cyber bullying outline and thesis - 864 Words

Legal definition Cyberbullying is defined in legal glossaries as †¢ actions that use information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behavior by an individual or group, that is intended to harm another or others. †¢ use of communication technologies for the intention of harming another person †¢ use of internet service and mobile technologies such as web pages and discussion groups as well as instant messaging or SMStext messaging with the intention of harming another person. Examples of what constitutes cyberbullying include communications that seek to intimidate, control, manipulate, put down, falsely discredit, or humiliate the recipient. The actions are deliberate, repeated, and hostile†¦show more content†¦Users often need to keep their phone turned on for legitimate purposes, which provides the opportunity for those with malicious intentions to engage in persistent unwelcome behavior such as harassing telephone calls or threatening and insulting statements via the cellular phone’s text messaging capabilities. Cyberbullying thus penetrates the walls of a home, traditionally a place where victims could seek refuge from other forms of bullying. Compounding this infiltration into the home life of the cyberbully victim is the unique way in which the internet can create simultaneous sensations of exposure (the whole world is watching) and alienation (no one understands).[13]For youth who experience shame or self-hatred, this effect is dang erous because it can lead to extreme self isolation. One possible advantage for victims of cyberbullying over traditional bullying is that they may sometimes be able to avoid it simply by avoiding the site/chat room in question. Email addresses and phone numbers can be changed; in addition, most e-mail accounts now offer services that will automatically filter out messages from certain senders before they even reach the inbox, and phones offer similar caller ID functions. However, this does not protect against all forms of cyberbullying; publishing of defamatory material about a person on the internet is extremely difficult to preventShow MoreRelatedEssay Outlne on Cyber Bulying on Social Networks855 Words   |  4 PagesRunning Head: ESSAY OUTLINE ON CYBER BULLYING ON SOCIAL NETWORKS Cyber Bullying through Social Networks ENGL107-1103B-23 2011 I. Thesis Statement: Social Networks are giving bullies an opportunity to attack individuals online by invading their privacy and creating psychological effects from attacks. These problems need to be addressed by controlling and preventing cyber bullying. II. Social Networks create an open access towards exposing individuals’ personal information Social networksRead MoreProblem, Cause, Solution Template Outline Essay1351 Words   |  6 PagesProblem, Cause, Solution Template Outline I. Introduction A. Attention Getter (SLIDE TWO) â€Å"Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life, but define yourself.† (SLIDE THREE) STOMP Out Bullying is an anti-bullying organization that has helped millions of lives. Not many people realize how a few words can have a big impact on someone. STOMP Out Bullying focuses on helping and trying to prevent abuse regards to racism, homophobia, sexismRead MoreCritical Skills And My Writing Assignments901 Words   |  4 Pagesway. For instance, in one of my writings about Social Networking, in my outline; I planned to talk about the 2 negative effects of social networking and 1 positive effect however, the order of combining my thoughts did not match the thesis statement I planned to write. After writing the second draft, I learned how to layout my thoughts effectively before writing the essay. Firstly, I would introduce the 3 main ideas in the outline, then I would narrow it down by bringing specific examples and detailsRead MoreAre Cell Phones Dangerous?1907 Words   |  8 PagesAre Cell Phones Dangerous Toddra Pamplin English Composition II Dr. Janice Brantley March 12, 2013 Sentence Outline Thesis: Cellular phones are the world’s most popular mobile device used by Americans today, but cell phones are said to be the leading cause of traffic accidents, they are used for cyber bullying, give off electromagnetic radiation that is harmful to our bodies and more; therefore we ask ourselves are cell phones really dangerous? I. Texting and Driving A. Cell phonesRead MoreEssay on Research on Cyber Bullying2847 Words   |  12 PagesMaria Castro May 30, 2010 Research Paper Cyber Bullying Within Teenagers Bullying has changed in many different ways over time. Just how everything around us becomes more technical and easier to use, in some way so has bullying. Technology has changed bullying because it has only made it easier and more available to cyber bullies. Cyber bullying is a new trend that has evolved in the United States over the past few years. Cyber bullying is wrong and dangerous, it has caused various deathsRead MoreBullying Prevention2457 Words   |  10 PagesProblem of bullying in schools Problem-solution essay Final draft Academic Reading and writing I Nurman Assima (ID: 20110635) November 25, 2011 Outline I. Introduction Thesis statement: Due to the fact that problem of bullying negatively affects students learning ability, their health and the entire school climate society should take definite and urgent measures to solve it. II. Background * School bullying is a kind of aggressive and angry behaviour. *Read MoreHalimbawa Ng Term Paper6581 Words   |  27 PagesDON SERVILLANO PLATON MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL Sta. Cruz Tinambac Camarines Sur S/Y 2012-2013 The Effect of Bullying In The School to Students of Don Servillano Platon Memorial High School Janice Tamayo Inocencio (Researcher) Mrs. Adelaida Espejo (English Professor) Acknowledgements I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the special people who have extended their assistance for theRead MoreTardiness: High School and Students3176 Words   |  13 Pagestolerable to habitual state and it has a significant impact in their performance at school. Other students had just the difficulty in optimizing their time as their subject related activities grows in bulk. Reported incidents on online games cyber addiction were prominent and this usually happens after lunch break. Most of the class had been influenced by their peers and this would be embedded 8 in their mind pattern until college and ultimately to their vocation and their adventuresRead MoreThe Pros and Cons of Cell Phones Essay2268 Words   |  10 Pagescell phone, visit the health risk and factors affecting people who are exposed to cell phones, Discuss how cell phones have changed our way of communicating and socializing with one another, outline preventative measures surrounding the way cell phones have degraded our way of life and expound on the Thesis: Though cellular phones have provided many advantages since inception their cause more harm than their benefits they are worth. Definition of Terms Cell Phones: A portable phone that uses wirelessRead MoreFuture Information Security Trends17051 Words   |  69 Pagesgiven beforehand but the actual stories were freely written by the participants. The resulting scenarios concerned a recruitment of a foreign employee, a future home help service, tracing of a person who had fallen ill on a journey, and a school bullying case. About 50 different information security issues were identified from the scenarios by the research group. In the third workshop the transcribed scenarios were presented to the participants and they were asked to identify relevant information

The Labor Relations Act Of The Senate - 1630 Words

Introduction Today’s economic climate has lost and shed more jobs than ever. Organizations need unions to survive and a process to keep them. Under the present conditions, unions need to embrace revolutionary change. They need to experiment with innovative models and build on existing ones that have already proven their value that works for workers, business, and overall society. Today’s Economic Climate with organizations that unions no longer survive in In the fall of 1934 Senator Wagner introduced the National Labor Relations Act in the senate. On July 5, 1935, President Franklin Roosevelt signed the National Labor Relations Act. This act was put into place to help unions survive, under the section 7, it gave employees the right to form and join unions and it obligated employers to bargain collectively with unions in a selective manner. Although, the future of organized labor in the economy today looks grim, the unions will have to do whatever it takes to help keep contribute to a healthy economy. They will have to do use whatever form it takes to help with the decline in private unions as well. In the past decades, unions have stood to fall by the wayside, due to the contributing factor of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). They do not adapt to external factors, such as competition and productivity in the global economy. These factors are a problem for unionism by themselves. The current state of the NLRA has magnified their effect.Show MoreRelatedChecks and Balances Essay1080 Words   |  5 PagesThe nomination politics take the process where the president formal appointee is received by the senate. The presiding officer then sends them to the nomination to the concerned committee where the committee chairs the schedule hearing. For the nomination to proceed to second level ,the majority members of the committee must then report that nomination to the floor. At this point, it depend with the senate majority on the floor to vote for the confirmation, thereafter the nominee will wait the signedRead MoreFinancial Law Compliance Plan For Clapton Commercial Construction And Landslide Limousines Essay915 Words   |  4 Pagesbusiness or expanding to another state, these companies must develop a compliance plan that conforms to national and state labor laws. Concerns to be addressed for both companies include: sui table wages, equal opportunity employment, employee verification, safe work environments, and harassment. Federal Employment Laws The Labor Code Law under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 forbids discrimination in the workplace based on color, race, national origin and religion (U.S. Equal EmploymentRead MoreThe Impact Of The Employee Free Choice Act1024 Words   |  5 Pagestopics. Prior to this class I never really knew, or for that matter, kept up with labor laws or the different types of acts that helped employees and/or the employers. I have always worked for companies that do not have unions so in turn it never interested me. With that said, this class has started me in the right direction on getting up to date on the laws and acts that are still in place today along with laws and acts that are trying to become. Since my best friend is in law enforcement and is partRead MoreFederal Budgetary Function, And The Oversight Function Essay1109 Words   |  5 PagesBudgetary Function – Congress solidified their role in the budgetary process by passing the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. The Act modified the role of Congress in the federal budgetary process. It created standing budget committees in both the House and the Senate, established the Congressional Budget Office, and moved the beginning of the fiscal year from July 1 to October 1. The Act had two main goals: (1) strengthen and centralize Congress budget authority; (2) reduce the President s impoundmentRead MoreTaft Hartley Act And The Civil War855 Words   |  4 PagesTaft-Hartley Act The Taft-Hartley Act (also known more properly as the Labor Management Relations Act of 1947) as issued to amend the Wagner Act of 1935 and discontinued parts of the Federal Anti-Injunction Act of 1932. This law helped to reinforce flaws that were in the Wagner Act. Where the Wagner Act had only spoken of the right to participate in union activities, the Taft-Hartley Act helped to fill in the gaps by allowing for the right to refrain from union activities. The Taft-Hartley Act was createdRead MoreThe Laws Of The United States1631 Words   |  7 Pageseffects have been witnessed. Right-to-work legislation allows workers to collect the benefits of any union agreements within their company, but can choose to forego paying fees. Also, the employees in the states with right-to work provisions can join labor unions if they wish to do so without being forced by their employers to join a union as a requirement for employment. This paper will attempt to detail the history of right-to-work laws, explain current issues, forecast future issues and solutionsRead MoreThe Australian Government Essay1381 Words   |  6 Pagesparliaments failed to pass it (Irving). It took about 10 years in 1901 that the constitution was finally ratified. They were finally an independent nation and no longer under the British Rule. â€Å"One of the first acts of the new Commonwealth Parliament was to pass the Immigration Restriction Act 1901, which limited migration to people of primarily European origin (Austrailian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade).† According to the Australian Government website, the Australian government not dividedRead More Labor Unions Essay1299 Words   |  6 PagesLabor Unions Throughout American history, labor unions have served to facilitate mediation between workers and employers. Workers seek to negotiate with employers for more control over their labor and its fruits. â€Å"A labor union can best be defined as an organization that exists for the purpose of representing its members to their employers regarding wages and terms and conditions of employment† (Hunter). Labor unions’ principal objectives are to increase wages, shorten work days, achieveRead MoreThe National Labor Relations Act1462 Words   |  6 Pagesa. National Labor Relations Act The National Labor Relations Act, is occasionally called the Wagner Act, after its primary benefactor, Senator Robert Wagner of New York, conditions and outlines the entitlements of workforces to coordinate and to bargain communally with their superiors through the delegates of their selecting or not to do so. The Act has numerous areas of importance, two of which are: 1) To safeguard that workforces can liberally vote for their individual delegates for collectiveRead MoreThe Law Of The United States1512 Words   |  7 PagesBoard to punish an employer who violates the NLRA is â€Å"remedial, not punitive.†); Republic Steel Corp. v. NLRB, 311 U.S. 7, 10 (1940) (â€Å"[t]he Act is essentially remedial. It does not carry a penal program declaring the described unfair labor practices to be crimes.†). See Christopher Kupka, Recent Developments in Labor and Employment Law: Remediation of Unfair Labor Practices and the EFCA: Justifications, Criticisms, and Alternatives, 38 RUTGERS L. REC. 3, (2010-2011) (finding that the remedies available

