sites URL address, send it to the legitimate business and ask if the request is legitimate.If youve been victimized, you should contact your local police or sheriffs department, and file a complaint with the FBIs Internet Fraud Complaint Center..

Friday, November 22, 2019

Blackberry Phone Analysis

Blackberry Phone Analysis Blackberry Phone Background Living in a global world, we are mainly ruled by gadgets of all kinds. Starting from a street sweeper all the way up to the CEO of a multinational corporation, we all are beguiled by the charm and charisma that technology brings to our lives. This reality has turned luxuries into necessities. Still man is not satisfied with this technological awareness, always driven by the desire for more convenience, speed, and efficiency to make life easier. To satisfy this desire we bring to you a new Blackberry, with conferencing capabilities and GPS features. The young executives of today and the senior officers at work find it extremely frustrating not to be able to contact multiple business partners simultaneously and with limited fanfare and complications. Our new product solves this problem by allowing users to engage in a conference call by selecting a distribution group, contact group, or by multi-selecting users in the Contact List. Users engaged in a one-to- one call can invite other participants to join the conversation thereby creating a multi-party conference. Introduction The product is not only targeted for business executives who are always running short on time, and have the burden of numerous responsibilities, but also will appeal to the technologically inclined. The real goal here was to build a high-end device that was the ultimate Blackberry to date. It is marketed both the business executives and the gadgetholics who just have to have the best gadget in the market. (Positioning a New Product in an Uncertain Market) Other vendors clearly have their sights set on the same market, hoping the BlackBerry situation creates new opportunities. Nokia, for instance, recently purchased wireless e-mail management firm IntelliSync to target customers who want continuous access to their messages. â€Å"What we find in the marketplace is increasing awareness of the further potential beyond e-mail of the BlackBerry and other hand-held devi ces, said Al Smith, president and co-founder of Apresta. â€Å"Many of our customers are using the device to check inventory, to put in orders from the road. They’re starting to become very dependent on it and used to using it for that as well.† (Blackberry Competition) These same services can be used on other devices as well but our corporate users are loyal to the blackberry since it was the first device to introduce this new wave of technology. Blackberry Classic is definitely a major smart phone enhancement that provides its users with a myriad of tempting features. Features ‘Tri-band 3G support extends support to GPRS/EDGE/HDSPA networks. Push button† WiFI setup to readily access â€Å"protected† WiFi access points. Significantly improved multimedia support – overall (streaming) video performance, iTunes synchronization, new media player, improved display and, while they’re still working on it prior to the Blackberry Bold’s summer release, a new web browser. Faster processor (@ 624 MHz, the fastest Blackberry) 128MB internal Flash memory but also 1GB on-board storage memory expandable to 16GB via MicroSD/SDHC slot. 4.2 megapixel camera GPS with Blackberry MapsBlackberry MediaSync to transfer media from iTunes half-VGA â€Å"ultra-bright† display (480 x 320)

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Journal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 57

Journal - Essay Example Sheehan terms the advertisement as a perfect example of social responsible advertisement (243). The author further points out that the form of marketing increases the corporate value of an organization (Sheehan 243). However, the Benetton’s Death Row Campaign is my most detestable advertisement. The advertisement has an objective of creating a human feeling on the people who are convicted with death rows. The execution of the advertisement was also poor. The advertisement used picture insertions of people who are on the death rows across the United States. The advertisement is not social responsible. It creates a negative perception of the people against the justice system. Any corporate advertisement should show support of state institutions or not portray them in a negative image. In addition, Sheehan cites that an organization should not put itself in a position whereby they would gain from the miseries of the society (257). The author is also of the assumption that this is an opportunistic strategy (Sheehan

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Managing Your Time as an Adult Learner Research Paper

