French Revolutin DBQ

The French Revolution of 1789 caused many changes in the social, political, and economical world of France. The French Revolution sparked the beginning for many new reforms in France that were previously unavailable to the 3rd estate. The things that led up to the French revolution were all caused from within the social, political, and economic world of France. The Social causes for the French Revolution were varied. One such problem was the well being of the 3rd estate.According to Travels in France by Arthur Young the conditions of the 3rd estate were terrible as people could not purchase bread due to the high prices and the ragged conditions of the children (Document #1). Because of these factors the people were forced to fight each other for a piece of bread alone. Another problem was the middle class’ knowledge of the Enlightenment. According to The French Revolution historian Albert Mathiez, the middle class’ knowledge of the Enlightenment made them start the revo lution rather than the unintelligent working class (Document #3).The social world of France was a front for the revolution to begin because of the people who were mistreated by the government. The political reasons for the Revolution were also varied. One such reason was the signing of the Declaration of Independence. According to Lord Acton, the spark supplied by the signing of the Declaration of Independence was the cause of the French Revolution (Document #5).Another reason was the 3rd estates demands of the monarchy. Some of their demands were to lower the taxes assigned to them, have definite meeting times, and take votes by head (Document #3). The political state of France did not fare well in preventing the revolution. Finally the Economic reasons for the revolution were less varied than the others but just as important. One economical reason for the revolution was the unfair taxes to the 3rd estate.A chart of the tax and land ownership percentage in the 1700’s clearly shows how much more the 3rd estate was being taxed than the 1st or 2nd estate (Document #2). The economical causes for the revolution most likely set off the 3rd estate when their request for a tax change was denied. In conclusion the French Revolution was a result of the three different worlds of Frances system: Economy, Social, and Politics. The changes caused by the Revolution paved way for modern France and spelled out a new era for France.

Business and the Bill of Rights

Business and The Bill of Rights Cheryl Anderson BUS 220 Prof. T. Daniel. Browning Pima Community College March 5, 2013 â€Å"I plead the 5th! † That phrase is heard from the mouths of children as well as adults. It has become a cliche. Children learn early in life what the phrase means and how and when to use it. They use it as a tool to keep themselves out of trouble or to keep from having to tattle on a sibling or friend.As children advance in their education, they study American history and are surprised to find that phrase comes from a very old document that the founding fathers of our country drafted and set into place as an integral part of our government’s system of law. That document is called the â€Å"Bill of Rights†. The statement, â€Å"I plead the 5th† is a reference to the Fifth Amendment from that document in which a citizen is protected by law from self-incrimination. There are now 27 amendments to the U. S. constitution, but the first 10 a re collectively called the Bill of Rights.James Madison who was part of the very first Congress led the charge in drafting The Bill of Rights in 1789, and the amendments officially became law in 1791. They were established to protect the American citizens against certain interferences from the federal government. (The Bill of Rights, 2012) A summary of these inalienable rights or guarantees is listed below. 1. Guarantees the freedom of speech, religion, press, and peaceful assembly 2. Guarantees the right to keep and bear arms 3. Guarantees the right to not be forced by the government to house and feed soldiers in peacetime 4.Guarantees the right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures of our homes, our bodies, or our property, conducted by  government officials 5. Guarantees the right to indictment by grand jury, to due process of law, and prohibits compulsory self-incrimination and double jeopardy 6. Guarantees the right to a speedy trial, and to be represented by a l awyer, have the chance to challenge prosecution witnesses, call witnesses for our defense, and have a trial by jury of our peers if charged with a crime 7. Guarantees the right to a trial by jury in a civil case involving at least twenty dollars 8.Prohibits excessive bail and fines and cruel and unusual punishment 9. Guarantees people have rights not specified in the Constitution 10. Establishes that those powers neither delegated to the federal government nor denied to the states are reserved for the states (Miller, 2013) Each Amendment is a study in itself, but this paper will focus on some of the effects the Bill of Rights has on businesses. Courts recognize that corporations take on many of the characteristics of a person; therefore several of the rights apply to businesses.The role and influence of corporations in the political realm has continued to expand over the past 100 years. An example of the influence a corporation can have in politics and in fighting for the rights of the American people is the current debate over the 2nd Amendment, the right to keep and bear arms. Gun manufacturers and sporting goods retailers are taking a stand against the recent gun control legislation being passed in New York and other jurisdictions around the country, by refusing to sell or severely limit the sale of firearms in these jurisdictions including sales to state officials like the police department.LaRue Tactical made the following announcement: â€Å"Effective today, in an effort to see that no legal mistakes are made by LaRue Tactical and/or its employees, we will  apply  all current State and Local Laws (as applied to civilians) to state and local law enforcement / government agencies. In other words, LaRue Tactical will limit all sales to what law-abiding citizens residing in their districts can purchase or possess. † (Party, 2013) In many respects large companies can have a greater influence on the overnment than individual citizens, and the indivi dual citizens can show their support of the corporations by shopping at their establishments. The freedom of religion clause of the 1st Amendment has been under attack in regards to Hobby Lobby, a family owned successful retail chain. The company faces heavy fines for their refusal to comply with the ObamaCare directives which state the company has to finance certain drugs that the FDA notes can terminate pregnancy after conception.The owners of Hobby Lobby are Christians and these drugs go against their beliefs in the area of abortion. By forcing corporations to include these drugs in their health plans, it is forcing corporations to finance infidelity. (Flax, 2013) By insisting corporations must finance these drugs, the government is dictating what is acceptable in society instead of letting the beliefs of the company’s owner decide what benefits they will provide to their employees. The government is overstepping its boundaries.Businesses that are willing to take a stand a gainst the government and protect their rights ultimately are protecting the rights of the American people. It is not always easy for a corporation to take a stand. It can have severe consequences to their business. David Green, CEO and founder of Hobby Lobby is racking up millions of dollars in fines by not conceding to the government’s mandate. Yet, he believes that what the government is trying to do go against his rights as an American business owner and as an American citizen.It is people like David Green that helped make America what it is today; people not afraid to risk it all in order to have freedom. Works Cited The Bill of Rights. (2012, August 2). Retrieved February 25, 2013, from RevolutionaryWaranbBeyond. com: http://www. revolutionary-war-and-beyond. com/first-ten-amendments. html Miller, R. L. (2013). The Legal Environment Today. Mason, OH: Cengage Learning. Party, T. (2013, February 16). Gun Companies Refuse Sales to State Governments with Strict Gun Laws. Re trieved Feruary 18, 2013, from Tea Party. org:

Ryan Lambright, euphonium Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ryan Lambright, euphonium - Essay Example This university is famous as it enhances the qualities of a true musician and brings the best out of them. On October 15th, 2011, at 7:00 p.m., a concert was help in which Mr. Ryan Lambright presented his Senior Euphonium Recital. He played the music of George Frideric Handel. G.F. Handel was a British-German composer and a very famous musician of the eighteenth century. He was mainly famous for operas. Apart from operas his musical works such as anthems, oratorios and organ concerts also used to be his specialties. He was mainly influenced by the Italian and middle-German music. Another kind of music that was played by Mr. Lambright was Gordon Jacob. Gordon Jacob was a dedicated English musician of the twentieth century and was quite famous for his instructional writings and composing. The third style of music played by Mr. Lambright was James Barnes, an American musician of the twentieth century. James Barnes is indubitably a versatile musician but, is most famous for his orchestra. The last style that was played by Mr. Lambright was of James Niblock. He is an eminent musician and a di rector and instructor of choral and the vocal activities in the Colgate University. (Bohnet). The piano was handled by Dr. Robert Holm and Dr. Laura Moore handled a wide range of corals. Dr. Robert Holm is an exuberant professor of piano at the University of South Alabama, Department of Music. He is an excellent piano teacher and instructor, who also used to be the president of the ‘Mobile Music Teachers Association’. (Dr. Robert Holm) The concert went really well with all the professional and dexterous faculty of the University. Majority enjoyed it, though the teenagers got a bit bored as the style and the theme of such music does not match the mood of the youth. Still it was amazing and the fame, as usual was beyond description, just like all the other stage performances arranged by the University of

Women and Health Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Women and Health - Research Proposal Example This is complex study of different interrelated factors, as age merely does not constitute towards aging diseases or undemocratic treatments. The major causes of higher mortality ratio of aging on women are cardiovascular diseases, such as â€Å"heart stroke, cancer particularly lungs and breast cancer, diabetics, and nutritional problems, such as obesity or anemic, arthritis, Alzheimer’s, mental illness leading to depression† (Olds, London, & Ladewig, pp. 1-29), dementia, and sensory impairment, such as loss of sight or hearing. Women have lower life expectancy in under developed countries than the developed due to various reasons such as improper nutrition, lack of access to healthcare, neglecting, and discrimination by the social society and mental anxiety etc. The important task is to determine the chronic ailment in women by their lifestyle, social and economic accordance, and perception of healthy lifestyle awareness that could increase their expectancy ratio but aging still gives a significant damage when the body starts to get older. They live few years more than their counterparts do but it is always engrave with sickness and disabilities (Bonita, pp. 2-25). Cardiovascular diseases mainly heart stroke is the highest and common cause of death in aged women than men. The older women are at a higher stake of heart attack and peripheral arterial diseases since their entering into the postmenopausal period. INTRODUCTION The coronary heart diseases, such as heart attack, stroke, and other arterial vascular diseases are the angle of death for the aging women in the USA herby claiming approximately 2.3 million deaths due to heart attack and 0.87 million by the stroke. The death toll of cardiovascular diseases is six times higher than widespread breast cancer in women. According to the statistics, almost 62% of older women struck by disability due to heart stroke and 36% are middle-aged women who survive the fatal heart attack (Bonita, pp. 2-25). About 58% of the women incur half of their health care bills on cardiovascular diseases. There will be an increase of 45% in the population of aged women suffering from coronary heart diseases by 2015 giving rise to the major health problem in near future. With the process of aging to 65, the risk of cardiovascular diseases toll to one in three and it will continue to grow every year. The risk of lack of awareness in women of cardiovascular diseases after the advent of postmenopausal period is substantial and is the like the shield that have been wore out and exposed to the serious coronary disease which is a crucial cause of the study (Wenger et al., pp. 247-256). Risk Factors in uprising the Cardiovascular Diseases in Women The risk for developing the chronic coronary heart diseases are unlikely the same as their male counterpart. â€Å"Smoking tobacco, hypertension, diabetic’s mellitus, high blood pressure, obesity, mal-nutritious life style, and elevated alcohol consumpt ion, increased level of serum cholesterol, higher or lower density of lipo- protein levels† (Olds, London, & Ladewig, pp. 401-440) and deprivation of estrogens hormones after the post menopause. Smoking cigarettes especially tobacco and nicotine consumption in younger women have raised by almost 23% since the last decade which is the major contribution to the chronic health diseases in the older age. Studies have also indicated that earlier in 1990's 45% of

