Returning home from Vietnam and programs that are in place today Research Paper

Returning home from Vietnam and programs that are in place today - Research Paper Example While still in the battlefront in Vietnam, American soldiers developed indiscipline, engaged in drug abuse and racial conflict. These unruly behaviors continued even after the war. The soldiers could not integrate smoothly with the society back at home. In addition, when the soldiers returned home from the Vietnam War there was not any programs in place for them to become acclimated back into society. The United States Government then took the initiative to research and developed several programs to aid in the successful transformation from military to civilian lifestyle for the soldier. This paper will explore the timeline between the Vietnam War and programs that are now available to returning soldiers today. The article explores the Posttraumatic stress syndrome experienced by returning soldiers upon return from wars. Finally, the paper looks into the measures that have been instituted to address posttraumatic stress disorders among soldiers. According to DSM (209) post traumatic stress disorder occurs when a person witnesses, experiences, or is confronted with occurrences that threatened a serious injury, death or that involved actual death. The response of the victim involves extreme shock, helplessness and intense fear. It is a psychiatric disorder and not a mental health problem. Soldiers experience horrific scene while at the war front. The scenes of dead and dying people, the fear of being killed, killing people and witnessing the death of colleagues and friends leads to development of this problem among soldiers (Shay, 223). Soldiers who have suffered from this problem report being tense and easily irritable around people, being startled by noises especially loud noises, getting angry easily and experiencing nightmares. As a result, soldiers who have suffered from post-traumatic stress usually have problems in marriage and relationships. They have problems in forming and keeping relationships. Furthermore, posttraumatic stress can lead to depression.

Key Sectors of Economic Growth in Kenya Essay Example for Free

Key Sectors of Economic Growth in Kenya Essay Economic growth is the increase in the amount of the goods and services produced by an economy over time. It is conventionally measured as the percent rate of increase in real gross domestic product i.e. real GDP. In Kenya the key main sectors to achieve economic growth are agriculture which is the mainstay economic growth drivers, energy sector, manufacturing and industry, service sector which is mainly tourism, financial services and banking and also the private sector. All of these sectors are in line with the Kenya Vision 2030, the economic pillar. The key sectors are as discussed below: 1. AGRICULTURE: Agriculture has been the key factor of economic growth of Kenyan economy. It continues to be the key factor that will drive the economic growth of Kenya as it contributes to about 24% of Growth Domestic Product. And for this reason the government should increase budgetary allocation to the agricultural sector up from the Kshs 53.5 billion allocated in National Budget 2012/201 so as to be in line with the Maputo Declaration which requires the budget allocation to agriculture to be atleast 10% of total Government budgets and The government should also subsidize the farm inputs such as fertilizers for the farmers, this will maximize production. Livestock farming also has to be considered. If the government increases funding to the agricultural sector, such occurrences as food shortages, seasonal inflation and unemployment would be curbed if not avoided. Agricultural sector which includes; †¢Livestock sector and dairy farming: The livestock sector provides employment opportunities while also increases income. Kenya exports from hides and skins for leather industry earned Kshs 4 billion. Also reforms need to be made on the Kenya Meat Commission. †¢Fisheries: Kenya earns around Kshs 4 billion from this sector. The sector also employs about 60000 people and also over half a million people depend on this sector for livelihood through trading and fish processing thus thee number of fish processing plants should be increased. 2. TOURISM SECTOR: The service sector of Kenya contributes 63% of Growth Domestic Product and it’s mainly tourism industry which is the country’s principal source of foreign exchange thus the government. The tourism industry along with the government has to take steps to address the security problem and to reverse negative publicity especially after the post-Election Violence of 2007 following disputed General Elections. Such steps among others should include establishing a tourist police and launching marketing campaigns in key tourist origin markets. Former minister of Tourism Najib Balala ran such campaigns in CNN. 3. ENERGY SECTOR: The energy sector an important sector to drive the smooth growth of the economy hence there is need for the Government to put up measures that would help the sector to grow thereby, contributing to the growth of the economy as the sector is depended on by manufacturing and industrial sector and also the agricultural sector. There exists limited power generation and transmission capacity in the country. This is caused by lack of adequate investment in power systems and infrastructure development. This combined with rapid economic growth, new customer connections and unreliable rainfall patterns have caused the current electricity shortage in Kenya. Though Kenya is not natural resource endowed, the natural resources the country can boast of for energy generation are small hydro, geothermal, coal, biogas, tidal waves, solar, wind and recently the oil exploration in Turkana. The government needs to invest heavily in the energy sector so that there is no over reliance on Hydro power. The government should implement a policy to attract private sector investments in the energy sector i.e. the Kenya Private Sector Power Generation Support Project. In doing so it will boost economic growth and in job creation. 4. INDUSTRY AND MANUFACTURING SECTOR: Kenya boast of being the industrialized country in East Africa, the manufacturing sector contributes to about 15% of Growth domestic Product, this percentage doesn’t as the manufacturing sector is hampered by high energy costs, shortages of hydro telemetric power, poor infrastructure and counterfeits products i.e. cheap imports. Industrial and manufacturing sector has become increasingly significant to Kenya economy due to increased urbanization. Most industrial plants are located in urbanized towns which has led to the reason Kenya has three cities i.e. Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu; they include food-processing industries such as grain milling, beer production, and sugarcane crushing. These plants contribute significantly to national income as well as generate employment. Also the oil refinery which processes imported crude petroleum into petroleum products, mainly for the domestic market. In addition, a substantial and expanding informal sector engages in small-scale manufacturing of household goods, motor-vehicle parts, and farm implements. 5. FINANCIAL SECTOR AND BANKING: Kenya is East and Central Africas hub for financial services. Most of the banking institution and other financial services firms are located in the urban centres as it is considered that urban people have higher income which is not the case, thus innovation and opening of banking sectors should be put in place in rural areas. Such innovations includes mobile banking which where now rural populations have daily access to financial services as most people now own mobile handsets. MPESA is the widely used mobile banking, it is estimated that MPESA has given access financial services to about 75% of the people. Government thus needs to encourage other mobile money transfers such as Tangaza, Yu cash, and Airtel money. In doing so it will create a competitive environment and thus many people will get access to the financial services. The Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE) ranks fourth in Africa in terms of Market capitalization. Stock markets provide market liquidity that enables implementation of long term projects with long term payoffs thereby promoting a country’s economic growth. Moreover, efficient capital markets not only avail resources to investors, they also facilitate inflow of foreign financial resources into the domestic economy. Government needs to institute reforms in the financial sector as capital market development is an important component of financial sector development and supplements the role of the banking system in economic development. Capital markets assists in price discovery, liquidity provision, reduction in transactions costs, and risk transfer.