Managing Your Time as an Adult Learner - Research Paper Example An instance whereby the teacher is able to fashion the learning activities in such a manner, that the learners identify with the concept being taught, there is a great likelihood that, the learners will identify themselves with the contents being taught (Turner, 2001). For learning to be effectual, the need to set realistic goals is vital. All processes are worth undertaking if the learner is directed towards achieving a certain goal. Goals allow learners define what they work for and at what levels, they would also be in a better position to attain their goals. It is also imperative to note that, creating weekly schedules is crucial if individuals have to achieve their set goals and standards. Through set schedules; learners are able to detect extra time that they have, that can be dedicated to remedial classes. With strict timelines, learners are able to create quality and uninterrupted study time. Creation of schedule lists allows the learners schedule what they have to do in the following day. Schedules have been credited for their ability to allow learners plan on what to do and what not to do. According to Matema (2007) understanding one’s schedule is of importance to adult learning. ... Anderson, Samimi and Bohl (2010) argue that, time management is the major ingredient in the success of learning among learners. Learning how to manage time requires that learners come up with a daily occurrence list that needs to be constantly updated. Prioritizing activities allows learners plan what to do first and according to their urgency. The learners are also able to discern the repercussions of not following their time schedules. The learners must always update their skills and be in a position to assess their performance. Adult learners are faced with a myriad of barriers in their course of study. Rothwell (2008) indicates that, learners must devise solutions towards procrastination. The study recommends that adult learners can handle this problem through strictly following their set schedule. The schedule must be set on limits that the learners must plan their work in a manner that will not strain their abilities. Procrastination is known to instill guilt feelings among lea rners; a factor that drains their abilities to perform well. In order to work without interruptions, the leaner may need to understand the contents of their tasks, so as to allocate enough time for all of them. In this way, the learners will be in a better position to meet deadlines of the specific tasks as well as, acquire help when need in a timely manner. It is possible to eliminate stress in the learners if they understand the fact that, they do not have to be perfect, but do what they can within the allocated time. The learners must always attempt to make their learning interesting despite the fact it may prove extremely difficult at times. Conclusively, it is justified to argue that, adult education can only be successful if all the tips of effectiveness are followed

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Facilitating Case Management Essay Example for Free

Facilitating Case Management Essay Why is it important for a case manager to develop rapport with a client? Provide three examples of how rapport can be generated. 2. Why are statutory requirements necessary? What impact do they have on the case manager’s role? 3. What information might you need to gather from the families of clients? 4. List two elements that may be considered to be characteristics of a complex case. 5. Describe two strategies you may employ when dealing with a client with complex issues. 6. Case management plans must be developed in order to reflect the initial assessment of needs. Why is it essential that these plans be designed in consultation with clients? 7. Casework processes should be continually monitored for effectiveness. a) List two reasons why this is necessary. b) How should monitoring be undertaken? 8. If changes to a case plan are required, who should be consulted prior to the changes being made? 9. Why is cultural consideration important as part of case management planning? 0. Outline three strategies you think a workplace needs to have for including cultural awareness in the planning process? 11. You are a Team Leader in a Community Service Organisation and your organisation has just employed a new case worker. Describe two strategies that can help facilitate casework consultation between staff to maximise their performance in their new role. Best practice and promoting high-quality case management 12. What is meant by the term ‘best practice case management’? Why is best practice a significant service delivery benchmark? 13. How can case workers benefit from appropriate leadership, support, advice, supervision and challenges? In what ways might these improve service delivery? 14. Legislation, organisational policies and procedures can change over time. How might case management leaders support case managers in keeping up to date with organisational policies and procedures?

Thursday, November 14, 2019

to become a member :: essays research papers

this is it I love you and am sending you a letter tomorrow.I want you to know I am sorry.Please, listen I will give you my address but DO NOT write b/c of parents. I will also give you my # but I will call you.I am sorry.Thank you though for believing in me and trusting me.Your an angel. I am not completely over last nights disagreement and don't want to cause any problems over it. I know what I put you through last night and I understand where you are coming from on the issue but I don't think you know or understand where I stand and what I percieve. I have been in your position several times and know how angry you get and how frusterating it is. But before I always thought like you did, until I got into the opposite position and trust me, it is miserable. Either way I go about it, I am still wrong. It is a long and complicated thing to get over because I can't express my feelings and I can't hold them back either. It will drive me insane if I do and if I don't. What will become of it, i don't know, but I won't stop loving you regardless. I do believe in fate and have for a long time, and whatever you have been thinking about I would like to hear it. I won't mention the arguement again and hopefully I will get over it and we can move on. I have a hair apointment at 11:00 and my wax apointment at 1:00 but hopefully I will be able to send you one more email before tonight. I love you dave honestly but at the moment I am feeling really down and discouraged. Please don'ttake my comments wrong and try to understand. I am sorry and I did overreact but I know you think I appologized for my thoughts and perceptions and that I didn't do. I love you too. I justwant to drop the whole arguement and deal with it by myself. I can work through it and then we can be back to normal. I am really scared of losing you too. But I don't know what to do, or how to do it, and especially not how to cope alone. I will work it out for you, for us, though. I love you and don't forget that.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Communication Style Essay