Money and banking final q's Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Money and banking final q's - Assignment Example Allowing the central bank to monopolize the issuance of notes comes with various advantages. The central bank brings uniformity within the monetary system of circulating notes after issuance. Furthermore, the central bank has better capacity to monitor and maintain the supply of money in any country. The result is an increased public confidence in the monetary system. It is also easier to control paper currency. The central bank has adequate knowledge regarding the requirements of economy because of its position as the supreme in any country. With this information, the central bank can alter and regulate the quantity of currency in the system based on requirements. Monopoly in distribution of legal tender by the central bank facilitates the ability to execute development of credit by other commercial banks. When it issues the notes, the central bank earns profit from the fees charged. Finally, allowing the central bank sole monopoly of issuing notes eliminates political interference by granting the institution autonomy. The second function of the central is operating as an agent, banker, and adviser to the government (Bordo, 2009, 434). The central bank carries out same responsibilities as a commercial bank to its clients when acting as a banker to the government. Besides those of the state and county governments, it maintains accounts for the national or central government. It advances short-term loans to the governments, takes deposits from them, and collects cheques drafts from accounts held by the government. In the present society, central banks manage the supply of money. Central banks carry out this responsibility outside the control of politicians with the desire to attain designed goals. Goals are many and include utmost growth, stumpy inflation, as well as attaining high levels of employment. Central banks create or destroy money using

Leadership Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Leadership Paper - Essay Example The men and women behind an organization say a lot about how trustworthy the institution is. Good leadership brings about a working environment both harmonious and efficient which can consequently lead to a more effective workforce and a successful organization. In the business world today, there are a number of companies that continue to dominate the public because of excellent leadership and management. The World Health Organization is one of those companies. For 62 years, with almost 100 states under its membership, WHO has initiated successful programs driven to eradicating health issues worldwide. It has been the known guide of many health institutions in creating policies regarding the well-being of individuals around the world. Through its excellent leadership and management, WHO has been a trusted and respected institution in the field of health care. My paper will argue that WHO is a successful company because of its good decision-making, employee treatment and excellent leadership. I believe I will fit into this organization because I am patient, hard-working and I have a passion for helping people. There are a variety of industries in society. Among these industries, I consider health care the most important as it continually strives to find ways to nurture the well-being of the individual. Inasmuch as without the individual, there would be no society, it is therefore vital to provide efficient healthcare services. â€Å"Healthcare combines medical technology and the human touch as it diagnoses, treats and administers care around the clock, responding to the needs of millions of people-from newborns to the terminally ill.† (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2010) There are many establishments that make up the healthcare industry. These vary in terms of size, manpower and organizational structures. Doctors’ offices, hospitals and nursing facilities

Media journal and analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Media journal and analysis - Essay Example The film is directed by British filmmaker Justin Chadwick. The film reveals Mandela’s resistance and leadership within African National Congress (ANC) in South Africa. The story continues with Mandela’s life in prison as part of struggle during apartheid, and long-awaited election during which he becomes first black president of South Africa. His election characterizes the close of apartheid rule in South Africa. The film uses different scenes to capture extensive amount of action involved during apartheid struggle (Abrahams). Who are the characters? The characters in the movie include; Ideris Elba as Mandela, Naomie Harris as Winnie Mandela, Mark Elderkin as Sophia town Policeman, Robert Hobbs as Chief Warden, Tony Kgoroge as Walter Sisulu, Riaad Moosa as Ahmed Kathrada, Jamie Bartlett as James Gregory, Lindiwe Matshikiza as Zindzi Mandela, Terry Pheto as Evelyn and Deon Lotz as Kobie Coetzee. Who/What is missing from the text? The producers of the movie â€Å"Mandela : Long Walk to Freedom† tries to deduce Mandela as a martyr, despite refusal by the judge to grant Mandela such opportunity. The movie tries to reduce Mandela’s ideas to what is known as impassioned sloganeering. Consequently, these ideas results into unmoving montage sequences, whereby Mandela’s 27-year of imprisonment is considered as foundation of his credibility. The scene creates a captivating proof of Idris Elba’s struggling character. The makers of the film are portrayed as having good intentions within the scenes but not capable of effectively dramatizing necessary qualities making their subject great. Deep Analysis of the ideological implications of the patterns found in the text Mandela’s life in the film is punctuated and defined by sense of optimism. Mandela started the struggle as a young lawyer, where he petitions for equality from the ruling authority which by then practiced some form of favoritism. However, the situation is changed a fter brutal torture of a man found drunk and lacked proper documentation. The event, though happened in a flush, imposes profound effect on Mandela leading him and other like minded individuals to form African National Congress (ANC). The formation ANC is followed by crowd protests as a result of euphoric rallies and powerful speeches by Mandela. The main character in the film is treated as hallowed figure especially after Mandela’s trial and imprisonment. However, the film makers attempts to portray Mandela as human figure. The idea of portraying Mandela’s promiscuity only assists in adding pathos to his entire life story, despite this; the film displays Mandela s a romantic icon. The various scenes by ANC protesters are portrayed as context-free awe (Abrahams). There is a raw synergy within the film and history especially on the description of South Africa and Africans. The first representation focused so much on the negative aspects of South Africans, portraying the m as the most violent race in the world. This is purely from a Racists perspective. The elaborate representation of black freedom and power struggles across political spectrum leaves everything on self-focused consumerism. The black-focused films from the white-man perspective as depicted are marred with violence while African focus on black films presents the rich history of the continent from cultural to economic aspects. The perspective from the second argument disputed the fact that post-colonialism is all about the relationship between Africa and their

Frank Capra, Meet John Doe Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Frank Capra, Meet John Doe - Movie Review Example Keeping in mind public reaction, power players got involved in realization of John Doe project, picking out a man ready to play the role for money and disappear at the right moment. However, the â€Å"actor† eventually realizes the scale of social manipulations and sets himself against his puppeteers. The movie vibrantly reflects the topic of social manipulation and power play, vesting it in the settings of contemporary New York and then the entire America. Here, I would like to mention Harry Cooper’s brilliant acting – to my thinking, Capra chose a perfect man to embody the image of John Doe, the symbol of protests against rotten social order. The topic that was most vividly illustrated in the Meet John Doe movie is definitely the role of mass media in public conscience and its ambiguous nature. No invention can be exclusively positive or negative by its nature – it only has potential. Mass media is an example of such invention depicted in the movie. On one hand, newspapers and radio plat and grow the idea in minds of thousands of people – good idea celebrating unity and mutual respect among â€Å"average† citizens. On the other hand, it is mass media that distort this idea, convert it to the use of political campaigns and make the adherents abandon John Doe’s ideas. Here, on the example of Ann Mitchel and others, a narrower topic of journalist ethics is raised. At the same time, the ideas professed by John Doe are rather close to biblical ones, reminding average people of general human morality – Mitchell encourages them via Willoughby’s voice on the radio to help and unite with their neighbors, implying that such average people are the nation, not the politicians. The movie is an absolute masterpiece despite the fact that it wasn’t fully appreciated after release in 1941. Classical work of the world’s cinema,