An Analysis Of The Nagorno Karabakh Conflict Politics Essay

An Analysis Of The Nagorno Karabakh Conflict Politics Essay This dissertation focuses on the conflict of Nagorno-Karabakh; the origins of the conflict, its present state and the possible future. Throughout the dissertation several key aspects and theories of International relations are analysed, such as: peoples right to self determination, the concept of nation-state and conflict resolution. Firstly, the relevant theories of International relations are explored and an attempt is made to compare them with reality and to show their use in the real world. Secondly, a historical background of the conflict is described, followed by a description of the conflict from 1988 to 1995 and the peace talks. Thirdly, an analysis of the future of NK is examined, pointing out possible solutions and forms of reconciliation. Moreover, relevant questions are individually looked at. For over ten years NK has been on a path of nation-state building. NK sees itself as an independent republic, even with lack of international recognition. NK has a population of 141,000 and an area that covers 11,458.38  km2. (Official website of the President of NK, http://www.president.nkr.am/en/nkr/statePower/ , accessed on March 2, 2011). The map below show the situation of NK, they show both the NK Autonomous Oblast and the present NK state boundaries that include the occupied territories of Azerbaijan: As this dissertation deals with the de facto state of Nagorno-Karabakh, it analyses and explores International Law concerning peoples right to self determination and the consequent recognition of their state. Chapter 1, Article 1, part 2 of the United Nations Charter created in 1945 states that the aim of the UN is to: Develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace. Article 1, part 1, of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 1966 states the following: All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development. (United Nations Charter 1945, available at: http://www.un.org/aboutun/charter/ [accessed March 2 2011]) Moreover, the Declaration of Principles of International Law Concerning Friendly Relations and Co-operation Among States in Accordance with the Charter of the United Nations of 24th October 1970 declares that: By virtue of the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, all peoples have the right freely to determine, without external interference, their political status and to pursue their economic, social and cultural development, and every State has the duty to respect this right in accordance with the provisions of the Charter. (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 1966, available at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/ccpr.htm [accessed march 2 2011]) The establishment of a sovereign and independent State, the free association or integration with an independent State or the emergence into any other political status freely determined by a people constitute modes of implementing the right of self-determination by that people. (UN General Assembly, Declaration of Principles of International Law Concerning Friendly Relations and Co-operation Among States in Accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, 24 October 1970,  available at: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/3dda1f104.html  [accessed March 2 2011] ). These legal statements show the core understanding and acceptance of the international community regarding the idea of peoples right to self determination. Even though some core aspects of these declarations can be vague in their practical sense, their overall message is not contested. By taking into account these and other declarations, the case for the people of NK becomes clearer. Presently, the problem lies with the idea that NK peoples right to self determination collides with Azerbaijans right to sovereignty, so what is the solution? According to Dr. Otto Luchterhandt, the director of East European Research Department (University of Hamburg): The right to self-determination is not only a political principle but a rule of existing international law. The people of Nagorny Karabakh are the subject of the right to self-determination. The people of Nagorny Karabakh can claim for the highest level fulfilment of the law of self-determination secession from the state of Azerbaijan because on the one hand its restriction to the status of a national minority stands in no reasonable relation to its legitimate interests in development and protection, and on the other hand the measure of its oppression has reached such unbearable proportions, that remaining in the federation of Azerbaijan has become unacceptable and it has announced it will for self-determination in an unmistakable and convincing manner. (Luchterhandt, Nagorny Karabakhs Right to State Independence According to International Law, Boston, 1993) To use international law in a discussion in the case for NK, specific proof has to be shown. There is also the argument that juridical legitimacy of borders and territorial integrity works against the self-determination principle, however this cannot be taken into account in the case of Azerbaijan SSR (Soviet Socialist Republic). Firstly, it must be stated that NK was an autonomous oblast (an administrative unit) within the Azerbaijan SSR, and that Azerbaijan SSR was not defined by state borders, it was defined by administrative borders, therefore the Helsinki Agreement Final Act in 1975 concerning territorial integrity cannot be applied. As Francois Mitterrand said: Why should the interior administrative borders of a state be automatically recognised as international ones? (Zargarian,1999). Secondly, on the 31st August 19941 the Azerbaijan SSR confirmed the restoration of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan that had been created from 1918 to 1920. This declaration leaves to question the legality of the present Azerbaijans borders, including the territories of NK, territories surrounding NK and Nakhijevan, as none of these were part of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan. In addition, it is well documented that in December 1920, Azerbaijan SSR accepted the territories of NK and Nakhijevan as belonging to Armenia. These declarations were later altered by Stalin, which at the times was Commissar of Nationalities. To further analyse, the value of state sovereignty of Azerbaijan should be graded as lower than the importance of sovereignty of a state in a normal situation, with reference to the system of states in the League of Nations, therefore it is lower than the NK peoples right to self determination. (Raschhofer, 1960) This notion gives support to the national right to self-determination of NKs people in right to secession over Azerbaijans state sovereignty. (Luchterhandt, 1993). To conclude, as the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh was founded after a referendum on state independence on 10th December 1991, resulting in a 98% acceptance, and in agreement with international and Soviet law, it should ultimately be acknowledged as genuine under international law. Moreover, precedent of Eritrea can be used, which showed that self proclamation leads to be under the power of international law. NK relationship with other countries, international organisations, and treaties such as the Geneva Convention, all give power for self-determination. HISTORY The name Nagorno-Karabakh has a mixture of 3 languages; Nagorno is in Russian meaning mountainous, and Karabakh is in Turkic and Farsi meaning Black Garden. However, the Armenians call it Artsakh, as it was one of the provinces of Greater Armenia, and it is mentioned as early as second century BC: the ancient provinces of Artsakh and Utik, situated between Lake Sevan, river Kara and river Araxes. (Strabo, 1st century BC.) During the centuries, NK has been mainly populated by ethnic Armenians, however there were periods in which during conquests other ethnic groups would settle, such as Caucasian Tatars, Caucasian Albanians (no connection to Albanians in Balkans), Persians and Turkic tribes. The recent conflict with Azerbaijan has unleashed a historical fact finding war, where the Azeris lay historical claims to these lands, and the Armenians refute them. The people living in NK point out to the obvious evidence, such as hundreds of ruins, ancient monuments, religious building, churches and monasteries. (Tchilingirian,1999). As one farmer said in regard to this: This monastery (Monastery of Gandzasar) kept us Armenian, the writings on these walls made us know who we are. There is a khachkar (cross-stone), the size of a car, on top of this mountain; our ancestors placed it there to indicate that this is Armenian land (Martakert, 1995). To review the history of Artsakh a new dissertation can be written, therefore to keep in line with this dissertation, a review of more recent history is made. After 1918, when the Georgians, Armenians and Azeris took advantage of the chaos of the Russian Revolution to establish independent states, war broke out between Armenia and Azerbaijan, however by 1921 all three republic were under the rule of the Red Army. (Swietochowski, 1985) Originally, the Bolsheviks determined NKs problem: The Chairman of the Azerbaijani Revolutionary Committee (Azrevkom), Narimanov declared: The government of Workers and Peasants of Azerbaijan, having heard the news of the proclamation in Armenia in the name of the insurgent peasantry of the Soviet Socialist Republic, salutes the victory of the fraternal Armenian people. From this day forward, the former borders between Armenia and Azerbaijan are suspended. Mountainous Karabagh, Zangezur, and Nakhichevan are recognized as integral parts of the Socialist Republic of Armenia. Long live the fraternity and union of workers and peasants of Soviet Armenia and Azerbaijan. (L. Chorbajian, P. Donabedian, C. Mutafian, 1994) The decision by Narimanov was acclaimed by the ethnic Armenians which thought that it was a fair decision. Moreover, Narimanov declared: no territorial conflict will cause bloodshed between these two age-old neighbourly peoples. ( Chorbajian, Donabedian, Mutafian, 1994). Yerevans central authority henceforth declared: Based on the declaration of (Azrevkom)à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦it is hereby declared that Mountainous Karabagh is henceforth an integral part of the Socialist Soviet Republic of Armenia (Libaridian, 2004) This announcement was never realised, even if it was at the beginning supported by Stalin. Stalins view was that Karabagh should be given to Azerbaijan, in an effort to increase friendly relations with Turkey, which by then had aspirations to be a communist state. (Lane, 1992) It must be understood that Turks and Azeris are ethnically the same people. Even though the decision over NK was reached on July 4th 1921 in the Kavburo (Caucasian Bureau of the Communist Party): Based on the declaration of (Azrevkom)à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦it is hereby declared that Mountainous Karabagh is henceforth an integral part of the Socialist Soviet Republic of Armenia (Libaridian, 2004) The Kars and Moscow treaties were signed in October, giving Azerbaijan the control of NK. Thus, NKs Armenian populations (90% of NK) desire to unite with Armenia was ignored, creating ethnic tensions that would eventually end in full scale war. The Armenians tried to relocate NK to Armenia SSR in 1929, 1935, 1963, 1966, 1977 and 1987. The main reasons were the anti-Armenian discrimination, demographic shifts and economic underdevelopment. (Ulubabian, 1994) The Armenian population had declined by 25% from 1920 to 1979, due to hardships created by these discriminatory attitudes. The modern conflict started on February 1988, when due to the glasnost policy created by Gorbachev and its subsequent openness, the NK authorities asked to transfer the NK Autonomous Oblast to Armenia SSR. The reaction in Azerbaijan SSR was negative, as in 13th June it rejected this demand, on the other hand Armenia SSR on 15th June gave acceptance to this request. Due to the argument between Azerbaijan SSR and Armenia SSR, Moscow had to decide, and since Articles 73 and 78 of the 1977 USSR Constitution states that borders may only be changed if both republics agree on the change, NK stayed under Azerbaijans SSR authority, until the Soviet Union broke down in 1991. The conflict itself started with violence and ethnic-cleansing, with guerrilla warfare. Pogroms against Armenians started in Sumgait (near Baku) in February 1988 and in January 1990 in Baku. The Armenians of Baku (approximately 220,000) and from other parts of Azerbaijan were forced to flee, except in areas of NK. In return, Azeris in Armenia (160,000) were forced to leave, however no pogroms and mass violence was recorded, unlike in Baku. It was not until Yeltsin came to power that Russia sided with the Armenians, as before the USSR broke down the USSR Army was helping the Azeris. The Russians helped the Armenians with weapons, fuel and logistical support. The reason the Russians sided with the Armenians was because it was against Azerbaijans pro-Turkey and pro-Western positions. (Betts, 1999). Russias view was that Armenia was its only ally in the South Caucasus, and due to its geopolitical situation in regard to Turkey in Iran, help should be given. Full scale war broke out between 1991 and 1994 among the Azeri Army and the irregular Armenian guerrilla fighters. At the beginnings of 1992 the Azeris were in control of nearly half of NK, forcing out Armenian civilians as they advanced. Spring 1992 was when the advantage turned towards the Armenians, as their offensive pushed the Azeris to retreat. Once the city of Shushi was captured in May 8 1992, the Armenians had control of NK and the surrounding territories. It must be noted that the Armenian side was mostly fought by guerrilla fighters, which did not respond to any central authority in NK or Armenia. Most of the fighters or Fedayeen (Freedom Fighters), as the Armenians call them, were ordinary people without training or military weapons. The Armenians were helped by the Diaspora, which sent money, weapons and volunteers to help. The Azeri side brought mercenaries from Chechnya and mujahedeen from Pakistan and Afghanistan (approximately 3,000 fighters). (Taarnby, Michael. 2008 ) In May 1994 a cease fire was signed with Russia as intermediary in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The ceasefire was signed by the Azerbaijani authorities and General Babayan from the NK Armed forces. The result of the war was that the Armenians ended up controlling 20% of Azerbaijans territory. An estimated 4,500 people died and 25,00 wounded from the Armenian side, and an estimated 30,000 died and 60,000 wounded on the Azeri side. (De Waal, 2003). CEASE FIRE AND PEACE TALKS Before the ceasefire agreement mediated by Russia, several attempts were made to find a solution. The first attempt was by Boris Yeltsin and Nursultan Nazarbayev on September 1991, it gave no fruit. Next mediation was by Iran on February 1992. Since Irans historical relationship with both the Armenians and the Azeris was close, it attempted to increase its dominance in the region, especially to push Turkey aside. The Tehran conference did not reach to any agreement. After this, CSCE (Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe) started to arbitrate, it also pressed Iran out of the negotiations, as the latter was not a member of CSCE, On August 1992, Nazarbayev tried again, but the mediation led to nowhere. CSCE tried on several occasions from 1992 until December 1994 to reach an agreement for both sides, but its inexperience and Russias parallel involvement made it fail. From May 1994, when the ceasefire was signed, several propositions were laid on the negotiation table, but NK was only to agree to a complete package, while Azerbaijan pushed for a step by step approach. (Mo oradian, 1999) To date, there has been no concrete agreement between the two parts. The main mediator is the Minsk Group, created in 1993 by the CSCE (now OSCE), even though the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan have met on various occasions, NKs government is still left out of any negotiations. CAN KOSOVO BE USED AS AN EXAMPLE? After the recognition of Kosovos independence, many other de facto states looked closely to see if it would set an example. Even though the states that have recognised Kosovo state that Kosovo cannot be used as a precedent, others may argue that it can and has. The main reason the international community uses to implicate the uniqueness of Kosovo is that it has been under UN and international control, while other de facto states like NK, Abkhazia and South Ossetia have not. To analyse the relevance of Kosovo, a comparison is made. The similarities with NK are various: both consist of a minority that sees itself discriminated, both conflicts started in an era of transition brought by the disintegration of the Soviet Union, both held referendums and used the peoples right to self determination idea. The differences must also be noted: NK can argue that before the transition era, it already was an Autonomous Oblast. NK has existed for longer, with relative better stability, and has made more progress on state-building, even though it received less international attention and financial support. (Murinson, 2004) Other differences are that NK is not accepted as a negotiating part in the peace process, Armenia acts as its representative. It can be argued that the Kosovo can be used as an example of a state gaining independence, however, the international community argues that it is a unique case, however this does not limit the political ramifications it has brought. Kosovos independence has given hope to other de facto states, who argue that in all, they should have a better chance in gaining independence than Kosovo. As the former President of NK stated: If the world community is ready to recognize the independence of Kosovo, I think it will be very hard for them to explain why they do not recognize Nagorno-Karabakh (Yakubyan, 2006) And as the Speaker of NK Parliament said: A serious basis for the international recognition of our sovereignty, we have held free elections for 16 years, law-enforcement bodies are formed, powers are divided, [the] army is under civil control (Karabakh Has Serious Grounds for International Recognition of Sovereignty «, in: Karabakh Open, 20 February 2008) To explain why Kosovo deserves international recognition and other de facto states in very similar positions do not is very hard, even by the same international community that accepted Kosovos independence. The reasons can vary from the official statement that Kosovo has been under international control, while other have not, but it is also correct to assume that other factors such as mutual interests among regional powers. Russias involvement in the NK peace process has many times thrown the Minsk Groups propositions away, as Russia can benefit from the no peace no war situation over NK: it sells arms and heavy weaponry to both Armenia and Azerbaijan, arming both sides. WHY HAS ARMENIA NOT RECOGNISED NKS INDEPENDENCE? This question is very interesting in the sense that it would be logical that Armenia should be the first country in recognising the independence of NK, however there is one main reason of why it has not. The official Armenian response to these questions is that since Armenia has started: An international legal process of settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh  conflict, and this is why Armenia has still not recognized the enclaves independence It  is for  the  same reason that Armenia has not recognized the independence of Kosovo, Oleg   Yesayan,   Armenian   ambassador   to   Belarus. (Alima Bissenova. (2008). Armenia links issue of Abkhazia, S. Ossetia to N.-Karabakh. Available: http://www.cacianalyst.org/?q=taxonomy/term/4page=6. Last accessed 20th January 2011.) However, due to the recent statements by Azerbaijan of taking NK back by force has made the Armenian side declare that it would recognise NK if war started: Armenia is categorically against a military resolution of the problem. In the event Azerbaijan unleashes a new military venture, Armenia will have no other choice but to recognize de jure the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh and provide for the safety of its population through all means, President of Armenia, Serge Sarkisian Astana, Kazakhstan, December 2010. EuroAsia. (2010). Armenia Says Will Recognize Karabakh In Case Of War. Available: http://www.eurasianet.org/node/62556. Last accessed 20th January 2011 One could argue that Armenia should recognise NK, in the same manner as Russia has recognised Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The recognition of NK would give Armenia legal right to aid NK in case war started with Azerbaijan. Moreover, some argue that if Armenia does not recognise NK in the foreseeable future, the status and issue of NK could be forgotten to history, as it would lose its momentum in the pursuit for recognition. RECOMENDATIONS From the overall analysis of the NK conflict and other similar conflicts around the world, some basic and concrete to the NK case recommendations can be made: OSCE and other international peace organisations should look to include NK in the negotiation process as an independent actor, like they did with the ceasefire agreement. International organisations should pave the way to stipulate better assurances for non resumption of armed conflict. The line of fire should be closely observed for ceasefire violations. Programs should be developed in order to teach both societies about tolerance, reconciliation and mutual respect. International organisations should look to integrate the public in debates and discussions, and rely less on top-down approaches. (Faber, 2005) International organisations should push for a peacekeeping force to be deployed on the contact line, it should also try to organise a new referendum under the eyes of international observers, henceforth push for a lawful democratisation and a peace settlement. (Freizer, 2006) Governments in Armenia, NK, and Azerbaijan should start to include conflict resolution and prevention, peace building and peacekeeping, human rights programmes at schools and universities, in order to increase public awareness. NGOs should create projects along with the civil society to educate the population about the conflict and conciliation for peace. Finally, an international recognition of NK would ensure a peaceful settlement of the conflict, and would make NK answerable to international law. Moreover, NK would have access to loans from the IMF or the WB, thus being able to develop better as a state. Open borders with Azerbaijan would bolster trade, and maybe bring trust between the people. CONCLUSION The conflict of NK is very complicated to be able to analyse without going into much detail. There are many arguments for and against certain strategies, using international law, international recognition, state sovereignty, refugees, and many others, but one thing is being ignored; the fact that NK has been acting like any other recognised democratic state for over 15 years. NKs human rights violations, degree of democracy and transparency and corruption are all better than Armenia or Azerbaijan, (Freedom House, 2011) yet still there is little advance among the international community in recognising NK. Some may add that the West uses double standards: Weve got used to the double standards of the West. I believe that the people of South Ossetia have much more reason for gaining independence than the Kosovan Albanians. (Yuri Morozov, Prime Minister of South Ossetia). In my opinion, the West does not fully use double standards, but approaches the question very surgically, since it und erstands the uniqueness of every conflict, and that it could be disastrous to use one peace settlement in another area, as every conflict has its own inimitable dynamics. I think that NK pace to independence is correct, as sooner or later it will have to be recognised, it should continue developing its government in order to set an example. In the near future two outcomes are possible, either an international recognition of NK or war will break out, it is inevitable, as both sides continue arming themselves, therefore it in my opinion it is in the best interest that of the international community to prevent such hostilities by recognizing NK. As Chekov said: If in the first act you have hung a pistol on the wall, then in the following one it should be fired. Otherwise dont put it there. (A. P. Chekhov, in Teatr i iskusstvo 1904, No. 28, 11 July, p. 521)