Communication is fundamental for good mental health and healthy relationships in the health care workplace. The following scenarios are reviewed for styles of communication with the benefits or weaknesses of each. There is abundant value in clear and productive workplace communication. The types of communication styles in the example related to Rashad were aggressive and passive communication. Evidence of aggression shown as the Registered Nurse communicated to the nurse aide that included a raised tone of voice and negative comments, show evidence of superiority and attaches blame to the individual. This type of communication may induce feelings of negativity and may often cause the individual to feel the need to retaliate with anger in return. By communicating in a passive manner ideas may not be shared because a person may feel belittled and humiliated, thus provoking an unwillingness to bring forward positive suggestions to the task at hand. Passive behavior as Rashad showed with his â€Å"sitting quietly and not responding† (Hansten & Jackson, p. 283 2009) is nonproductive as it is an act to avoid the situation presented. The individual with the passive behavior may feel fear of prosecution, but act out in anger toward the person at a later date. The aggressor will alienate an individual and blame or attack others. These individuals will remain in a position of powerlessness unless the behavior changes. The scenario involving Pamela, a school nurse was evidence of nonassertive communication. Every time a person acts in a passive manner, they lose self-respect. Pam is doing the labor herself which may be not proper use of her time. Nor is it providing the proper communication to others about what is in needs to be completed. Communicating in a clear and concise method about what is required, an individual having little experience may be empowered by new knowledge and volunteer for new duties at a later time. This continued behavior of avoidance can lead to an individual unable to perform all duties as assigned. Productivity may go down and costs will go up due to an individual taking on too much of the task at hand. Not being able to educate and delegate in a productive manner will only create possible work burnout and increasing negative feelings between coworkers. Reasoning for passive or nonassertive communication would include low self-esteem, anxiety related issues, and possible dread of confrontations. Pamela â€Å"was concerned about the accuracy of the work† (Hansten & Jackson, p. 283 2009). Pamela should have taken the time to research the accuracy and possibly discuss the results with the individuals performing the test to review the data with them. There may have been a valid reason for the results. By not using proper investigation and communication techniques, she is creating more work for herself and less confidence in her coworkers. Similar behavior may lead to decreased confidence from the patient related to the test repeated. Trust from the patient is imperative to a heath care relationship. The last scenario presented with Mabel, the surgical technician, is very easily a representative of aggressive communication. This style of communication the individuals may be verbally or physically abusive to others during the process. This impact of this pattern of behavior would include alienating them from others and generating fear or hatred from peers. The idea of being entitled to special treatment and threatening comments to illicit getting their way can undermine authority and good decision-making processes. The aggressive communicator may feel incapable of dealing with the object of their resentments and redirect that anger by secretly sabotages others. This could be seed by behaviors of muttering foul words to themselves or using sarcasm while denying that there is even a problem occurring. An example of assertive communication would include a situation in which I needed to inform a group of relief charge nurses that were required to attend a clinical supervisor meeting on their normal scheduled day off. My personal experience as a nurse manager of a medical surgical unit consists of numerous forms of positive and negative communications. My goal to ensure proper communication includes delegation and a clear understanding of each individual’s job skill before communication occurs. Knowing the audience is imperative. Nursing students doing clinical rotation on my unit are at various stages of learning. Previously I would assign them a scavenger hunt. A list of items used every day needed to be located and marked down with different colors. Years ago I would ask the students complete with one sentence. Chaos ensued on the floor, including loud interactions, disruptive question asking of staff, and many individuals roaming the unit looking for the same item. They would often all come back with 21 silver tip catheters. It was hilarious yet frustrating. Progress was not made with this disorganized form of communicating and poor delegating. After recognizing this I currently divide the list into even sections. After dividing the class into even numbered groups and providing them an assigned color, one portion of the list was assigned to each group. Groups were sent out on their hunt, one group at a time. While one group was on the hunt, those remaining discussed strategies on delegating from the next lists. Each group found items more rapidly than previous groups. By knowing my audience, communicating clearly with a positive manner, and explaining the required goal, I consider this to be form of assertive communication style. The goal reached and individuals were allowed to contribute to make the solution to the problem successful. Communication styles can make or break a health care environment. Identifying styles and how to manage them is required to ensure correct nursing care delivery. Knowing the benefits of proper communication, patient safety will always be ensured.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Land Acquisition in Zambia

