Development of Agriculture in Nigeria

Since 1974 the Bank has committed $1. 2 billion for Agricultural Development Projects (ADPs) to increase farm production and welfare among smallholders in Nigeria. OED reviewed five ADPs and a supporting Agricultural Technical Assistance Project (ATAP), all implemented between 1979 and 1990. Only two of the six projects had satisfactory outcomes. In general, rainfed agricultural production was far below projections. Macroeconomic conditions, some national policies, and particular design and implementation problems prevented a more significant impact. Low-cost irrigated development of lowland areas (fadama) was, however, quite successful. Village water supply components exceeded their targets. The ADPs have evolved to be â€Å"permanent† institutions for rural infrastructural development and agricultural services, but their role vis-a-vis the regular state departments needs to be reviewed. ADP concept The ADPs were designed in response to a fall in agricultural productivity, and hence a concern to sustain domestic food supplies, as labor had moved out of agriculture into more remunerative activities that were benefitting from the oil boom. Conversely, domestic recycling of oil income provided the opportunity for the government, with Bank support, to develop the ADPs. The projects provided agricultural investment and services, rural roads, and village water supplies. The government's adoption of the ADP concept put the smallholder sector at the center of the agricultural development strategy, and marked a clear shift away from capital-intensive investment projects for selected areas of high agricultural potential. The first ADPs in Nigeria were enclave projects each covering a specific region within a state. Their early results impressed both the federal and state governments, and there was pressure to replicate the approach across whole states. By 1989 all Nigeria's then 19 states had ADPs. (See Box. ) Two of the projects audited–Ilorin and Oyo North–were enclave projects, and were located in the â€Å"middle belt† of Nigeria whose main crops are rainfed cereals and root crops. The three other ADPs audited–Bauchi, Kano, and Sokoto–were statewide projects in Nigeria's northern zone. Cropping in his zone is based on rainfed cereal crops and pulses, with localized areas of fadama in drainage lines that can support higher-value crops. The northern ADPs applied an expanded version of the same model used in the earlier enclave projects in this zone. This model demanded large amounts of capital and services and intensive management. With hindsight, not enough thought was given to the implications of the large increase in scale–or indeed to the less fav orable production environment than existed in the smaller enclaves. Goals, content All the five ADPs sought to increase food production and farm incomes. In all of them it was assumed that productivity increases would come from the use of improved technology, especially planting material and fertilizer. The agricultural components of the projects were designed around systems for developing technology and transferring it to farmers, distributing modern inputs, and land development including small-scale irrigation of fadama areas and land clearing. Investments in infrastructure included an expanded feeder road network, construction of farm service centers for input distribution, and facilities for ADP staff and operations. All projects except that in Ilorin supported improvements in rural water supplies. To support its agricultural development goals the federal government introduced controls on food imports and continued its substantial subsidies on farm inputs, particularly fertilizer.

English Essay – US Summer Camps

They work with the children; they teach them sports, play with them ND educate them. The Europeans, whom experience to work at a summer camp, will not only benefit from an extraordinary experience and growth as people. They will also learn a very useful lesson in the English language. More than a thousand Europeans come to the US, to work at summer camps every summer. The Europeans work with the children as instructors, careers or maintenance workers at the camps.The Europeans get a chance to work with kids and youngster, and obtain skills in leadership. They will meet a whole new culture, when they arrive at the camp. Some will get surprised, because hey might have prejudged the Americans, and their expectations to a summer camp. The young European will also grow as a person. Any shyness or fears will be vanished, because of the interaction with the children. Their confidence level will also rise, and become more independent. It can be kind of a culture shock, for some of the Europe ans.The biggest culture difference is the food, and when you are at summer camp there is no fast food, so the new food might be weird at first. The Religion is also different. The Europeans meet many different religions, and it can be hard to Geiger out what is inappropriate to say to some religions, and what is not. Some Europeans might have trouble with the language. When you are working at a camp and your job is to play and educate the children, it might seem frustrating at the beginning.But when the only language the children know is English, you are being forced to try and talk to the kids, and the only language you hear around you is English, it will improve. Their vocabulary will also improve, and expressing themselves in English will be easier. The job as an instructors, careers or maintenance workers, will benefit the nouns Europeans in the future. As a maintenance worker you will learn to think practically, learn to solve problems on your own.As an instructor, you will lea rn leadership, which can be useful for the rest of their lives. As a care you will learn to take care of children, and it will be a good thing to have on your C.V., if you want to work with children in the future. If was to work at a summer camp during summer, I think I would very much enjoy it, due to the reasons mentioned before. I think all people will benefit from working at a summer camp. They will all get an extraordinary experience, and others will benefit from their stay in an educational aspect.Personally think I can learn a lot from working at a camp, not only as a person, but also my English will improve. Overall I think summer camp is a great way to spend summer, not only for the children, but also for the workers. The young Europeans, whom go to America to work with the children, will grow as people. They will obtain new skills, become more self-aware, and learn about new cultures. Some Of the Europeans might be a little shocked about the new cultures, the foods and eli sions are very different from what they are used to.

Deign and Materials Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Deign and Materials - Assignment Example When the characteristic stength for concrete is based on the cube strength it is necessry that it is multiplied by 2/3 because the stength in bending is always significantly less than that resulting from the cube strength†. â€Å"The ultimate load theory analysis is based on the assumptions that plane surfaces remain plane during bending and there is no contribution to the bending strength of the beam from concrete in tension.  The strain therefore varies uniformly down the beam section. The stress diagram however is not linear but has a rectangular parabolic shape as shown below.† â€Å"Briefly illustrate with the aid of annotated plans and elevation sketches, examples showing the differences between functions of braced and unbraced (perimeter and internal) columns required to support loads in a typical four-storey rectangular reinforced concrete structure. (Note: No calculations

Franchising & Small Business - Business Plan Essay

Franchising & Small Business - Business Plan - Essay Example Business plans expansion in domain where business will provide marinated (ready to heat) food for the target audience. The company plans to meet breakeven by year end. Target audience of the Indo-Pak Meals Corner would include people in Melbourne who have taste buds for Asian spices-enriched food. It shall exclusively cater residents and immigrants from India, and Pakistan and other countries of that region like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. India is the largest exporter of its skilled worker to Australia in the year 2012 and constitutes15.7 percent of the total program for immigration (Australian education international, 2012). This growing number, along with already residing Indians shall provide good potential for business. Indians are very much into their typical home-done food and this has been taken as opportunity to attract especially immigrants to have home flavor on outside their land. Another main component of target audience, Pakistani though comprise small percentage of total Australian population but students from Pakistan are constantly growing in double digit in Australia with growth rate of 17.6 percent. Again these people are new entrants to land of Australia and are attracted to the home spices. Indo-Pak Meals Corner plans to operate with four full time employees, a chief chef, chef, helper (for grocery, cutting and cooking) and service man. Initial outlay comprises of location, licensing, fixed and other expenses as the outlet is a start-up from zero. Indo-Pak Meals Corner exists to provide people with the best blend of food from India and Pakistan flavors to any one and everyone with need of daily fresh handy meal ready to eat on their way to destination. This company has no background history and a new start up. However, it plans to develop long history of tasty food. The management of the company has expertise in managing restaurant offering such spicy foods. In short term the business

Employee Performance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Employee Performance - Essay Example The situation has not been this way for a long time; until the last century, their existed an autocratic organizational system where the word of the top management was considered the last word. Their existed an environment where no emphasis was paid on the rights on employees and their needs. In order to properly defend the statement, one needs to look into the reasons for these developments that have been mentioned in the statement. Post-modernism is a concept that is deep rooted in history and is one of the fundamental reasons of the development of the recent organizational structures, bureaucratic environments and empowered employees. A discussion regarding how modernism started would first require understanding what existed in the pre-modernist era. The need for post modernism has been rooted deep in the history of mankind. It was first used in 1914 to describe the changing mindsets of people against the society prevailing at that time. Then came in modernism which gave people an escape from the normality and let people question their beliefs and creativity was fostered. However, it gave rise to modernity or bureaucracy. Bureaucracy usually uses rules and guided procedures in order to accomplish their tasks and depend on the predictability of events. They give no space to the unpredictably of life. In management terms, this would mean that there is task continuity prevalent in organization practicing bureaucracy and people would be subjected to strict rules and norms, repeated preprogrammed tasks and would be provided with stable and probable environments where homogeneity exists between the goods and services offered. Post modernism was a reaction to the modernistic ideas. Post-modernism largely is defined by the age in which there was intellectual growth, cultural enhancement, and development of an artistic state without the boundaries and restrictions of the hierarchies( Frederick, 1984). Post modernism stated that there are no clear cut and defined lines to a central successful organizational principle. It negated the aristocratic or the central hierarchy system and paved way for a more people oriented idea to organization development. Development of post-modernism was a result of the changing times and environment as well. It helped in almost all the disciplines of modern era. Post-modernistic ideas helped in the development of architecture, law, culture and literature. It heavily influenced the marketing and management fields of science as well. The management scenario changed completely with the advent of this idea in the society (Tim, 1999). The main focus would be kept over management and marketing practices because of the topic at hand. Post-modernism can be best explained as an era where nothing is certain and nothing is impossible. There are endless possibilities waiting to be grasped and countless situations in which a man can find himself. However, it has its share of criticism as being meaningless when it came to evaluating mathematical structures. Many people also argue that the era we are living right now is the post-postmodern condition. GLOBALIZATION Globalization is another important factor that gave rise to the post-modern conditions of today. Globalization by definition is turning personalized or localized phenomena's into