Examining Ethnic Differences in Achievemen Essay Example for Free

Examining Ethnic Differences in Achievemen Essay 1. The definition of an ethnic group is a group of people of the same race or nationality that share the same cultural norms and values. 2. Three ways in which the education system may encourage separation between children of different ethnic backgrounds are: Labelling and teacher racism, many teachers label their students and studies by interactionist sociologists found out that many teachers labelled black children as disruptive and they didn’t want them in their class. Another reason is the ethnocentric curriculum. Troyna and Williams describe the curriculum in British schools as ethnocentric because it gives priority to white culture and the English language; this causes separation between white pupils and other ethnic pupils. A final reason is the selection and segregation available to schools. David Gillborn argues that marketization has given schools greater scope to select pupils. This puts some ethnic minority pupils at a disadvantage because selection gives more scope for negative stereotypes to influence decisions about school admissions. 3. There are many ways in which factors in children’s home background may lead to differences in achievement levels between ethnic groups. The first way is cultural deprivation; this is split into 3 aspects. The first is intellectual and linguistic skills. Cultural deprivation theorists argue that many children from low-income black families lack intellectual stimulation and enriching experiences. Bereiter and Engelmann consider the language spoken by low-income black American families as inadequate for educational success. The next aspect is attitudes and values. Cultural deprivation theorists say that some black children are socialised into a subculture that instils a fatalistic ‘live for toady’ attitude that does not value education and leaves them unequipped for success. The final aspect of cultural deprivation is family structure and parental support. Daniel Moynihan argues that because many black families are headed by a lone mother, their children are deprived of adequate care because she has to struggle financially in the absence of a male breadwinner. Also Ken Pryce claims that Asians are higher achievers because their cukture is more resistant to racism and gives them a greater sense of self-worth. However, he argues, black Caribbean culture is less cohesive and less resistant to racism. As a result, many balck pupils have low self-esteem and under-achieve. Another reason is Material deprivation and class. According to Flaherty; Pakistani’s and Bangladeshis are over three times more likely than whites to be in the poorest fifth of the population, as a result statistics show that Pakistani and Bangladeshi boys are among the lowest ethnic groups in the country to obtain 5 A-C GCSE’s. A final reason is racism in wider society. David Mason says â€Å" discrimination is a continuing and persistent feature of the experience of Britain’s citizens of minority ethnic origin. † 4. The differences in educational attainment between different groups of pupils have been a major focus of much sociological research. These differences can often be seen to be largely due to different social class, but also gender or ethnicity. Social class is the most significant and dominant factor when looking at these differences, but ethnicity also has a relative impact on educational achievement. Education has a key role to play in eradicating racism and valuing diversity and it a responsibility for all educational establishments, including those with few or no ethnic minority pupils. Promoting racial equality demands a whole school approach and commitment from all those who are involved in the life and work of their school. Racism is linked to the educational achievement of minority ethnic groups, however the connections are complex. Gilborn and Mirza conclude that ‘social class and gender differences are also associated with differences in attainment but neither can account for persistent underlying ethnic inequalities: comparing like with like, African Caribbean, Pakistani and Bangladeshi pupils do not enjoy equal opportunities. ’ They also argue that in promoting educational inclusion as a means of raising standards, there is a need ‘for clarity and guidance in translating the commitment to equality and inclusion into policy proposals and practice at the local and school level. Many cultural deprivation theorists see the lack of intellectual and linguistic skills as a major cause of under-achievement. Gordon Bowker identifies their lack of standard English as a major barrier to progress in education and integration into wider society. However the Swann Report found that language was not a major factor in under-achievement. Other cultural deprivation theorists suc as Charles Murray argue that a high rate of lone parenthood and a lack of positive male role models lead to the under-achievement of some minorities. Also Anthony Flew believes that ethnic differences in achievement stem from cultural differences outside the education system, not discrimination within it. However Geoffrey Driver criticises the cultural deprivation theory for ignoring the positive effects of ethnicity on achievement. He shows that the black Caribbean family, far from being dysfunctional, provides girls with positive role models of strong independent wome Driver argues this is why black girls tend to be more successful in education than black boys. Some socilogists that the ethnic differences in education are cause by racism. John Rex shows how racial discrimination leads to social exclusion and how this worsens the poverty faced by ethnic minorities. In housing, for instance, discrimination means that minorities are more likely to be forced into substandard acoomodation than white people of the same class. This creates separation due to the ethnic children not being able to study at home and therefore getting lower grades than the white children who are able to study at home.

A View from the Bridge Essay Example for Free

A View from the Bridge Essay Eddie Carbone, the protagonist of the play, is in many ways a tragic hero and like all tragic heroes has a fatal flaw. Eddie’s harmatia is his incestuous feelings for Catherine. Arthur Miller has used the character of Eddie as an everyman perhaps to show that any person can make mistakes with ones feelings. Through the character of Eddie we witness the downfall of a decent man who loses control of his actions.  In the early stages of the play, we see Eddie over protective of Catherine but possibly in a paternal way when he says ‘I don’t like the looks they’re giving youheads are turning like windmills’ although it is quite normal for a father to protect his daughter Eddie’s problem is really with how the men are looking at Catherine rather than her well beings. The reader is also made aware that Eddie has made a lot of sacrifices for Catherine ‘I took out my own mouth to give it to her’ clearly when it comes to his family Eddie puts other people before himself this is also evident as he allows Marco and Rodolfo, people he has never met before, to stay illegally at his home. Later in the play there are clues about his true feelings for example when Catherine lights Eddie’s cigar she does it eagerly saying ‘here! I’ll light it for you’ the cigar is a phallic image and hints Eddie’s subconscious desire for Catherine as it gives him unusual pleasure. Eddie is unaware of his attraction to Catherine so his feelings are manifested in hatred towards Marco and Rodolfo. Eddie’s dislike for Rodolfo is displayed almost immediately after they arrive as ‘he is coming more and more addressed to Marco only’ this suggests that Eddie has no intentions of getting to know Rodolfo as he feels threatened by him. Miller builds up the aggressive nature of Eddie’s behaviour and also how quickly he establishes how volatile he can be. In the middle of Rodolfo’s song the playwright shows us how unsettled Eddie is when the stage directions indicate that ‘Eddie rises and moves upstage’. When he interrupts Rodolfo he is very sharp. At no point does he use his name but instead calls him ‘kid’. Superficially it seems he is preventing him from singing for his own safety but already the reader is aware that there is something more bubbling under the surface, especially when Miller tells us that Eddie’s face is ‘puffed with trouble’. The shocking actions of Eddie when he kisses both Catherine and Rodolfo shows further evidence of their love for one another as Catherine screams ‘Eddie! Let go, ya hear me! I’ll kill you! Leggo of him’ here we can see that the love between Catherine and Rodolfo is much stronger than that of Eddie and Beatrice, and how it is taking over from Catherine’s affection for Eddie. At the beginning of ‘A View from the Bridge’ Eddie and Beatrice are presented as having a loving and close relationship. It is when in Act 4 Eddie is waiting for outside his apartment for Catherine and Rodolfo to arrive home that Beatrice is blunt with him and says ‘when am I gonna be a wife again, Eddie’ it shows us she doesnt feel like his wife because he is distracted by Catherine, it also suggests they dont sleep together as husband and wife. Beatrice is a good woman and a good wife. She tries to warn Eddie against his feelings for Catherine but it shows us that he cant do anything about them so therefore is basically doomed. At the end, there is reconciliation between Eddie and B when they come together and share their love with Eddies dying words ‘Then why – Oh, B!’ this is Eddies eventual realisation of his love for B. Eddie’s betrayal not only comes a shock to the audience but is incredibly ironic as in his previous dialogue Eddie retold the story of Vinny Bolzano and said to Catherine ‘ you think I’m blowing steam here’ this shows that Eddie thinks its unimaginable for someone to betray their own family. He gives his opinion and says ‘Him? You’ll never see him no more a guy do a thing like that? How’s he gonna show his face? Here Eddie is disgusted even by the consideration of telling on a fellow Italian. It also shows that he feels strongly about the ‘Italian law’ which makes it more surprising when he goes against it as it suggests that his incestuous feelings for Catherine turned him into a complete different person. Miller presents Eddie as a respectable image in the community, a husband and a guardian. Eddie feeling as a jealous lover leads him into conflict with his community. He placed his desires above family responsibilities. His respect and honour meant everything for him , but he was blinded by his love for Catherine, so everything else was forgotten. Eddie dies for, not that of the community values but for his own pride.