Due to the effects of food price crisis of 2007-2008, there was growing concern among the nations about the food security. There was surge in demand for food products by the food importing countries and subsequently food-producing countries imposed some restrictions on the food exports of food grains. In order to meet the growing demand of food and face increasing pressures on natural resources and water scarcity, the countries with land and water constraints needed an alternative means of producing food. Acquisition of farmland in the developing countries by these countries seeks to ensure food security. More on the land acquisition drive) These investments are not driven by the notion of comparative advantage in the large-scale production of indigenous crop (Mann and Smaller; 1; January 2010). The higher oil prices in 2007-2008 were another driver, which triggered interest of developed countries to acquire land for energy crops. Global financial crisis also encouraged investors to invest in foreign lands. The value of both food and fertile land was set to increase, making them an attractive new investment. Budgetary resources in developing countries may not be enough to meet infrastructural investment required to use the land to its potential. Some developing countries are seeking foreign investment to exploit their surplus land which is currently unused or under-utilized. This may lead to creation of jobs in rural areas and there may also be investment in health and education sector. Technology transfer by the investor countries may lead to increase in farm productivity. However these investments are not without trade offs. There are concerns about the impact on local poor people, who lack access to and control over land on which they depend. There can be local unemployment because of projects with imported workforce and high degree of mechanization. It will also lead to increase in regional land prices through soaring competition with regard to acreage and resources, and thus less access of land to poor people. Foreign investors can also emerge as strong competitors to local producers, especially small households. There is also risk of land conflicts in territories without well defined land titles (Bicker and Breuer; 37; April 2009). In some cases, the land leases are justified on the basis that the land being acquired by the foreign investor is â€Å"unproductive† or â€Å"underutilized. † However, there may be that the land is being used by poor for purposes such as grazing animals and gathering fuel wood or medicinal plants. These uses tend to be undervalued in official assessments because they are not marketed, but they can provide valuable livelihood sources to the poor. †(Von Braun and Meinzen-Dick; 2; April 2009) Large-scale land acquisitions may further jeopardize the welfare of the poor by depriving them of the safety-net function of this type. There can be misappropriation of arable land, displacement of indigenous people without compensation and migration to cities. So it is crucial to ensure that these land deals, and the environment within which they take place, are designed in a ways that will reduce the threats and facilitate the â€Å"win-win† situation for all the parties involved. According to Sustainable development innovation briefs (January 2010), â€Å"There are three sources of law governing foreign investment in agricultural land. 1) Domestic law 2) International investment contract 3) International investment agreements (IIAs) According to Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives of Republic of Zambia, Zambia has the best surface and underground water resources in Africa, with many rivers, lakes and dams. Sharing borders with eight countries, Zambia is centrally situated as a gateway to both southern and central Africa. This location is strategically advantageous by placing Zambia in a position to exploit the growing regional markets of SADC and COMESA, and be an active participant in regional and international agriculture trade initiatives (Source: The best of Zambia). Even with resource endowment for development of a wide range crops, livestock, and fish given the diversity of its agro-ecological zones, there was lack of cultivation because initially labour was forced toward mining sector. Urbanization kept the people to cities only. There was lack of infrastructure and utilities in rural areas which imposes a higher social cost in moving towards agriculture sector. The policies which took place were directed towards the development of mining sector, neglecting agriculture. It is generally seen that the developed countries are mainly with expanding industrial sector. These developed countries have initially accumulated the surplus in agriculture sector and then invested that surplus for expansion of industrial sector. So there is need to develop agriculture initially. Zambia is rich in mineral resources. To explore the potential there is need to develop agriculture sector. In Zambia, most farmers are insecure in the ownership of the land they work in. Less than 5% of them have leasehold title for their land. Most farmers pay rent to titleholders or have some kind of sharecropping arrangement with the title owners. Others depend on land owned either by the government or private owners, or on council or forestry land for their living. Those living in areas of customary land use do not need to be consulted before mining operations are allowed, and are usually not even aware of the possibility of placing land disputes before the Lands Tribunal (MacCuish and Frankel on behalf of Halifax Initiative Coalition). The efforts of the Agriculture Department to mark off ownership and use of agricultural areas were hindered by the lack of information about who owned the land. According to report of Global Times ( 9 September 2009), The Zambian government is to devise measures that would smoothen and quicken the acquisition of title deeds by prospective land owners, this was done in a bid to empower the less privileged people to own land in the country. The poor people can use land as collateral for them to access loans for land development. According to Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives of Zambia (26 January 2010), â€Å"Out of 75 million hectares land of Zambia, 43 million hectares (53%) is classified as medium to high potential for agriculture production. So far only 6. 02 (14%) of agricultural land is currently utilized. Irrigation total potential is 2. 