Mark Twain essays Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Mark Twain essays - Essay Example He starts a newspaper, introduces coins, manufactured bicycles, set up telephone networks, and established power generation plants. He brought the sixth century civilization to the 20th century level in the course of a few years. When the king and the Boss were sold as slaves and were about to be executed, it was a long and picturesque of 500 mailed and belted knights on bicycles that came to the rescue. Finally when the church and the knights were out to destroy the new civilization, the strategy employed was to build a wire fence around, charged with electricity. A knight would come and touch the wire with his sword and he would be dead at once apparently for no reason. Some one else would come and touch his shoulder to ask why he was silent, and he would be killed too! Killed by a dead friend in fact! 25000 brainless knights perished like this, and the Boss and his handful of smart boys won owing to their strategy. David Wilson also had a scientific bent of mind, though of a different kind. He was a scotch national in America to seek his fortunes. He came as a young post graduate in law, though he did not handle cases in courts. It was he who developed the science of finger prints, that wonderful science for the establishment of people’s identity. He was too much of a scientist that ordinary people could not understand him and this resulted in his being nicknamed Pudd’nhead Wilson. It was he who solved the mystery surrounding Tom. Body: Hank introduces various improvements such as the newspaper, telephone net- works, bicycle factories, power generation plants etc. He uses these occasions to create spectacular effects. He is not for using them quietly without publicity or excitement. To use his own words, â€Å"I always use that high style when I am climaxing an effect† ( p. 23) This trait is seen in all his actions. In the course of the dinner at Dowley’s place, he indifferently tosses $4, a huge amount then, on to the

In relation to E -Business Maturity and E- Modles select three Assignment

In relation to E -Business Maturity and E- Modles select three organisation - Assignment Example Different online firms exhibit different levels of E-Business maturity depending on the standards of their applications and services (Fox, 2001, p.231). A clear comprehension of E-Business models can be employed appropriately to maximize future benefits. The objective of this paper is to discuss levels of E-business maturity in relation to three different organisations. E-Business Maturity As various enterprises go through different phases of e-business maturity, they encounter same challenges while incorporating this technology in their business operations. They need to validate with their competitors and equals to be able to match forward in the right direction (Bak & Stair, 2011, p. 186). Due to the fact that all businesses experience similar predicaments in this endeavor, their development steps can be portrayed as phases of maturity. The fundamental concept of study here is that all these businesses go through same phases of maturity with regards to the approaches they utilize a nd how they manage to sustain and drive business objective and processes (Garrett, 2006, p.10). The E-Business maturity model provides a platform under which one can establish where a business is positioned and pin-points high-priority advancement areas that ought to be addressed to enhance current maturity phase. The model elucidates the steps that ought to be taken to move a notch higher to an upper stage (Gosselin, 2009, p.86). The primary fact here is that improved E-Business maturity is directly connected to better outcomes with regards to a business’s capacity to inevitably implement E-Business programmes and processes. Improved maturity is likely to translate to maximised financial benefits from investments (Gangopadhyay, 2002, p.202). A noteworthy point is that this model describes the approaches and levels of E-Business strategy development. However, it is not designed to offer insights in the soundness of the chosen strategy. This kind of information can only be acq uired by examining external factors, such as the environment, and organisational ones such as goods and services, clients and relevant authorities (Weill & Vitale, 2001, p.11). The five levels of the E-Consciousness Rising Model developed by the Price Waterhouse provide an elaborate platform under which maturity levels of different E- Businesses can be assessed. Masala Wok is a multinational food chain store that has several branches in different parts of the world. The food chain store serves Indo-Chinese cuisine. Going by the E-Consciousness Rising Maturity Model designed by the Price Waterhouse, the company’s electronic business website falls at the first stage. This is the Online Presence phase that groups organisations that have implemented static information to their online systems. There is minimal interaction other than information about the company, delicacies and services offered, and picture gallery. The website is designed to market the services offered by Masala Wok and provide directions on how to access their restaurants. The company does not engage in online retail and home delivery services. For this reason, the website system is quite basic and has no complex components interconnecting clients to suppliers and brokers. Ablecan is a visa agency firm that is well situated at the heart of London. The company’s area of specialty is acquiring business and tourist visa on behalf of United Kingdom residents willing to

Natural sister Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Natural sister - Essay Example condary intervention in the case of the disaster would include laboratory testing and x-ray imaging in order to detect internal fractures and metabolic upsets. For example, the nurses in Haiti could use X-ray images to identify broken limbs. The testing enables nurses to make well-versed diagnoses and thus offer effective treatment. Tertiary intervention involves follow-up activities that nurses can engage in after treating an incident. In this case, the nurses would conduct physical examinations especially for broken limbs and laboratory tests for other metabolic problems. The intervention is easier if access to health care services for victims is streamlined. The above intervention would be ideal in the response phase of the disaster. The reasoning is that at this stage, the health hazards can be determined. In addition, it is impossible to ascertain the level of damage before a disaster. The response requires a collective effort of the public, government and civil societies. The government plays a bigger role in ensuring that the medical services reach all the people affected by the disaster and ensuring availability of medical

Strategic management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Strategic management - Essay Example A major makeover happened for the company in 1990 when it joined hands with BMW of Germany for manufacturing of aero engines. â€Å"Today it is the world's second largest civil aero engine company, the world's second largest defence aero engine company, a global leader in marine propulsion and a leading supplier of energy solutions. All of these businesses have gas turbine technology at their heart.† (Rolls Royce, 2011) Aero engine manufacturing is one of the largest engineering industrial sectors in the world. Some of the leading aero engine manufacturers in the world are Rolls-Royce Engines, BMW, Bristol Engine Company, CFM International, Pratt & Whitney, Daimler Benz, GE Aviation, Hispano-Suiza, Napier and Son, Volvo Aero, etc. Among these, Rolls Royce is one of the leading market players. Rolls-Royce Engines holds nearly one third of the business aircraft engine market. Some of the main customers of Rolls-Royce include Airbus, Bombardier, Embraer and Raytheon. Quality, Rel iability and Tradition has been the main driving force behind the success of Rolls Royce Aero Engines. The key success factors of aero engine manufacturing industry are very critical. ... Research and Development is the next success factor. R&D is the factor that drives every other success factors. Better technology is developed only through innovation. Technological innovation is possible only through better investment of time and resources into R & D. Innovative product offerings are the next success factor of the industry. Merely supplying engines is not the game plan currently. Some of the innovative plans of the industry are Corporate Care, power-by-the-hour, pay-as-you-fly program, etc. (George, 2011) Similarly, better after sales service and customer relationship management are another key success factors. The aviation industry segment can be classified mainly into two categories that are wide body engine market and narrow body engine market. As of now Rolls-Royce has considerable market share in the wide body engine market with the second position in the segment. But Rolls-Royce still needs to develop its presence in the narrow body market. Currently, Rolls-Ro yce participates in the narrow body segment in a joint venture with Pratt & Whitney and others. â€Å"Rolls-Royce is well positioned in the wide body market, but about to lose 25% of the narrow body market in which it has a 40% joint venture share by 2015.† (GLG Expert Contributor, 2010) Analysis of External Factors Like any other industry, external factors have great influence on the prospects of aero engine manufacturing industry. Some of the key external factors influencing the aero engine manufacturing industry are as follows. 1. Raw material cost 2. Competition 3. Bargaining power of customers 4. Environmental impact 5. Regulatory Pressures 6. Currency risk 7. Other external events Raw material