The Ongoing Objectification Of Women Cultural Studies Essay

The Ongoing Objectification Of Women Cultural Studies Essay Men look, women are looked at, said John Berger in his seminal 1972 documentary series Ways of Seeing, and in this one sentence, Berger summarised the relationship between men and women, and the objectification of women by men. From Susannah being looked at by the Elders, to Manets Luncheon on the Grass, women in art have been continually portrayed as not only objects of desire, but objects to be owned. One might like to think that feminism, and women, have come a long way, not only from the bra-burning days of the 60s and 70s, and the power-suited days of the 80s, that saw women in positions of power in the city, and in politics; even from the days of early suffrage. Yet one has only to look at a daily newspaper, a womans magazine, a Hollywood movie, let alone a mans magazine, to realise that the objectification of women is as rampant (and I use that word deliberately) as it has ever been. Even in the world of High Art, paintings such as Lucien Freuds of a pregnant Kate Moss still portray woman as something that can be looked at, desired, owned. One would most definitely like to think that women have come a long way since Rousseau stated, in typically succinct fashion, that the doll is the peculiar amusement of the females; from whence we see their taste plainly adapted to their destination. One presumes Rousseau was talking about baby dolls, little girl dolls, to be played with and dressed up in pretty clothes, to sit quietly, prettily and well dressed in a corner, unobejcting and unobjectionable, good practise not only for motherhood but womanhood; but he could equally as well have been talking about that most contemporary of dolls, the Barbie curvaceous, well dressed and pretty, with a wardrobe of clothes that would enable her to follow any career, from astronaut to vet, sexy but sexless, epitomised by the most recent addition to the sisterhood, Burqa Barbie, so that all girls feel represented in a globalised 21st century. All girls that are curvaceous and well dressed, pretty and sexless and quiet, anyway. Mary Wollstonecraft, the mother of European feminism, believed that as long as men saw women as trophy wives, and took mistresses, that the oppression of women should continue, yet she did not solely blame men, believing also that women were complicit in their own objectification, and referring to them as clay figures to be moulded by men. Girls, Wollstonecraft believed, were enslaved to men through their social training. With the coming of post-feminism, one could hope that women had finally broken this male-oriented patriarchal perception of them, but it seems in fact to be the reverse. Young women expose more and more of themselves, stating that they are in control, and they may show as much flesh as they wish in this post-feminist world, but one cannot help but think that Wollstonecraft was right women still base their worth on how much a man values them, and on precious little else. Barbie may be a 21st century astronaut, but unless she is busty and beautiful, Ken will not be i nterested, and Barbie will be worthless, both in her own eyes and those of society. In this essay, I propose to explore how feminism and post feminism have influenced my development as an artist, and to question how the medias continued portrayal of women as a commodity has affected other contemporary artists, both positively and negatively. The goal of feminism, said an early spokeswoman, was to change the nature of art itself, to transform culture in sweeping and permanent ways by introducing into it the heretofore suppressed perspective of women. Barbie as a symbol of woman as object can be found not only in contemporary art, but also in contemporary literature; she has moved into everyday speech as a contemptuous comment on glamorous women (Shes nothing but a Barbie doll! is a derisive criticism aimed at a woman perceived to be beautiful but dumb, ironic when one considers how it is precisely this image that is being sold to us by the media!) Mattel may market Barbie as a modern career girl, far more independent than the original 1950s clothes horse, but is she as complicit in the objectification of modern women as Mary Wollstonecraft stated over 200 years ago? The London based photographer Alex Kliszynski would seem to agree with Wollstonecraft, and has directly questioned such attitudes in a body of work that combines the imagery of pornography with Barbie dolls. (http://areyoushaved.net/2009/10/art-culture-nude-human-barbie-dolls/) The instant reaction of the spectator is one of revulsion, a feeling that something is not right. Such a highly sexualised childs toy is obscene, but maybe that is the intended point of the artwork? Barbie is the ultimate commodified, sexist, male-fantasy view of what women should look like. She has a tiny waist, long legs, and enormous breasts. However, oddly, if you think about it, this highly sexualized body actually lacks sexual parts, or the parts of the body we would see if she were fully nude. She has no vagina. Her breasts have no nipples. In addition, Action Man, an idealized, sexualized male specimen, has no penis and no scrotum. By placing a sexless doll in a lascivious and crude position that should show all the sexual organs but doesnt, Kliszynski is making a comment on the dehumanising of women (and men) by media led objectification; it is his intention to call attention to that disconnection , to make the viewers aware of the sexualized images of women and men that Bar bie and Action Man dolls trade in. However, I think there is another, yet more sinister, way of reading Kliszynskis art work. The dolls are a monstrous combination of human and plastic; even the title of the work is Human Barbie Dolls, suggesting an abnormal mixture of the two. It is possible to understand Kliszynskis piece as a comment on the modern phenomena of body dysmorphia, a disorder that causes a person to believe there is something terribly wrong with an aspect of their face or body, and which often leads them into a series of cosmetic surgeries. Kliszynskis human Barbies symbolise this body dysmorphic tendency prevalent in so much of (western) society, this desire to turn the human body into a work of art, a perfection of flesh and plastic to match the abnormal perception of idealised beauty encouraged by the media. In her poem, Barbie Doll, Marge Piercy makes much the same point: This girlchild was born as usual and presented dolls that did pee-pee and miniature GE stoves and irons and wee lipsticks the color of cherry candy. Then in the magic of puberty, a classmate said: You have a great big nose and fat legs. She was healthy, tested intelligent, possessed strong arms and back, abundant sexual drive and manual dexterity. She went to and fro apologizing. Everyone saw a fat nose on thick legs. She was advised to play coy, exhorted to come on hearty, exercise, diet, smile and wheedle. Her good nature wore out like a fan belt. So she cut off her nose and her legs and offered them up. In the casket displayed on satin she lay with the undertakers cosmetics painted on, a turned-up putty nose, dressed in a pink and white nightie. Doesnt she look pretty? everyone said. Consummation at last. To every woman a happy ending. Both Kliszynski and Piercy have recognised the detrimental effect on the mental and physical health of women (and men) of societys objectification of the human body. By constantly portraying an idealised myth of not just the body but the very role of women in society, the media (and sections of the art world) have created a culture which views the body in its natural human state as somehow wrong and abnormal. Equally, both Kliszynski and Piercy have recognised the complicity of women in this culture; the girl in the poem is healthy and intelligent, born as usual, presumably normal in all respects, and yet she accepts the truth of her low value in society because she is not perceived as physically perfect. Only in death, with her nose cut off and a cosmetically enhanced putty nose in place instead, can she be seen as pretty. Her value as a strong and useful member of society is non-existent in a world that refuses to see past her face. Kliszynski himself has said that the main body of my work is a number of human-dolls that aim to raise questions about the numerous images of the objectified and idealised body that we see in the mass mediaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦I came to make this work as a reaction to the lowest-common-denominator approach to masculinity taken by the media which serves and perpetuates the lad or raunch elements of our culture. Curiously this lad/raunch culture seems also to be embraced by many young women; a phenomenon which seems contrary to a properly progressive understanding of gender and identity in a post-feminist era. (http://lostinasupermarket.com/2010/09/barbie-porn-seriously/) Lad magazines such as Maxim, Stuff and various other UK-based magazines intended for teenage boys and young men are notorious for endorsing a highly commodified view of the world men and boys are encouraged to buy lots of bling like cars, stereo components and expensive suits etc. By their very placement in such magazines, in glamorous soft-porn poses, female models become as much merchandise as the gadgets featured in the articles; and as the reader must own the right phone to attain status, so he must have the right woman. Yet this attitude of the body as commodity is ironically trapping men as much as women, and both sexes are in a crisis of identity. Men are met on a daily basis with conflicting images of themselves, from the traditional Action Man role of husband, father, provider, patriarch, to the more sensitive, metro sexual Ken, whose status, like that of Barbie, is defined by how he looks and what he owns. This crisis is as important for men as for women; statistics show that young male suicides are increasing, there is a high rise in cases of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in males, crime statistics are rising, divorce rates are going through the roof, and with mothers routinely given custody of the children even the role of fatherhood itself has come into question, exacerbated by the rising number of fertility clinics and the ability for women to so easily be single parents. Role models such as Ken and Action Man are without doubt as harmful to young men as a role model such as Barbie can be to young women. No longer seen as breadwinners, or the head of the family in a patriarchal society, men are frequently represented in the media by characters such as Homer Simpson, a chauvinistic, ignorant man who is depicted as very lazy and obsessed with food; his son Bart, often cruel to his sister, is discourteous and ill behaved. He alternative is often portrayed as Ken, an idealized, de-sexualized male with only the acquisition of material items his goal, fast cars and fashion his only interests. Even television shows like Sex and the City imply that men are just there for the sexual gratification of women. It portrays men as tactless, stupid beings that are only there for female entertainment and pleasure. These negative portrayals are as damaging to both genders as the comparative attitudes to women, rooted as they are in gender objectification and the denial of identity. Alternatively, could we welcome this shake-up of traditional gender images? Could it not be that multiplicities of roles are now establishing themselves in modern society? Toys such as Action Man often stereotype men in aggressive roles, and this convention has been questioned in the work of Susan Hiller, who explores social conditioning and attitudes to childhood in her work Punch and Judy. Punch and Judy looks closely at the brutality of slapstick comedy. First filming segments of live Punch and Judy shows the artist then transposed these images on the walls of a square room inviting the viewer to stand in the room with the puppets images looming over them, the puppets acting out violently as so often seen in their performances. Hiller examines how such stereotypical role-play in toys reinforces the assumptions placed on boys and men and how they should act in society. Where feminism fought against such patriarchal, capitalist belief systems, post-feminism seems to be buying right into the raunch culture that Kliszynski highlights. I would define Raunch culture as the whole juvenile, laddish culture that includes the lads magazines as well as strip clubs, prostitution and the celebration of prostitution, highly sexualized adverts and a general attitude that whats best about female empowerment is that more men get to see more women naked. Berger referred to it as the male gaze, Kliszynski as raunch culture, but I believe they are very similar, and it seems to be embraced by many young women, who accept whole-heartedly the entire condescending nonsense of girl power. According to Wollstonecraft, men have widened what should be merely a biological gap of physical differences into a sociological gap: But not content with this natural pre-eminence, men endeavour to sink us still lower, merely to render us alluring objects for the moment. Women, it follows, cannot help but be intoxicated by the adoration which men, under the influence of their senses, pay them. Has Barbie, in representing the most materialistic aspects of modern day culture, encouraging a stereotypical image of womanhood, become a remorseless goddess of modern society? A doll without any social conscience (or conscious), reliant solely on material belongings to bring her happiness, worshipped by millions, representative of a culture that objectifies and vilifies women, no aspect of her suggests any form of spirituality, or higher morality. When Mary Wollstonecraft accused women of their own complicity in this stereotypical view of their gender she caused ripples of anger and irritation down the centuries. How could a so-called feminist turn on her own sex with such accusations? And yet, when one takes the time to think about it, one can see how right she was. Girls play with Barbie dolls bought for them by mothers and aunts, and will, to echo Rousseau, grow up to give Barbie dolls to their daughters, thus fulfilling their destiny. They are complicit in the encouragement of stereotypical values. But what is the alternative? A girl may play with the stereotypical toys of girlhood such as dollies and prams, all pink and sparkly, mass marketed products imposed on them by a performative oriented society, or she may play with the male version of such consumer items, Action Man, cars, trains, guns . . . But what message is actually being sent? If a girl plays with Barbie dolls, she is viewed with contempt for being a typical girl; if she plays with stereotypical boys toys, she attains value in the eyes of society, for being more like a boy. No matter what she does, Barbie girl can never achieve social value by being a girl, and post-feminism has been complicit in such social values. Consuming Passions  was published in the 80s, author Judith Williamsons theory is hardly common knowledge, most likely because it is threatening. She deduces that, contrary to the ideal posed by Mattel and  Barbie, the desirable shape for a woman . . . is that of a  boy.   