7 million hectares out of which about 156000 hectares is under irrigation†. Framers are given a good price for grain but due to lack of market access the move is outweighed by poor infrastructure. Zambia endowed with rich natural resources needs investment by foreign investors to strengthen Zambia’s economic muscle (Zambia Mail dated May 11, 2010) Acquisition of land by the foreign investors is controversial and carriers many risks. Foreign investment can also be made through contract farming and out-growers scheme or joint venture or provision of infrastructure by the investor country. (David Hallam; 6; December, 2009) According to FAO (2001), â€Å"Contract farming can be defined as an agreement between farmers and processing/marketing firms for the production and supply of agriculture products under forward agreement, frequently at predetermined prices. The arrangements also invariably involve the purchaser in providing a degree of production support through, for example, the supply of inputs and provision of technical advice. The basis of such arrangements is a commitment on the part of the farmer to provide a specific commodity in quantities and at quality standards determined by the purchaser and a commitment on the part of the company to support the farmer’s production and to purchase the commodity†. In contract farming, farmers have to loose some freedom over the choice of crops they want to grow. The main commodities produced by small-scale farmers in Zambia under contract farming arrangements are cotton, tobacco, coffee, sugar, paprika and fresh vegetables. Of late honey, livestock (pigs and dairy cattle) and organic products are also coming up. Likilunga; 3; December 2005) Nevertheless, joint ventures between foreign investors and local producers or their associations as partners might offer more spillover benefits for the host country. Mixed models are also possible with investments in a large-scale core enterprise at the centre but also involving outgrowers under contracts to supplement core production. Some governments have been active in encouraging foreign involvement in such enterprises, as in the Tanzanian sugar sector or the so-called â€Å"Farm Blocks† in Zambia (David Hallam; 6; December, 2009). Zambian government has embarked on a programme to open up viable farm blocks in various parts of country to be involved in primary production and value addition. In Farm Block Development, Government has to provide basic infrastructure such as road, bridges and electrification. The design of Farm block is as follow. There is one core venture of 10,000 Hectares with commercial farms of 1000-5000 Hectares and small holdings of 30-300 Hectares. (Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives of Zambia; 26 January 2010). The type of business model to be adopted depends on certain characteristics of the economy i. e. olitical and social conditions, specific circumstances, the commodity concerned etc. Land acquisition and commercialization of agriculture is favorable, when economies of scale are important or there is need for investment in infrastructure. Contract farming or outgrower scheme is desirable when there in need to involve small landholders, but in contract farming care should be taken that contracts are properly implemented and there is no exploitation of smallholders by the big firms. The litigation process in Zambia takes too long and therefore enforceability through litigation process is costly and therefore not resorted to. There is weakness of enforceability when contract is breached. Donor funding forms a big part of Zambia’s spending plan (The Africa report; October 2009). China, India, South-Korea and oil-rich gulf countries with land and water constraints are turning to Africa as food security blanket. Saudi Arabia is interested in area of agriculture in Zambia. China is proposing to acquire 5 million acres of land to grow jatropha. Jatropha is a perennial plant, which can be used as biofuel. Plantation have yield after 2-3 years. In the short run there will be loss but in long run there will be gains. Income generated from plantation will vary from year to year. Growing Jatropha needs long term investment, which is vulnerable to risk due to uncertainty in price, yield, labour cost and rate of interest. Biofuel can provide hedge against climate change. Jatropha can also be used as a substitute for expensive kerosene, fertilizer and diesel. It needs less water so there is no need of major irrigation facilities. Jatropha can be planted during spare time in idle or fallow land, for which lot of officially unused land and degraded bush land seems available. Cultivation of Jatropha on abandoned agricultural, deforested or degraded land has the potential to improve the nutrient content of the soil and reduce erosion. Thus, this may improve the value of the land. However, the expanding use of land for the Jatropha production, even though it is marginal land, could mean that people living in the area would have to find other places for collecting firewood, herbs and fields for pasture land etc. So the selection of land for production should be done very carefully. Land grab in Africa mainly for biofuels has serious implications for food security. This however but it depend on the ownership of the land and how much space the production of Jatropha takes up. Biodiesel is mainly used by developed countries. If the price of food grains increases, then the people in developing country will suffer. Food security could even decrease where land and water resources are commandeered by the international investment project at the expense of domestic smallholders or where foreign investments push up land values. There can also be worst case scenario that there is production of 100 unit’s energy biodiesel from the inputs of 127 unit’s energy. The advertising that agro-fuels will assist farmers is based on the notion that the decisions about the use of the land remain decentralized within the country. Farmers should be given free will to decide how to plant Jatropha to produce oil for lamps or sop or bio-diesel for their vehicles. But the scenario set up by the large corporations is not what is desirable. There is usurpation of huge tracts of African land for overseas consumption and if they ruin the ecosystem, they conveniently make a move to other areas (MS Zambia Newsletter August 2009). Production of Jatropha is mainly done by the Out