The Birmingham Bombings: Views of Martin Luther King and Jessie Jackso

The Birmingham Bombings: Views of Martin Luther King and Jessie Jackson The bombings and marches in Birmingham Alabama were major concerns for all civil rights leaders. During the 50’s and 60’s, civil rights leaders fought against injustice in different ways. Some civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King and Jessie Jackson fought against injustice with a pen. In 1963 Martin Luther King wrote a letter titled, â€Å"Letter From a Birmingham Jail†, and Jessie Jackson wrote, â€Å"Jets of Water Blast Civil Rights Demonstrators, Birmingham, 1963.† Martin Luther King and Jessie Jackson are two civil rights leaders of different generations, but with similar views concerning the Birmingham bombings. There is a noticeable age difference between Jackson and King, which results in two different perspectives. In Jessie Jackson’s article he wrote about past experiences, because his article was written years after the Birmingham events. Jackson was just a college student at the time of the Birmingham bombings. He only had himself to worry about, but he chose to make the nation...

Morality of Abortion Essay

Introduction In this paper, I will argue that abortion is morally acceptable in certain situations. In defending this argument I will include the reason behind my decision, and I will provide an alternate example using the same general principle. After explaining my principle I will give clarity to two arguments that may be presented by others. Finally, I will conclude by describing any changes that I have made to my general principle. II. Argument 1.) If a person is in a situation in which she can prevent an individual from living a life of pain and suffering, then it is morally acceptable for her to do so. 2. ) In cases in which a mother is in a situation in which she can prevent her unborn child from living a life of pain and suffering, by having an abortion 3. ) Therefore, in this cases it is morally acceptable for a mother to have an abortion. III. Explanation Rule one states â€Å"an argument is good for you if and only if all of the premises are reasonable for you to believe. † For this rule I will use a similar situation with the same general principle. If Allison is a situation in which her favorite dog severely breaks his leg and can not be repaired, then it is morally acceptable for her to euthanize the dog. In this example it is morally acceptable to euthanize the dog because the dog will not be able to walk again and will suffer because it will not be able to move. Therefore, if a person is in a situation in which she can prevent an individual from living a life of pain and suffering, then it is morally acceptable for her to do so. The second and third premise state that (1) In a case where a mother is in a situation in which she can prevent her unborn child from living a life of pain and suffering, by having an abortion (2) Therefore, it is morally acceptable for a mother to have an abortion. In explaining my argument I will give an example that supports the second and third premise. If a mother is in a situation in which she becomes aware that her unborn child has an extremely painful and incurable disease called Epidermolysis Bullosa, EB. This disease causes skin to blister on the slightest touch. many infants that are born with this disease are are con? ned to wearing bandages at all times and can not even with stand their own parents touching them. In this case then it is ok for that mother to have an abortion. This act is ok because if the child is born with a disease that is incurable and painful then that child will be in will suffer for their whole lifetime and in many cases live a very short life. Therefore if a mother is in a situation in which she is able to prevent her unborn child from living a life of pain and suffering then it is morally acceptable for her to have an abortion. Rule two states that the argument must have a pattern such that if the premises are true, then the conclusion must follow. 1. ) If P, then Q 2. ) P 3. ) Therefore, Q 1. ) If P (a person is in a situation in which she can prevent an individual from living a life of pain and suffering), then Q (it is morally acceptable for her to do so. ) 2. ) P (In a case where a mother is in a situation in which she can prevent her unborn child from living a life of pain and suffering, by having an abortion), 3.) Therefore, Q (in some cases it is morally acceptable for a mother to have an abortion. ) IV. Objection An objection that may arise from premise one is that if a person is in a situation in which they sacri? ce their own life to prevent pain and suffering of another individual, then it is not morally acceptable for them to do so. An example of this is if Peter is in a situation in which he can take the place of a person in solitary con? nement, which causes psychological pain and suffering, it is not morally acceptable for him to do so. It is not morally acceptable because although the individual is suffering they knowingly participated in the act that resulted in the pain and suffering. This example expresses a violation of rule two because the argument does not follow a pattern in which the conclusion follows. Another objection that may arise from premise one is if a mother is in a situation in which she can violate the right to life of another person, the fetus, and the fetus is not threatening the mothers life, then it is morally wrong for the mother to violate the fetus’ right to life. My response to this argument is that although the mother’s life is not in danger by having the fetus, after the fetus is born they will live a short and extremely difficult life. This example is a violation of rule two because the premises are not reasonable to believe. V. Conclusion When thinking about the situation previously stated in the paper, I thought about the many options that could be presented when confronted with information, such as the fetus has an incurable and highly painful disease. By weighing the pros and cons of each principle I was able to construct my principle that was stated above. While writing this paper I have changed my general principle by adding the word â€Å"suffering. † By adding this one word I believe that it changes the argument by including another aspect that can make a life unbearable. When ? rst thinking about the reasoning behind my paper I thought about all view points that I could take, but I was able to stay true to my original belief of pro-choice by creating an argument that supports one aspect of the abortion debate.

Five Ways to Upsell Your Writing Services

Five Ways to Upsell Your Writing Services I’m grateful to be a freelance writer and making a living from something I love. In fact, I’m so grateful that I sometimes sell myself short and accept less pay than what my writing is worth. So how did I begin to expect and receive fair pay and even upsell my services? In her Forbes article, â€Å"How to Get Paid What You’re Worth,† Liz Ryan writes â€Å"†¦you will have to negotiate, and youll also have to say No to the wrong opportunities.† Saying â€Å"no† to some projects opens doors to better pay. Here are a few tips to help you upsell your writing. 1.  Ã‚     Emphasize relevant credentials and experience. I selectively combine both direct and indirect experiences to apply for a gig. For example, if I’m proposing a piece on Mideast refugees, I explain why my previous writing as well as my Middle East living experience qualifies me as the best writer for top pay. 2.  Ã‚     Relate your query to the publications specific need or growth potential. Your sailing expertise may seem detached from a prepper blog, but you could explain how preparing for the unexpected is an essential skill that can benefit preppers using water routes during an apocalyptic event. Craft your query to emphasize water escape preparations as a new niche topic for the publication. 3.  Ã‚     Analyze clients job description to counter-offer services that better meet the need. Twice last year I was asked Another client requested a high-level manuscript review, but then also mentioned comment balloons and line edits. I explained the difference and advised her that if she wanted detailed feedback rather than a summary, she should consider the line edit. She happily paid several hundred dollars more. 4.  Ã‚     Follow up for additional projects. Several previous clients indicated they might have additional work down the road. I politely waited a year or so, and then contacted them to follow up. Most were ready to assign new projects, while one had postponed the idea. My initiative paid off, sometimes more than once as additional projects were developed. 5.  Ã‚     Ask high and accept lower at a fair rate. Some projects have more bargaining flexibility than others. When feasible, consider taking the risk to ask a higher price, and then settle for a lesser amount that will meet your project expectations. However, keep in mind that you may risk losing the project in these situations. In fact, that happened to me recently. I refused a ghostwriting book project that was priced several thousand dollars lower than the work merited and lost the deal. No regrets! As a writer, you set the bar for acceptable pay. Don’t settle for less than you deserve and look for opportunities to upsell your services.