The highly idealised Barbie has not been without competitors, however. In 1998, Anita Roddick started an Anti-Barbie campaign, under the guise of self -esteem. Roddick started marketing posters of a doll called Ruby: The Real Deal, with posters in the UK shops she owned, all depicting images of the generously proportioned doll with the attached slogan: There are 3 billion women who dont look like supermodels and only 8 who do. With the intention of challenging stereotypes of beauty and countering the pervasive influence of the cosmetics industry, and with a tongue in cheek approach, the underlying message was far more serious and could easily be applied to the stereotypical image of woman and the way western culture objectifies women. Ruby started a worldwide debate about body image and self-esteem, but she was not universally loved. In the United States, the toy company Mattel sent a cease-and-desist order, demanding the images of Ruby were removed from American shop windows because she was making Barbie look bad, an admission surely, that Barbies impossible to achieve figure was detrimental to girls in comparison to the more realistic Ruby? In Hong Kong, posters of Ruby were banned on the MTR (Mass Transit Railway) because the authorities were concerned they would offend passengers. Like Barbie, Ruby was a de-sexualised toy, having no nipples, genitalia or pubic hair; other advertisements on the MTR whic h showed surgically enhanced, partially dressed female models, were allowed to stay. It is hard not to jump to the conclusion that it was the realistic portrayal of the female body that was offensive (and to whom? the male commuters?); in a world where the female body is perceived to be a purchasable status symbol, the male buyers were presumably offended by the depreciation in value of their idealised fantasy. Feminist artist Helen Chadwick (1954-1996) made many works that dealt directly with the role and image of women in society. In Ego Geometria Sum:The Laborers X created in 1984, she had large replicas of childrens wooden bricks transposed with images of her naked self. One may read many meanings into this artwork: is Chadwick struggling with the weight of her own image? By superimposing her naked image onto a childs brick, is she suggesting that she is nothing but a plaything, a toy? She appears to compare herself to a troll doll, held by the hair in a disembodied fist with an inane grin on its face. The troll doll is ugly and deformed looking, and Chadwick is implying that this is how society views her, and womanhood in general, from childhood onwards, if one does not conform to how society wishes one to be. All is not without hope though; Chadwick also portrays a door on one side of the brick, suggestive not only of closure, but also of the potential to open, to allow something in, or something out; a means of escape. As a Jungian archetype, the door also is representative of the feminine, with all the implications of a symbolic opening. In this artwork, is Chadwick exploring issues of entrapment and escape? Several of her works address the role and image of women in society using a wide range of materials, such as flowers, chocolate and meat. She questioned the role of the female body in art as a decorative object; just as decorative and aesthetic ideas about art themselves had been questioned in the 20th century. In 1990, she worked again on themes of sexual identity and gender with her Cibachrome transparencies entitled Eroticism which depict two brains side by side. On the surface, this is yet another apparently simple, if stunning, piece of work, but like the brain itself, this piece contains a multiplicity of layers, waiting to be explored and teased out. The work shows two brains, side by side, mirroring each other. On the sides adjoining, the brains are enlivened by what appears to be blue sparks, or flashes, suggesting brain activity. According to The Wordsworth Dictionary of Symbolism, blue is the colour of the intellect, and of spirituality; it is the medium of truth. In Eroticism, Chadwick is playing with the idea of a meeting of two minds, an attraction based on the intellect and the emotions. Yet we also associate the colour blue with something a little bit naughty, a bit risque, like a blue movie, and I would suggest that Chadwick was also bearing in mind the idea that the brain is often referred to as the largest sexual organ in the body. For Chadwick, in this piece at least, it is the attraction of two people based on a meeting of i ntellect and commonality that is important, not the outward appearance so vital to society. In the 1790s, when Mary Wollstonecraft was writing A Vindication of The Rights of Women , she argued for the need for more civil rights for women, a cause which she believed could only be achieved by permitting women a better education. She argued that a woman was capable of any intellectual feat that a man was provided with and that her early training should not brainwash her into deference to men. Wollstonecraft believed that men discourage women from achieving the same education that they receive routinely, and as long as women are denied this education, they can never hope to achieve equality with men. She builds on this lack of equal education for women in her argument adding that all men (contemporary to her) have a general lack of respect. Two hundred years later, in the 1970s, women were still fighting to achieve this basic level of respect and equality in the academic and artistic worlds, and it was the 1970s that saw the beginnings of a new art movement, the Contemporary Feminist Art Movement. The movement was inspired by demands for social, economic and political change and by the desire of female artists to try and force art galleries and museums to establish a fair representation of their work; there were very few female art teachers at that time, though the majority of students were female. It was common and widely accepted for art exhibitions to contain the works of men only, women being discriminated against openly, with some having to face the double discriminatory blow of also being black. Faith Ringgold (b.1930), an American artist, was told she could only exhibit in the museums devoted to African American art after all the black male artists had had their shows. By the 1970s, feminists and artists had started forming consciousness awareness groups that demonstrated at galleries and museums to expose some of these sexist practices, and opened galleries together for more exposure of their works. With feminist artists wanting to go further than equal representation, their works were often full of political and social content crying out for political change. The womens movement in America had one such artist by the name of Judy Chicago. Born in 1939, Chicago often reflected on issues relating to the lack of female representation in her work, saying Because we are denied knowledge of our history, we are deprived of standing upon each others shoulders and building upon each others hard earned accomplishments. Many female artists voiced these opinions at that time, wishing to transform traditional fine art and sculpture to include feminist awareness, with many exploring the female body with the intention of reclaiming the sexualised images that had been created by the male artist that preceded them. Chicagos piece Dinner Party called out for both art critics and establishments (and the Establishment?) To readdress the fact that so many female artists had been and were being excluded from art history texts used to educate the (largely female) art students currently attending the art education. This large work depicts a banquet, the settings embroidered representations of the vulva in a style appropriate to the women being represented, women Chicago wished to honour, with a further 999 women engraved in gold on the floor tiles. The geometric shape of this piece is fascinating, with the table laid out at a triangle, representing the tri-partite nature of women, the maiden, the mother and the crone. Indeed, an upside down triangle has long been used in paganism to represent the feminine. This work has gone a long way in encouraging women artists to reclaim their identity in representing the female form, and readdress the frequent degradation of female genitalia previously represented in male-created art. The Dutch artist Christina Camphausen (b. 1953) is another example of a female artist intent on reclaiming for women the representation of the female genitalia, publishing a book of her work with the vulva as sole subject. Entitled Yoni Portraits, it is filled with delicate drawings revealing the vulva in all its beauty and variety, images that are sometimes realistic and sometimes symbolic. Taken from ancient Sanskrit, the word Yoni refers to the vulva and womb and better describes femininity than its clinical counterpart (vagina) or its crude pornographic variants (cunt); in Indias sacred language it carries an inherent respect for this intimate part of a womans body which is lacking in English. In the books accompanying texts, the artist makes clear that there is nothing about the Yoni to be ashamed of. Rather, it is a body-part which in many cultures has had very different connotations of power, beauty, fertility and delight. Of her motivation, Christina says: With my work, I endeavour to assist in restoring the Yoni to her rightful and original place of honour, and to induce everyone to regard her with respect, to recognize her beauty and magical power. Though the last decades make it seem that our modern societies are sexually liberated, there still rests a taboo on this intimate part of our bodies. In general, women enjoy more freedom than they used to have, yet it surely is no advance in self-determination that many contemporary women have their intimate, lower lips corrected in order to conform to some artificial standard prescribed by cosmetic surgeons or professional nude models in glossy magazines. To make artwork with the vagina as your subject is still a very brave act, as it is a subject that is often considered inappropriate and generally thought of within the context of pornography, and, in almost all cases, for the exclusive pleasure of men. Many feminists have attempted to remove these prurient connotations by encouraging us to consider vaginas, something not to be ashamed of, but as powerful and expressive components to be proudly protected as an assertive and positive manifestation of our being. Exhibitions are now starting to show that this has changed dramatically in recent years, with many artists who have incorporated imagery of the Vagina in their works exhibiting together. One such exhibition, organized by Francis M. Naumann and David Nolan, and entitled The Visible Vagina took place on January 28, 2010 at the David Nolan Gallery in New York and included artworks by people ranging from Judy Chicago and Nancy Grossman to Robert Mapplethorpe and Pablo Picasso. The most interesting aspect for me is that there was such a strong male presence in the exhibition, and indeed it was arranged by men, a potent sign of how things have progressed. The most striking work in the exhibition for myself has to be the work of Sarah Davis and the piece Britney (Notorious), for amongst over one hundred artworks, very few of which objectify women or suggest a salacious use of imagery, this piece, a painting identical to a paparazzi-type photograph taken of the music star, hovers between art and porn; indeed, in its representation of both, it beggars the question of how art and porn can be addressed within feminist issues. If we accept that art is intended to stimulate the spectator on many levels, academically and emotionally, and that porn is needed to stimulate on a purely sexual level, I wonder how this transformation from paparazzi photograph and all the connotations of furtiveness, spying and secretiveness to painting can alter ones perception. I would like to believe that the artist who views Britney Spears as a strong, confident, self-made woman is a feminist who has staged the initial photograph to reclaim her identity by exposing her vagina just as in Yoni Portraits, believing there is nothing to be ashamed of by showing the power, beauty, fertility and delight this body part represents. Often in the media gaze, Spears is used as an example to criticise young women today, nothing but a Barbie doll. Her abilities as a mother, her career and social life are frequently held up to public scrutiny. Men that are in the public gaze however, may be criticised for their affairs, heir drug dependency, their fights etc., yet rarely for their dress code or indeed for their roles or abilities as fathers. This is a gender bias that has become commonplace and widely accepted. In addition, when Spears chose to wear a revealing dress and decorate her body with piercings and tattoos, the tabloids turned on her viciously, and accused her of mental illness when she publicly shaved her hair off. I feel though, that Spears was sending a message, via the media, about her sense of identity and her value as a woman. By shaving her hair off Spears was questioning the male perception of femaleness and femininity; she was a Rapunzel trapped by her beauty in a tower created by the male gaze. The only way to take control of the situation and to escape, was, like Rapunzel, to chop off all her hair and reassert her own identity away from social expectations and the medias critical portrayal of women. In Ways of Seeing, John Berger explores the difference between nudity and nakedness, suggesting that when one is nude, the spectator (and there must be one) merely sees the human body unclothed. When one is naked, the spectator (even if that is only oneself) sees the real ess ence of the person. Nakedness is far more intimate than nudity. When Spears cut off all her hair it was as if she had removed a disguise, and showed herself to the world fully naked, expressing her inner self. It is this aspect that Davis has picked up on in her piece of art: Britney Spears as a model of sex positive feminism, the un-Barbie goddess of post-feminism. Sex positive feminism, also known as sexually liberal feminism or sex-radical feminism began as a movement in the 1980s. Many women became involved in a direct response to the efforts of anti-porn feminists such as Andrea Dworkin, as they argued that pornography was the centre of feminist theory for womens oppression. This period is known as the feminist sex wars, a time of heated debate between anti-porn feminists and sex-positive feminists, between the notions of the sex industry as an abusive and violent environment for women and the beliefs in womens ability to choose to be highly sexual beings and raises the question of who is exploiting who? When Spears posed for a statue by American sculptor Daniel Edwards (b.1965) for the pro-life movement, she was once again steeped in the controversy of is it art or is it porn? Entitled Monument to Pro-Life this work is a full size sculpture of a naked Britney Spears in childbirth. The sculpture shows Spears on all fours on a bearskin rug, her mouth slightly open and her eyelids heavy, looking as if she is about to cry out. There is no indication of pain or pleasure; it is not at all indicative of sexual provocation or pornography. Her hands lie wrapped around either side of the head of the bear, as if she is using it to act as a medium to the spirit world communicating with the animalistic urges childbirth conjures up. Yet the media has criticised this piece, stating that: Britneys in a position that most would sooner associate with getting pregnant than with giving birth. I believe that in some ways things have deteriorated rather than progressed: the beauty industry and the porn industry, in their own sometimes-converging ways, have caused a lot of that. Going back to the early 70s, as women began to enter the workforce in larger numbers, some of that earning power was used against them by aggressive beauty product marketing. The result has been an increasing focus in the last three decades on dieting, an explosion in both sexes