grower schemes. It is found that mostly there were no formal contracts for production. Even if contracts exist, there was no enforcement. Even farmers are not satisfied with Outgrowing system. Firms promise to endow the farmers with technology but fail to turn up again to provide information on technical issues. Production is targeted toward export and fails to benefit Zambian people. This can be confirmed by the fact that there exist no refineries in Zambia. There is need to set up a monitoring committee which can observe that all the contracts taking place are implemented. Strict actions should be taken if contracts are not enforced. The land grabbing has become very sophisticated and the poor are bound to suffer. There is need to lobby government for some policy changes. Civil societies should come up for the benefit of small holders and there is need to sensitize and assist the poor access and legally own land. Building the capacity of small scale farmers and their organizations to be part of the new agribusiness dispensation through direct investments as well as in partnership with foreign investors is desirable. There is need to empower the rural communities’ access and communally own land through ‘Community land titles’ to protect them in the future land concessions. (MS Zambia Newsletter August 2009). There is need by government to put more conducive environment by setting up â€Å"small claims courts’. There is need for further training of small-scale farmers so that they can develop skills in negotiating for good prices for their commodities. (Likilunga; 12; December 2005) â€Å"Extensive control of land by other countries can also raise questions of political interference and influence. (David Hallam; December 2009). Government maintains secrecy in the deals involving foreign investors. This lack in transparency undermines government accountability and gives an opportunity for corruption. Some recently reported land deals were associated with allegations that investors had paid cash or in-kind contributions to business or other activities run by high government officials or even the president in a personal capacity (e. g. Hervieu, 2009), even where private ownership is formally recognized most of the land is controlled by state (Cotula, Vermulen, Leonard and Keeley; 69; 2009). It has been seen that incomes are very unevenly distributed in Zambia. â€Å"Bottom 80% of populations in terms of earning are reported to have acquired only 31. 3% of total income, while the top 20% of population claimed 68. 87% of total income†. (Zambian Economist, 31 May, 2008). Non availability of written agreement on land acquisition has created disputes in some settlement area. A vigorous consultative process on land acquisition has to be adopted o minimize these land disputes. It is required to have all the deals in the written form. Appropriate Resettlement policy should be in place and adequate compensation should be give to the displaced farmers. Farmers generally practice subsistence farming and the land of cultivation is scattered. Most of the rural population keeps on migrating within the country. The liberalization of the agriculture sector and other reforms in Zambia, were accompanied by the decline in cultivated land and maize production. The proportion of households selling to the market and concentration of serves in central areas was also reduced. (Sangrario Floro and Schaefer: 84; fall 1998). With privatization, subsistence farmers have to move out. Before the reforms, Government bore all the transportation expenses both within and between regions and gave huge fertilizer subsidy so the prices of food grain as same for all producers. After reforms of 1990s, it was found that the cost of production has increased drastically because of high transportation costs and removal of subsidies for fertilizer, forcing farmers to sell at farm gate only. Thus the supply to market was nil. Evidence can be taken from the copper mines in Zambia, which was privatized in 1991. Large tract of land was required for development of new mines. There was often negotiation with local chiefs for land. Local people were persuaded on the trust that they will be relocated to other areas. Most often interest of local people was in variance with that of investors. Sometimes the local chiefs enter into secret deals with investors and accepted bribes as an inducement to persuade their subjects to acquiesce to investors’ demands. Impact of large scale mining on local community has been negative. There were social conflicts, destruction of livelihood, dislocation and displacement of local communities and environment degradation (Simutanya, ISS paper 165; July 2008). In case of foreign investments, it is noticed that Zambians were not given many job opportunities and people were placed from permanent to rolling contracts leading to casualization of labour. If agriculture land is given in foreign hands, it can lead to similar consequences. Foreign investors are driven by profit motive. They generally us capital intensive techniques driving labour out of work force. They also try to minimize wages to capture more profits in their hands. Profit, rather than having any impact on Zambia economy, is placed in banks or re-invested in companies outside the country. But it is also seen that with privatization, all workers came as a union, there was increase in the minimum wages. It can also be expected from agriculture sector. If all agricultural workers work in a huge tract of land then even they can coordinate themselves and demand for better wages and better working conditions. ). The economical benefits were also marginal, leading to large inequalities. In 2009, more than 80% of Zambia’s foreign exchange earnings and 15. 9% of GDP came from copper mining. (iol. co. a: Zambia copper mines: More local benefits urged; April 2010). In 2006, the contribution of mining to PAYE[1] was 54%, to VAT[2] was 45% and to employment generation was 58%. (Source: Zambia Development Authority). But Zambia fails to influence World market prices. (Source: www1. america. edu) Fluctuations in copper prices can impact the whole economy. So there is need to develop agriculture sector also as a safety net. But in which direction policy should be made is yet to be decided. The policy recommendations should be such that it should not affect the social and environmental climate of the country.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