Free

Freedom of speech Essay The phrase â€Å"freedom of speech† refers to an individual’s right to speak freely, or to express oneself without suppression from the others. In addition, the freedom of speech may refer to a person’s ability to seek, impart, or receive information without influences that may limit the freedom. People can express their opinion or views through the right of freedom to speech. This right is recognized by many nations’ governments, as well as both international and regional human rights organizations. For instance, the United States government protects the peoples’ right of freedom to speech through the First Amendment, which is found in the constitution. The freedom of speech though a right has and can be abused if it’s not limited, and the need to prevent the freedom of speech abuse has made it necessary for governments to put into place some limitations to this right. These limitations are adopted so that cases of abuse through speech such as obscenity and use of insults are curbed. All over the world, the abuse of the freedom of speech has become a common phenomenon. The right to freedom of speech can be dangerous when abused (Andrew, 2005, p. 65). Discussion The freedom of speech can become abused when it’s used to create conflicts, disagreements, and in some cases war. Speech involves the use of words and phrases to express one’s opinion about an issue. These phrases or words can be used to express feelings of hatred, dislike, and dissatisfaction. As human beings, it is very natural for us to go through tragic and painful experiences . These experiences may trigger feelings of hatred and dislike towards those we may perceive as having contributed to our misfortunes. For example, unfair treatment of a person by the others may create negative feelings towards the others. These feelings can be expressed by our actions, deeds, or speech. When negative feelings are expressed through speech, they may lead to the abuse of the freedom . A good example is the use of insults or inappropriate language towards other people. The words that may be used in speech can be insensitive and are most likely to violate the rights of the other people. This no doubt proves that freedom of speech can be used to abuse freedom. It is every person’s right to be respected, and the use of abusive language against a person should not be tolerated. However, many individuals and human rights activists advocate for freedom of speech without any limitations. It is a fact that the use of speech is one of the best ways through which people can express how they feel, as well as their views about different issues (Lee, 1988, p. 24). But the question that we need to ask ourselves is, to what extent should the freedom of speech be allowed? The human nature triggers people to exploit opportunities for their own benefits, which make them abuse the right to speech for their selfish needs. So many conflicts, disagreements, and wars emanate from the abuse of the freedom of speech. The use of feelings and emotions that promote hatred triggers conflicts, which have resulted to loss of human life or injuries. The individuals or a group of people that is insulted tends to retaliate the attacks . It is no wonder then that a single instance of abuse leads to many more successive cases of abuse. Another way through which the freedom of speech can be abused is by suppressing the freedom to speak in other people so that they do not express themselves as they would desire. This occurs when speech is used to manipulate people, or to make them submit to the selfish desires of one person. Such cases of abuse are often experienced in the political world. Individuals or groups may use speech to manipulate and threaten people, so that they do not interfere with their political interests. The people are prevented from making independent decisions through threatening statements. Since we all belong to a certain political system in our respective nations, we are likely to experience political influences. Democracy has nowadays become a common feature in the political systems. This has given the citizens the right to speak freely about the political evils and illegal actions that may exist in the society (Sunstein, 1995, p 63). This is a positive way of using the freedom of speech. However, it becomes tragic when the same right is used to suppress the rights of the others. The people are coerced not to use their freedom to speech, since it’s considered to threaten some selfish needs. The freedom of speech is also abused when people speak to defy the social morals and ethics. For instance, the use of obscene language goes against many societies’ ethics and morals. The modern technology through the Internet is one of the communication channels that people use to exploit the freedom of speech for the wrong reasons. The Internet is currently causing devastating effects on the morals and ethics of the societies. Through this form of communication, the right to speak is being abused through inappropriate use of language, with the websites giving the people an opportunity to exploit the freedom of speech for the wrong reasons. There is no argument that the internet is of great benefits to the people. However, it is being used by the people to offend and to promote hatred against the others. The freedom to speak freely has its merits and demerits. This right to speech is abused through dishonesty. For many of us, we cannot count the number of times that we have used this right to give misleading or false information as a way of protecting our selfish interests. When this information is received by the others, it creates room for more abuse. Any action or deed that goes against the virtues and the ethics of the society can be termed as abuse of the human rights, freedom of speech included. The present day business world is very competitive, and all business enterprises are now capitalizing on marketing their products for maximum returns. Through advertising, many corporate bodies use false information to woo consumers, a situation that represents the abuse of freedom of speech . The freedom of speech then becomes dangerous when it’s abused. Conclusion The freedom of speech is a human right which allows us to express our feelings and opinion. When properly used, it is of great importance. On the other hand, this right can be abused for various reasons. This becomes very dangerous, a situation that brings out the negative side of free speech in people. In order to prevent this, limitations need to be adopted so that this right is used for the good of the people. Works Cited Andrew, Puddephatt. Freedom of Expression: The essentials of Human Rights, Hodder Arnold, pg. 127, 2005 Lee, Bollinger. The Tolerant Society. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1988 Sunstein, Cass. Democracy and the Problem of Free Speech. Publishing Research Quarterly 11 (4): 58–72, 1995

Psychological Ethical Egoism

Psychological Ethical Egoism A Comparative Analysis of Psychological and Ethical Egoism This essay is a comparative analysis of ethical egoism and psychological egoism. In order to clearly set the direction of this paper, I would first render the meaning these two concepts. Afterwards, I would explicate the strengths and weaknesses of psychological egoism and discuss the two versions of ethical egoism. Upon doing so, this paper would present the contrasting points of both theories. Psychological Egoism generally states that people are naturally selfish and would pursue their self-interest at all times. It further claims that even altruistic acts are, at the root of it, grounded on ones pursuit of his/her own welfare (Shaver, 2002). This concept of egoism states the motivation of self-interest as a fact, as such, a person does not choose to be â€Å"egoistic,† or selfish, he/she as a human being simply is. Take for example a mans decision to become a doctor, or to help charity, or even to help an old lady cross the street. Most of the time, the justifications a person gives for choosing to do these acts have altruistic inclinations. However, psychological egoists would contend that the motives of these acts are aimed still, at the individual who desires to perform them. A man who wants to be a doctor may want to help other people, but this can be seen as grounded too on his happiness being fulfilled when he sees that he has helped others. Giving to charit y would allow an individual to experience satisfaction by being generous, it keeps him happy and feeling good about himself or the more trivial reason is he wants to be praised for his actions. On the other hand, ethical egoism does not say that man would inevitably be motivated by his own interests. Rather, this doctrine purports a normative stance that people ought to pursue their welfare. This is to say that when one chooses to act upon, he or she must take into utmost consideration his or her own self-interest. Scholars deem this ethical theory as a deviant to traditional moral theories which gives emphasis on impersonal moral choices and the greater good of the greater number. Psychological egoism founds itself on a scientific discipline that demands for empirical proof and consistency in order to be considered true. However, scholars have criticized psychological egotists for failing to take into proper account that would counter-proof their claim of inherent selfish motivation. Instead, evidence and day-to-day observations would show that that there are acts that can be considered altruistic which the psychological egotists attempt to evade by misconstruing the concept of selfishness juxtapose to self-interest. Further, counter-examples made be seen through that are committed that are contrary to the best self-interest, and actions done without much thought of ones welfare. The lack of verifiability makes the claim of psychological egoism dubitable within the scientific community it initially launches itself from. In line with this, as a supposed empirical viewpoint, it has consequently committed a logical fallacy generally referred to as hasty generaliz ation. It attempts to make a universal claim of individuals but fails to take into consideration the other factors that would negate its conjecture. It impulsively over-simplified the complexity of the human being, relations, and social reality (Davidson, 2006). It has been purported that ethical egoism has two versions, these two divisions are clearly described by Davidson (2006) who wrote: The strong version asserts that it is always moral to endorse your own good and it is never moral not to do so. The weak version says that even though it is always moral to endorse your own good the converse is not necessarily accurate. There could be situations where it may be more important to ignore your own welfare when making a moral judgment. (Davidson, 2006) The strong version as we could ply tends to make a strict and universal maxim out of the pursuit for self-interest and welfare. It creates an assumption that when one follows that which would benefit him or her the most then it would consequently produce moral worth. The weak version tends to make room for exceptional cases wherein the ones self-interest is in a most unique sense of lesser significance to that of which one is morally asked to do. From what I have already laid down, we could already see the divergence of psychological egoism and ethical egoism. The former, psychological egoism is a descriptive in nature. It asserts self-interest and selfishness even, as a fact, embedded in human nature. While Ethical egoism is normative, it prescribes the pursuit of self-interest as something human beings should do. One could also see the themes of determinism and free will in both concepts. This is in the sense that when psychological egoists assert their claim, they implicitly endorse that the behavior and acts of man is determined by self-interest. On the other side, ethical egoists endorses that the motivation of self-interest is a choice, the right and moral way to choose. Consequently, it is quite obvious that there is a difference in the motivations of both theories. Psychological egoism asserts self-interest as an inevitable motive of human nature, while ethical egoism is grounded on the motivation to do what is morally best, which is of course, ones welfare (Davidson, 2006). It is often the case that issues and criticisms that arise with regards to these theories of egoism are due to the ambiguity and equivocation of the concept of self-interest and selfishness. It is important to note that one could pursue self-interest without necessarily being viewed as selfish. Psychological egoism can be criticized for its tendency to interchange the two, although a lot of its contemporaries have gone to correct such error. Ethical egoism allows us the free will to choose whats best and grants our rationality the capacity to determine whether there is excess in our pursuit of our interests. Self-interest is something we follow, calculating our benefits in our actions in order to produce the most advantageous position for ourselves. Selfishness is when, as individuals, we lose consideration of others, to think of ourselves, and our desires alone†¦ for me, a manifestation of unchecked vanity. References Shaver, R. (2002). Egoism. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved November 7, 2007 from http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/egoism/ Davidson, B. (2006). Ethical and Psychological Egoism: An Explanation of theories. Associated Content. Retrieved November 7, 2007 from http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/93503/ethical_and_psychological_egoism.html?page=2