Music Is a Kind of Mathematics Free Essays

â€Å"Music is a kind of Mathematics†. â€Å"Mathematics are a measure of beauty even when man is a measure of beauty†. I heard the professor saying these two sentences in class and it hit me hard. We will write a custom essay sample on Music Is a Kind of Mathematics or any similar topic only for you Order Now I remembered the teachers in lower classes telling us that Mathematics are the key for everything in life and we didn’t believe them, protesting that â€Å"Art†, for example, has nothing to do with Mathematics. Apparently, they were right. But how come do Mathematics seem to be considered as a measure of beauty? Many philosophers have said and written about art’s beauty and aesthetics, and it always included some kind of Mathematics in it. In 1150 AD, Acharya Hemachandra wrote about, what’s now called Fibonacci Numbers (In Mathematics, Fibonacci numbers are specialized that the last number is the sum of the two previous ones, such as the following: 1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21,34,55,89,144,233,377,610†¦), in poetry lines, 70 years before Fibonacci published his own experiment in his first edition of Liber Abaci. In addition, Pingala seemed to have used them in 200 BC, by considering poetry patterns divided to two lengths of syllables; long and short. In 1, 2 and 3 syllables there’s always matching ways to put them. But when it comes to 4 syllables there’s 5 ways, just like for 5 syllables there’s 8 ways and so it goes. And that’s what’s special and beautiful about poetry and more precisely rhythm. The Fibonacci numbers were also utilized by many arrangers when composing music, and many poets say that the Golden Ratio goes back to the time of the middle ages. The researches show that Stradivari knew about and utilized the Golden Ratio to put the f-holes in his famous violins. And then there’s Baginsky’s strategy for constructing violins which is in light of the Golden Section. Music made by Mozart, Bach and Beethoven seem to be based on the Golden Section too. Maybe this is the reason why their music is beautiful. Books about oil painting in all libraries will probably call attention to that it is better to use lines that divide the picture to thirds and to position objects on one of the sides or â€Å"around 33%† of the way across rather than in the middle of the picture. This appears to upgrade the photo to make it more satisfying to the eye and this idea depends again on the Golden Ratio being â€Å"perfect†, leaving behind what’s called a beautiful masterpiece painting. Moreover, physical attraction relies upon proportions, and specifically symmetry. When someone else’s body is in proportions and symmetrical, it’s more likely for us to find it more attractive and beautiful. In the same manner, if a face is proportionate, we will probably notice it quickly and think that it’s beautiful and perfect. Leonardo da Vinci’s illustrations of the human body accentuated its ratio. Essentially, it is trusted that buildings might be more appealing to a number of people if the proportions used are based on the Golden Section. Therefore, the Golden Ration is taught to architecture students rather than civil engineering students, because architecture is more related to aesthetics which is globally based on Mathematics. For instance, Vitruvius had explained many artistic and architectural things based on proportions, and those are based on Mathematics: -Natural colors, which are found in specific places, and artificial colors that are combined in proper proportions.-â€Å"It is thought that the columns of basilicas ought to be as high as the side-aisles are broad; an aisle should be limited to one third of the breadth which the open space in the middle is to have. â€Å"(Vitruvius, The ten books on Architecture, Book V, p.132) Sizes, in this case, are also proportionate, which increases its beauty as much as it assures its stability. The Golden Section, widely the Fibonacci sequence, also happen in nature, in the patterns we sometimes find in pine cones, pineapples, artichokes, petals of flowers, the leaves of the plants†¦ Generally, because of the best approaches to efficiently pack things firmly together, using the Fibonacci sequence. (The plant needs to get sunshine on all its leaves without one getting in the way of another or else it would be bad for it, that’s what it does without special intervention, as the plant doesn’t do Mathematics, scientists considered the idea of the Golden Section as its natural growth.) And since God has created everything, some researchers and scientists tend to say that God is the greatest Mathematician such as the following list and many others:-Galileo Galilei who confirmed: â€Å"Mathematics is the language with which God has written the universe.†-That in addition the Euclid: â€Å"The laws of nature are but the Mathematical thoughts of God. â€Å"-And Paul Dirac said: â€Å"If there is a God, he’s a great mathematician. God used beautiful mathematics in creating the world. â€Å"-To end this here’s what Maulana Wahiduddin Khan believed: â€Å"The truth is that God is the greatest Mathematician, the greatest artist and the greatest genius.† Just like some people consider that beauty is based on Mathematics, â€Å"all mathematicians share a sense of amazement over the infinite depth and the mysterious beauty and usefulness of Mathematics† (Martin Gardner), in addition to other people who consider Mathematics as the queen of science (or not even a science, just a beautiful thing). They say that Mathematics is the only place where truth and beauty mean the same thing. And from their point of view, if it is correctly used, it has truth as well as preeminent aesthetics. And when someone asked him why he considered numbers beautiful, Paul Erdà ¶s said: â€Å"It’s like asking why is Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony beautiful. If you don’t see why, someone can’t tell you. I know numbers are beautiful. If they aren’t beautiful, nothing is†? How to cite Music Is a Kind of Mathematics, Papers

Introduction to Marketing Consumer Satisfaction and Loyalty

Question: Discuss about theIntroduction to Marketingfor Consumer Satisfaction and Loyalty. Answer: Introduction Among the several issues of prevailing in the market, one of the most crucial factors that drive the attention of a company is its positioning. As stated by Anisimova (2016), it is noted that like every other industry, there has also been a large increment in rivalry in the education business as well. Being a developed nation, Australia is home to a wide number of institutions. In order to survive in the changing conditions, organizations tend to concentrate on positioning activities. Further, to understand the aspect in a more oriented manner, the case of RMIT`s initiative to launch Activator programs for future startups and their positioning is taken into consideration. Based on the article, it is seen that that firm largely concentrates on developing competencies and further enhances on the need for positioning. With a focus on professional learning, practical knowledge gain and information development. According to Higgins (2013), a growth in the macro environment factors successfully grabs attention of the university`s management thereby letting to rise of new initiatives. According to the RMIT V.C and activator members, apart from concentrating on financial literacy, venture industrialist grabs and improving business intelligence, the situation of the new schemes formed a crucial part. It was also seen that the new launch would be based in Victoria, Vietnam and Singapore. Moreover, the companies concern for developing capabilities and ensuring a job to the students also directly relates to indentifying and locating the brand in poorly developing sectors. Also the location of the firm would require a huge investment amounting to $7 million. Additionally, the brand also enters into collaboration with the management institute (Singapore), to ensure proper positioning as well (https://www.afr.com/technology/rmit-launches-free-activator-program-for-future-startup-founders-20161116-gsr5lv). Analyzing the news article it can be inferred that RMIT aggressively focuses on building up a firm in a more oriented manner taking into consideration various factors like market demand, macro situation, investment, cooperation and many others. References https://www.afr.com/technology/rmit-launches-free-activator-program-for-future-startup-founders-20161116-gsr5lv.RMIT launches free Activator program for future startup founders. [online] Financial Review. Available at: https://www.afr.com/technology/rmit-launches-free-activator-program-for-future-startup-founders-20161116-gsr5lv [Accessed 7 Dec. 2016]. Anisimova, T., 2016. The effects of corporate brand symbolism on consumer satisfaction and loyalty: evidence from Australia.Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics,28(3). Higgins, B., 2013. Culturing education for sustainability: evaluating a tertiary case study.whole or in part, must be clearly attributed to the author.