Import Regulation and Distribution Essays

Import Regulation and Distribution Essays Import Regulation and Distribution Essay Import Regulation and Distribution Essay All goods imported into Canada are subjected to duties. For importing aroma pens from France. first of all. there must be a registered company in Canada which can import lawfully. CBSA. Canada Border Services Agency. has highlighted assorted stairss for importing of goods into Canada. It insists that the company must use for a Business Number. which is enrollment for an import-export history with the CRA. Canada Revenue Agency. Further. CBSA suggests that another enrollment is needed for the GST. Goods and Services Tax. This GST is levied on most of the goods that are imported into Canada. with exclusion to goods imported under NAFTA. North American Free Trade Agreement. Since aroma pens come under the class of aromas and cosmetics. it becomes indispensable to see the excess outgo due to the duty for importing from a fabrication state other than the USA ( in our instance. France ) . Further. these duties will besides change with the ingredients of the aroma used in the imported pens. Since. the aroma pens made by the Gallic manufacturer- Sensrise. have different fruit. oil and cocoa aromas. it can be deduced from the CBSA duty agenda that the duties will besides change. Harmonizing to the IMMR. International Market Research Report from Industry Canada. import of aromas from the USA history for 70 % of Canada’s entire import of these merchandises. while France accounts merely 12 % of Canada’s entire imports. Besides. Cosmetic Business ( 2003 ) reported that it is besides compulsory to subject a Cosmetic Notification Form. CNF. to Product Safety Bureau of Health Canada. Further. it can be inferred from the study that it is the duty of the importer in Canada to guarantee that the aroma pens must follow with the demands of three statute laws: The Food and Drug Act. The Consumer Packaging and Labeling Act. and The Canadian Broadcasting Act. Logisticss and Distribution Freight charges will be levied for the lading bringing of jammed cartons of aroma pens harmonizing to the bing rates. which would depend on the manner of transit: sea or air. the weight. the volume. and whether shipped as a individual container or by sharing with other lading. The aroma pens imported from France can be sold and distributed in the finish market of Vancouver through assorted channels. Harmonizing to the IMMR. about 85 % of the gross revenues of cosmetics and toilet articless to Canadian consumers are through retail channels like drug shops. departmental shops. mass merchants and nutrient shops. A Google hunt lists some of the aroma distributers functioning the retail markets in Vancouver. Distributors: The major aroma distributers functioning the Vancouver country include: o Cosmolane. which are distributers for trade names like Orlane. Annayake and Rubis o Scorpio. which are distributers for Diesel. Emporio Armani. Ralph Lauren. and to planetary inflight retail market O Globex. which are distributers for Gucci. Dolce A ; Gabanna and Kenzo o Charmei Marketing Corp. and Town Distributors are besides in the aromas distribution concern It must be mentioned that e-commerce can besides be an effectual direct selling scheme to provide to the internet-savvy consumers. However. the IMMR warns that the consumer would still hold to pay Canadian revenue enhancements and imposts responsibilities if the value of the postal or courier import exceeds the maximal allowable value. Based on the above preliminary research. it can be concluded that the Gallic maker of aroma pens. Sensrise would necessitate a comprehensive research to invent an effectual selling scheme for selling its advanced and attractive aroma pens to the Canadian consumers. Mentions Canada Border Services Agency. ( n. d. ) . A bit-by-bit usher to importing. Retrieved March 27. 2009. from hypertext transfer protocol: //www. cbsa. gigahertz. ca/sme-pme/i-guide-eng. html Cosmetic Business. ( 2003 ) . The Canadian Cosmetics Market. Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //www. cosmetic-business. com/en/showartikel. php? art_id=22 Parent. M. ( 2003 ) . International market research studies. Industry Canada. Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //strategis. Intelligence Community. gigahertz. ca/eic/site/imr-ri. nsf/eng/gr109695. hypertext markup language

The Best SAT Vocabulary Lists on the Web

The Best SAT Vocabulary Lists on the Web SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Need to study vocabulary for the SAT but aren’t sure where to start? We have links to the best free lists of SAT vocab from around the web. We also have found other vocab study resources – from videos to apps to browser plug-ins – to help you study in the way that works best for you. Read on and conquer SAT vocabulary! First Things First: Don’t Overdo Vocab Before we jump into the resources, we have an important word of advice – don't overdo vocab studying for the SAT. SAT Vocabulary is based on understanding words in context, in subjects ranging from literature to social science to science. In other words, you won’t be expected to know the definition of a random word with no outside information. Instead, you have to figure out what a word means based on the information around it. So the best use of your study time is to learn high-value, medium-difficulty words, not to cram your head with lots of obscure vocabulary. Be wary of any prep programs that promise to teach you â€Å"SAT Vocabulary,† especially ones with super long word lists (500 or 1000 words). This is a waste of your time! These programs are still based on the old SAT, which tested more obscure vocabulary. That said, if you struggle with vocabulary in general, it can be good to do some separate vocabulary study to help you tackle the reading passages, some of which will be more difficult than on the old SAT. For example, take a look at this question from an SAT practice exam: Test question from SAT Practice Test 1. If you don’t have a clue what the word â€Å"ambivalent† means, it might be hard for you to tackle the sentence and figure out what ambivalent means in this context. (For the record, Merriam-Webster defines ambivalent as â€Å"having a mixture of opposing feelings.†) So how can you figure out if you need to do some dedicated vocabulary study, or if your existing vocabulary base is sufficient? Take a practice SAT, focusing on the Reading and Writing sections. When grading your Reading answers, if you missed half or more of the vocab questions (the ones that begin â€Å"as used in line __, the word ____ most nearly means†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ) then you should make studying vocabulary a priority. Furthermore, when correcting the other Reading questions, try to figure out why you got them wrong. (Learn more about getting the most out of practice tests.) If you notice you’re missing questions because you misunderstood a word or phrase, either in the passage or the question, it could also be useful to get some SAT vocabulary under your belt. Finally, keep an eye out for the â€Å"precision† questions on the Writing section. These questions have you compare different word choices, for example â€Å"therefore,† â€Å"thus,† â€Å"moreover,† and however,† and pick the one that works best in the passage. Again, you need to be able to understand how a word’s meaning works within a sentence to get these right. If you take the practice test and only miss a few or none of the Reading vocab questions, and none of the Writing precision questions, and your wrong answers are due to different issues (timing, misunderstanding the passage’s larger meaning, etc) then do not spend time studying vocab! Focus on your other weak areas. (Check out our ultimate study guide for SAT Reading for ideas.) But if you do struggle on any of those questions, check out the vocabulary lists below to help you learn high-value words for the SAT. SAT Vocabulary Word Lists If you’ve decided that you need to work on SAT vocab, we recommend using these vocab lists. They focus on common, easy-to-moderate difficulty SAT words that are most likely to be tested. They also don’t overemphasize vocabulary – none of these lists is longer than 200 words. Remember that spending hours memorizing vocabulary is not an efficient use of study time for the SAT. Start by learning one word list, then take another practice test. If you're still struggling with the vocabulary questions, move on to the next list. PrepScholar's 200 SAT Words PrepScholar's 150 Top ACT Words Scholastic's SAT/ACT Top 100 Words Kaplan's 100 Most Common SAT Words* *Save this list for last, because it contains more difficult words that are less likely to be tested on the current iteration of the SAT. However, these are still good words to know because they could be used in the more difficult reading passages. You can make your own flash cards to study these words, or check out the resources below for virtual flash cards and other learning resources. Happy studying! Flashcards, Games, and Other Resources Beyond just giving you word lists, we also wanted to give you some more tools to learn vocabulary. These are a few resources that are also free and can help you learn SAT vocab. I chose a range of websites to help different kinds of learners. All of these are great resources, and you should use them if you find them helpful. In general, when you are looking for SAT vocab resources, avoid services promising to teach you more than 500 words (too much time) or any services you have to pay for (not worth it given the amount of free resources). If you have any resources that are helpful for you, feel free to share them in the comments! Quizlet This is an online flashcard website. If you make an account, you can use their website and also their mobile apps for iPhone and Android – meaning you can study your SAT vocab on the go! If you're anything like me and hate hand-writing flash cards, this app will be your best friend. Image via Quizlet. This app is handy because as you review words, you can star cards that you are struggling with, allowing you just to focus on your weak spots. You can either make your own card sets focusing on problem words or search pre-made lists. For example, here’s the Kaplan top 100 list from above! I personally used this app all the time in college for my language classes and found it very helpful. I highly recommend using it to study your SAT vocabulary. ProfessorWord This is an app for your web browser that highlights SAT/ACT vocab words from articles and web pages and defines them for you. This is really cool because if you like to read articles from publications like The New York Times, The Atlantic, or Wired, it’s likely you’re encountering SAT vocab words in your daily reading anyway. This app just goes through and points them out so you don’t miss them! This is a great way to learn words in the context of your day-to-day web browsing. Especially given the SAT's focus on understanding vocabulary in context, I highly recommend using ProfessorWord to find and study vocabulary. Professor Word can turn even your leisure reading into a study exercise. Image via Wired. For the best practice, run ProfessorWord and check out the highlighted words on the web page. Before you click on the word to see the definition, quickly jot down (either on a piece of paper or in a NotePad document) what you think the word means, based on how it's used in the article. Then, check out the official definition. Compare your guess with the official definition and see how close you got. If you do this exercise a few times a week, you will improve your ability to figure out a word's meaning based on its context, plus, you will generate a list of SAT words to study. Win win! Vocab Ahead If you like words explained out loud, check out the videos at Vocab Ahead. These videos are really helpful for students who learn best by hearing rather than reading, or by having concepts explained to them. Head to the â€Å"Study Room† tab and select â€Å"SAT 300 Common† from the drop down menu. The videos for each word last about 30 seconds, and incorporate a definition and at least one example. This is also a great resource if you have a particular word you are struggling to understand based on its dictionary definition alone. Vocab Sushi If you like online quizzes, Vocab Sushi is a website that lets you test your vocab knowledge with quizzes and teaches vocab words by using them in sentences from actual news stories. This is a great way to learn new words through real-world examples, rather than just dictionary definitions. Give this website a shot if you struggle with memorizing basic word definitions and/or if you want more practice learning vocabulary based on its context. What’s Next? Struggling with SAT Reading practice sections? Learn how to stop running out of time on SAT reading. Also, check out our ultimate SAT Reading study guide. It will teach you the content, skills, and tips you need to improve your SAT Reading score. Learn more about vocabulary on the SAT, including how it changed from the old SAT. Not sure what score to aim for on the SAT? Learn how to come up with a target score for the SAT based on the colleges you want to attend. Want to improve your SAT score by 160points?We've written a guide about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Human fossils Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Human fossils - Essay Example One of the species that can be related to human is the Sahelanthropus tchadensis sp. nov. with the specimen found in Chad specifically the Djurab Desert and commonly called ‘Toumai.’ The particular specimen was tentatively recognized to exist 6 to 7 million years ago (Brunet et. al. 146). The find had been astonishing according to NPR’s interview with David Kestenbaum who expressed that compared to Lucy with protruding facial anatomy which he referred to as snout, Toumai or the Sahelanthropus tchadensis sp. nov. already had a flat face which is very similar to the appearance of the humans in the modern time. This is remarkable due to the fact that the fossil is significantly older than the group where Lucy belongs, which is the A. afarensis. Compared to living apes, Sahelanthropus has ‘smaller canines and apical wear and a full occlusion.’ It is also very distinct from other recorded hominids and related genus. With other related specimens, the S. tchadensis sp. nov. has a tall facial feature with ‘massive brow ridge’ and a short mid-face (Brunet et. al. 147). The braincase indicated a brain with the same size as the Pan but smaller than that of the Gorilla and the Australopithecus (Brunet et. al. 148). The particular find is significant in the achievement of the clearer view of human evolution and the fact that there more hominids that co-existed in the early part of history, one of which can be the direct ancestor of present day humans. The Ardipithecus ramidus is another close ancestor of humans on the basis of being classified as a hominid and related to the species Australopithecus anamensis. The manner of bi-pedalism is still needed to be cleared through further discoveries of similar specimens. The brain is small or ‘pint-sized’ (Lemonick and Dorfman part 3 par. 3-6). On the other hand, the Australopithecus anamensis is recognized as a direct decendant of the A. afarensis where Lucy belongs. The