The Importance of Organ Donation Essay -- Organ Donor Health Medical P

The Importance of Organ Donation   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Each day approximately 6,300 people die and what makes this haunting is that presently there are 83,513 people waiting for organs to be donated, yet each day 17 people die because they do not receive a transplant (http://www.donatelife.net/facts_stats.html). These statistics show that people who are waiting for organ transplants have a good chance at being saved and get what they need. The sad truth is though, because of the lack of people willing to donate organs, many people will continue to wait for organs to save their lives. ?Waiting lists of patients for organ transplants become longer as the need for transplantable organs increases? (Sheehy 1). Think back to how someone might feel when a close family member or friend dies. With out argument, the feeling one experiences when going through a time like that is one of the most painful experiences. The feeling when one gets when they know that they will never again see the person you loved so much, never hold th em, touch them, experience their presence. It is a horrible feeling. What many do not realize is simply by donating organs, you can help someone else not have to deal with that pain.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Organ donation is when someone who has died, has previously given permission for their organs to be taken from their body and transplanted into someone else?s who because of some sort of medical condition, can not survive off of their own. At the time of death one?s heart, intestine, kidneys, liver, lung, pancreas, pancreas islet cell, heart valves, bone, skin, corneas, veins, cartilage, and tendons can all be used for transplantation. Choosing to donate organs is beneficial to many people, morally the right thing to do when you pass on and, is also one of the most important ways for survival of many people.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Organ donation is often perceived with doubt because many people do not know the truth. There are many myths out about the donating of organs that cause many people to opt not to. What many do not realize is the truth about organ donation. The body of the donor after the surgery is not mangled up and is presentable for the funeral. Organ donation is ethical and should not be looked down upon. Organ donating is there to save lives, not to hurt anyone. Many people think that they should be paid or given something in return for donating their organs, which is... ...en through the example of Nickolas Green, when you donate organs you not only save one life, but often numerous. Your body has so many vital organs and tissues that can be donated and given to many different people. For many of these people, what you donate to them, can be a matter of life or death. If they don?t receive a donation soon enough, their time will run out and they will pass away. By donating organs you are giving of your body, something that will never again by seen after death. You are making the morally correct decision to help others. It seems we are all brought up to help others and give of yourself, and what better way to do so then by donating of your organs.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When you go to get your drivers licence, be sure to mark that you will donate. Put yourself in the shoes of someone waiting for a donation. They hear of people dying and yet nothing will happen for their benefit if these people don?t choose to donate. Picture you husband or wife, on their death bed unless someone will donate their organs. Make the right decision to bring happiness out of death. Do not put your organs to waste, help those in need, and choose to donate.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

Classical Liberalism VS Classical Conservatism Essay -- American Gover

Are you Republican or Democrat? Maybe you are Conservative or Liberal? What do these terms mean and how did they begin? Classical Conservatism is defined as â€Å"a political philosophy emphasizing the need for the principles of natural law and transcendent moral order.†(Frohnen, Beer, and Nelson, 2006) Classical Liberalism is described as â€Å"a philosophy committed to the ideal of limited government and liberty of individuals including freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and free markets.† (Hudelson, 1999) These two ideas have shaped our philosophies and parties for centuries to come. These philosophies were made possible by many bright men of the time like Edmund Burke, John Adams, John Locke and Adam Smith. Classical conservatism or traditional conservatism, Burkean conservatism, and Toryism, is a party that has re-expressed their convections to fit the time. (Frohnen, Beer, and Nelson, 2006) In classical conservatism, many parties have adapted their view points. One of the first parties in American that adapted the philosophies of conservatism was the Whigs. The Whigs opposed monarchial power, advocated internal reform of administration, and freedom under the law. They believed in balancing orders in the common wealth and religious toleration. (Kirk, 1953) One person highly recognized for his work in the public sector for conservatism was Edmund Burke. Edmund Burke was born January 12, 1729 in Dublin, Ireland, and died July 9, 1797 in Beaconsfield, England. (Lock, 1999) During his sixty-eight years, he was a very smart and good man; He was an Irish statesman, author, orator, and political theorist and philosopher. Edmund Burke was known for supporting the American Revolution but opposing the Fr... ...ssical conservatives are scared of it, but they do know that is needed with some restrictions, or as modern liberals would say, â€Å"safety nets, lots and lots of safety nets.† Classical liberals love the free market system because of what it can do for the economy and society. Classical liberalism and classical conservatism are closely based as seen by Edmund Burke who was admired for his political philosophies from both classical liberalism and classical conservatism. Yet, with any group of people, not everyone is going to agree, and parties form even if it over a small issue. Consider the christian faith, there are many different denominations because of the beliefs in minor doctrine, but they all believe that Jesus is the Son of God, like the classical liberals and classical conservatives believe in the Constitution. So, what party are you in?

Recognition and Reversal: Othello Essay

Aristotle classifies both recognitions and reversals as the greatest point of tragedy in a play or story. Recognitions and reversals are consistently used to develop character, advance the plot, and get a reaction of pity and fear from the audience. Recognition is the act of realization or knowledge or feeling that someone or something present has been encountered before. Reversals are a major change in attitude or principle or point of view. For the main character or hero/protagonist to realize everything that has happened throughout, reversals are used by the writer or writers. Recognition is a device which helps readers to realize a reversal. Other ways in which recognitions and reversals can be used is when the audience or reader has pity for the hero. Pity is a result of a combination of reversal and recognition. Another way recognition and reversal can be used is when the reader or audience reacts to fear, a product of reversal and recognition formed into a shocking ending to a plot. The greatest point of tragedy, as Aristotle calls it, happens when not only shock, but reversal, recognition, and pain are presented around the center of the play or story in an unexpected instant to the audience or reader at the end of a play or story. In â€Å"Othello† by William Shakespeare, examples of recognition and reversal can be seen throughout the play as the hero/protagonist Othello, goes through a life changing experience in which he realizes things through a somewhat shaded lens. In the play, as we near the end, the proceedings change and finally Othello is able to see that he has made a mistake. In a perfect world, it would not be too late to change what the aftermath will be. But, in Othello’s case, the recognition in this dramatic play happens way too late for Othello to correct the situation. â€Å"Othello† truly offer readers evident examples of recognition and reversal. Reversal is most evident in the final Act in Scene II where Othello kills Desdemona. Before the murder, Othello’s love for Desdemona is portrayed in Act II, Scene I when Desdemona arrives in Cyprus, â€Å"It gives me wonder great as my content / To see you here before me. O my soul’s joy,†¦As hell’s from heaven! If it were now to die, ‘Twere now to be most happy, †¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Kennedy and Gioia, II. I. 176-177, 182-183). However, as the play moves further along, Iago starts to manipulate the mind of Othello and Othello’s trust in Desdemona starts to diminish. At the start of Act V, Scene I, Othello places a great deal of trust in Iago – â€Å"O brave Iago, honest and just, Thou hast such noble sense† (Kennedy and Gioia, V. I. 32-33). But in Act V, Scene II, the truth about Iago is revealed to Othello by Cassio and Emilia. Othello’s trust in Desdemona is shown throughout the play until his trust starts to wither as Iago twists his mind, â€Å"Yet she must die, else she’ll betray more men . / Put out the light†¦If I quench thee, thou flaming minister, / I can again thy former light restore,†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Kennedy and Gioia, V. II. 6-9). The greatest recognition in Othello occurs in Act V, Scene II, lines 87-91. Othello kills Desdemona. Then Cassio and Emilia appear and reveal Iago’s evil plot and Desdemona’s innocence. Othello then realizes that he was wrong and that his trusted friend Iago has played him for a fool. Once Othello speaks of the handkerchief he gave to Desdemona as a symbol of their love, Emilia knows that Iago is the person who set up Desdemona and Othello is not the one to blame. Emilia keeps repeating the words, â€Å"My husband?† (Kennedy and Gioia, V. II. 145, 152, 156) as she makes an incomprehensibly swift journey from knowing absolutely that Iago, her dear husband, is honest and totally trustworthy, to realizing that in fact he was the quintessential villain. The most distressing recognition comes near the end of the play, when Emilia, Desdemona’s friend and ally, realizes that her beloved husband Iago is the cause of all the misery and misfortune that is killing th em all. Furthermore, she realizes that she has played an unintentional part in the tragedy by following Iago’s request to steal Desdemona’s handkerchief. It has all been a plot by Iago to destroy Othello, and this is finally revealed to everyone, including Emilia (Kennedy and Gioia, V. II. 179-182, 187-189). To see Emilia come to full awareness is to see first the emotional breakdown caused by this revelation, and then to see it begin to build, as she shows heartbreak, guilt, awareness of betrayal, and recognition of supreme cruelty on the part of someone she has trusted with her life. She finally speaks  with the words, â€Å"Villainy, villainy, villainy!† (Kennedy and Gioia, V. II. 197), knowing she has to persuade everyone of Desdemona’s innocence. Recognition again occurs in Act V Scene II when Emilia hears Othello mention the handkerchief, after he has killed Desdemona: â€Å"With that recognizance and pledge of love / Which I first gave her. I saw it in his hand; / It was a handkerchief, an antique token / My father gave my mother† (Kennedy and Gioia, V. II. 221-224). At the same time, the attending visitors and soldiers, who have been called into action by Emilia’s cries in Act V, Scene II, are also realizing the truth of these terrible events. The reversal occurs as Emilia discloses that it was she who stole Desdemona’s handkerchief, â€Å"She give it Cassio? No, alas, I found it, / And I did give’t my husband† (Kennedy and Gioia, V. II 236-237). Immediately Othello knows that Iago has deceived him, and the recognition occurs as he says, â€Å"Are there no stones in Heaven / But what serves for the thunder? Precious villain!† (Kennedy and Gioia, V. II. 242-243). Emilia cannot contain herself until she has made Othello realize fully that his murder of Desdemona was based on lies told by Iago, who stands with her, threatening her life as she shouts the truth in Act V, Scene II. Her final words come after Iago stabs her for speaking. So, a triple realization happened all at once: Emilia’s living her own devastating heartbreak; she announced the truth for Othello; Othello immediately goes through an explosive episode once the truth is revealed, and then finally sees what deadly mistakes he has made. At the end of the final Act and Scene, after Iago had been exposed by Emilia, Othello feels remorseful about the murder of his wife, â€Å"O cursed, cursed slave! / Whip me, ye devils, / From the possession of this heavenly sight! / Blow me about in winds! Roast me in sulfur! / Wash me in steep-down gulfs of liquid fire! O†¦Dead, Desdemona!† (Kennedy and Gioia, V. II. 285-290). Othello then commits suicide because of the guilt he felt, the plays final reversal. As readers, we are distant from the situation and might think that we would understand what was really happening and alter our actions right away. Unluckily, in the case of Othello, the recognition happens way too late for him to change the sequence of events. Othello does not consider anyone but himself at the point near the end of the play. He does not contemplate to challenge Desdemona, as Iago fills his mind with false truths. Othello does  not question Cassio to find out if the accusations Iago is filling his mind with hold any truth. Othello takes to mind whatever Iago tells him, and does not try to find out if what Iago is saying is actually true. These actions are somewhat out of character for Othello. Usually he is calm and collected. He is a commanding general, which demonstrates that he knows how to direct and read people and how to think things through. Overall, Othello simply makes the error of taking the false truths of what Iago says, rather than investigating it. Ot hello’s deep affection and love for Desdemona make it that much easier for Iago to play with his mind. After killing Desdemona, Othello’s world falls apart in front of him because it is then that Othello realizes the outcome with his recognition of the fact that he was wrong to take the life of the one he so deeply loved based on a false truth. Othello’s world spins around him quicker than he can imagine, before it comes to an end. He has slain the woman he loved most in the world. The man he believed was his best friend twisted his mind and deceived him. All of this is more than he can bear. So, Othello gives one final speech in which he asks the men to remember him as he truly was. Othello requests them not to â€Å"lay it on thick† what a good man he was, nor to defame his character. Othello wanted them to think of him as a man who loved too much, however irrational it might have been. Many exceptional examples of reversal and recognition are shown throughout Othello. Constant use of recognitions and reversals to develop character, advance the plot, and get a reaction of pity and fear from the audience are clearly evident in Othello. Perhaps if Othello would have taken a minute to think about the long term outcome of his actions, he might have seen that there was more than one option of action available to him. However, if Othello had chosen another option, there would have been no recognitions, no reversals, and in turn no drama in the play. Works Cited: Aristotle. GradeSaver. 1999-2011. 11 11 2011. Dictionary.com. 2011. 07 11 2011 . Dictionary.com. 2011. 07 11 2011 . Kennedy, X.J. and Dana Gioia. Literature: an Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing. New York: Pearson Longman, 2010.