Same Sex Marriages Impact on the Children Social Growth

Introduction Same sex marriages have been described as many things; an affront to God, an inherent right by all individuals, a desecration of the sanctity of marriage as well as an expression of love between two people of the same sex. Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Same Sex Marriages Impact on the Children Social Growth specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More There are numerous argument both for and against it with some citing its possible impact on adopted children, the degradation of society as a result of same sex couples, its affect on religious tolerance and the possible ramifications of social harassment due to many believing that the act itself is against the very principles of nature and evolution. What must be understood is that the concept of same sex marriages is relatively new to society with people still adjusting to the widespread proliferation of homosexuals Same sex marriage can be considered a dramatic leap in legitimizing what most consider an abnormal form of behavior yet it must be questioned whether such a practice should actually be condoned. From a religious standpoint gay couples marrying each other is undeniably an affront to God and violates church doctrines which are literally thousands of years old. From a social standpoint same sex marriages create undue social tension which may or may not result in violent repercussions for individuals belonging to the homosexual community. It must also be noted that members of the homosexual community are often thought of as carriers for various forms of sexually transmitted diseases and as such same sex marriages are thus connected to legitimizing a behavior that promotes the spread of STDs. Furthermore, from a community standpoint same sex couples are often thought of as bad influences for their children due to a certain degree of homophobia wherein they believe that exposure to homosexuals may place their own children at risk for sexually deviant behavior. It is based on these various opinions that this paper will explore the various issues related to same sex marriage and will attempt to determine whether this particular type of behavior can be considered either positive or negative. Impact on Adopted Children One of the current prevailing arguments against same sex marriage is the notion that since same sex couples normally adopt children in order to start a family then children adopted by such couples are at risk in developing the same sexual orientation as their parents (SOLODNIKOV and CHKANIKOVA, 38 – 59). The logic behind this particular idea stems from the belief that since children develop their behaviors, personalities and sexual characteristics based on what they observe from their parents then it is likely that children adopted by same sex couples will become gay themselves. It is based on this that it argued children should be free to choose their own sexual characteristics a nd not be negatively influenced by those that adopt them. Advertising Looking for research paper on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In fact it is due to this particular line of reasoning that during the late 1990s it was noted that adoption procedures for gay couples was often harder, more restrictive and met with a greater degree of denied adoption due such institutions fearing for what might happen to the children adopted by such couples (SOLODNIKOV and CHKANIKOVA, 38 – 59). Studies such as those by Solodnikov and Chkanikova (2010) refute this claim stating that based on data reviewing the sexual orientation of children of various gay couples over a period of several years it was seen that such children grew up to be relatively healthy heterosexuals with no negative behaviors (SOLODNIKOV and CHKANIKOVA, 38 – 59). In fact other studies back up this claim and as such it can be seen that the assu mption that gay parents will create gay children is definitely false. On the other hand it cannot be stated that there are no negative consequences for the children of gay couples. A study by Joslin (2011) revealed that children of gay couples often have to deal with the social stigma of having gay parents due to the fact that it is still not a widely accepted norm for a child to have same sex parents. Negative consequences of such a stigma can range from being classified as being gay, insults, bullying, social isolation and other forms negative social consequences (Joslin, 81 – 101). It was noted by Rogers and Fossey (2011) that while such problems are relatively minor early on due to a child’s innocence and the fact that the social stigma is not immediately apparent the fact remains that as the child grows older they become more aware of the difference in their familiar situation with that of other families and this, combined with the negative social consequences of having gay parents, at times results in childhood depression and the development of personality traits related to being a loner, becoming anti-social or other similar behavioral characteristics which distance a child from becoming sociable (Rogers and Fossey, 423). Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Same Sex Marriages One of the negative connotations attached to homosexual behavior as well as same sex marriages has been its connection to the supposed spread of sexually transmitted diseases among members of the gay population. It is actually a commonly held belief that members of the gay community actually participate in various forms of deviant sexual behavior in which a single individual has multiple partners and practices bizarre sexual practices which as a result supposedly facilitates the spread of sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV and AIDS. Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Same Sex Marriages Impact on the Children Social Growth specifica lly for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More While it may be true that same sex partners practice sexual activities that are outside the norm of what most people would consider â€Å"traditional† methods of sexual relations the fact remains that there has been no conclusive evidence which specifically indicates that STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) are more prevalent among the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transsexual) community as compared to the normal heterosexual population. In fact studies such as those by Brody and Weiss (2011) clearly point out that the level of sexually transmitted disease between the two groups is actually the same and that the misconceptions regarding homosexuals having multiple sexual partners is no different than an ordinary heterosexual also having multiple sexual partners (Brody and Weiss, 298 – 300). Furthermore it was noted by studies such as those by Grulich et al. (2009) that being a homosexual does n ot immediately make a person more vulnerable to catching STDs, in fact it was even noted that members of the gay community often practiced safer methods of sexual activity as compared to members of the heterosexual community (Grulich, et al, 1813 – 1817). Thus, when taking into consideration the growing number of same sex marriages it cannot be immediately assumed that such activities will lead to the spread of STDs since it has been proven so far that the risk is just the same between straight and gay couples. Religion When examining arguments directly against same sex marriages it is often the case that religious dogma comes up as one of the main proponents against the continued practice of same sex marriages. From Christianity to Islam same sex marriages are considered an affront to what many consider â€Å"the natural order of things† with religious texts specifically prohibiting the union of two people from the same sex. What must be understood is that from a so cial standpoint the arguments of various religions against same sex marriage do make sense since social stability hinges on maintaining social institutions of which heterosexual relationships are a cornerstone. Furthermore, if one were to take into account the concept of what can be consider a â€Å"moral relationship† then from this standpoint same sex marriages can be considered immoral since they go against what many consider as a moral and responsible union of two individuals (Whitehead, 63 – 79).Advertising Looking for research paper on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In fact religious text specifically state that all unions must be between a man and a woman with those engaging in homosexual relationships often considered an aberration of set standards and as such deserve to be stoned or outright killed (Whitehead, 63 – 79). In fact when examining various aspect of Christian theology it is often seen that homosexual relationships are considered an affront to God and as such tolerance for homosexuality has always been a contentious issue in the Catholic Church. While it may be true that Christianity espouses a doctrine of tolerance and love for one’s fellow man the fact remains that to this day it considers homosexuality as being perverse, immoral and nothing more than individuals giving into their baser desires (Whitehead, 63 – 79). The result of the Church’s view on the subject of homosexuality has actually affected members of its own congregation resulting in various Christian communities often socially ostracizing or persecuting people who have been identified as being homosexual. The reason why the Catholic Church and other religions have this particular stance is actually connected to institutional theory which specifically states that individuals tend to prefer to adhere to traditional institutions and ideas despite the presence of newer and more improved systems since it is in their belief that age equals stability. In the case of religious beliefs it is the age of the doctrine which specifically condemns homosexuality that gives it a degree of credibility in the eyes of the Catholic Church and its followers and as such explains why to this day the stance of the church continues to be against same sex marriages. Culture From a cultural perspective, while same sex marriages are increasing in various areas within the U.S. as well as in several countries around the world the fact remains that though it is tolerated due to arguments presenting marriage as an inherent right, whether people a re gay or straight, the fact remains that it is still not universally acceptable across all cultures. For example, in the Middle East same sex marriages are expressly banned and the homosexual culture is thought of as bizarre, strange and an affront to God which results in it being ruthlessly suppressed (Dunne, 55). In fact in a lot of cultures homosexual behavior is frowned upon and those who â€Å"come out of the closet† are times shunned by their family and friends. This is not to say that homosexuals are bad people, in fact some of them are actually quite nice, rather what must be understood is that their choice of lifestyle is considered by many to be abnormal and an intentional lifestyle choice. When examining the homosexual culture it is often said that a person does not choose to be a homosexual rather they are born that way and thus, in their eyes, homosexuality is a perfectly normal behavior. This is a rather interesting viewpoint to consider since homosexuality and heterosexuality are usually thought of as behaviors which develop as a result of both environmental and psychological influences (Jeffs, 66 – 71). As such becoming gay or straight is dependent on the way a person develops and is not based on a person being born gay. Rather, based on social control theory which states that people often develop abnormal personality patterns based on a lack of social bonds which prevent such behaviors from manifesting it can be said that homosexuality is merely the result of abnormal development during an individuals development stage wherein a certain lack of social bonds whether in the form of father figures, mother figures, friends or other constraining factors are usually not present resulting in the development of tendencies related to abnormal behavior which manifests itself as homosexuality (Jeffs, 66 – 71). Based on this it can be assumed that homosexuality is not a direct result of a person being born that way rather it is merely the manifestation of abnormal patterns of behavioral development during a person’s formative years of development. Conclusion Based on the presented data this paper concludes that not only does same sex marriage have the potential adversely impact the social growth of children due to the stigma of having gay parents but it must also be noted that due to effects of religious doctrine, negative social responses and the fact that the behavior itself is thought of as morally wrong this research paper disagrees with the concept of same sex marriage and it should be stopped in the mean time. As this paper has shown the concept of same sex marriage is still thought of as being an affront to religious, social and natural laws and as such at the present it merely invites greater degrees of negative and even possibly violent responses. While it may be true that from a human rights standpoint there is nothing wrong with it the fact remains that society still isn’t quite r eady to openly accept it and thus it should not be implemented until such a time that homosexuality is either totally removed or universally accepted. Works Cited Andrew E. Grulich, et al. â€Å"Circumcision and Risk of Sexually Transmissible Infections in a Community-Based Cohort of HIV-Negative Homosexual Men in Sydney, Australia.† Journal of Infectious Diseases 200.12 (2009): 1813-1819. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. Brody, Stuart, and Petr Weiss. â€Å"Heterosexual Anal Intercourse: Increasing Prevalence, and Association with Sexual Dysfunction, Bisexual Behavior, and Venereal Disease History.† Journal of Sex Marital Therapy 37.4 (2011): 298-306. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. Dunne, Bruce W. â€Å"Homosexuality in the Middle East: An agenda for historical..† Arab Studies Quarterly 12.3/4 (1990): 55. Literary Reference Center. EBSCO. Web. Jeffs, William Patrick. â€Å"CHAPTER FOUR: THE TURN OF THE CENTURY: FREUD, PSYCHOANALYSIS AND HOMOSEXUALIT Y.† Feminism, Manhood Homosexuality: Intersections in Psychoanalysis American Poetry. 66-71. Peter Lang Publishing, Inc., 2003. Literary Reference Center. EBSCO. Web. Joslin, Courtney G. â€Å"Searching for Harm: Same-Sex Marriage and the Well-Being of Children.† Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review 46.1 (2011): 81-101. International Security Counter Terrorism Reference Center. EBSCO. Web. Rogers, Kevin, and Richard Fossey. â€Å"SAME-SEX MARRIAGE AND THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CURRICULUM: CAN PARENTS OPT THEIR CHILDREN OUT OF CURRICULAR DISCUSSIONS ABOUT SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND SAME- SEX MARRIAGE?.† Brigham Young University Education Law Journal 2 (2011): 423. MasterFILE Premier. EBSCO. Web. SOLODNIKOV, V. V., and A. M. CHKANIKOVA. â€Å"Children in Same-Sex Marriages.† Russian Social Science Review 51.3 (2010): 38-59. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. Whitehead, Andrew L. â€Å"Sacred Rites and Civil Rights: Religion’s Effect on Attitudes Toward Same-Sex Unions and the Perceived Cause of Homosexuality.† Social Science Quarterly (Blackwell Publishing Limited) 91.1 (2010): 63-79. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. This research paper on Same Sex Marriages Impact on the Children Social Growth was written and submitted by user Antoine O. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Four Generations of Chinese Leaders Essay