Minix 2 operating system Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Minix 2 operating system - Essay Example so after line no. 21021, declare these counters. Now add hit_counter as I have said in the previous doc. And the time should be incremented each time any function in cache.c is called. So you must add variable time at 21070 & 21035 after having written the code ++hit_counter & Time_requiredtofree_block++. Remember, you have to add printf statements wherever you make an increment to these counters. Initialize hit_counter & time to zero (this is important). Well, I had written two 'C' files named fil1.c and fil2.c, which added and subtracted two numbers. When I ran this statement on bochs, I got the output of the printf statements. The tests of performance was a two step process. In the first part, don't make any changes to the Block_size and the Hash table, but include the variables hit_counter and time. Run the command and see the results. Then increase the BLOCK_SIZE & the Hash table size and then run the same command again. You will definitely find a change in the results. The answer to this lies in question 3. The first set of values was obtained for the variables hit_counter and Time_requiredtofree_block, when the value of BLOCK_SIZE and size of the hash table was 1024. The second values were obtained when the size of BLOCK_SIZE & hashTable was increased. I have found out a few more points which you can use... The second values were obtained when the size of BLOCK_SIZE & hashTable was increased. 5) fifth it says initialize the variables how and where Initialize hit_counter & time to zero at line no. 21021, where you declare them. FEW MORE FINDINGS I have found out a few more points which you can use for your presentation. This is regarding the Lru chain, which can be completely discarded. Instead we can use a circularly linked double linked list. FRONT PIVOT REAR The figure is a bit crude, but I think it can deliver the idea. Frst, the pivot is connected to the hash table entry. The FRONT is the end which contains those blocks that are least needed and the REAR contains those blocks that are expected in the near future (same as LRU). Now, this linked list has the added advantage at the time of reading the next block from this chain unlike reading from the disk thru I/o. in this, the code can be written such that the REAR is used as fast as the FRONT will be accessed. This will ensure that the performance of the cache is enhanced further over the LRU scheme. The reason being that under LRU, for accessing a REAR, it has to traverse to the end, while here, we could use sioimple logic (like a flag where if flag=1 go along front i.e. clockwise from pivot or if flag=0, go along rear from pivot i.e. anti-clockwise). Believe me, this will speed up the cache. It is extremely useful, when under our modified code, contiguous blocks will be accessed fro m the disk. So the OS will perceive that the next necessary block will be the contiguous one and it will place it at the REAR. Then accessing under theis scheme will be much faster than the one under the LRU.Pls feel

Toyota Motor Corporation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Toyota Motor Corporation - Essay Example On pursuing its business model, Toyota periodically reviews the carrying value of its long-term assets used in the business, including intangible assets as circumstances deserve such review. The company carries out the review using estimates of future cash flows and fair value that the management think would influence the accurate valuation of assets. In the same way, Toyota also needs to consider the assets like high quality fixed income bonds and fixed income bonds that are presently available and anticipated to be available in the future. The company also takes into account the deferred tax assets as there are chances for the actual taxable income to differ from the estimated amounts due to various assumptions (Toyota Motor Corporation, 2010). There are liquid assets in the business which the company defines cash and cash equivalents, time deposits, marketable debt securities that are taken into account to make sure that the company is in line with its business model. However, goo dwill is not material to Toyota’s consolidated balance sheet, and intangible assets with a definite life are amortised on a straight-line basis with estimated useful lifetime of five year. Intangible assets with indefinite life are examined for impairment whenever incidents or circumstance signify that a carrying amount of an asset may not be recuperated. The company evaluates the impairment loss when carrying amount of an asset exceeds the estimated undiscounted cash flows. Toyota’s strategy and aim for plan asset management is to maximise returns on plan assets to meet future benefit payment requirements under risks that the company thinks to be permissible (Toyota Motor Corporation, 2010). Assets in financial accounting can be considered as the economic resources of the firm. Anything that is touchable or intangible and able to be owned by or administered to produce value by preserving it on the process of obtaining a positive economic value can be regarded as an as set. In simple worlds, asset can be stated as an ownership that can be converted into cash (cash itself is an asset). Asset in simple sense is anything of value that a company owns, including cash and should be recorded on the balance sheet of the company. Even if the firm used credit to purchase an asset, the company still owns it. In such case, the original cost of the asset must be recorded on the asst side of the balance sheet as well as the amount that the company owes should be recorded on the liability side of the balance sheet. The three components that constitute a company’s balance sheet, which illustrate the business’s financial position at any point are assets, liabilities, and owners’ equity (U.S. Securities Exchange Commission, 2007). This association among these three components can be explained using the following equation: Assets = Liabilities + Owners’ Equity This equation sets the framework for keeping trace of money as it flows in and out of the business. Every penny in the business should be recorded into appropriate ledgers, every single transaction into the books using a double-entry system of debit and credit. In general accounting practice, assets are recorded on the top left side of the balance sheet. Assets may be classified in many ways and the principal distinction normally made for business purposes is between: Fixed assets and Current assets. There are other business

Summary + analysis Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Summary + analysis - Article Example The unique technical features to look out for when identifying a film noir, according to the authors, include the unusual lighting where light and shadow keep opposing, tilted camera angles, and the scene oppositions that are off-center. Film noirs are also characterized by the inversion of customary values and moral ambivalence. The article further notes that, neo-noir, on the other hand, refers to films that followed the noir classic period. Neo-noir also contains noir sensibility and noir themes. They also have similar characteristics to noir such as disorientation, moral ambivalence, pessimism and alienation. Great examples of neo-noir have also been given by the author. These include movies such as Bonnie and Clyde, China Town, Taxi Driver and Body Heat. The author has also described space, time and subjectivity in neo-noir cinema. Different forms of neo-noir time have been described, including past, present and future neo-noir. The author concludes the article by describing the irreconcilable differences of neo-noir. In my personal analysis of the article, the author’s main aim of giving the examples of movies is to demystify the real meaning of film noir and neo-noir. Hollywood film noir is said to have been generated in the early 1940s and the late 1950s. This leaves a lot to be answered because the author has given many examples of movies that were produced as late as 1995 and 1997. Some of these movies should be referred to as neo-noir because they come after the classic noir period. Also, saying that neo-noir films are better at embodying the noir outlook is confusing because noir films had their own unique characteristics and identifying themes. I believe that there should be a clear distinction between noir films and neo-noir films. The investigation of philosophical underpinnings and themes of neo-noir films should also be applied to noir films so as to allow the use of movies to explore and explain traditional philosophical ideas of

Management of Change. Why General Electric was required to bring about Essay

Management of Change. Why General Electric was required to bring about a complete transformation in the organization - Essay Example The importance of stakeholders in organizations has become all the more important over the years. Thus organizations are constantly confronted with the crisis of managing change so as to keep themselves at par with stakeholders’ needs and requirements. The project seeks to bring forth the process of cultural change that was brought about in General Electric. Elaborating the factors which initiated the change process in the organization, the project goes on to weigh the actual outcomes against the desired outcomes in the organization. Finally the project provides an evaluation of the extent to which GE has been successful in implementing the change process in the organization. Organizational Change Theorists have brought forth some generic definitions of organizational change. Burnes (1996) noted that organizational change is regarded as the alterations taking place in organizations at the groups, individuals and the entire organizational level. According to Van de Ven and Pool e, (1995) change is defined as the observation of differences over a period of time on a variety of dimensions. Researchers and practitioners exploring change through social-cognition perspective or cultural perspective in organizations consider focussing on such aspects as values and mental maps of participants in the change, rather than on aspects like organizational structures, size etc. Since the language of change differs across perceptions of researchers it is difficult to find a unanimous and common perception of language fir change. However, there are certain common concepts in change theories produced by authors, such as sources of change, forces of change, first order and second order change. These common concepts are available within the major sources literature of change like Burnes, 1996; Levy and Merry, 1986; Goodman, 1982; and Spreitzer and Rajagopalan, 1996. More and more studies related to change increased the critical points of these concepts in their analysis. Mor gan (1986) makes the main assumption underlying the evolutionary theories that change is a response which is generated due to situational variables, external conditions and environment surrounding organizations. He regards social systems as being complex, diversified and interdependent, which evolve over time naturally responding to external demands (Kezar, 2001, p.4). The planned change models or Teleological theories assume the fact that organizations remain purposeful and adaptive to change. It is because organizational leaders, change agents and others see the needed change in organizations that change happens or occurs. Even though the change process is regarded as being linear and rational, Carnall (1995); Carr, Hard and Trahant (1996) regard the individual managers to be more instrumental in the process. Morgan, conceptualises the process of change as a being a natural part of organizational development. Researchers have a brought a direct association between organizational c hange and consequent performance and productivity of firms. Change process is said to act as a catalyst or facilitator of organizational growth and performance. Some of the leading examples of organizational changes which have subsequently reflected through enhanced performance, productivity and competitive position in the market are British Airways, General Electric and Rover Group (APOC, 1997, p.5). Effective change

The Second Treatise of Civil Government Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The Second Treatise of Civil Government - Essay Example This is an indication that freedom has its own limitations based on the activities that individuals are involved in. Freedom is important in ensuring that the individuals are able to carry out their activities without the fear of being arrested or harassed . Different forms of freedom exist in the current world. The different types of freedoms are recognized by the government in the United States of America and it based on theses freedoms that the individuals are allowed to carry out certain activities and restrained from carrying out other activities.   Freedom also comes with a sense of responsibility and the individuals are supposed to be responsible when carrying out different activities.   The issues of slavery have also been highlighted in the article. Slavery has negative impacts on the freedom of the individuals. This is because a slave does not have any freedom and cannot make any decision. The master decides everything for the slave which puts their life at the mercy of their master. Freedom is therefore important to the society in enabling the individuals to be involved in different political, social and economic activity. The freedom that the individuals enjoy in the society determines the levels of democracy.   The theory of John Locke considers freedom as one of the most important aspect in the society. It is through freedom that the members of the society can make decisions on how they should be governed.   The limitation of the freedom in the society in most cases results to dictatorship.