Northern Ireland – source related study

1) Source A depicts the job problems that the Catholics faced in Ulster in the 60's. It Shows the employment figures of a variety of different companies, and then tells us how many of these employees are Protestant or Catholic. The first example of the problems faced is at the Belfast shipyard; where there were 10,000 people employed, of which only 400 were Catholic. Considering this was the biggest source of employment in the town, and wasn't exactly a cushy job, you would have expected a much larger number of people working there who were Catholic. However, this was not the case, and was the same everywhere else. In Fermanagh, the county council employed 370 people. Only 48 of these people were Catholic, and none of those people had decent or upper class jobs. This didn't change with bus drivers either. 75 bus drivers were employed in Fermanagh, and only 7 of them were Catholic. And considering that over half of Fermanagh was Catholic, this meant that there would have been a lot of Catholics left without jobs in the city. Therefore, the difficulties faced by Catholics in the 60's were that they were discriminated against by the Protestants. This only shows the job problems they had, but they did face many other daunting problems in the 60's. 2) Source B helps assess the discrimination of Catholics to a certain extent. This is because it is coming from a reliable source. Billy Sinclair used to be the manager of Linfield football club and saw the sort of discrimination he is talking about with his own eyes. The sort of discrimination he is talking about is that if a football scout for a Northern Irish club spots a good young footballer that is from a catholic school, they won't take him on as a player. This is obviously because he is a Catholic, so he wouldn't be accepted in a protestant team. However, this source only comes from one person, and could be helped by being backed up by other people who also manage football clubs, or even from football scouts themselves. Also, source C says that as many protestant people should be in work during times when job opportunities are poor. They would prefer to keep more protestant, unqualified people in work instead of Catholics who could possibly do a better job. This is clear discrimination against the cleverer Catholic people within Ulster. This is a very useful source in assessing the discrimination against Catholics, as it comes from an organisation, rather than just a single person making a statement about the discrimination against young Catholic footballers. 3) The reason that Londonderry became the centre of a civil rights movement was that the Catholics got fed up with the living conditions (as shown in source D) and the voting system in the city. As source D shows, the living conditions were absolutely diabolical. The picture shows an outdoor bath and outhouse, which was very common amongst Catholics houses. However, the Protestants would have had much nicer, indoor bathrooms and toilets, instead of being out in the cold. So that is why the Catholics were fed up with the housing. Also, the way the voting system was set up was biased towards the Protestants. The Catholics were all crammed into one voting area of Londonderry, while the Protestants were spread over two voting areas, meaning that in those two areas, there would be more Protestant votes, meaning more Protestants councillors. The three sources all agree with each other when it comes to talking about the discrimination that the Catholics faced in Ulster. They all show a factor which proves the way that the Catholics were treated. The Catholics within Ulster do get mistreated by the Protestants, even if they are only out of line slightly. The smallest crime could lead to a beating and even a jail sentence, which is how extreme the prejudice is in Ireland. Londonderry became the centre of the civil rights movement in Ireland because it was the main centre of violence in the whole of Eire and Ulster. There was an equal balance of Protestants and Catholics, but there was an un-equal balance in the society. The Protestants always treated the Catholics with prejudice, and never let go of their stronghold over the weaker community. These factors aggravated the Catholics and eventually led them to start up the civil rights movement. After the civil rights movement had started, people from all across Eire and Ulster got involved and were hoping for a united Ireland. 4) In source G, Rev. Ian Paisley said that the IRA and the people who supported it where behind the Civil Rights movement. What he effectively meant was that the Catholics were behind the civil rights movement, which is not the way that Michael Farrell thought about it in source H. He said that there were some Catholics that believed in civil rights, but it was mainly the Protestants that were in charge of the movement. Therefore, he doesn't agree with the way Paisley saw the civil rights movement. However, Source I Does agree with Paisley more than source H. It says that the membership was mostly Catholic, and that the IRA was closely involved in the civil rights movement. However, it does also say that there were Protestants involved, so it doesn't completely agree with the comments made by Paisley. 5) The picture in source J, which was drawn by a Northern Irish political cartoonist, does help portray why the trouble continued into the 90's. It shows five different groups walking around a never-ending staircase which doesn't lead anywhere. Four of the groups (Religion, Politics, Workers and Civilians) are walking up the staircase, working there way up to a better Ireland. However, the other group (the paramilitaries) is walking down the staircase, as they try to cause trouble and want to keep Eire and Ulster separate. They like to stir up the trouble between the Protestants and Catholics and cause riots. The peace process was being lead by Religion, which is why they are at the front of the staircase in the picture. Then the politics follow the Religion as they wanted the fighting and riots to end as it would mean they would get more votes. Then the workers followed the politics as they were drawn in by the things that the governments promised they would do. And the civilians follow the workers as they are mainly their husbands that are working, and the civilians are mainly women and their children. Also, on the side of the wall it has graffiti that says â€Å"REM 1960 ULSTER† which is referring to the Battle of the Boyne. This was obviously when William of Orange and his protestant followers invaded Ireland and took over what is now known as Ulster. This is to remind people that the rift between the Protestants and Catholics still exists because of this event. Another bit of graffiti says â€Å"1916† which refers to the Easter rising on April 24th. There was also the Good Friday agreement of 1998. Sinn Fein was reluctant to sign the document, but in the end gave in. There was an uprising, however, after the document had been signed. This was because it meant that paramilitary prisoners were released. This caused unrest between the two parties, and caused more riots.