Four Generations of Chinese Leaders Essay Four Generations of Chinese Leaders Essay Example Four Generations of Chinese Leaders Essay Example China has experienced changes in ruling regimes that both faced difficulties and sought to solve them. The rulers experienced some achievements as well as failures, since no ruler is perfect. Some of them rose to power through fighting, while some rose through the peaceful handover of power. This paper seeks to examine the four ruling generations from 1949 to 2012 and the problems that these rulers left behind. Background of the Leaders Mao Zedong, the Chinese leader (1949-1976), was born in 1893 in a family of the wealthy agriculturalist. His political ambitions influenced his contribution to the formation of the Chinese Communist Party in 1921 as well as the Red army that confronted the rival Nationalists. The two parties have forged an alliance with Japan in the World War II, which was terminated in 1949, and a civil war that led to the Mao’s rise to power emerged. Mao was replaced in 1979 by Deng Xiaoping, who ruled until 1992 when Jiang Zemin rose to power. Zemin was born in 1926 in Yangzhou Province and, after graduating from university, worked in Russia in the 1950s. He joined the Communist Party upon return, becoming a Minister of Electronic Industry in 1983. Jiang was replaced through a peaceful handing over by Hu Jintao, who ruled from 2002 to 2012. Hu Jintao was born in Jiangsu province from a poor background: however, he studied up to the university level and became an engineer in 1965. In 1980, h e was discovered by his future benefactor Song Ping who assisted him when he assumed leadership positions in the Central Party. Afterwards, he served as the deputy president from 1998 until he received the presidency in 2002. All the above leaders like any other leader had both achievements and failures in the social, economic, and political spheres, thus none of them was considered impeccable. It is, therefore, worth noting that the leaders not only improved the Chinese status, but also left some areas unaddressed. Below is a comparison of the legacy left by the four leaders in different spheres. Economic Spheres Mao Zedong’s Contribution Mao initiated economic reforms that aimed at transforming China from an agricultural to an industrial society through the Great Leap Forward of 1958-1961. He promoted the development of steel furnaces in villages and urban areas, increasing the steel production as well as providing employment opportunities outside the agricultural sector. He also collectivized agricultural production by encouraging communal farming as opposed to the individual/private farming. However, his industrialization attempts caused the Great Chinese Famine that claimed many lives. The famine resulted from the shortage of labor needed in the agricultural sector in the harvesting seasons. Accordingly, most of the workers had gone to steel production and this led to rotting of grain in farms. It is also said that the urban population at the time had consumption rights over a given amount of grain compared to the rural populations, causing the starvation for the latter. Deng Xiaoping’s Contribution Xiaoping promoted economic development through an open door policy to encourage foreign investors to invest their technology and capital into the Chinese land. This impact reduced foreign borrowing as well as boosted the domestic production rising the foreign exchange earnings. He designated several coastal towns, such as Shenzhen and Shantou, as the Special Economic Zones for receiving foreign investments and transmitting them to the interior. He also liberalized trade in the areas: hence, increasing local as well as foreign investment. Furthermore, he liberalized trade and encouraged the formation of light industries, empowering the farmers. Jiang Zemin’s Contribution Jiang Zemin promoted economic growth through improved international relations, especially with Russia and the United States. He transformed China from a centralized socialist into a capitalist market economy under government control. He also funded the Special Economic Zones as well as the coastal cities to promote economic development. He appointed Zhu Rongji as the head of the economic sector, and inluenced the rise of Gross Domestic Product value. However, it was alleged that the appointment was inspired by nepotism, because Zhu was his supporter. He was also criticized for concentrating too much on economic growth, while disregarding its implications on the environment. In addition, his developmental approach is also said to have failed in bridging the gap between the rich and the poor. Hu Jintao’s Contribution Jintao reinstated state control over some economic sectors, and this witnessed the economic growth and development of China to regain a status of a world power. His regime led China through the global financial crisis, and the country emerged victorious. He improved the infrastructure, thus promoting the Chinese image. Moreover, among the key achievements are hosting the 2008 Olympic Games and the 2010 Shanghai Expo. He also coined the Scientific Development Concept to promote the economic development of China. Additionally, he eliminated state extravagance by discarding ceremonies such as the seeing off and welcoming the president from foreign missions. Furthermore, he pursued soft power relations that encouraged international trade as well as Chinese influence in the Latin America, Africa, and other developing regions. Legal Reforms and Peace/Stability Role of Mao Zedong Maos regime modified the legislations concerning the land ownership to promote equality by transferring huge pieces of land owned by the wealthy in ranches to the landless poor. His government allocated land to the farmers, while the industrial sector remained under the state control. Private farming was replaced by collective farming that implied several households managing their farms collectively. However, the collectivization of agriculture was not fully successful, as it contributed to the Great Chinese Famine that claimed millions of lives. His regime also experienced lawlessness as militia massacred a lot of people, for instance, Xinuyang lost many people in 1960. During his regime, there was a massive destruction of property and numerous houses were demolished. The process of land reforms also led to the elimination of the previous landowners. Consequently, such regime was accused of human rights violation through the concentration camp system that imprisoning people for exce ssively long terms without proper court authorization or the right to appeal. Deng Xiaoping’s Role During his regime, Xiaoping decentralized the Chinese economy, although still upholding the socialist values. He promoted law and order to provide a good environment for trade, unlike the Maos regime`s lawlessness. He formulated laws and guidelines to direct foreign investment, and relations, which were meant for their protection, such as: Equity Joint Venture, Foreign Capital Enterprise Law, and the Chinese Corporate Ventures Law. However, the legal reforms were not quite successful, as his era tolerated elongated the same unjust imprisonment terms. Additionally, Xiaoping disregarded the issue of human rights by using excessive force in the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989, leading to a large number of deaths. Jiang Zemin’s Role Zemin contributed to the restoration of order in China by crushing the Falun Gong movement that had millions of members and was a threat to the national security. Even though his bid to uphold stability was rational, the barbaric means that entailed abuse of human rights had exceeded the necessity of order. He engaged in the imprisonment of several thousands of people and forceful re-education of the practitioners through labor. The effects of the crackdown were disastrous, taking numerous lives between 2000 and 2008. Hu Jintao’s role Jintao embraced peace and stability, adopting the use of conservative policies to eliminate social unrest, ethnic-based protests and people who posed a threat to the national security. He sought a reserved and a gentle leadership style based on consensus and dialogue, as well as politics relying on technocracy. As a consequence, this way of leadership propelled China to great heights and left the guiding trail for the future leaders. The resulting stability led to increased trade and investment that helped the country develop resilience during the global financial crisis. Cultural Revolution Mao Zedong’s Regime Mao transformed the Chinese from individualistic to a collectivist society through the repossession of the huge pieces of land owned by the nobles to the farmers. He also introduced and encouraged the steel industry that saw the increased industrialization and the consequent advancement of steel production. However, industrialization diminished labor in the agricultural sector, while collective farming led to the poor grain reservation that contributed to the Great Chinese Famine. Deng Xiaoping’s Regime Xiaoping contributed to the Cultural Revolution through the encouragement of foreign investment through the open door policy as well as the establishment of the Special Economic Zones to facilitate the transfer of capital and investment from the coast to the interior. He also developed the infrastructure such as roads and ports to promote trade. Additionally, he decentralized the economy to encourage technological transfer. His focus on exports helped him encourage the establishment of light industries as well as trade liberalization. He reversed the collectivization of agriculture and encouraged household responsibility by dividing the communal land among farmers, thus empowering the peasants. In addition, he encouraged the growth of cash crops and the establishment of private business. Jiang Zemin’s Regime Zemin promoted Cultural Revolution by changing the Chinese centralized socialist into a capitalist market economy regulated by the government. He introduced the theory of the Three Represents that was to guide the country towards the economic production, cultural development, and political consensus. The theory called for the introduction of capitalist business, the shift from protecting the poor to the focus of the majority, and the rise of the entrepreneurial class. Hu Jintao’s Regime Jintao contributed to the Cultural Revolution by promoting equality in the socioeconomic spheres through the Scientific Development Concept aimed at creating a harmonious socialist society free from social strife and conflicts. In addition, he strengthened the spirit of the Republic by identifying some evils and encouraging people as well as leaders to avoid them. These vices included doing harm to the country, betraying the people, perpetuating ignorance, indolence, exploiting others, lawlessness, and luxurious lives. Corruption and Wastage of Public Funds Upon his rise to power, Xi Jinping acknowledged the challenge of corruption and his need, therefore, to formulate rules to curb the vice as well as the wastage of public funds during the official activities. He targeted those perpetuating the malicious acts from the smallest to the highest office. In detail, early in his first term, he embarked on prosecuting some officials such as the former vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission as well as the security chief of the Politburo Standing Committee and the chief aide to the former president Hu Jintao. The campaign was the biggest in the history of the contemporary China, thus proving the intensity of the matter. Legal Reforms The legal system requires adjustment to facilitate the rule of law in China. The judicial processes are perceived as ineffective in the delivery of justice, and the major causes are; corruption, lack of oversight, and the interference of the local government. These issues require increased constitutional role in the judicial system and processes in order to restore justice and a good image both in the eyes of the public and the international actors. China has undergone several transitions of power, both violent and peaceful. The respective leaders have contributed both positively and negatively to the economic sector, Cultural Revolution, legal reforms. Among the key achievements are industrialization and collectivization of agriculture in the Mao era that boosted steel production as well as triggered a devastating famine. Xiaoping also improved the economy through an open door policy to promote foreign change, but his legal reforms failed, especially his reaction to the Tiananmen protests. Jiang Zemins regime boosted the GDP, but he was accused of promoting nepotism by appointing his allies more beneficial jobs. Additionally, he could not bridge the gap between the rich and the poor. Hu Jintao is hailed for promoting economic development and restoring China in a status of world power. He, however, did not solve the menace of corruption, influencing negatively his successors regime.