A Reaction to Uncle Toms Cabin essays

A Reaction to Uncle Toms Cabin essays A Reaction to Harriet Beecher Stowes Uncle Toms Cabin So this is the little lady who made this big war. Abraham Lincolns legendary comment upon meeting Harriet Beecher Stowe demonstrates the significant place her novel, Uncle Toms Cabin, holds in American history. Published in book form in 1852, the novel quickly became a national bestseller and stirred up strong emotions in both the North and South. The context in which Uncle Toms Cabin was written, therefore, is just as significant as the actual content. Among other things, Stowes publication of her novel was stimulated by the increasing tensions among the nations citizens and by her fervent belief that slavery was brutally immoral. While she was still young, Harriets family moved from Hartford, Connecticut to Cincinnati, Ohio. At the time, Cincinnati was a battleground for pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces, as well as being a city of religious revivalism, temperance conflicts, and race riots. Her father was a congregationalist minister and her oldest sister, Catherine, was a writer on social reform questions. It is not surprising, therefore, that because of her environment, Harriet became involved in movements emphasizing the moral injustice of slavery. Probably the most significant influence on Harriets writing Uncle Toms Cabin, however, was the passage of the Fugitive Slave Law in 1950. Under the law, people who assisted a runaway slave could receive a fine of $1,000 and six months in prison. Naturally, the statute broadened the slavery debate by involving the northern states in the apprehension of runaway slaves. The North, who had previously adopted a not-our-problem attitude toward slavery, now was forced into a direct role in its propagation. These influences were directly responsible for Stowes creation of Uncle Toms Cabin and its characters, which in h...