In Tess of the DUrbervilles, how does Hardy present Tess Essay

In Hardy’s tragic novel, nothing is as clear as it seems. Although Alec D’Urberville was the ostensible instigator of the protagonist Tess Durbeyfield’s downfall, it must be argued that Angel Clare plays just as a significant role in her destruction. Initial contemporary readings saw Tess and Angel’s relationship as doomed by Tess’ past, while more modern interpretations point to Angel’s decision to leave for the failure of the marriage. Throughout the novel, Hardy makes great use of foreshadowing in order to emphasise how the numerous tragedies in his protagonist’s life cumulate in disaster. This has never been more apparent than with Tess and Angel: as a keystone of the novel, their relationship is haunted by the spectre of the past all the way through. By introducing Angel almost as soon as he establishes Tess’ character, Hardy makes it clear from the outset that this relationship will be more significant than any other.. It is evident that Angel and Tess will fall in love, but what is even more arresting is Angel’s initial and lasting impression that Tess is the epitome of purity and maidenhood. Hardy starkly emphasises Tess’ virginal aspects through compound nominal phrases such as â€Å"white shape† and â€Å"pretty maiden†, creating the lasting image of her as a perfect woman. However, when Angel leaves and â€Å"dismisses the subject from his mind†, Hardy at once shows Angel’s objectification of Tess and how easily he can put aside her hurt, hinting at their relationship to come. Even once Angel knows who Tess is, his initial impression of her as a â€Å"fresh and virginal daughter of Nature† does not change but only becomes deeper embedded in his and the reader’s subconscious, painting a cruel contrast between his expectations and the real knowledge of Tess’ past. As soon as Angel and Tess meet again at the idyllic Talbothay’s Dairy, Hardy introduces the severe contrast between Tess’ simple nature and Angel’s intellectual presence, foreshadowing more than ever that once Tess’ past comes to light, the relationship is doomed. When Angel first notices Tess at the breakfast table, Hardy subtly hints about his idiosyncratic tendency to see what he wants to see to the reader, saying that he â€Å"was ever in the habit of neglecting the particulars of an outward scene for the general impression†. This may seem to be incongruous with Angel’s introspective and thoughtful character, but when considered alongside his behaviour towards Tess, it fits perfectly. The use of the adverb â€Å"ever† suggests that Angel is fixed and unswerving in his beliefs and principles. In particular, Hardy is setting the scene for Angel’s refusal to take into account the mitigating circumstances of Tess’ rape, as he only sees the gross magnitude of the sin that has been committed. He refuses to entertain the notion that her past is similar to his, gasping â€Å"My God- how can forgiveness meet such a grotesque- prestigidation as that! † Hardy’s use of the adjective â€Å"grotesque† indicates how Angel simply cannot equate such a brutal act as rape with the innocent Tess, and it is anger at this, rather than at Tess herself, which causes his outburst. Additionally, Angel is idealistic in his morals, â€Å"imaginative to impracticability† as Hardy later scorns him, and this early quotation shows how Angel refuses to compromise his high ideals for anything, even his love for Tess. He takes advantage of her unshakeable belief in his views and asks her to â€Å"Think of years to come†¦ and this past matter getting known- for it must be known†, striking fear into her honest heart and preventing her from using her feminine charms as a tool of persuasion. Tess genuinely believes him and does not think to suggest emigrating: her loyalty to him is such that she does not question his decision. Early on in Angel and Tess’ relationship, Hardy describes Tess’ unhappiness at her apparent want of intellectual capability compared to Angel, whom she sees as â€Å"an intelligence rather than a man†. Straightaway, Tess’ assumed inferiority is introduced, highlighting the insurmountable gap in the backgrounds of the two characters. Hardy even points out that during Angel’s initial reaction to Tess’ history, he still felt enough of a â€Å"back current of sympathy through which a woman of the world might have conquered him†, but she takes his emotional confusion as a final judgement, simply because she continues to see him as so superior to her. With the phrase â€Å"woman of the world†, Hardy brings attention to Tess’ pitiful lack of experience concerning men and relationships: he highlights how submissive Tess is that she will not attempt to change Angel’s mind, but also how pure and innocent she remains, that she will not use â€Å"her exceptional physical nature† in order to convince him to stay. However, through the use of the abstract noun â€Å"current†, the novelist implies that Angel’s emotions are transient and ever-shifting, portraying him as unreliable and untrustworthy. Angel’s idealism continues to be an important factor of the developing romance, creating the impression that the whole relationship is a fai ade. During the idyllic early morning meetings, Hardy illustrates a hazy new transitional world â€Å"in that strange and solemn interval, the twilight of the morning† to mirror Angel’s rose-tinted and not entirely clear vision of Tess. The author continually uses a semantic field of religious references to illustrate the significance of certain moments. For instance, Hardy describes â€Å"a feeling of isolation, as if they were Adam and Eve†, which not only confers heroic status on them, but creates an ominous sense that Tess’ past will eventually catch up with them and drive them from the lush, fertile Eden that is not only Talbothay’s Dairy, but the bubble of idealism in which the lovers are living. While Angel may be raised to â€Å"godlike† status while Tess is referred to as â€Å"the Magdalen†, supporting Tess’ idolatry of him, they cannot escape the third presence in their relationship. In one of Hardy’s most sensual descriptions of Tess, he describes â€Å"the red interior of her mouth† and compares it to a snake’s. The sensuality of the colour red and the snake both reference Alec D’Urberville, who is consistently given Satanic attributes such as â€Å"animalism† and â€Å"Paganism† as well as possessing â€Å"black angularities† in both appearance and personality, here symbolising the temptation that drove both Adam and Eve from Eden. Hardy cleverly employs the religious lexis: owing to his contempt of traditional, â€Å"quaint and curious† religion (which is divested in Angel and Tess’ rebellious views), his use of instantly recognisable Biblical features makes the point that Angel and Tess’ doomed relationship is simply a sad story that has been played out many times at some level over the centuries. Due to his portrayal of Tess as pure and guiltless, Hardy uses religion to emphasise how women like Tess have been in similar predicaments ever since Eve. It also gives a greater gravity to Tess and Angel’s romance, as the reader knows that it is finite. Hardy continues to expose faults in Angel’s character, namely his hypocrisy and ability to change his mind easily, showing how the relationship only leads to disaster. During their courtship he staunchly argues that her low position as a milkmaid does not and will not deter him- on the contrary, Angel insists he needs a wife â€Å"who knows all about the management of farms† and Tess, therefore, is better suited to him than the Mercy Chant. However, during the passionate argument when Tess follows Angel out of the house after her confession, Angel states firmly that he and Tess belong to â€Å"different societies† and compares her to â€Å"an unapprehending peasant woman† who has never experienced any form of society. This example is not unique: Hardy portrays Angel as eager to seize on an idea and find any evidence to fit it, regardless of previous beliefs: for instance, his ever-changing opinion of â€Å"old families† which only depends on his attitude to Tess at the time. One of the most obvious events that foreshadows the ending of the novel is Angel’s somnambulation. Hardy wrote this scene to symbolise all of Angel’s conflicting emotion and Tess’ self-destructive nature. The outpouring of Angel’s love for his â€Å"dearest, darling Tess! So sweet, so good, so true! â€Å", which he kept so carefully hidden during the day, hints at yet another change of mind on his part later on in the novel, while his exclamation â€Å"‘dead, dead! ‘† signifies not only how Tess is morally dead to him, but how he feels his actions have killed the spirit and love within his â€Å"‘poor, poor Tess'†. Even though Tess suspects multiple times that Angel’s actions could lead to her death, either intentionally or accidentally, â€Å"self-solicitude was near extinction in her†, linking to how she remains placid and uncomplaining even throughout temptation and harsh conditions at Flintcombe-Ash. When Angel â€Å"carefully laid† her in the open coffin, Hardy is symbolising that due to Tess’ devotion to Angel, she will allow herself to be led to her death, arguably the greatest moment of symbolism in the novel. In Tess of the D’Urbervilles, Hardy as the omniscient narrator remains firmly on the side of his protagonist: she is the vehicle for him to express his contempt of the traditionally misogynistic values so strongly upheld by Victorian society. Although Angel professes to reject these conventions, he ultimately submits to them, thus creating an even greater divide between the two lovers. In her final hours, Tess herself states that her happiness with Angel â€Å"could not have lasted† and that it was better that she would be gone, fulfilling Hardy’s portrayal of a love that was sincere, almost ethereal, but lavished on a fallible, human man, and therefore inevitably doomed to fail.