Al-Amanah Islamic Investment Bank Of The Philippines

Al-Amanah Islamic Investment Bank Of The Philippines Republic Act No. 6848, otherwise known as â€Å"The Charter of the Al-Amanah Islamic Investment Bank of the Philippines† outlines that the primary purpose of the Islamic bank is â€Å"to promote and accelerate the socio-economic development of the Autonomous Region by performing banking, financing and investment operations and to establish and participate in agricultural, commercial and industrial ventures based on the Islamic concept of banking.† In addition to allowing the bank to act as a universal bank capable of offering both conventional and Islamic banking products and services, the Sections No. 10 the bargaining power of multilateral and bilateral aid organizations(USTDA, WB, ADB, JBIC) is high due to their involvement with micro-finance and development banks; the large size and unorganized nature of the labor sector affords it little bargaining power; bargaining power among depositors is highly skewed towards the higher income deciles who’s deposits ac count for 88.3% of the savings in banks, with the lower deciles having nor bargaining power. (2) With regard to the bargaining power of buyers, the higher income deciles belonging to the middle and upper classes resided and/or did business in the National Capital Region (NCR) and demand services such as â€Å"à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦electronic banking, payroll services, and bill payments.†; The power portions of the population find it difficult to obtain financing from formal banks due to their situation, and thus do not have much bargaining power, but their sheer numbers offer a potentially large market. (3) With regard to the threat of new entrants, any new Islamic banks allowed by the BSP could actually benefit the Amanah Bank by providing much needed visibility for the beleaguered Philippine Islamic banking sector. (4) With regard to the threat of substitute, notable alternatives that customers may opt for are informal financial institutions, employers that provide loan programs, or complete abstinence from banking entirely. Another threat is the outflow of capital from the country. (5) With regard to rivalry among existing players, the tendency of banks to be large tends to lead them to avoid small borrowers and savers, as such the government has had to develop the banking system so as to include such institutions as thrift and rural banks which cater to the needs of small borrowers and savers who would otherwise resort to informal institutions. In order to counter the threat of oligopoly the government competes in the financial sector via the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP). (Isnaji, 2003)

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of conventional 35mm single Essay

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of conventional 35mm single lens reflex cameras to other film formats and type of image - Essay Example To shed some light on this topic, the pros and cons of a 35 mm SLR over other film formats and image capturing systems have been detailed in this article. What is an SLR An SLR or Single Lens Reflex camera is one that has a ‘reflex mirror’ which allows the user to directly view the image being shot through the lens of the camera (Rowse2007). In simpler words, unlike other cameras which have a viewing system different from the lens of the camera, the SLR has only one viewing system and allows the user to see exactly what is being photographed through the viewfinder. SLR or Point and Shoot While deciding which camera one needs to buy, one needs to balance utility with price to choose a camera perfectly suited to their needs. Both SLRs and point and shoots have their own strengths and weaknesses with respect to each other. For example, SLRs have much faster shutter speeds than point and shoot cameras. This can duly be adjusted for the film being used and the abundance of li ght, giving the photographer multiple options for using high speed films (greater ISO) without risking grainy output in the photographs. Also, there is an almost negligible time lag between when the shutter is pressed and the film is exposed, giving the photographer a better opportunity of capturing the perfect moment even with a moving subject. Such is not the case with point and shoot cameras. Both digital and film P&S cameras have a time lag between when the shutter button is clicked and the sensor or film is exposed. This renders them more or less useless for anything but still photography and memories with orchestrated poses. An SLR allows the user to control almost every aspect of photography. He can adjust the light entering through the aperture, the speed of the film, the duration for which the shutter exposes the film, the focus of the image and even the kind of lens being used. Even the best of the point and shoot cameras can’t hold a candle to these features. The f act that the SLR allows for interchangeable lenses means that the photographer is ready for almost any kind of shot whether a close up, extreme close up, long or a wide shot. The lack of this feature sorely limits prospects with point and shoots. The quality of optics (lenses) in even the worst SLRs tops that in the best point and shoot cameras. The compatibility of these lenses with other camera bodies means that the investment in the lenses is not wasted if the camera body malfunctions. To upgrade, the photographer only needs to change the camera body, which itself is extremely durable compared to a point and shoot. However, an SLR also has certain limitations. One extremely limiting factor is the price of an SLR camera which is many times that of a point and shoot camera. Another prohibiting factor is the size and weight of SLR cameras. The weight of an SLR camera along with its lens kit, filters, flash apparatus and tripod can make it pretty inconvenient to carry around and also , an SLR requires considerable setup time for the perfect shot to be taken. A point and shoot can be fit into the user’s pocket, whipped out when needed and is ready to capture images. Another issue with SLRs is maintenance. Considering that the SLR is

UK public finances Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

UK public finances - Essay Example According to forecasts published by the HM Treasury for the month of June -July 2010 and June - July 2011, it is evident that GDP during the same period will increase from 1.2% to 2.1% respectively (HM Treasury Report July, 2010) The detailed overview of the public finances databank available from the government, it is revealed that the current budget surplus is -105.6 billion and net borrowing of 154.6 billion with overall net debt of 53.8% for the year 2009-10. It is further evident from the data below that the trend in net borrowing is decreasing thereby promoting the growth of GDP. The table below shows that current budget surplus has come down to zero resulting in healthy GDP of 67.4% by 2014-15. (Table 1) The data furnished above should motivate the executives and decision makers to invest in the country eyeing the long term objective of making profit. However the following diagram shows that most of expenditure is targeted towards social protection which aggregates to 28%, which is understood in the present circumstances of continuous threat of terror attacks. Health and Education is also one of the important areas where the government is spending huge money. According to following diagram, it is suggested that company executives may invest in other areas like housing loans and insurances as the government spending in those areas is very minimal. It is forecasted that the government would receive majority of its income from tax deductions, which means good income to the public, followed by National Insurance (17%). Figure 1 Figure 2 (Source: Public Sector Finances Data Bank - HM Treasury http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk) The government received 153.5 billion as Income Tax in the year 2008-09, 96.9 billion from National Insurance, 78.4 billion from VAT and also from tobacco duty, fuel duty, spirits, wine, beer and cider duties, air passenger duty. As mentioned above, company executives may focus on providing products and fix prices keeping in view the predicted spending and generated income by the government. As the diagram (Figure 1) shows that government spending is huge in social protection but least in housing and environment, it is assumed that opportunity persists for the businesses in realty and banking sector. It is assumed that banking sector will flourish during the next few years as financial assistance could be provided to the people from agricultural sector as well as in realty sector. (http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk) It is important to mention that economics uses theories and methods to study the behavior of people involved with allocating resources and aiming to reach some optimum situation (Elliott and Payne, 2005:1). As the government is