Technology and Ethics as Depicted in Becketts Waiting for Godot and Vo

Technology and Ethics as Depicted in Beckett's Waiting for Godot and Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse Five After a cursory examination of present day world politics, it seems there exist no sterling examples of society's progression towards utopia, or even a higher state of tolerance or knowledge. It is not that humanity does not seek knowledge or improvement. It is not a fault that curiosity drives society's scientists to explain and improve the world beyond the realm of the philosophers. The fault lies in how easily this motive can be manipulated by the vices of greed, the propaganda of the mass media, the centuries-old, unwavering human thirst for power. It is this desire for power and profit, not the journey in creating new technologies and deducing the mechanisms of life and the universe, which becomes convoluted and thus halts the growth process, just as a biologist can halt or suspend the process of life, of dividing cells, by a simple chemical treatment of colchicine. Though the treatment of cells with a solution of colchicine is meant to preserve the cells in a state that can be studied, after this treatment they are no longer viable. They cannot continue their mitotic or meiotic divisions; they cannot continue to reproduce, to be continually studied. Theirs is a one-time-only offer. Even with this simple example some say that moral questions arise. Is it really right for humans to kill other living things, no matter how small, to further their own "understanding"? Or is this simply the price, or penance, humanity pays to be able to explain, in somewhat greater detail than was previously possible, the processes, functions, and malfunctions of life? This example, being defined only in terms of dividing ce... ...ime and energy to developing viable treatments for cancer and AIDS, we have scientists who are at the mercy of huge biotech and pharmaceutical companies. We've got scientists developing "The New Pill That Can End Aging" (Reader's Digest, November 2003) along with Viagra and Propecia, pills for impotent and balding men. Do we see a little misdirection of effort? Yes. Aging, impotence, and hair loss are not threatening an entire population with imminent death, like the AIDS epidemic in Africa. Aging and impotence have not stricken the child population like leukemia. We must start to care about what's really important, we must consider all of the body and mind as we improve technology, and we must think about its implications for future generations. At that time, technology will have been put to its fullest use and will easily go hand in hand with human values.

The Function of Desire in Relationships Between a Man and a Youth Essay

The structure and function of different types of sexual relationships were an important part of Athenian culture, and many rules and traditions formed around these relationships based on the mores of society. The male citizens were considered the most important segment of the population, and many Greek writers address the cultural conventions, ideals, and beliefs that formed around these relationships. The three main types of sexual relationships that involved a male citizen are marriage, the relationship between a young man and an older mentor, and sexual encounters with prostitutes. Plato’s Symposium, a dialog on the nature of love and desire, describes many of the beliefs that Athenians held, especially about the relationship between a man and a youth. The main focus of this paper is the ideal function and place of desire in these male with male relationships, and the benefits this particular bond held for society. The socially accepted structure of these relationships between an Athenian man and youth was characterized by pursuit and courtship on the part of the man. He was to go after an attractive youth, hoping to make him his beloved [eromenos]. The older man was expected to be the aggressive partner, pursuing the youth out of his erotic desire. In turn, the beloved was expected to be the passive partner, rejecting the man’s advances for a respectable amount of time, and then to enter the relationship to gain the older man as a mentor, not as a sexual partner. This aggressive man and passive youth structure continued into sexual acts, with the older male acting as the dominant, penetrating partner, while the younger man was the passive receptive partner. According to cultural rules, however, it was considered emascul... ...in parentage of any children the wife might give birth to after this time. In the realm of politics, a failure to serve or to fulfill ones duties was also a stain on the honor of the household and family- it is portrayed as much more public than the ideal private bond between lover and beloved. This manifestation of Celestial love benefited both the lover and beloved, as well as serving society by creating a strong bond that was characterized by its honor and virtue. This bond generated the most powerful form of loyalty a citizen man would experience, and he believes that more than any other loyalty, this love would make men honorable in battle, politics, and business in order to make their beloved proud. In turn, the beloved sought to learn form his mentor in order to become an honorable citizen and individual, eventually passing these values on to his own beloved.