Riba & Its Types

Riba' The word â€Å"Riba† means excess, increase or addition, which correctly interpreted according to Shariah terminology, implies any excess compensation without due consideration (consideration does not include time value of money). Types of Riba: 1. Riba' AnNisi'ah: This is the stipulated interest which the lender takes from the borrower in consideration of the time given to the borrower to pay back the capital. It is HARAM based on the Quran and the Sunnah and the consensus of Muslim scholars. . Riba' Al Fadl:   This applies to barter (exchanging one commodity for another), where   commodities of the same type are exchanged in unequal amounts, especially the exchange of precious metals and foodstuffs, it is HARAM, by the Sunnah and the concensus of scholars; as it paves the way for Riba' nNasi'ah. Numerous ahadith have demonstrated the prohibition with regard to gold, silver, wheat, barley, dates, and salt. The Prophet sallaAllahu ‘alayhi wa sellem said, â€Å"Gold for gold, and silver for silver, and wheat for wheat, and barley for barley, and dates for dates, and salt for salt, like for like, equal for equal, from hand to hand (the transaction must be completed before the two sides leave each other). But if the types are different then sell as you wish, as long as it is hand to hand. †Ã‚   (Muslim) The Prophet sallaAllahu ‘alayhi wa sellem also said, â€Å"Whoever gives more or asks for more (than what he gave) commits an act of Riba', the given and the taken are equivalent (in the sin). (Muslim) The Prophet sallaAllahu ‘alayhi wa sellem said, â€Å"Prohibited selling food (of the same variety) except equivalent in weight and hand to hand. † (Muslim) â€Å"Do not sell gold for gold unless equivalent in weight (and from hand to hand), and do not sell less amount for greater amount or vice versa, and do not sell silver for silver unless equivalent in we ight (and from hand to hand), and do not sell less amount for greater amount or vice versa and do not sell gold or silver that is not present at the moment of exchange for gold or silver that is present. †Ã‚   (agreed upon) To lend a bank money or borrow from it on the condition of a payment of a fixed annual or monthly percentage rate of interest, say 2%, or more or less, is a form of PROHIBITED RIBA'. â€Å"†¦ whereas Allah has permitted trading and forbidden Riba' (usury)†¦ †Ã‚   2:275 Poverty isn't an excuse for Riba'. Mudaraba: which is a form of partnership where one person invests money and the other invests his skill and effort, and they share the profit or loss of the enterprise, so Islam did not impose any hardship on the people (by prohibiting Riba') but rather it provided them with a viable alternative to it, among them are the following: . Qard Hasan (a beautiful loan): Istead of a Muslim loaning his money on interest which causes pollution and blight on all his property and oppresses the borrower, Islam encourages him to make the loan Qard Hasan, and promised him a gracious reward for it;   Allah said, â€Å"Who is he that will lend to Allah a goodly loan so that Her ma y multiply it to him many times? †Ã‚   2:245 2. Giving an extension to a person who cannot repay the loan on time because of financial difficulty, until he gets back on his feet. And Islam encourages the lender to forgive the loan altogether in this circumstance;   Allah said, â€Å"And if the debtor is in a hard time (has no money), then grant him time till it is easy for him to repay, but if you remit it by way of charity, that is better for you if you did but know. † 2:280 3. Mutual Aid by all means: This encompasses mutual aid on a social level, in industry and in agriculture, and social security by financing farmers and industrialists and craftsmen in order to enable them to produce effectively. This returns a benefit to the whole Ummah. Also, opening schools and buidling hospitals and homes for the elderly and the incapacitated and all other items alike fall under the mutual aid mentioned in the verse†¦ â€Å"†¦ help you one another in Al Birr and atTaqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety);†¦ †Ã‚   5:2                    The society which realizes these means will proceed, in the shade of this comprehensive mutual aid, happily and far removed from the distress of Riba'. . We should not forget the payment of Zakat to those who deserve it. This will have a major impact on getting rid of Riba'. BEWARE:   from putting your money in a *nonIslamic bank*. Even if you don't take interest on it, the bank takes your money and loans it out to gain interest. So you are helping the Riba' system, and are indirectly responsible and beware from taking loans from those banks.