Habeas Corpus and the War on Terror Essay Example for Free

Habeas Corpus and the War on Terror Essay In this paper I will be diving in to the history of Habeas Corpus and how it has evolved over the years. I will briefly explain the origination of the habeas corpus, the role it plays in U. S. A and what current action is being taken about it. I will be also looking in to the Bush administration and the way they dealt with habeas corpus. The original purpose of habeas corpus was to bring people into court rather than out of imprisonment and by the year 1230, the writs utility for that purpose was a well-known aspect of English common law. Known as the Great Writ, its codification into English law came by way of Parliament in the Habeas Corpus Act of 1641, created in response to the King of Englands actions during what is now referred to as Darnells Case. In Darnell, five English noblemen were thrown into the castles dungeon deep for failure to support their countrys dual wars against France and Spain. The men filed suit, requesting the King provide an explanation as to their imprisonment. King Charles refused, on review; the court upheld the monarchys steadfast silence, stating that the law did not require the King to provide any justification for their detention. The public outcry against this decision was deafening, prompting Parliamentary action the following year. Parliament expanded habeas rights several years later with the Habeas Corpus Act of 1679, additionally requiring charges to be brought within a specific time period for anyone detained for criminal acts. By 1765, habeas corpus was firmly imbedded within the foundation of English law, as noted by William Blackstone, who described the Great Writ as a second magna carta, a stable bulwark of our liberties. This fundamental English right successfully traversed the Atlantic Ocean when our founders incorporated the doctrine of habeas corpus into the U. S. Constitution. As stated, The privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it. Known as the Suspension Clause, this provision specifically places the ability to suspend habeas corpus in the hands of Congress only during times of rebellion or invasion. Despite the clarity of the clause, the American debate on habeas corpus only begins at this point. The Great Writ of habeas corpus has long had an iconic status as the writ of liberty which ensured that no person could be detained in prison without being put to trial by a jury of his peers. According to the traditional version, popularized by Whiggish constitutional writers from the late seventeenth century onwards, the English constitution as embodied in the common law had, since time immemorial, striven to protect the fundamental rights of Englishmen and women, which included the right to personal liberty obban, M. Halliday, P. D. (2011). Habeas Corpus is an ancient common law prerogative writ a legal procedure to which you have an undeniable right. It is an extraordinary remedy at law. Upon proper application, or even on naked knowledge alone, a court is empowered, and is duty bound, to issue the Extraordinary Writ of Habeas Corpus commanding one who is restraining liberty to forthwith produce before the court the person who is in custody and to show because why the liberty of that person is being restrained. Absent a sufficient showing for a proper restraint of liberty, the court is duty bound to order the restraint eliminated and the person discharged. Habeas Corpus is fundamental to American and all other English common law derivative systems of jurisprudence. It is the ultimate lawful and peaceable remedy for adjudicating the providence of liberty’s restraint. Robertson. J, (2002). After the attacks of 11 September 2001, came the war in Afghanistan followed by the war in Iraq: a two-pronged engagement collectively known as the Global War on Terror As U. S. rmed forces captured enemy combatants by the M35 truckload, the Bush administration pondered how to systematically detain such persons in a manner that would provide adequate detention while maintaining intelligence-gathering capabilities vital to the war efforts. The answer was found on the island of Cuba: Guantanamo Bay. U. S. naval forces have occupied this site since 1903, and it seemed to provide the perfect solution. Relying on the Courts previous precedent in Johnson v. Eisentrager, govemment officials believed that keeping enemy combatants outside the realm of U.  S. territory would preclude such individual’s filing, among other things, claims for habeas corpus review. The govemments legal position was tested almost as quickly as the detainees arrived. Beginning in 2002, the United States transported captured enemy combatants to the area of Guantanamo Bay known as Camp X-Ray. Applications for writs of habeas corpus by Guantanamo detainees were made as early as February 2002. In Coalition of Clergy v. Bush, the U. S. District Court for the Central District of California first approached this issue in line with govemment expectations. Relying on Johnson v. Eisentrager, the court held that several U. S. citizens under the Coalition of Clergy, Lawyers, and Professors who had filed show cause petitions on behalf of enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay lacked standing to assert claims on behalf of the detainees. The court further concluded that, even if petitioners did have standing, this court lacked jurisdiction to entertain those claims. Moreover, the court found that no federal court would have jurisdiction over petitioners claims, so there is no basis to transfer this matter to another federal district court. Because Guantanamo Bay remained outside U. S. sovereignty, the case closely mirrored that of Eisentrager As a result, the United States failed to maintain jurisdiction and the court dismissed the petition. In response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Congress passed the Authorization for Use of Military Force which grants the President power to use all necessary and appropriate force' against all who either participated in any way in those attacks or gave refuge to those who participated. Under this authority, the Department of Defense ordered several enemy combatants to be transferred to Guantanamo Bay for detention. In Hamdi v. Rumsfeld, a plurality of the Court recognized that the ability to detain individuals engaged in armed conflict against the United States was so fundamental and accepted an incident to war as to be an exercise of the necessary and appropriate force Congress has authorized the President to use. Notwithstanding this explicit sanction of detention, the Court held that the citizen-detainee seeking to challenge his classification as an enemy combatant must receive notice of the factual basis for his classification, and a fair opportunity to rebut the Governments factual assertions before a neutral decision maker. The Court suggested that this could be done by an appropriately authorized and properly constituted military tribunal. Pond, B. C. (2009). The rationale for the U. S. detention policy derives from the Bush administrations comprehensive military order issued on November 13, 001, which is intended to govern the Detention, Treatment, and Trial of Certain Non-Citizens in the War against Terrorism. Purportedly modeled after a proclamation and military order issued by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt during World War II, President Bushs military order limits the use of military commissions to any non-citizen for whom the president determines: is or was a member of al Qaeda, has committed, aided or abetted, or conspired to commit terrorist acts, or has knowingly harbored one or more of these individuals. Several months after the issuance of this military order, the administration began using the term enemy combatant to describe those subject to detention and trial by military commission. The administrations definition of enemy combatant, however, has varied over time. The administration sometimes uses the enemy combatant label as a term of art to describe a new and unique category of combatant in the post 9/11 world. On other occasions, the administration uses the term generically to describe what traditionally has been called lawful and unlawful combatants, while at other times the term is used synonymously with unlawful combatants. According to this definition, the term enemy combatant is not limited to war combatants alone, but includes anyone who has aided terrorist organizations fighting against the United States, including those who may have unwittingly given financial support to al Qaeda. The Joint Chiefs of Staff issued a slightly different definition of enemy combatant on March 23, 2005. According to Joint Publication 3-63, entitled Joint Doctrine for Detainee Operations, the term enemy combatant describes a new category of detainee and includes, but is not necessarily limited to, a member or agent of Al Qaeda, Taliban, or another international terrorist organization against which [the] United States is engaged in an armed conflict. Staab, J. B. (2008). Conclusion The premise behind habeas corpus as stated is to bring people into court rather than out of imprisonment. However in my opinion, during the Bush administration, they found a way around this law so as to not have to give a trial. While I want justice like the next person, I would not like to be in a situation where I am being held under the pretence that I a criminal without evidence or a trial. I am not saying that the people held were/are innocent, but I can’t help but to think we cannot be sure. I think that capturing these people were also done out of revenge and thus not urging anyone to think of their right. The 9/11 attack was gut ranching and frankly something I never want to experience again, so I do understand the need to talk less and carry a big stick. From an honest stand point, after 9/11 I was scared to do anything, while I am of no Middle Eastern decent, I look like an Indian person from India, that meant no one ask you where you are from when they look at you suspiciously. Even with all the rights I have in the U. S. A if I was suspected of being suspicious and someone higher and more powerful said that I had dealing with terrorists activities, no one will honestly believe me because of the way I look. Bring me to my point that without a trial we cannot tell for sure of the people being held in Cuba was innocent or guilty without a trail.

Geoffrey Chaucers The Canterbury Tales :: essays research papers

The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, which was published in March 1981 by Bantam Books in New York, New York is a funny piece of work about twenty- nine characters and their stories while on their way to Canterbury. The twenty-nine characters have to tell two stories on their trip to Canterbury. In the Wife of Bath tale, the wife of bath tells of a tale of a young knight, the central character in the story. After he raped a woman, he must roam the countryside in search to the answer to the question â€Å"what is it that women most desire?† This is the plot, for he must find the answer in order to live. The knight only has one year to get to answer this question and then he has to return to King Arthur’s court and await his sentence. The setting is in King Arthur’s court when a young man saw a pretty maiden and raped her. The King was going to sentence him to death but the Queen decided to give him one year to answer the question . The story is told from the Wife of Bath’s point of view for she is narrating the story. So the conflict, being that he has to find the answer, is established. The knight’s journey does not go well. Finally on the last day that he has, he comes up to a group of women, as he approaches they disappear and an old woman appears. This part is the climax of the plot because it is when the knight finally knows the answer. The old woman says that she knows the answer but she will only tell it to the Queen and in return she must do anything that she asks of him. The knight agrees. Finally, while in the presence of the Queen, she tells her that the answer to what all women desire is sovereignty over their husbands. No one disagrees with her answer and so the old woman asks that she be married to the knight. The knight having sworn to do whatever she pleased reluctantly agrees. But this is not the resolution. It happens later on while on their wedding night. The knight is somewhat disgusted and so the old woman goes on to lecture him on the trivial nature of appearances. She tells the knight whether he would prefer to have a woman ugly by day, yet loyal and faithful the rest of the time or to be beautiful and take his chances the rest of the time.