Summary + analysis Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Summary + analysis - Article Example The unique technical features to look out for when identifying a film noir, according to the authors, include the unusual lighting where light and shadow keep opposing, tilted camera angles, and the scene oppositions that are off-center. Film noirs are also characterized by the inversion of customary values and moral ambivalence. The article further notes that, neo-noir, on the other hand, refers to films that followed the noir classic period. Neo-noir also contains noir sensibility and noir themes. They also have similar characteristics to noir such as disorientation, moral ambivalence, pessimism and alienation. Great examples of neo-noir have also been given by the author. These include movies such as Bonnie and Clyde, China Town, Taxi Driver and Body Heat. The author has also described space, time and subjectivity in neo-noir cinema. Different forms of neo-noir time have been described, including past, present and future neo-noir. The author concludes the article by describing the irreconcilable differences of neo-noir. In my personal analysis of the article, the author’s main aim of giving the examples of movies is to demystify the real meaning of film noir and neo-noir. Hollywood film noir is said to have been generated in the early 1940s and the late 1950s. This leaves a lot to be answered because the author has given many examples of movies that were produced as late as 1995 and 1997. Some of these movies should be referred to as neo-noir because they come after the classic noir period. Also, saying that neo-noir films are better at embodying the noir outlook is confusing because noir films had their own unique characteristics and identifying themes. I believe that there should be a clear distinction between noir films and neo-noir films. The investigation of philosophical underpinnings and themes of neo-noir films should also be applied to noir films so as to allow the use of movies to explore and explain traditional philosophical ideas of

The Second Treatise of Civil Government Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The Second Treatise of Civil Government - Essay Example This is an indication that freedom has its own limitations based on the activities that individuals are involved in. Freedom is important in ensuring that the individuals are able to carry out their activities without the fear of being arrested or harassed . Different forms of freedom exist in the current world. The different types of freedoms are recognized by the government in the United States of America and it based on theses freedoms that the individuals are allowed to carry out certain activities and restrained from carrying out other activities.   Freedom also comes with a sense of responsibility and the individuals are supposed to be responsible when carrying out different activities.   The issues of slavery have also been highlighted in the article. Slavery has negative impacts on the freedom of the individuals. This is because a slave does not have any freedom and cannot make any decision. The master decides everything for the slave which puts their life at the mercy of their master. Freedom is therefore important to the society in enabling the individuals to be involved in different political, social and economic activity. The freedom that the individuals enjoy in the society determines the levels of democracy.   The theory of John Locke considers freedom as one of the most important aspect in the society. It is through freedom that the members of the society can make decisions on how they should be governed.   The limitation of the freedom in the society in most cases results to dictatorship.

Agency Problem Essay Example for Free

Agency Problem Essay Financial Management (Agency problem) Prepared by: Sami Hassan Saeed Singabi August 2008 Introduction Economic science teaches us that due to their subjective needs, individuals have subjective preferences, and hence different interest. Occasionally different subjective interests give rise to conflicts of interest between contracting partners. These conflicts of interest may result in turn, in one or both parties undertaking actions that may be against the interest of the other contracting partner. The primary reason for the divergence of objectives between managers and shareholders has been attributed to separation of ownership (shareholders) and control (management) in corporations. As a consequence, agency problems or principal-agent conflicts exist in the firm. Agency theory deals with such problem. Agency theory is concerned with how these agency problems affect the form of the contract and how they can be minimized, in particular, when contracting parties are variously informed (or uncertain). Agency problem A problem arising from a conflict of interest between principals such as investors and agents acting for them, such as brokers or managers. Agency problem refers to a conflict of interest arising between creditors, shareholders and management because of differing goals. It exists due to problems in corporate governance. A typical problem is that of senior management of a company, who are charged with running the business in the interests of shareholders; choose instead to operate to maximize their own interests. A simple example is the hired anager who fills his pockets at shareholders expenses. For example, an agency problem exists when management and shareholders have conflicting ideas on how the company should be run. Agency problems that arise in a corporation have troubled economists for some time. There are a number of mechanisms that have been used to try and reduce these agency problems. Many of these mechanisms try to link the managers compensation to the performance of the firm. Typical examples include performance shares, restricted stock grants, and executive stock options. This dissertation is an empirical study of whether the use of executive stock options has in fact reduced the agency problems between managers and stockholders. In this dissertation, two different testing methodologies are used to address the agency problem reduction issue. One methodology looks at some significant event such as a merger or divestiture to see if an executives holding of stock options affect what decisions are made. For example, do larger holdings of stock options motivate managers to take on riskier investments? By increasing the risk of the firm, managers can increase the value of the stock options. Another question of interest is whether in taking on risky investments; do executives increase the leverage of the firm? By increasing the leverage of the firm, the executive might increase the risk of the firm and thus the value of the option holdings. An agency relationship An agency relationship arises whenever one or more individuals, called principals, hire one or more other individuals, called agents, to perform some service and then delegate decision-making authority to the agents. The primary agency relationships in business are those :- (1) Between stockholders and managers and 2) Between debt holders and stockholders. These relationships are not necessarily harmonious; indeed, agency theory is concerned with so-called agency conflicts, or conflicts of interest between agents and principals. These relationships are not necessarily harmonious; indeed, agency theory is concerned with so-called agency conflicts, or conflicts of interest between agents and principals. Expansion increase potential agency problems, if you expanded to additional locations you could not physically be at all locations at the same time. Consequently, you would have to delegate decision-making authority to others. Creditors can protect themselves by: (1) Having the loan secured. (2) Placing restrictive covenants in debt agreements. (3) They charge a higher than normal interest rate to compensate for risk. Agency cost A type of internal cost that arises from, or must be paid to a manger acting on behalf of shareholders. Agency cost arises because of core problems such as conflicts of interest between share holders and management. Shareholders wish for management to run the company in away that increases shareholders value, but management may wish to grow the company in away that maximize their personal power and wealth that may not be in the best interest of shareholders. Agency costs are inevitable within an organization whenever shareholders are not completely in charge; the cost can usually be best spent on providing proper material incentives and moral incentives for agents to properly execute their duties, thereby aligning the interests of shareholders (owners) and agents. The principals (the shareholders) have to find ways of ensuring that their agents (the managers) act in their interests. This means incurring costs, ‘agency costs’, to (a) monitor managers’ behavior, and (b) create incentive schemes and control for managers to pursue shareholders’ wealth maximization. Various methods have been used to try to align the actions of senior management with the interests of shareholders, that is, to achieve ‘goal congruence’. Linking rewards to shareholder wealth improvements: Owners can grant directors and other senior managers share options. These ermit the managers to purchase shares at some date in the future at a price, which is fixed in the present. If the share price rises significantly between the dates when the option was granted and the date when the shares can be bought the manager can make a fortune by buying at the pre-arranged price and then selling in the market place. The managers under such a scheme have a clear interest in achieving a rise in share price and thus congruence comes about to some extent. An alternative method is to allot shares to managers if they achieve certain performance targets, for example, growth in earnings per share or return on shares. Sackings: The threat of being sacked with the accompanying humiliation and financial loss may encourage managers not to diverge too far from the shareholders’ wealth path. However this method is seldom used because it is often difficult to implement due to difficulties of making a coordinated shareholder effort. Selling shares threat and the take- over: Most of the large shareholders (especially institutional investors) of quoted companies are not prepared to put large resources into monitoring and controlling all the firms of which they own a part. Quite often their first response, if they observe that management is not acting in what they regard as their best interest, is to sell the share rather than intervene. This will result in a lower share price, making the raising of funds more difficult. If this process continues the firm may become vulnerable to a merger bid by another group of managers, resulting in a loss of top management posts. Fear of being taken over can establish some sort of backstop position to prevent shareholder wealth considerations being totally ignored. Corporate governance regulations: There is a considerable range of legislation and other regulatory pressures (e. g. the Companies Act) designed to encourage directors to act in shareholders’ interests. Within these regulations for example, the board of directors is not to be dominated by a single individual acting as both the chairman and chief executive. Also independently minded non-executive directors should have more power to represent shareholder interests; in particular, they should predominate in decisions connected with directors’ remuneration and auditing of firm’s accounts. Information flow: The accounting profession, the stock exchange, the regulating agencies and the investing public are continuously conducting a battle to encourage or force firms to release more accurate, timely and detailed information concerning their operations. An improved quality of corporate accounts, annual reports and the availability of other forms of information flowing to investors and analysts such as company briefings and press announcements help to monitor firms, and identify any wealth-destroying actions by wayward managers early. Conclusion Diffuse ownership of publicly held companies reduces the owners’ ability to monitor managers because they would have to bear the full monitoring costs while gaining only a small marginal benefit. Managers may therefore act to maximize their wealth through personal use of corporate assets, stock manipulation and sub optimal decisions at the owners expense. Thus agency theory practical mechanism is weak, because it is unable to provide practical conclusions with regard to agency problems. References: 1. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. htm 2. www. referenceforbusiness. com 3. Financial-dictionary. The free dictionary. com