An Exploration of the Malay Kompang

AN EXPLORATION OF THE MALAY KOMPANG Name: Chan Tsui Sze Dora Matriculation Number: U1210644K Seminar Group Time: 1330 – 1530 Seminar Group Instructor: Cikgu Zubir Assignment: Research Paper in Malay Music Date: 10 April 2013 Word Count: 2245 Contents Chapter 1: An Introduction to the Kompang3 1. 1 Features of the Kompang4 1. 2 Features of Kompang Music4 1. 3 Performance Context6 Chapter 2: Influences on the Malay Kompang 7 2. 1 Arabic Influences7 2. 2 Portuguese Influences9 2. 3 Thai Influences11 2. 4 African Influences12Chapter 3: Future Changes in the Malay Kompang14 3. 1 Pop and Media Influences14 3. 2 Western Influences15 Chapter 4: Conclusion16 Bibliography 17 Discography/ Videography 19 Chapter 1: An Introduction to the Kompang The Malay Kompang ensemble refers to a Malay drum ensemble that ranges between three performers in a small chamber or accompaniment setting, to a large group of 30 drummers. As an instrument, the Malay Kompang is so familiar to most Singaporeans, yet it encompasses a rich history spanning more than 700 years that would astound and intrigue many.Kompang is mainly an oral tradition (Abdullah, 2005). Like all other non-notational music forms, it is inevitably highly characterized by change, self-improvisation and influences from other cultures. While Kompang music today is admittedly not so frequently heard nor performed as before, there have been efforts to assimilate this traditional music genre into today’s popular culture. This paper will address the diverse cultural influences on Malay Kompang from Arabic, Portuguese, Thai and African sources.Through the main musical elements of instrumentation, rhythm, form, and performance context, a comprehensive musical analysis of the influence of the different cultures on Kompang music will be made. This paper will also examine how elements of popular culture can be infused into the traditional Malay Kompang music genre, and discuss the general developmental direction that Kom pang music is taking. 1. 1 Features of the Kompang The Malay Kompang is part of the membranophone family.It is a wooden-framed, circular, one-sided handheld drum with a skin made up of animal hide and played using the free hand (Abdullah, 2012). There are two main types of tones on the Kompang – the lentong beat played by hitting the side of the drum with closed fingers, and the cerang played by slapping the center of the drum with the palm (Abdullah, 2012). The lentong typically produces a lower-pitched, rounder sound while the cerang typically produces a higher-pitched slapping effect. One of the unique features of the Kompang is its â€Å"wet† and rumbling timbre due to the strong effects of reverberation.Another special feature of the Kompang is its interlocking technique and the unique musical texture heard from this effect. 1. 2 Features of Kompang Music Even though most musical repertoire of the Kompang is oral in nature and neither notated nor formally defined, there is undeniably a wide range of repertoire in the Kompang genre. There is purely instrumental drumming as well as Kompang used to accompany vocal parts, like zikir. The variety in form – the organization of musical elements in time to create structure (Kamien, 2013) – used in Kompang music is very wide.There is the use of Pukulan, which the first section is called Pukulan Mula (introduction beat), the second is called Pukulan Asas (basic beat) and the third is Pukulan Naik (ascending beat), followed by a combination of other sections including Pukulan Turun (descending beat) and Pukulan Naik. Finally the last section is identified as Pukulan Mati (ending beat). (Abdullah, 2005) There is no rule as to how many times each Pukulan has to be played; the combination of Pukulan sections is determined by the length as well as the function of the entire performance.Also, the form of Kompang pieces is also specific to the community that is performing the pieces. For exampl e, the Kompang music performed by the Kompang Ezhar community in Malaysia typically begins with a call-and-response recitation of the Selawat, a reading of a holy scripture, and then continues with the various Pukulan sections. Additionally, there are even more types of Pukulan found in various forms of dance music (Abdullah, 2005). A summary of the different Pukulan specific to the Kompang Ezhar community is shown in Figure 1 below: Figure 1: A summary of the various types of Pukulan found in the Kompang Ezhar (Abdullah, 2005)In Kompang, rhythm is mainly characterized by the interlocking of different parts divided within the Kompang ensemble. Interlocking is basically done with two or more Kompangs playing simultaneously, with one part playing the Basic beat which is usually the downbeats; another part playing the Rhythm beat which is usually the off beats; and an additional part(s) playing the Leading beat which is usually characterized by triplets or a syncopated rhythm that crea tes a unique interlocking texture specific to the Malay Kompang musical genre (Hahril, 2010).In addition, instrumentation is a musical element that is relatively fixed in Kompang; there is usually a group of Kompangs playing together, and occasionally, accompanying voice. 1. 3 Performance Context In the Singaporean context, the Malay Kompang is usually seen performed at weddings and celebratory ceremonies, or at traditional showcases. As the Kompang is usually performed in large, open spaces, it is important that it produces loud, penetrating and thundering sounds. Kompang performances are also popular at social functions like cultural festivals, dinner shows and events, as well as for the royalty (Abdullah, 2005).All these factors underscore the importance and essentiality of this unique instrument in the entire Malay community. Chapter 2: Influences on the Malay Kompang The Malay Kompang is influenced by many cultures, especially from those cultures that introduced the musical gen re into the Malay community in the early 13th century. As Malacca was ruled by different cultural groups throughout its history, the performance of Malay Kompang was also inevitably influenced by these cultures that took over the land at different points in its history. 2. 1 Arabic Influences One main influence on Kompang music is the Arabic culture and its music.In this context, it is of relevance to discuss the main hand drum that is greatly symbolic of Arabic music – the goblet drum, a large single-headed drum introduced in 1100 BCE (Sadie, 1980). Figure 2: African goblet drum The goblet drum is played either with the drum held under the player’s arm, or with the player sitting down and placing it sideways on his lap, or with the drum strapped around his neck. Similar to the Malay Kompang, it is played using only the hands. There are three main tones used. The doum (bass) tone is produced by hitting the center of the drum head with the palm.The tek (higher-pitched) is produced by hitting the edge of the drum head. The pa is a percussive effect produced by hitting the drumhead and then muting it with the palm to create a closed sound. Figure 3: Doum tone on the Arabic goblet drum Figure 4: Tek tone on the Arabic goblet drum Thus, it can be seen that the playing techniques of the Malay Kompang is somewhat derived from the playing techniques of the Arabic goblet drum – such that a higher-pitched sound is heard by tapping the side of the drum and letting the sound ring, and a lower-pitched sound is produced by hitting the middle of the drum using the palm.Although the muting percussive tone is not as established in Kompang performance techniques, this is probably due to the limitations of the Kompang in that it can only be hit with one hand and held with the other, making it hard to execute a muting effect. 2. 2 Portuguese Influences Portuguese musical elements are also evident in the music of Kompang, particularly in its repertoire. This i s not unexpected, as the Portuguese took over Malacca after its successful assault on the city in July 1511 (Leo, 2013) – leading to infiltration of Portuguese elements into the Malay culture and practices then.The main hand drum in the Portuguese tradition is the Tabor. It is a double-headed snare drum made of cylindrical wood, played with one hand. The skin heads are tightened with leather straps and rope tension (Harms, 1989). Figure 5: The Portuguese Tabor The repertoire of the Tabor is mostly military in nature and is used frequently in marching band processions. Additionally, the Tabor is commonly played together with the Portuguese pipe. The player commonly plays the pipe with his left hand and hits the drum with a wooden stick in his right hand.Portuguese pipe music is folk in nature and the rhythms played on the Tabor are accompanimental and characterized by dotted rhythm. As the musical repertoire of the Tabor is not extensive, there is little notation available. He nce a short transcription of the Tabor parts from a Portuguese Pipe and Tabor ensemble has been attempted: Figure 6: Transcription of Pipe and Tabor ensemble recording As seen from Figure 6, each of the three Tabor parts plays different rhythms, but the performance culminates in an interlocking effect such that the three different parts compliment each other’s beats of emphasis.Hence we can derive two insights regarding the Portuguese influence on the Malay Kompang – firstly, the use of the Kompang in Malay processions and weddings could be influenced by the use of the Tabor in Portuguese marching processions. Secondly, the interlocking feature in Kompang music could be taken from Portuguese Tabor ensembles and then developed to the several complex interlocking parts of today, which includes triplets and more complicated syncopation parts. 2. 3 Thai Influences Yet another cultural influence on Kompang music is Thai music.The Malays and the Siamese have had long, diplom atic contact for over half a decade during the Siamese empire of 1403 – 1909. This allowed the Malays to adapt to the Thai culture and music. Two Siamese musical forms that were of great influence to the Malay Kompang were the Wayang Siam and the Makyong (Abdullah, 2012). The Wayang Siam is essentially accompaniment to shadow puppet theatre. The form of Wayang Siam music is mostly free in nature and depends on the theatrics and drama of the performance. Characters are free to move onstage in more or less than the traditional eight-bar phrases (Baier, 1995).The Makyong musical form was primarily performed by a small ensemble of instruments used to accompany theatrical acts, and included improvised monologues and dialogues (UNESCO, 2005), underscoring the flexibility of the form. Similarly, Kompang ensembles accompany dances, weddings and processions and require a certain amount of flexibility to suit the occasion. Despite the flexibility in combination and number of repetition s of Pukulan sections played, it is not as free as the form in Wayang Siam. Nevertheless, the flexibility in form can be seen as a main influence of Wayang Siam on Kompang music. . 4 African Influences The way that the drummers in an African djembe ensemble interact musically is also of influence to the Malay Kompang. One main feature of African djembe ensemble playing is polyrhythm, in which each djembe player plays a repetitive cycle of its own accompanying rhythm which is in a different measure from the other djembe players. This creates a very unique rhythmic texture as there are different downbeats heard simultaneously with the playing of two different measures. This can be seen in the example below, depicting a polyrhythmic effect: Figure 7: Example of polyrhythmIn addition, there is usually also a solo, virtuosic part heard above all the different accompanying parts, which gives even more rhythmic variety to the music. The influence that this has on Kompang is clear in the di fferent parts that are taken on by the different players in the ensemble. However, the interlocking effect in Kompang is not as complex in that it is not as texturally thick as djembe as all the ensemble players are still playing in the same measure. Nevertheless, it still shows a very important influence that African drum music had on the Malay Kompang.In the 13th century in the Malay Archipelago, little polyrhythmic or even contrapuntal music could be found. Hence the interlocking feature of Kompang music was drawn from the polyrhythms in African djembe. Chapter 3: Future Changes in the Malay Kompang In the 21st century today when most people including those in the Southeast Asia region are exposed to popular music due to factors like technological advances and the strong wave of social media, there is inevitably a strong inclination towards fusing traditional music with pop elements.In addition, due to the increased westernization of Asian cultures, many traditional musical forms are gradually evolving into a more Westernized structure. Besides this, the culture where Kompang is performed today also has an effect on how it is performed. For example, Kompang Melayu is a modern style of playing Kompang, specifically found in Singapore (Hahrill, 2010). Based on my research and analysis, there is a strong possibility of two main directions that musical developments in Malay Kompang can take – the pop-infused style and the westernized style. 3. Pop and Media Influences Pop music is a main influence on Kompang music today. Since the 21st century, technology has allowed a growing number of people to be connected to the Internet. With today’s wireless connectivity and infiltration of social media, the immense volume of technological information sharing inevitably causes people to be influenced by songs that are literally popular – those that are accessible to the widest audience (Lamb, 2013). Elements of rock, R&B, country, disco, punk, and hip -hop have been integrated into pop music for the past few decades.The rhythmic elements in these styles have the potential to be incorporated into Kompang. In addition, the form of pop music – verse and chorus – could be another element that could possibly influence Kompang music in the future. 3. 2 Western Influences Due to increasing westernization of Southeast-Asian cultures today as well as the flourish in Western Music education that uses mainly western notation, Kompang music is more frequently notated these days. This is evident from the difficulty that cross-cultural ensembles face in rehearsing due to differences in notational practices. Ross, 2011) Western orchestras, bands and ensembles have also been introduced to the Malay culture in recent years. There could potentially be new compositions that incorporate the Kompang into the scored music. For example, percussion ensembles with Kompang as one of the instruments, or even Kompang concertos could be written in the near future as part of efforts to popularize traditional instruments. Chapter 4: Conclusion In conclusion, the Malay Kompang, although a considerably specific musical genre, is still influenced by a myriad of elements from other cultures.This is especially so with globalization today, causing homogenization of culture throughout many countries. As discussed above, Kompang music was initially influenced by Arabic, Portuguese, Thai and African musical elements. In recent years, it has started to be influenced by pop and western elements, which are mostly caused by the infiltration of media and technology, and the slow but definite westernization of Asian cultures. As such, the growth of Kompang music in ways that are characterized by today’s era can be witnessed. Bibliography Abdullah, M. H. (2005).An Organological and Ethnomusicological Study of A Malay Frame Drum. Retrieved from https://theses. ncl. ac. uk/dspace/bitstream/10443/869/1/Abdullah05. pdf Abdullah, M. H. ( 2005). ENCHANTING THE CULTURE: AN INTRODUCTION TO THE AUTHENTIC KOMPANG PLAYING. Retrieved from http://www. academia. edu/380345/ENCHANTING_THE_CULTURE_AN_INTRODUCTION_TO_THE_AUTHENTIC_KOMPANG_PLAYING Abdullah, M. H. (2012). The Role of the Kompang in Malay Society. Retrieved from http://portal. unesco. org/culture/en/files/21753/10891249663abdullah. pdf/abdullah. pdf Charry, E. (2000). A Guide to the Jembe.Retrieved from http://echarry. web. wesleyan. edu/jembearticle/article. html Djembe technique | Inner Groove Percussion. (n. d. ). Retrieved from http://innergroove. wordpress. com/learn-to-drum-2/djembe-technique/ Elements of Music. (n. d. ). Retrieved from http://historyofmusic. tripod. com/id6. html Kompang! – SHSS ‘O' Level Music. (n. d. ). Retrieved from http://shssolevelmusic. wetpaint. com/page/Kompang! Mak Yong. (n. d. ). Retrieved April 2013, from http://www. unesco. org/culture/intangible-heritage/23apa_uk. htm Matusky, P. (1995). Malaysian Shadow Play and Music: Continuity of an Oral Tradition.Retrieved from http://www. jstor. org/discover/10. 2307/1124116? uid=3738992&uid=2129&uid=2&uid=70&uid=4&sid=21101877205913 Matusky, P. A. (2004). Music of the Percussion Ensembles. Retrieved from http://books. google. com. sg/books? id=x06nBdEkAOMC&pg=PA198&lpg=PA198&dq=kompang+music+scores&source=bl&ots=hjI8kuVMZo&sig=uGiMpUc98bGJcM3GbIV9UH0_gB0&hl=en&sa=X&ei=f_5bUanSH8yUrgeXo4CoAQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=kompang%20music%20scores&f=false Musical Elements : Key, Musical Texture,

The international banking market Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

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Project and Change Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

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Porters Five of ASDA Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

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