Monday, November 4, 2019

The Enduring Revolution of the Renaissance Essay

The Enduring Revolution of the Renaissance - Essay Example The Renaissance is generally described as the period of 1400 - 1600 when European thoughts and concepts went through a dramatic change. It drew its name, the Renaissance, from the reawakening to the ancient texts and knowledge of the Romans and the Greeks. The changes in social justice, art, science, and exploration impacted great change in Western thinking that continues to influence our society. A close examination of our American culture and institutions will uncover many roots that had their origin in the days of the European Renaissance. A major contribution of the Renaissance period was its placing knowledge in the hands of the ordinary person. Prior to this period, classical knowledge was left almost exclusively in the hands of scholars, professionals, and theologians. The invention of the printing press in 1440 by Johannes Gutenberg gave the general public the access to knowledge and philosophy. According to Thomas Carlyle in Sartor Resartus (1833), "He who first shortened the labor of copyists by device of movable types was disbanding hired armies [...] creating a whole new democratic world" (cited in Kreis 2004). The printing of the first bible in 1452 placed religion in the hands of the ordinary man and had a profound effect on religion. Spurred by classical philosophy, religion turned from the worship of the abstract towards the morality of man (Anesi 2004). This would sow the seeds of the Reformation and alter the Christian religion forever. This change in religion also brought about changes in the attitude towards the individual. Individualism took hold as people developed a respect for each human being and a willingness to work toward self-improvement. It led to changes in the legal and political systems resulting in a representative form of... A major contribution of the Renaissance period was its placing knowledge in the hands of the ordinary person. Prior to this period, classical knowledge was left almost exclusively in the hands of scholars, professionals, and theologians. The invention of the printing press in 1440 by Johannes Gutenberg gave the general public the access to knowledge and philosophy. According to Thomas Carlyle in Sartor Resartus (1833), "He who first shortened the labor of copyists by device of movable types was disbanding hired armies [...] creating a whole new democratic world" (cited in Kreis 2004). The printing of the first bible in 1452 placed religion in the hands of the ordinary man and had a profound effect on religion. Spurred by classical philosophy, religion turned from the worship of the abstract towards the morality of man (Anesi 2004). This would sow the seeds of the Reformation and alter the Christian religion forever. This change in religion also brought about changes in the attitude towards the individual. Individualism took hold as people developed a respect for each human being and a willingness to work toward self-improvement. It led to changes in the legal and political systems resulting in a representative form of government. The concept of sovereign nations was born out of these ideals. It valued the humanities as an educational endeavor and developed a sense of history and an awareness of our social structure.

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Composition in the Humanities, How has humanitys use of the Written Research Paper

Composition in the Humanities, How has humanitys use of the Written Word Evolved Over Time - Research Paper Example As they prospered due to plentiful food and water they had a growing tendency to use surpluses to build impressive and complex cities for trade and emerging industries. It is thought that these complex city societies invented writing in order to help them keep track of their goods and property, and of their business deals. The Sumerians took the material that was most plentiful in that area, and one that they used to make the bricks that built their homes: the clay from the delta. Another plentiful commodity was the reeds which grew by the water and these were sharpened so that they could be used to make small marks in the clay. The distinctive wedge shaped format of the reed stem is what gave its name to this earliest form of writing: cuneiform. The clay tablets that cuneiform was written on were very cheap to produce. They could also be left to harden in the sun, or in an oven, so that they became more permanent records, and they proved very popular because of this. The system of w riting depended on tiny symbols being used to represent items in the real world. These early symbols were called â€Å"pictograms† because they were mini pictures that recalled the sounds or shapes of things in the world. (Harry Ransom Center Website). Archeologists have found vast libraries of these cuneiform tablets, containing laws, literature, and huge numbers of lists and business records. One of the disadvantages of clay are that it is brittle and liable to cracking and breaking, which makes it a risky medium for permanent records. The Egyptians solved this problem by carving their most important writing onto permanent stone monuments. Their writing is called â€Å"hieroglyphics† which means â€Å"scared carving† (Harry Ransom Center Website) and it had much more elaborate pictograms which resemble birds, animals and objects which are recognisable even today. Stone is extremely heavy, and it takes a very long time to carve, and so the Egyptians also looked for lighter, cheaper and more flexible ways to record everyday things. They used a kind of plaster on walls, and painted onto that with colored pigments, and they also invented papyrus, which is a type of processed reed that could be made up into a light and flexible surface. The design of the scroll, which allows the the papyrus to be rolled up into a tube, made transportation and storage much easier. Depending on the purpose of the writing, Egyptian scribes used three different scripts: â€Å"there is one, the most formal, for religious documents; one for literature and official documents; and one for private letters.† (Historyworld website) In other parts of the world such as central and northern Europe, America and China there were different geographical conditions. Societies here developed their own methods of writing using local materials. Manuscripts of the finest quality were produced in the ancient period and right through the middle ages using the scraped skins of animals, called parchment or vellum (University of Michigan Library website). Scripts such as Latin and Greek moved away from pictograms and into a system using a stylized alphabet based on sounds, which could be written speedily. Germanic tribes lived in areas with huge forests, and so they chose a simple script based on straight lines that could be carved on wood. In China rice paper was invented for painting and writing. These systems could be written left to right, right to left, and in a