Chronotopic Identity In Invisible Man English Literature Essay

Chronotopic Identity In Invisible Man English Literature Essay Ralph Ellisons Invisible Man is a novel of deliverance from darkness to light, a resequencer of cognitive awareness and differential patterns of conformity. It rejects imitation, deeming it as nothing more than a form of limitation, a burden hampering the doctrine of artistic creation. The novel appeals to the indirect participation of its readers in determining the mechanisms which constitute a collective conscience, a moral voice which communicates for us and through us. The author commits to his duality as a mainstream educated, patriotic American insider and his often frustrating position as a repressed minority, a victim persecution, the racial outsider. His status has the potential to propagate a significant amount of perceptual liberation as he is granted insight, unrestricted access into both fundamental facets of the American cultural construct. Ellison is an outspoken denouncer of extremism in all of its forms and manners of content, placing great emphasis on accurate depictions and justifiable service control, banishing impulses or other manifestations of emotion which tend to either embellish or diminish the narrative. The novel functions by utilizing a strong internal voice attempting to claim the spoils of jazz and random materialization of captured imagination. Generating the narrative voice is not however an entirely independent endeavor as Ellison must preoccupy himself with exhibitions of intent that mark familiarity in terms of style, character development and literary form. He manages to capture random synchronicities in the fabric of language and tame them under the banner of intention and literary design. Language is thus able to ascend to a tier where it is no longer restricted to simply expressing ideas; it begins to generate independent thought, become the forger of identity as an instrument of both creation and deception. From this standpoint, one is almost obligated to view Ellisons writing as an act of patriotism and national pride. But he is by no means a celebrator of the founding fathers or other such bribers of destiny. He bows to the common man, the carrier of tradition and the giver of love and enlightening humanity. Powerful men are perceived as the enemies of equality and freedom inside the American experiment. This pseudo-communist view and manner of interpreting deeds, individuals and events will trigger an internal conflict inside the mind of Ellison himself who viewed communism as a corrupt and bankrupt ideology and treated it as such, indirectly of course through his portrayal of the Brotherhood in Invisible Man. The perception of Afro-Americans is modulated to encompass not only their immediate predicaments, but also the trigger-elements of their past that had obstructed their development as a group and as individuals. Slavery is the key element inside a shameful national battlefield whose remnants still included segregation, unwarranted racial presuppositions and a lack of equal opportunity and respect. Yet Ellison does not let rage or Black Nationalism get the better of him. His solution for mending the hearts and minds of all parties involved is based on love, tolerance, affirmative action, exploring the elements that unite us rather than embracing those which have the capacity to tear our shared humanity asunder. Ellison is one of Americas gatekeepers of moral history. His influence on the Afro-American novel and the American novel as a whole may have hastened the emergence of the Civil Rights Movement. He carried inside his writing the intellectual turmoil of his generation and set the standard for a new moral and artistic comprehension of 1960s America. His objective was not to portray a coherent image of individual identity, or of black identity but the identity of the American rainbow, the melting pot of intimidating complexity. His verbal flow and communicative fortitude served as a release valve for the creative energies of his countrymen. The great American writer acknowledged Faulkner, Melville or Hawthorne but above all he paid homage to the almost sacred pieces of paper (the Constitution and the Bill of Rights) which had dictated the moral imperatives shaping the beautiful destiny of his beloved America. His patriotism was not uncommon for an individual living in 1940s and 50s Ameri ca; what was oddly inspiring however was the fact that he managed to unreservedly love a country that had at times rejected and humiliated him because of the color of his skin. Invisible Man is a novel of trust and belief in the ideals for which America stands. Had it not been for Ellisons patriotism and trust in Americas pledge of liberty and justice for all his novel would never have been written; because despite his faà §ade of irony and pessimism Ralph Waldo Ellison is a true believer that change will come, that he himself can make a difference through his work and generous humanity. The novelists responsibility and debt to society cannot be overlooked or ignored towards the realm of perdition. Both form and content must coexist and serve the authors creative infrastructure, a convergence hub where literature and democracy become intertwined creating not only mentally endowed characters but also intelligent, opinionated citizens/readers who have the courage and mental clarity t o change society for the better. Imagination does not run its course individually and independently. In Invisible Man for example it responds to the needs and compensative prerequisites of American life. This complex and immensely creative subroutine of the human mind governs the flux of the yet undiscovered or under-discovered recoils of fate, regulates preoccupations of solitude fills in the blanks of our existence as all true creation begins with imagination and if we seek to better ourselves we must first envisage it with our minds inner eye. The protagonist in Invisible Man is meant to become the perfect American citizen but he is still in beta testing. A more congealed version is set to surface after the author has fully experimented with his test dummy and exhausted all potential behavioral simulations generated by his mental resourcefulness. The final version of the character should be very astute in reflecting not just destiny or possibility but also Americas variations and complexity, referring here of cou rse to its cultural heritage, racial, gender and class interactions. Invisible Man must not be approached solely based on its intrinsic value. Like any work of art its dedicated objective is to move, transport or transform even abstract concepts such as democracy or perceptions of freedom. Ellison was well aware of this reality and also mentally converged on the topic of control by the artist versus the readership over the resulting cultural product: the work of art begins to pulsate with those meanings, emotions, ideas brought to it by its audience, and over which the artist has but limited control (Ellison qtd. in Callahan 1995:94). After setting in motion multiple perspectives dealing with creation as an act of control, he attempts a power play through which the author must fully detach himself from his work, set all personal subjectivity aside and become his own personal appraisal specialist by taking on the role of the reader who must objectively assess a work in progress. This creative method is deeply rooted in imagination, and the ability to i mmerse oneself inside a fundamentally different role caresses the realm of empathic intelligence, setting about to comprehend the hidden truths behind socially assigned roles and adaptive, intellectual democracy. The rampant success of Invisible Man ignited a vast whirlwind of undignified criticism and unwarranted, feeble justifications. The fact that the book was well ahead of its time concerning matters of race, gender or social affiliation caught the attention of many critics of that time who were unfortunately locked inside a limited mindset, unable to comprehend a visionary such as Ralph Ellison. They interpreted the defiance of norms, categories and labeling as nothing less than literary, social and cultural heresy. The random, free-flowing, fluid literary style Ellison had perfected from his adaptations of jazz was also deemed precarious, seen as lacking in consistency and proper planning. The writer justly and calmly defended his novel, explaining, justifying and clarifying all issues related to his novel regardless of time constraints or argumentative relevance. His eloquence and patience as well as his ability to enhance predictions partaking in an astonishing pre-revelation of the American collective eventually earned him the praise, respect and recognition he most undoubtedly deserves. The novel comes as a response to a creative higher calling, a repayment of spiritual debt, a brave statement of honor and dignity. Ellisons working notes and letters have rendered clarification relevant to the conceptual and structural apparatus behind Invisible Man. The first part of the Working Notes analyses not only the causes of invisibility but also its subsequent manifestations and the impact it has on all parties involved. He uncovers two main sources of invisibility which are strongly rooted in the American cultural paradigm. The first generative element of invisibility is human nature itself. Man is instinctually pre-programed or pre-conditioned to interpret all physical, mental or spiritual differences as signs of inferiority and potential threats. This unfortunate reality enforces unnecessary clustering and segregation, separation and even conflict. Invisibility is not only a prerogative of race, gender or religious orientation. Individuals have often found themselves in a state of conflict or just ignorance because of trivial differentiations such as being from another city, speaking with a slightly different accent or supporting a different sports team. The conclusion is that no matter how small or big the differences, people are more than willing to surrender their personal identity to that of their respective arbitrary collective. They incapacitate themselves from seeing members of the rival faction as fellow, kindred beings and embrace a path of antagonism and dismal competition. The second factor of invisibility would be what Ellison identified in his notes as the great formlessness of Negro life. Cultural values here are highly volatile and exposed to a continuous stream of transformation and evolution. Afro-Americans are also subjected to often debilitating and diverse hardships from which only powerful individuals emerge with their personality, identity and sanity intact. Therefore it is difficult to create a stable, visible version of oneself inside a shifting and diverse ethnic universe whose objective is to heap disorientation rather than provide a marginally functi onal moral compass. The issue of compromise has largely gone unseen in the novel. On the surface it is a concept or deliberate lack of action which leads to a passive resolution of conflicts. Taking a more in-depth look however reveals that compromise merely postpones a brutal reaction or conflict. This method leads to the accumulation of tension, an overwhelming increase in the parameters of rage and self-loathing. Compromise draws its energy not from wisdom but from weakness because the truly powerful do not compromise they just make merciful enlightened concessions from time to time. The unnamed hero in Invisible Man joins the Brotherhood and later serves its nefarious plans not out conviction but out of necessity. This ruthless left wing organization which is nothing more than a literary expression of the real life Communist Party uses the main character as he allows himself to be manipulated. He catches rare glimpses of what goes on behind the curtain but he refuses to see and acknowledge the truth . And herein lurks his predicament: the truth cannot and will not set him free, not the weakened version of himself anyway. The truth always reaches everyone no matter how strong or elaborate the deception might be, yet it is always meant for those who have the power to accept it. Weakness and compromise can also lead to the dissolution of family values. The protagonists sexual indiscretions with a married woman are overlooked by her husband in the interest of politics. The fact that there is no vindication for this dastardly act confirms that our character is indeed for all intents and purposes invisible and also that modern day society is severely dehumanizing as under the false and frail mask of a pseudo-enlightenment a man is forced to himself find, accept and provide justification for adultery and sentimental betrayal. Devising his female characters spawned a great deal of compromise for Ellison himself. Most women in the novel are depicted as prostitutes or secret agents of deception and misrepresentation. Mary Rambo is the only positive female character in the novel, a nurturer, a benefactor for the protagonist, a mother figure. Despite all her qualities however she can never be a true partner for the invisible man as she utterly lacks eroticism or passion. She cant complete him; she can only tend to a limited amount of wounds. From Ellisons Working Notes we are made aware of what could have been the unnamed characters significant other. Sadly enough she never made the roster. Louise was envisaged as seductive, charming the flagship of American ideals of freedom, democracy and fertility. Her relative perfection sort of defeats the purpose of the whole novel. The main character must be assaulted, tested and prodded from all directions. His hardships are transformative, motivating, the defining ini tiators of his true identity. Give him love and redemption and you might end up with a Garfield-type character, too lazy and unwilling to seek transformative confrontation. So sadly enough we ended up with good old Sybil, Ellisons little compromise, who happens to have a bad case of jungle fever and whom the main character regards as nothing more than an obstacle and possibly a source of non-essential information. The end of the novel commandeers a corpus of interactive integrity where Ellison appeals to both novice and specialized readers. He reveals the representative voice of his narrative, a raft of hope carrying with it the encoded pride of our shared humanity: Being invisible and without substance, a disembodied voice as it were, what else could I do? What else but try to tell you what was really happening when your eyes were looking through? And it is this which frightens me: Who knows but that, on the lower frequencies, I speak for you? (Ellison, 1995:581) 1.3. Ralph Ellison: Between Addiction and Tradition Ralph Ellison underscores the linkages and connections between Afro-American Culture and mainstream American culture, based on a hope of potential synergy, choosing to disregard arbitrary bonds of restrictive servitude. The limitations to his method are very few as he manages to create new worth through the exploration of the infinite possibilities conferred by folk tradition, jazz or the tales of old. He promotes his narrative as a stable and truthful presence in the discontinuous, swiftly changing and diverse American culture. His body of work expresses a blues-like absurdity in accepting a personal desire to defy limitations, seeking not simply a portrayal of tradition, but a translation, a decryption of its wider, more precise meanings. Ellisons blues attest to the agony of life and the distinct possibility of overcoming all adversity through sheer wealth of spirit and desire to carry on by using pain as a catalyst rather than succumb to its destructive charms. Several essays in Shadow and Act call attention to the purpose of folklore and its inner workings, as they strive to preserve the repeated situations that had once formulated the existence of a well-defined group of individuals, capturing the beauty of thoughts and emotions. The wisdom and spiritual