Employment Relations Essay

At the most fundamental level, employment relationship involves monetary exchange where there is contract between an employer and employee to obtain the output of employee’s ability to work. (Balnave et al. 2007) This relationship can often result in either dispute or collaboration within an organization. More often than not, the different aspects of the nature of employment relationship tend to likely generate conflicts between the employers and employees. The focus would be on industrial conflict, which from time to time occurs between managers and workers, the classification of conflicts and what are some of the theories which describes the situation of industrial conflicts in Singapore. As defined by Komhauser et al., industrial conflict is ‘the total range of behaviours and attitudes that express opposition and divergent orientations between industrial owners and managers, on the one hand, and working people and their organisations on the other hand’ (1954,13). Singapore is generally noted as a peaceful country with minimal industrial conflicts. This mainly attributed to the presence of strict regulations against overt conflicts as stated in the requirements of ‘restrictions on strikes and lock-outs’ (Attorney General Chambers 2009). The presence of mediation or conciliation channel also assisted in the resolution of concerning issues. Conflicts are seen to be complicated and in Singapore, some causes or outline that are governed by theories of Industrialisation, Institutionalisation, Political, Economic and Social factors. More of these would be looked into further in this essay. Overt and Covert Conflicts Opposing behaviours and attitudes can be classified into 2 categories, namely overt conflict and covert conflict. According to Petzall et al. (2007), overt conflicts are conflicts which are planned and joint by two or more persons, thus observable by the public. Examples of such conflicts include strikes, lockouts, work to rule where employees perform only duties which are indicated in their contracts, political demonstrations and many more. Petzall et al. (2007) also mentioned that covert conflicts are conflicts which are unplanned, concerns individual and hence less observable by the public. Examples would include absenteeism, work sabotage, job-hopping where people change jobs to get better pay or pursue their personal interest as well as low work efficiency. Covert conflict is seen to prevail over overt conflict in terms of the financial losses of a business. In Singapore’s context, it would be considered illegal to have overt conflicts due to the existing strict criminal law stated in Attorney General Chambers (2009) Despite the fact that there were strict laws to adhere to, there are several channels such as Industrial Arbitration Court (IAC), Case Trust, Ministry of Manpower (MOM), National Trade Union Congress (NTUC) and more, where individuals could approach to resolve certain conflicts they experienced. For example, Sharon (2011) reported on a case of disagreement between SIA and SilkAir pilots and their company over their flight payment. The issue was referred to Industrial Arbitration Court (IAC) where the judge proposed that the company could have constant observation of the flight schedule to make sure there is fair payouts distribution. In this scenario, IAC had acted as a conciliator. The reduction of conflict in Singapore is also due to tripartism, wage reform and labour legislation. In tripartism, there is involvement of managers, employees and ‘other systems such as political, social, economic, technological, cultural and legal systems’ (Tan 2007, p.27). These parties would resolve matters in a diplomatic manner. The establishment of National Wage Council (NWC) brings about tripartism where workers’ wages are evaluated and wage reform, where there is flexibility in the wage payouts, was introduced. Tan (2004) mentioned that the benefits were studied and it was found that having flexibility enables organizations to make swift modifications to their cost computation during economic variations so as to be cost competitive. Organisations also could reduce wages during difficult time and give incentive in better times which assisted in allowing workers to stay in their job. The introduction of Employment Act also played a major role in providing regulations on the conditions of work. The use of frames of reference is a necessary and essential tool to better identify a person’s view and actions on employment relations. Fox recognized three frames of reference, namely the unitarist, pluralist and radical frames. (McCourt W.;Eldridge D.,2003) Unitarist The underlying theory of this perspective is that ‘employment relationship is based on mutual cooperation and a harmony of interest between employers and employees’ (Balnave et al. 2007, p.10) In this circumstances, the targets and objectives of the organisation are universal. Management is viewed as the only authority and managers see their power to make independent decisions of their business without being hindered by government, workers or unions. Trade unions are not embraced and are considered as interference to the harmony of the organisation. The presence of industrial conflict is regarded as having poor management or failure to lead effectively. As a result of this perception, the various interests between the management and labour were not recognised. Pluralist In this approach, conflicts are regarded as unavoidable. It recognises that organisations are made up of cluster of individuals with their own goals, interests and direction. (Balnave et al. 2007, p.11) To prevent damage of diverse interest, measures and regulations have to be in place and use, leading to the ‘institutionalisation of conflict’. This ensures that there is equal distribution of power amongst stakeholders. Trade unions are welcome as it permits employees to have a say in what concerns them in their organisation. Singapore can be seen to have more of a pluralist approach from the formation of NTUC which consists of representative of employees. These representatives are given the opportunity to voice and negotiate over the terms and condition of their employment and their opinions are also taken into consideration in the management’s decisions. NTUC branch representatives also involve themselves in collective bargaining where feedback could effectively be gathered on concerning issues. On the other hand, another trade union known as Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) was also set up to represent the employers’ interest. Radical/Marxist It consists of a wider scope as compared to unitarist and pluralist viewpoint. This perception involves society being segmented into different status where there is unfair allocation of power between those who has financial capabilities and those who can only offer their labour. The status difference caused the incompatibility between employers and employees. (Balnave et al. 2007, p.11) Singapore Industrial Relations System Anantaraman (1990) suggested that Singapore’s economy is made up of industrial relations system and production system. Both systems are in reliant of one another as the consequences of the industrial relations system would result in the contribution of the production system. Industrialisation Industrialisation has often been associated with industrial conflict. Ross and Hartman (1960) mentioned that the type of strikes of a particular country is connected to the country’s industrial relation system. This theory maps out four patterns, namely North European (type 1), North European (type 2), Mediterranean/Asian and North American. Singapore could probably be classified under North European (type 1) where the government has been actively engaging its interest in the economy of Singapore. There have been continuous efforts by the government to attract more and more foreign talent. Ramesh (2011) quoted what former Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said that, ‘Singapore would not be able to punch above its own weight if it were to depend on talent from its own population’. As technology progresses, the stress placed on workers for major scale and non-stop productions increases the likelihood of industrial conflict. (Woodward 1958) This again could be due to Marxist perspective where workers with lower status could only provide their labour output as they do not have any capital and those who has the capital would maximise these labour’s output for high profits. Institutionalisation Wright Mills (1948) recognised that there are four phases where institutionalisation is related to the pattern of conflict. The first phase is where trade unions are against the negotiation prerogative of businesses and the focus is on individuals. It is unplanned and can be aggressive. The second phase involves businesses restructuring themselves into associations to oppose the rising authority of trade unions. As a result, the bargaining outline became more national and industry based, converting conflicts into a more organised manner. Third phase went on to become an effective mediating stage while the trade unions’ viewpoints are overruled diplomatically in the fourth phase. At the last phase, trade unions developed tactics to advance into institutions, involving the workers to be part of the economy. They also engage themselves in conflict resolution and labour contracts. For the case of Singapore, NTUC has been strengthening ties with other businesses and unions such as National Taxi Association, Cathay Cineplexes Food & Drinks Allied Workers’ Union and Housing and Development Board Staff Union. NTUC has also been participating enthusiastically in collective bargaining assembly. Ciegg (1976) also mentioned that the more thorough the difference of opinion reconciled with collective bargaining, the lesser strikes would occur. According to Wright Mills (1948), trade unions and business associations are formed to counteract each other. This led to the nation’s participation where trade unions becomes engage in politics and in turn affects the government policies. Political Factors Conflict is determined by the sharing of political power distribution. Singapore’s trade union has a unique relationship with the government, People’s Action Party (PAP) as most of the members within PAP used to be part of the union. Halimah Yacob being the Deputy Secretary General of NTUC and a Minister would attend cabinet conference and address worker’s issues. As such, this helped in the reduction of conflicts. It is cited by Korpi and Shalev (1979) that the greater admittance to the government contributes to lesser occurrence of conflict. Economic Factors As indicated by Paldham and Pederson (1982), the changing models of conflicts are due to adjustments of wage present in variety of workers. It is researched by Smith et al. (1978) that there are four factors namely amount of income, labour concentration, organisation size and dominance of women in workforce determine the differences in conflict. Those who earn high income in Singapore vie for better income. There is also a significant increase in women joining the workforce according to statistics produced. (Ministry of Manpower 2011) Social Factors Notwithstanding to economic factors, social factors also play a part in ensuring minimal conflict. Mayo (1933) explained that while worker’s economic needs are met and the social needs are not met, there would be high possibility of conflict and presence of low spirits in the workplace. One aspect of social needs would consist of communication. NTUC promotes its dedication to be one which has open communications in the workplace, free from prejudice regardless of any type of individuals. Conclusion Several theories have been discussed pertaining to the causes of industrial conflict. There are many more theories surrounding the area of industrial conflict and it differs in different countries depending on the industrial systems and the governance present. It would be impossible for a country or any organization not to have any conflicts. However, Singapore can be considered successful in handling overt conflicts as shown through the legislation in place and also a variety of mediation or conciliation bodies such as NTUC, IAC or MOM which are available for different employees or employers to approach. Finally, there has to be active listening and pro-activeness by the government on dealing with the burning issues occurring constantly as time progress so that conflicts can remain manageable. Reference Anantaraman, V. 1900, Singapore Industrial Relations System, Linographic Services Pte Ltd, Singapore Attorney General Chambers, 2009, Illegal Strikes And Lock-outs in Essential Services, Singapore, viewed 18 February 2012, Balnave,N., Brown,J., Maconachie,G. and Stone,R. 2007, Employment relations in Australia, John Wiley and Sons, Milton, Qld Ministry of Manpower. 2011, Singapore Workforce, 2011, MRSD, Singapore, viewed 20 February 2012, Petzall, S, Abbott, K and Timo, N, 2007, Australian industrial relations in an Asian context, 3rd ed, Eruditions Publishing, Cowes Victoria Ramesh, S. 2011, ‘S’pore cannot do without foreign talent: Ex-MM Lee’, 22 July, viewed 18 February 2012, Sharon, S. 2011, ‘IAC rejects pilots’ proposal on flight allowance’, 21 October, viewed 23 February 2012, Tan Soo San 2004, Wage Reform And Tripartism: A Test of Trust at Work, Centre for Governance And Leadership, Singapore, viewed 25 February 2012,

Physical and Chemical Properties Essay

Purpose: The Physical and Chemical Properties lab provides the opportunity to investigate the physical and chemical properties of pure chemical substances and analyze the experiment results. Procedure: In the beginning of the experiment, I filled two 24-well plates half way with the given chemicals and sucked up these chemicals into their labeled pipets for later use. Following this, I performed a number of steps on each of the four test tubes and recorded observations of the different substances including odor, color, reaction to heat, the effects on the red and blue litmus paper and HCI reactions. Observations: As most of the observations are noted on the table above, it is a fair assumption that all of these substances went through some sort of change whether it was a chemical or physical change except for Zinc. This may be because I had dropped my Zinc sample and had a tough time retrieving the contents but never the less; it had very little to no reaction to the tests. Also, regarding the boiling point and melting point of different substances; some had no reaction at all. Questions: Did you observer any chemical changes in this experiment? Yes, Litmus paper is an example of chemical solely and was effected by all the substances except for Zn. What evidence did you use to decide that something was a chemical change? Chemical compounds of the litmus paper reacted with the chemical compounds of the substance tested to create a new compound resulting in a change of color of the litmus paper. No evidence was visibly seen when MgO Mg(OH)2. Give at least two examples of chemical changes you observed. One example was the reaction on the litmus paper and the second example was Magnesium oxide’s change into Magnesium hydroxide when introduced to water. Classify the following properties of sodium metal as physical or chemical †¢ Silver metallic color: Physical †¢ Turns gray in air: Physical †¢ Melts at 98oC: Physical †¢ Reacts explosively with chlorine gas: Chemical Classify the following changes as physical or chemical †¢ Water freezes at 0oC: Physical †¢ Baking soda when combined with vinegar produces bubbles: Chemical †¢ Mothballs gradually disappear at room temperature: Physical †¢ Ice cubes in a freezer get smaller with time: Physical †¢ Baking soda loses mass as it is heated: Physical †¢ Tarnishing of silver: Chemical F. How would you show that dissolving table salt is a physical change? By boiling the water and using a distillation process to extract the pure salt. Once all water is retracted, you can see that the salt never went through a chemical change. Conclusions: By conducting this lab, it can be seen that physical and chemical changes are an everyday occurrence among many different substances. Using prepared lab techniques, we can make qualitative observations on the appearance, smell, and reactions of different substances. The Physical and Chemical Properties lab provides the opportunity to investigate the physical and chemical properties of pure chemical substances and analyze the experiment results within the guiding principles and techniques. By doing so, the following can be learned though the experiment: Chemical properties describe the tendencies of a substance to undergo chemical change and physical properties commonly used to characterize pure substances are color, odor, hardness, density, melting point, boiling point, and solubility in various solvents.