Assessing Writing Skills in a Communicative Paradigm Essay

Communicative Language Testing is intended to assess learners’ ability to using the target language in real life situations. Its now ten years since Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) has been introduced in secondary English curriculum of Bangladesh. Therefore, the test of English at the SSC level is now facing the challenges of assessing learners’ communicative skills. This study looks at the existing model of the SSC English test and explores the possibilities of incorporating a more communicatively based test format. The study is carried out on the basis of an evaluation of the test items on writing skills set in the SSC test papers. It also explores the views of Bangladeshi secondary English teachers and internationally renowned Language Testing Experts. In this paper, it is argued that, though secondary English education in Bangladesh has stepped into a communicative era ten years back, the current SSC test is not in accordance with the curriculum objectives. It is found that the test items on writing lack both validity and reliability. Suggestions made for improving the current SSC test include: defining the purpose of communication in English for SSC level learners, drafting test specifications, setting test items which are more relevant to a communicative purpose, and developing a marking scheme to mark the subjective items. Introduction The concept of Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) has had much influence in the fields of English language teaching, curriculum and test design. Since the 1970s, there have been considerable developments in the area of language testing. Various theories and practical testing models have evolved following the concept of communicative competence. Bangladesh has introduced a communicative English curriculum at its secondary education sector. However, the aims and objectives of the communicative curriculum can never be achieved without a testing system that assesses the communicative ability of learners. This paper looks at the existing Secondary School Certificate (SSC) English examination to identify the elements of communicative testing in it and examines the suitability of this testing system to the curriculum goals. The study involves a critical analysis of the current SSC test. It also explores the views of Bangladeshi secondary English teachers and two internationally renowned language testing experts on the SSC test and investigates the ways of making it more communicatively based. Background of English Language Teaching (ELT) in Bangladesh The teaching of English in Bangladesh has a long history that traces back to the colonial era. However, the British models of teaching English continued to influence the ELT scenario of post-colonial Bengal even after the colonial rule was over in 1947. Since then the grammar translation method continued to influence the ELT scenario as the most dominant teaching method in the Indian subcontinent. After the independence of Bangladesh (1971), several attempts were made to re-design ELT sector with little or no success. In 1990, a four year ELT project called Orientation of Secondary School Teachers for Teaching English in Bangladesh (OSSTTEB) was jointly launched by the Government of Bangladesh and DFID, UK to improve English Language Teaching and Learning at secondary level. This project revised, adapted and revamped the secondary English curriculum (Hoque, 1999). In 1997, a major step was initiated with the introduction of English Language Teaching Improvement Project (ELTIP). The project started working with a view to improving the communicative competence of the secondary level learners. Under this project, a communicative curriculum, revised text books and newly written Teachers’ Guides (TGs) were developed and some 30 thousand English teachers, test administrators, and markers were trained. The SSC examination The SSC is the first public examination in Bangladesh that learners sit for after 10 years of schooling. Students take English as a compulsory subject at this level. The examination is administered countrywide through the seven Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE). The question papers are set by the respective BISE independently following the national curriculum and syllabus of National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB). The syllabus document of NCTB explicitly recommends a testing system that is in keeping with the spirits of CLT. The new syllabus document for classes 9-10 (NCTB 1999: 135) mentions, â€Å"Until and unless a suitable public examination is devised that tests English language skills rather than students’ ability to memorise and copy without understanding, the aims and objectives of the syllabus can never be realised.† Moreover samples of question papers were provided in the TGs and Teachers were encouraged to follow the test models. Research Questions This study is concerned with the following research questions: 1. How are students’ writing skills tested by the existing SSC English examinations? 2. To what extent are these test items communicatively based? 3. What do Bangladeshi teachers and the international testing experts think of the current SSC English examination? 4. How can the SSC examination be improved to reflect the goals stated in the national curriculum and syllabus document? Research methodology The approach to this resaerch belongs to the interpretative epistemology which argues that knowledge, in social research, is concerned not with generalization, prediction and control but with interpretation, meaning and illumination (Usher, 1996: 12). The approach here is guided by the belief that reality is a complex phenomenon which does not admit orderly events or simple cause-effect relationship. The data used is not only concerned with facts but also with values. In looking at a testing system which is comparatively new in the context of Bangladesh, it is admitted that reality is a human construct. The aim here is to explore perspectives and shared meanings (Wellington, 2000: 16) and the data used here is qualitative. The research procedure uses three different sources for collecting data and involves three steps. They are: a) a critical evaluation of the SSC English test format, b) collecting the views of Bangladeshi English teachers through questionnaires and, c) interviewing the two Australian testing experts based at Melbourne Univeristy. The evaluation of SSC examination includes a close analysis of the existing SSC test papers, syllabus document and marking criteria. The questionnaire attempts to explore the values and attitudes of secondary English teachers in relation to the SSC English testing system. The interviews with the language testing experts are intended to generate valuable ideas that could be applicable in improving the testing system of SSC. The development of modern language testing The development of modern language testing occurred in three historical phases prior to and during the 1970s. These three periods are- the scientific era, the psychometric-structuralist era and the integrative sociolinguistic era Spolsky (1978:5). According to Spolsky, the pre-scientific era was characterised by a lack of concern for statistical matters or for such notions as objectivity and reliability in language testing whereas the psychometric-structuralist period was concerned with tests that focus on discrete item tests. In fact, the psychometric-structuralist approach provided the basis for the flourishing of the standardised language test with its emphasis on discrete structure point items. However, discrete point tests were also criticised for being insufficient indicators of language proficiency (Oller 1979: 212). Language testing was directed to global tests in the 1970s, which opened up the psycholinguistic-sociolinguistic era (Weir, 1988: 3). This format of global and in tegrative tests (such as cloze) gained theoretical support from many researchers. Davies distinguishes four important types of language tests on the basis of their function or use- achievement tests, proficiency tests, aptitude tests and diagnostic tests (Davies and Allan 1977: 46-7). While achievement tests are concerned with assessing what has been learned of a known syllabus, proficiency tests are based on assessing the learning of either a known or unknown syllabus. The concept of communicative competence The idea of communicative language teaching emerged in the 1970s following Hymes’ theory of communicative competence, which greatly emphasised learners’ ability to use language in context, particularly, in terms of social demands of performance (McNamara, 2000: 116). Hymes believes that knowing a language is more than knowing its rules. Once Hymes proposed the idea of communicative competence, it was expanded in various ways during the following two decades. The term competence was interpreted in many different ways by researchers. To some it simply means the ability to ‘communicate’; to others it means the social rules of language use; and to yet other, it refers to a set of abilities including knowledge of linguistics, socio-linguistics and discourse rules (Bachman & Palmar, 1984: 34). However, the basic idea of communicative competence remains the ability to use language appropriately, both receptively and productively, in real situations (Kiato, et al. 1996: 1) The development of communicative language testing The idea of communicative testing was developed on the basis of Hymes’ two dimensional model of communicative competence that comprises a linguistic and a sociolinguistic element. Davies et al. gives the following definition of communicative language tests: Communicative tests are tests of communicative skills, typically used in contradistinction to tests of grammatical knowledge. Such tests often claim to operationalise theories of communicative competence, although the form they take will depend on which dimension they choose to emphasise, be it specificity to context, authenticity of materials or the simulation of real life performance.   (Davies et al. 1999: 26) Harrison mentions three ingredients which distinguishes a communicative language test from other tests. He argues: 1. A communicative test should assess language used for a purpose beyond itself. 2. A communicative test should depend on the bridging of an information gap. It has to propose a language using purpose which can be fulfilled by the communicative skill so far acquired by the learners. 3. A communicative test should represent an encounter. The situation at the end of it should be different from what it was at the beginning, and this means that there has to be some sequence within the test. (Harrison, 1983: 77-8) Competence Vs performance There have been debates among the researchers regarding the nature and function of communicative tests. One issue of controversy was how to specify the components of communicative competence and to relate them in measuring performances. Another complication arose as the terms ‘competence’ and ‘performance’ were used differently by various researchers suggesting important distinctions between them. Chomsky (1965) claimed that ‘competence’ refers to the linguistic system which an ideal native speaker has internalized whereas ‘performance’ is mainly concerned with the psychological factors that are involved in the perception and production of speech. Later Hymes (1972) explicitly, and Campbell and Wales (1970) implicitly proposed a broader notion of communicative competence in which they included grammatical competence as well as contextual or sociolinguistic competence. They, however, adopted the distinction between communicative ‘competence’ and ‘performance’. According to Canale and Swain (1980: 3) ‘competence’ refers to knowledge of grammar and other aspects of language while ‘performance’ refers to actual use. For the language testing researchers it was difficult to determine an ideal test model, which could be valid and reliable enough to test communicative competence. They were concerned with what performances for task based activities need to be devised in order to assess learners’ communicative competence. The most discussed answer to this query is the one provided by Canale and Swain (1980) who, in their influential work ‘Approaches to Second Language Testing’ specified four aspects of knowledge or competence- grammatical competence, sociolinguistic competence, strategic competence and discourse competence. What makes good communicative tests? Though a communicative language test intents to measure how students use language in real life, it is difficult to set a task that can measure communicative competence in real contexts. Ellison (2001: 44) argues that testing by its very nature is artificial and unless we are to follow an examinee around all the time noting how he/she deals with the target language in all situations, we necessarily have a less than real situation. However, it should be the aim of the test setter to try and complement real situations as much as possible. Referring to the difficulty of identifying the elements of communicative testing Morrow (1991) states: The essential question which a communicative test must answer is whether or not (or how well) a candidate can use language to communicate meanings. But ‘communicate meanings’ is very elusive criterion indeed on which to base judgment. (Morrow, 1991: 112) There have been attempts to develop a model for communicative competence and valid tests of its components. Bachman and Palmer (1984: 35) describe three approaches: the skill-component approach, communicative approach and measurement approach to specify what language tests measure. Offering a detailed interpretation of the Canale-Swain communicative approach, Bachman and Palmer specify some factors (trait factors, modal factors, method factors) that should be considered while designing a performance test. Having examined the structure of a model which encompasses these three factors, Skehan (1991: 9) regarded it as ‘being of pivotal importance in influencing the language testing theories and practices throughout the 1990s.’ Later Bachman went further as he offered important distinctions between task-based and construct-based approaches to test design. He explained: The procedures for design, development, and use of language tests must incorporate both a specification of the assessment task to be included and definition of the abilities to be assessed. (Bachman, 2000: 456) Task based language assessment gave rise to two questions: a) How real-life task types are identified, selected and characterized and how pedagogic or assessment tasks are related to these (Bachman, 2000: 459) . The discussion of different approaches to language testing are concerned with their strengths and limitations in terms of the criteria of validity and reliability. Validity in language testing is about whether a test can measure what it is intended to measure. Other arguments regarding the test validity include the question of content relevance and representativeness, task difficulty etc. Reliability refers to the extent to which test scores are consistent. Assessing second language writing Assessment of second language writing has been discussed on the basis of two different approaches: objective test of writing and direct test of writing. Objective tests claim to test writing through verbal reasoning, error recognition and other measures that have been shown fairly highly with measured writing ability (Lyons, 1991: 5). In direct tests of writing, actual samples of students’ writings are assessed. In fact, direct tests of writing have won the support of many researchers as they engage students with more communicative and creative task types. However, this approach has also been criticised for lacking reliability. Despite their problems with reliability, direct tests are still very popular in many academic settings throughout the world. Kiato et al. (1996: 2) refer to some typical problems of testing writing. They point out that testing writing objectively may not necessarily reflect the way it is used by the students in the real world. On the other hand, testing of writing in a way that reflects how the students use writing in real world is difficult to evaluate objectively and the test setters has less control over the writing tasks. However, they argue that the ability to write should involve six component skills- grammatical ability, lexical ability, mechanical ability, stylistic skills, organisational skills and judgment of appropriacy. Among the writing tasks they find useful are: gap filling, form completion, making corrections, letter and essay writing. Weir (1988: 63-4) offers an elaborate discussion on both indirect (objective) and direct tests and distinguishes the two types. He argues that writing can be divided into discrete elements such as grammar, vocabulary and punctuation etc. and these elements are tested separately by the use of objective tests. He suggested that both productive and receptive skills can be broken down in to levels of grammar and lexis according to a discrete point framework and objective tasks such as cloze, selective deletion, gap filling etc. can be designed for testing reading with writing. Weir describes the direct test of writing as a more integrative test which tests a candidate’s ability to perform certain of the functional tasks required in the performance of duties in the target situation. Research on writing involving both native speakers and second language are also concerned with basic studies of the nature of writing process in order to relate them to the validity of writing test tasks. Some of the questions concerned are: 1. To what extent is performance influenced by the amount of prior knowledge that writers have about the topic that they are asked to write about in a test? 2. Does it make a difference how the writing task is specified on the test paper? 3. Do different types of tasks produce significant difference in the performance of learners in a writing test? (Read, 1991: 77) Johns (1991: 171) suggests three criteria for academic testing of writing- (1) use of reading for writing assessment: testing for audience awareness, (2) exploitation of common writing genres: argumentation and problem solution, and (3) testing of subject matter, conceptual control and planning. He insists that reading and writing be combined to give a more authentic context for testing writing for academic purpose. He says: Because reading and writing are interconnected at all academic levels, it seems unprofessional and certainly unacademic to test writing without the genuine interactivity that reading provides. (Johns, 19991: 176) Literature on testing has suggested different strategies to cope with the problem of making direct writing tasks. The problem with these tasks is they are very difficult to mark as the marking of such tasks is somewhat subjective. One solution suggested by many testing experts is to use an analytical marking scheme to help make the marking consistent. Murphy (1979: 19) outlined the nature of a marking scheme demanded by the Associated Examining Boards, â€Å"A marking scheme is a comprehensive document indicating the explicit criteria against which candidate’s answers will be judged; it enables the examiners to relate particular marks to answers of specified quality.† There have been discussions on two types of marking for free writing tasks- impressionistic and analytic. However there are arguments over what valid and reliable measures of writing can be used and what might be the relationship of these measures to overall impressionistic quality rating. The TOFEL examination included a direct writing measure (Connor, 1991: 216) in 1986 for the test of written English that was marked holistically (TOFEL test of written English guide 1989). A great deal of research was conducted by the Educational Testing Service into the development and validation of a measure to assess communicative competence in writing (Bridgman Carlson, 1983; Carlson et al. 1985). A holistic scoring guide was developed to mark two general topics-comparison/contrast and describing a graph that had six levels and included syntactic and rhetorical criteria. The Test of Written English Scoring Guidelines (1989) identified the following criteria of a written task. An essay in the highest category is- well organized and well developed, effectively addressed the writing task, uses appropriate details to support or illustrate ideas, shows unity, coherence and progression, displays consistent facility in the use of language, and demonstrates syntactic variety and appropriate word choice. (The Test of Written English Scoring Guidelines, 989) The marking scheme suggested by ELTIP to help teachers assess writing compositions is made on the basis of five criteria- grammar, vocabulary, mechanical accuracy, communication and content. A Marking scheme like this shows how developments in language testing research are providing models to cope with the challenges of marking writing tasks. The SSC Curriculum, syllabus and the test The SSC is the school leaving public examination for grad 10 students. English is a compulsory subject at this level and the test of English is an achievement test in kind. The test is designed to test reading and writing skills only as there is no provision of testing listening and speaking skills. The NCTB syllabus of English focuses on the development of the four skills through learner-centred activities within meaningful contexts. It gives importance to choosing contexts which reflect actual social situations outside the classroom and make the learning of English ‘relevant, interesting and enjoyable’. It is expected as per the syllabus that students should achieve an ‘elementary to intermediate command of the four language skills’ by the end of secondary level. The curriculum document specifies the objective and purposes of learning English as it states: English needs to be recognised as an essential work-oriented skill that is needed if the employment, development and educational needs of the country are to be met successfully. Increased communicative competence in English, therefore, constitutes a vital skill for learners at this stage. (SSC Syllabus Document, 1999, NCTB: 136) Terminal competencies in four skills are specified in the NCTB syllabus. The competencies for writing skills for grade 10 are defined as follows: Students should be able to- a) write simple dialogues, formal and informal letters including letters of application and reports. b) demonstrate imagination and creativity in appropriate writing forms. c) fill in the forms (i.e. job applications etc.) and write a curriculum vitae d) plan and organise the above tasks efficiently so as to communicate ideas and facts clearly, accurately and with relevance to the topic. e) take notes and dictations f) use different punctuation and geographical devices appropriately.