wealth of a group, its symbols, icons and heraldic legacy and ultimately its desire to live long and prosper, generated according to Ellison, an essential truth which captured the spirit of all blacks. Folk symbols can utterly annihilate time through their simplicity, and an entire culture can revolve around a raw image, a universal rhythm. When addressing the black experience Ellison is a firm believer that folklore confirms the Negros willingness to trust his own experience, his own sensibilities rather than to permit their oppressors and masters to decide these fundamental things for them. Folklore therefore becomes not only a source of cohesive identity but a resource for freedom as w ell. Black American folklore functions as an integral part of American and Western culture. Ellison recognizes the merits of a black tradition in confronting new American and global issues, by extracting from life new and profound definitions of joy. Black culture makes wide use of characters who represent folk cultural archetypes functioning inside a wider context of strategic symbology, representing various forms of art, music, religion or folk poetry. In Invisible Man the characters provide contrast and conflict with the lost nature of the invisible narrator who hovers above the storyline observing and sometimes triggering events which consolidate the narrative drive. The slave woman appearing in the prologue is meant to confirm centuries of victimization and hardships, and announce a propulsion towards embracing and understanding freedom. The grandfather who appears several times throughout the novel is a toxic character. He embodies the ambiguity of the past, a monument of bitterness and spiritual limitation which can have potentially crippling and debilitating consequences. The old mans gregarious survival strategy of allowing the so called self-destructive nature of the white man to run its course confirms a false and contagious grasp of what is real and functional. His yessing strategy worthy of the great Napoleon himself has nearly fatal repercussions for his grandson who adopts the strategy of his elder not out of belief but out of confusion and desperation. From a cultural point of view Invisible Man only has two characters who encompass both folk and contemporary black tradition: Trueblood and Mary. Jim Trueblood is on a very basic level an expectant father, a family man, a maker and supporter of life. Yet he is also a rapist, a pedophile and a performer of adultery and incest. The sins of this father cannot be justified through oniric dementia. His heinous act does not prevent him from finding redemption through music: I looks up and sees the stars and I starts singing. He also reaches a very dangerous Popeye the Sailor type conclusion, an empty statement that allows justification for just about anything I aint nobody but myself. Putting aside the repugnant nature of this character one cant help notice that he is deeply rooted in tradition; his humor, storytelling and manner of speaking exemplify the turmoil of his ethnic, racial and social legacy. Trueblood is also a part of Western tradition. He acknowledges his weakness and the sins of the flesh and in his twisted way he tries to be a family man: Im a man and man dont leave his family. From a psychological standpoint, Truebl ood is part of the Western tradition of incest entering the realm of Freudian psychoanalysis and dream interpretation. Mary Rambo is the only character in Invisible Man whom Ellison depicts in a positive manner. All other women are either prostitutes, crazy, sexually deviant, manipulative or lack a moral compass. Mary however is a kind, nurturing individual with a tremendous potential to eliminate the pain and suffering of those around her. She benefits from a robust humanity deeply anchored in the beauty and common sense of folk wisdom and time honored traditions. This female character manages to perfectly integrate into the crazy life of the metropolis without abandoning her individual complexity. She is never tainted by what festers around her and remains true to her pure and genuine calling. Ellison is able to comprehend both the splendor and the horrific nature of black culture. He uses language for example as a verbal facilitator for the most noble of human thoughts. The rich language of the South, the blooming spoken word of the North, the joyful verbal flow of 50s Harlem are all pitted against the ability of language to manipulate, to control, to create riots and inspire fear. Folk traditions, associated with other mechanisms of human comprehension, invite both the writer and the reader into the intimate life of blacks in America, allowing us to discover and observe them in celebration or tribulation, gripped by bliss alongside family and friends or in their darkest hour of need. Ellison employs cultural tradition without overusing external connections. His dramatic recoil is often based on a system of illusions which in the end exposes the betrayal of blackness while at the same time expounding a traumatic treatment of folk values. Folklore does not exist for its own sake. Its governing principle is to override futility within the confines of strict thematic structuralisation and dramatic undertones. Ellisons conceptual apparatus overpowers outdated representations of the southern folk community deeming them obsolete and leaning towards a more pre-individual approach to the matter at hand. He accomplishes an in-depth look into the mind of the individual or their respective collective. His characters are by no means nonsentimental or monosentimental, exploring previously untapped levels of the Afro-American psyche, reaching a point of cognitive no return. This tinkering about with both collective and individual representations of black society is done with flair and a great deal of humor and irony and herein lies the intrinsic value of Invisible Man. He makes the exploration of personal and group identity appear simple, natural and free flowing. Ellison has a very firm grip on the obvious and strives to implement cultural representations bearing in mind the potential of folklore to bring forth both enlightenment and spiritual unease. His intention is not to call down the proverbial thunder on the established order of perception as he is by no means a revolutionary writer. The milestone he sets out to complete is simply to interconnect Western symbols and mythology with black culture and folk wisdom in the hope of understanding and accepting the rules that govern this particular paradigm. Ellisons connection to the West, the systemic support in Invisible Man, offer an almost mathematical precision between creative consistency and cultural pronouncements. Larry Neal credited Ellison with a broad spectrum of theoretical sense, an intimidating corpus of knowledge regarding the explosive tensions underlying the Black mans presence in the United States. (Neal, 1968:9) Invisible Man resonates as a powerful pledge which is fully committed towards grasping the depths and complicated splendors that forge the definition of blackness. Ellison appears hungry to exploit the functions and dedicated objectives of language. He is not burdened by his cultural responsibility, but rather he views it as a method of release, embracing a higher calling of both a universal writer and a black writer. His hunger for definitions, the study of mannerisms and collective deductions stake their claim on a narrative that is offered with apparent ease and an almost godlike understanding of the black condition. There is music and ease behind his equanimous imagination and desire to embrace the noesis of his forefathers. A clinical presupposition would therefore entail an absolute independence inside the creative laws which define his conceptual apparatus. His examination of blackness though perfectly expounded and formulated is not without precedence. William Faulkner laid t he foundation for Ellison through a manifold of emblematic devices and astonishing accomplishments in capturing the proverbial zeitgeist of the South. Although Faulkner asserts himself as the deepest of the southerners, a larger than life communicator through symbols, Ellisons work should not be misconstrued as imitation or worse, as being written from an anxiety of influence. Ralph Ellison is an adequately developed writer, one profoundly original writer who is able to provide us with fresh new insight into Afro-American culture. His tree of literary knowledge casts a large enough shadow enabling him implement a black focus that gathers success in its encounters with an audience immensely appreciative of his creative undertakings. Ultimately Ralph Ellison produces a genuine and stimulating complexity when it comes to writing based on Afro-American culture and folk traditions. He commandeers cryptic messaging, appearing almost intoxicated with the power of his own written word and duty towards creative instruments of mental debt and depth. Folk tradition for Ellison is not proliferated as an end in itself, the author is severely self-conscious and bewildered by the overwhelming merits of simple traditions that have stood the test of time and enabled their carriers to maintain a coherent sense of identity. True folk forms provide us with a celebration of life, a righteous use of the flexible service instruments which fuel hope in the name of tradition, a proud remembrance of the past that is bound to secure the future. 1.4 Chronotopic Identity in Invisible Man Mikhail Bakhtins systemic apparatus of emblematic devices comprises cognitive depths which function beyond arbitrary boundaries of simple cultural relevance. Therefore applying Bakhtinian mechanisms of comprehension to Ralph Ellisons Invisible Man is a fully warranted undertaking encompassing both structure and a stern analysis of desirable and justified content. Bakhtins conceptual framework can be held accountable for altering cultural realms outside its borders of encounter, supplementing external ideas, improving and completing them. All disseminated elements are interconnected, lacking in explicit manifestation, adhering to implicit introduction and dialogic confrontation. Bakhtin asserts that no work of literature can exist as a separate, independent entity. Any literary text is in a state of flux, maintaining communication with other literary voices or streams. The influence can reside in imitation, modular transformation or adaptation, or even rejection which is nothing more than a reversal of method. A text is always informed by other texts and at the same time it has the duty to inform its readership. The connection between two texts is by no means constrictive or parasitic in nature. Its symbiotic orientation capitalizes on interdisciplinary dialogue and voice structure, honoring social complexity and linguistic wealth: The internal stratification of language is a prerequisite for the novel. The novel orchestrates all its themes, the totality of the world of objects and ideas depicted and expressed in it, by means of the social diversity of speech types and by the differing individual voices that flourish under such conditions. The links and interrelations lead to the novels heteroglossia and dialogization. (Bakhtin, 1981: 263) Identity formation, cultural memory and religion are paramount in the understanding of blacks and whites not as mere individuals but as complex, interconnected cultural entities. Bakhtins approach is atemporal and universal, allowing us to not only see or understand Afro-American culture but also to expand its deeper meanings, adapt and improve our own culture, enable a positive cross-cultural contamination by upgrading our shared humanity and collective heritage. Certain Bakthinian matters of interest such as power and control, materialism, (re)structured social and ethnic relations, dialogism, spatial and temporal paradigms provide the necessary competence to outline patterns of relevant functionality in Invisible Man. Ralph Ellisons displays a considerable amount of dialogic audacity as a method of integrating social strategies in his novel. His principles are governed by mental alacrity and argumentative observations which often foster resentment and playful overtones of deceptive chaos. Ellison and Bakhtin possess a dedicated, shared infrastructure, a common ground where their variations in discourse can become intertwined and intervene in the establishment of philosophical augmentations and consistent power structures. The boundaries between the two become nothing more than non-cohesive, penetrable conventions which allow transcendent voices to define the desires of randomly assigned trust and determination. Envisioning Invisible Man as a Bakhtinian novel one cant help but detect the ubiquitous Carnivalesque elements of perception which generate and govern the social environment. The Carnival entails a state of absolute liberation and subsequently a state of pseudo-anarchy, capricious libertinism and equality. It exists outside political, economic and social restrictions, suspending the status quo, living up to ideals of randomness and improvisation. It is a festival which celebrates the annihilation of individual hierarchies and the dismemberment of forged and unjust equilibriums. There is little room for political ambitions or extravagant portrayal of mediocre deeds. The Carnivaleque is a counter reaction to those abusive systems which strive to acquire our humanity with thirty pieces of our own silver. Another essential Bakhtinian concept that is of great importance to Invisible Man is that of the chronotope. Time-space describes the dual matrix behind the emergence of Ellisons novel, understanding both history and the topos on which it occurs. Ralph Ellison bends time to his liking offering nonlinear and often simultaneous projections engaging the readers attention and selective intelligence, inviting him to experience: [A] slightly different sense of time, youre never quite on the beat. Sometimes youre ahead and sometimes behind. Instead of the swift and imperceptible flowing of time, you are aware of its nodes, those points where time stands still or from which it leaps ahead. And you slip into the breaks and look around. (Ellison, 1995:8) This enigmatic passage distorts the accepted perception of time, offering a multilayered temporal construct which seeks to achieve transference of control while at the same time generating a climate of insecure reclusiveness and underprivileged substantiations of unclear history. The chronotopes initial manifestation in Invisible Man is done through the use of the fictional present. We are informed with great equanimity and familiarity that the narrator dwells in a coal cellar which is designed as a cocoon of self-banishment, an in-between world, a self -imposed Purgatory from which he can be emerge a new man, ready to confront his previous oppressors and the flawed systems that had spawned them. Time here contracts fissuring the containment of common meanings, creating a brave new nexus of darkened topography and supporting a cronosphere of intimidating and deliberate variation. The chronotope is the fulfiller of tradition, an astute element/method which defines our sense of community and social history. According to Mikhail Bakhtin, The chronotope is where the knots of narrative are tied and untied []. Time becomes, in effect, palpable and visible; the chronotope makes narrative events concrete, makes them take on flesh, causes blood to flow in their veins []. Thus the chronotope, functioning as the primary means for materializing time in space, emerges as a center for concretizing representation, as a force giving body to the entire novel. All the novels abstract elements philosophical and social generalizations, ideas, analyses of cause and effect gravitate towards the chronotope and through it take on flesh and blood, permitting the imaging power of art to do its work. (Bakhtin, 1981, 250) Time and space are inextricably intertwined with respect to the fundamental acknowledgement of uni