What Makes a Good Parent

To my mind, the right answer to the question â€Å"What makes a good parent† is not easily obtainable. You should spend a lot of time in contemplation before reaching to it. And still there is no guarantee that finally you will get it. Since many people have different opinions on raising a child there may be thousands absolutely different answers to one and the same question, a rather tricky one, I would say. To tell you the truth, after I asked myself the same question, several things went through my mind. What kind of parent will I be?How will I raise a child? Can I be a good parent? What turns ordinary people into good parents? Panic overtook me and I felt an overwhelming desire to rush to the local bookstore to purchase loads of parenting books and magazines to learn how to become a good parent or call to my mom. But, after thorough thinking I looked at the problem with fresh mind. First of all it’s quite normal to wonder how good a parent you are. Perhaps you're wo rried that going out to work or being a lone parent will affect your child (if the situation is such).You may worry about whether you're being firm enough, or whether you're giving your children what they need. We all hope to get it right and give a good balance of loving care and clear boundaries. Secondly, people are not born with good parenting skills; Parenting is a skill that is learned over a period of time. A good parent learns from their environment and passes what they have learned down to their children. Thirdly, a good parent is a person who is patient, kind, considerate, understanding, and helpful, a good listener, and a disciplinarian at the proper times.Wisdom and patience are always helpful, too. Sometimes all you need to do is listen, while at other times you might have to step in and take action. And moreover, parents have their special healing powers – a kiss and calm words can soothe cuts, bruises and disappointments, (this very point I remember from my own experience, while being a child). Parenting is a twenty-four hour a day job. Anyone who has been there will tell you that it can be absolutely chaotic at times. This is when your good parenting skills are developed to their fullest potential.Being a parent means creating a loving, safe environment for your children as they grow from baby to toddler, right through to the teenage years. You'll need different skills for each stage, but at all times your child will depend on you. You'll become the expert on your child and on what they need to grow into happy, healthy adults. Loving your child, with no strings attached, is the most important thing you can do. But you'll also have to make a huge number of decisions about the best way to bring up your child. This responsibility brings joy and excitement, but it can also be overwhelming, frustrating or even boring at times.Most people manage these emotional and practical challenges with a mixture of love, help from relatives and friends, g ood advice, common sense and just luck. To my personal viewpoint, the first step in becoming a good parent is to realize that you are not perfect. No one is. You are going to make mistakes, some big, some small. The important thing is to realize what the mistake is and not repeat it. There's no one right way to parent and no perfect parent out there with all the answers. We all make mistakes. We all make bad decisions. There are times that we want to be selfish and put ourselves before our children.The sign of a good parent is one that chooses to make their decisions with their children involved. True, there are some guiding ideas – all children need love and affection, to be kept safe and given limits on how they act, to be warm, fed, clothed and to have the opportunity to learn. To tell you the truth the best resource for successful child rearing is our own parents. For example, we should ask ourselves these questions; †¢ How did my parent raise me? †¢ Do I have g ood morals and values? †¢ Did I have a happy childhood? †¢ What method of discipline was used? †¢ How attentive were my parents?These are very important questions, and when we answer these questions, one or more of the answers may be negative. However, this is where common sense takes over. There will be things about the way we were raised that we liked and disliked. The areas that we did not like about the way we were raised can be turned around when we raise our own children. This is how, I think, we can develop into a good parent. Right now I would like to give some tips on how to become a good, loving parent. To tell you the truth, I am a little bit afraid to sound superficial, as I am not a parent yet. But, from another ide, I had enough experience of being a child. So, now when I am in my early twenties I can evaluate the way I was brought up by my parents. It is true, the older we are – the more we can understand our parents. Well, let’s pass on t o the tips: †¢ Recognize your child for the individual that they are. No two children are alike, and even though they may resemble you, they are not you. You may have a child that loves sports and one that can’t stand to be outdoors. We should consider the individuality of each child as a blessing and pursue ways to expand on that. †¢ Discipline your child.That is not to say that you have to spank your child or beat them unmercifully. Choose the method that works best for your child. You are the adult in your relationship and should be the master manipulator. †¢ Be involved in the schooling. Ask questions regarding how your child is performing and interacting with other students. Make sure that you are checking homework, but not doing it for the child. Ask your child questions about his/her day and find out what he likes and dislikes about his learning experience. †¢ Celebrate the small things in a positive way. A good parent: Shows a child consistent and loving discipline.Is supportive, excited and interested in what the child is doing (and wants to do). Allows a child to dream big dreams Teaches a child how to communicate in constructive, loving ways. Teaches a child how to deal with fear. Knows that the child's safety and well-being comes first. Does hard things if it will help the family. Is willing to learn from others — including the child. Knows when to let a child become an adult. Doesn't ever stop trying to become a better parent. It goes without saying, being a good parent is a hard demanding task, but at the same time so interesting and fascinating.Being a parent means passing all the stages of your child formation, such as the early hours of the morning when small children are refusing to sleep or teenagers are still out having fun. And what is more, at all these stages you must possess different skills and be an expert for your child; that is where high tolerance and endless patience are needed. The message I want to put across to the reader is that a loving, safe environment for our children as they grow from baby to toddler, right through to the teenage years is the best tool in upbringing a complete individual with his own self.The love of a family is life's greatest blessing. A great responsibility lies on parents, as it is they who are guarantors of protection, positive emotions and safety. Being a parent will probably be the most rewarding thing you'll ever do – and the toughest responsibility. The joy of holding your newborn baby as he or she looks at the world for the first time can be magical. To my mind, having a child opens you up to emotions that are almost impossible to imagine in advance. And one more thing we should remember for ever, when we feel confident and positive, our children are more likely to feel that way, too.

Persecution of the Early Church, Pax Romana, and Heresies in Monophysitism Summaries of Three Scholarly Journal’s

Persecution of the Early Church explain some of the how, when and why’s of the early church prosecutions. â€Å"Reasons of the persecution†, â€Å"History of the persecutions† and â€Å"Two Christian Responses: The Glory of Martyrdom and Apologetics† are segments within this scholarly journal. Therefore, each segment relates to persecution with in the early church, gives a list on the persecutions and touches on ten of Christianity persecutors. This article also gives an account on martyrs who died for the sake of the faith and the birthing of apologetics primary goal, defending the faith of Christianity. Pax Romana and the Rise of the Christian church,† reflects on the Gospel being spread at a time of â€Å"Roman Peace† with Christianity. This article depicts what are Pax Romana or Roman Peace and apologetics at a time when Rome allows Christians to spread the â€Å"Good News†. However, it clearly talks about Christian stay with their boundaries when spreading the gospel, there was evidence of Christian being persecuted. â€Å"The culture and Climate in Which the Gospel spread,† helps one to understand how the gospel starts to spread through evangelism starting with the Apostles and Jews being exiled out of Rome. â€Å"Catholic Answers† breakdowns the definition of Heresies in Monophysitism . Therefore, it supplies its reader with a clear understand of the topic at hand. Monophysitism originated as a reaction to Nestorianism. The Monophysites (led by a man named Eutyches) were horrified by Nestorius’s implication that Christ was two people with two different natures (human and divine). They went to the other extreme, claiming that Christ was one person with only one nature (a fusion of human and divine elements). They are thus known as Monophysites because of their claim that Christ had only one nature (Greek: mono = one; physis = nature) Catholic Answers Brom (2004). Bibliography Anonymous, â€Å"Persecution in the Early Church† Religion Facts (May 2013). http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/history/persecution.htm Bruce, Frederick F. â€Å"The Early Church in the Roman Empire.† The Bible Student 56 (March-April 1933): 30-32. â€Å"Pax Romana† Applied Apologetics http://reformed-apologetics.webs.com/ Brom Robert H., Bishop of San Diego, â€Å"The Great Heresies† Catholic Answers to Explain and Defend the Faith (August 2004) http://www.catholic.com/tracts/the-great-heresies

BP case study Essay

1. What are the main ethical issues and dilemma BP faces in this case? A project that is on a large scale faces some issues, including: There are concerns about the coating of the pipeline and the risks of leakages, in particular in Georgia, where oil spills might significantly impact the country’s strategic water resources in the Bojorni National Park. Concerns were also raised over the fact that the pipeline runs through earthquake zones, which leakages nearly inevitable or could not be avoided. Campaigners have highlighted the prospect of up to 30,000 civilians along the pipeline being at least temporarily relocated. On the political level, with civil unrest and wars in the region the pipeline passes within only a few miles of the war- torn area of Nagorno Karabakh the project had always been accompanied by considerable fears of terrorist attacks. Also there are countries which the pipelines are supposed to go very high levels of bureaucracy and corruption, as shown in the various indices. 2. How would you evaluate BP’s approach to the social, environmental and economic impacts of the project for local communities? Assess the approach from the perspective of utilitarianism and deontology first. Will the assessment differ from the rights and justice based perspective? Bp is considered at the time of the pipeline’s construction to be one of the top or leading companies in embracing sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR).BP initiatives renewable energy , climate change , human rights , and corruption prevention. BP set up a Regional Sustainability Development Program (RSDP) from early stages of the project in order to to proactively address the social, ethical and environmental issues† †¢ Environment investment program which aims to address ecological issues. †¢ Community Investment Program (CIP) with a budget of about $ 20m, mostly address the most social issues during the construction phase. †¢Long term Regional Development Initiative (RDI) with a budget of approximately U.S. $ 25mn and to accompany the project on a life span of 10 years after its opening. From the point of view of ethics and utilitarianism, BP has taken initiatives that led to fairly immediate impacts. It proactively addressed the social, ethical and environmental issues. From the perspective of human rights and justice, the company was alleged to violate human rights and to engage in corrupt practices. 3. This case raises questions about the scope of responsibility for a Western MNC operating in environments with corruption and poor governance. What is your opinion on how far a company such as BP in this case should go? Can they really be made responsible for the actions of local officials and governments? Try to base your answer on arguments derived from one or more ethical theories. MNC as BP operate in a globalized world where there are different types and forms of government and different levels of inefficiency and corruption involved. It would be foolishly brave to expect that they should be held responsible for what officials and governments, because it can never be completely within their control. If they do not exploit the potential then someone else would. However, they can have a significant influence on the policy on their fields where they must try to resolve an ethical manner. 4. What is the appropriate way for BP to respond to its ongoing criticism? Base your answer on the contemporary ethical theories, in particular virtue ethics, discourse ethics, and postmodern ethics. BP can probably focus on the fact that it has been one of the company around the most socially responsible, implying that he would never go against the welfare wider not to disturb the balance of the environment. It is also worth noting that defend the BTC pipeline will generate income for the country, job opportunities and help meet the growing demand. Being a responsible organization, BP should let people know that it takes all precautionary measures to avoid disasters such as oil spills, pollution of water.