Globalization and Religion in Latin America Essay

Dr. Marian Cusimano Love’s argument on globalization is very clear and straight forward as she pointed out the other side of globalization, which according to her creates institutional crises â€Å"as existing states and regimes are having difficulties in coping with the challenges globalization brings† (p. 2). She contends that this difficulty creates and exacerbates institutional gap. The institutional gap according to the author is that while globalization is at fast pace, institutional responses is slow. The problems move faster than the solutions to it and this cannot be managed by any government alone even by the strongest state in the world. However the author’s emphasis falls on the institutional gap that exists between the rich and poor countries. Here, the author rightly pointed out the wide discrepancy of the rich and poor countries in the sharing of the benefits of globalization. The author argues that only the rich countries led by the United States enjoy the benefits of globalization as the world economy is ruled by Multinational Corporation, which only cares about profits while the states seek wealth and development. Thus, the author pointed out that whether globalization is driven by multinational companies or by powerful states,† many observers decry the ethical basis of globalization is driven by an ethic of crass materialism and consumption, or western cultural imperialism† (p. 4) As the ethical issue widens, the author emphasized that today more than half of the world’s population are not getting any benefits of globalization, and human development is unfulfilled, sacred creation is destroyed, and human life is lost. This emphasis clearly implies a strong course of action in favor of the poor people or poor states that cannot advance or protect their interest in the global economy. The author noted that this problem is looming and worsening as the world’s poorest population is growing which will further enhance the gap between the rich and the poor. The author’s discussion of the unequal sharing of the benefits of globalization calls for a unified response from rich countries on the growing ethical concerns between the rich and poor countries, because, after all poor people are also sacred creation. But as the author turned to religion to search for answer to the growing institutional and ethical crises brought about by globalization, it appears that this is not possible as the corporations and states are not only engines but are both engine and beneficiaries of globalization. In turning to religion, the author presented an entirely different view from that of the states or corporation. The author noted that corporations view people as a source of profit while the state sees people as a subject to be governed or taxpayers. Religion sees people not as an instrument or a servant or useful object, but a spiritual being created by God, therefore he must be independent. He has the right to share in the blessings, which is the product of economic development. The author argues, â€Å"Religious organization has long been playing an active role in globalization† (p. 5), and can be a mediating institution in the institutional and ethical gap between the rich and the poor. I believed that the author is right in saying that religious organization â€Å"may have some advantages in responding to these institutional gaps, to help manage the problem of globalization† (p. 6). Indeed, many religious international organizations are doing exactly these things. The author cited that there is already a course of action taken in coordination with the Roman Catholic bishops of Latin America and the Canadian Bishops Conference, which is a seminar on debt relief for heavily indebted poor countries. This is important course of action because it proves that religious institution can indeed fulfill the task of bridging the gap between the rich and the poor. The Latin American Catholic bishops were coordinated for the conference for the reason perhaps that many of the world’s poorer country is located in Latin America. It is where most of these ethical problems relating to benefit of globalization are generally experienced. In bridging the gap by the Catholic Church, the author pointed out that the US bishops and the United States Catholic Church â€Å"may not be well equipped to bridge the gaps created by global problems† (P. 8) as US Catholic bishops are not quick to make decisions, and â€Å"many developing countries believed that globalization benefits the US at their expense† (p 8). I think these reasons are valid, as it has been mentioned in this paper that the US along with other rich countries and multinational corporations are the ones who get most of the globalization benefits. But Catholic Church is a global institution with highly organized yet centralized leadership, which would be ideal in mediating or bridging the gap created by the problem of globalization. The Latin American Catholic Church can perfectly facilitates this bridging as the economy of most Latin American nation belongs to the third world economies. They maybe fully know the whole agenda of bridging the gaps between the poor and the rich economies of the world. The author noted that the Catholic Church has over 2000 years’ experience as a global institution, which made the Catholic Church deserving of the task. Furthermore the author pointed out that â€Å"globalization brings institutional gaps, but the Catholic Church has rich, extensive networks and institutions, from schools and hospitals to parishes and social development agencies, which are not only service oriented but in it for the long haul† (p.8). Religion bridges the institutional gap of rich and poor by presenting alternative visions of globalization, which is seeing people not as market, nor instrument but people of God that participate in the benefits of globalization. Work Cited Love, Maryann Cusimano. Bridging the Gap: Globalization and Religion, and the Institutions of the U. S. Catholic Church. USA: American Academy of Religions Conference, November 20, 2001.