Picture Glossary of Geological Landforms

Picture Glossary of Geological Landforms The Earth has a various scene of comprised of a wide range of landforms. These landforms have been molded by everything from people to climate and even the moving of the structural plates. These dazzling photographs of each landform type will help outline the miracles of nature surrounding us. Depositional Landforms Depositional Landformsâ areâ built up by development of material, typically residue. Alluvial Fan-Where dregs spills from slopes into heaps on fields. Bajada-Apron of flotsam and jetsam worked of numerous alluvial fans. Bar-Sediment heaped over the mouth of a waterway or narrows. Boundary Island-Long sandy bar that monitors the coast. Sea shore Sandy shore among land and ocean. Delta-Where silt fills the mouth of a waterway. Hill Pile of fine sand worked by the breeze. Floodplain-Wide sloppy pads flanking a waterway. Avalanche Sediment store made by mass development. Magma Flow-Building square of volcanoes. Levee-Natural embankment along a waterway, once in a while observed today. Mud Volcano-Edifice worked by ejections of gas-charged dregs. Playa-Dry lake bed, normally dusty or salty. Spit-Bar or obstruction island becoming seaward into vast water. Patio Ancient seat incorporated with a disappeared lake. Tombolo-Sandbar joining two parcels. Tufa Tower-Limy development uncovered as a mineral lake dies down. Fountain of liquid magma Mountain that develops from within up. Uncommon Galleries: Landslides, Tombolos, Mud Volcanoes Erosional Landforms Erosional Landformsâ are cut by the powers of disintegration. Disintegration is when landmasses are formed by water. Curve Short-lived normal scaffolds of stone. Arroyo-Flat-stunned streambed ordinary of deserts. Barren wilderness Mazelike territory of solid stream analyzation. Butte-Narrow table mountain or unexpectedly rising stone slope. Gully Large, steep-walled rough valley. Fireplace Column of rock remaining in the water off a sea shore. Bluff Precipitous stone face of different statures. Cirque-Mountainside bowl formed by an icy mass. Cuesta-Ridge of hard rock beds that incline tenderly. Chasm High-walled rough valley cut by overwhelming waters. Gorge Steep and limited gorge dissolved by streak floods. Ravine Small channel cut into a delicate material. Hanging Valley-Stream bed that closes in a cascade. Hogback-Ridge of hard rock beds that incline steeply. Hoodoo-Tall stone section cut by desert disintegration. Hoodoo Rock-Bizarre stone shape cut by desert disintegration. Inselberg-Remnant rock handle run of the mill of deserts. Plateau Table mountain, steep-sided and level beat. Monadnock-Mountainous remainder of boundless provincial disintegration. Mountain-Large, rough slope with a pinnacle. Gorge Narrow, rough valley cut by water. Ocean Arch-Arch cut by sea waves. Sinkhole-Collapsed ground where basic stone has been expelled. Tor-Rounded rough handle uncovered from an underground source. Valley when all is said in done, low ground with high ground around it. Volcanic Neck-Solid magma center of a previous spring of gushing lava. Wash or Wadi-Streambed that is typically either dry or overwhelmed. Water Gap-River valley that slices through a stone edge. Wave-Cut Platform-Rock surface slice level by long presentation to surf. Yardang-Sediment shape cut by wild desert winds. Structural Landforms Structural Landforms are made by developments of Earths hull, for example, earthquakes.â Slope Large precipice normally made by blaming. Flaw Scarp-Short-lived indication of quake relocation. Weight Ridge-When all things considered comes to push, rock rises. Fracture Valley-Formed by parting lithospheric plates. List Basin-When pull comes to pull, rock falls. Shade Ridge-High ground pulled sideways over a stream. Stream Offset-Disruption of a conduit by rehashed shortcoming movement.

The Travesty of the Holocaust Essay Example for Free

The Travesty of the Holocaust Essay Since the beginning of history, man has looked for and shunned what is new. Obliviousness is the base of the start of insidiousness thus it was with the Holocaust. I will say the Holocaust as monstrous as it seems to be, isn't the main annihilation nor has it been the last. The world despite everything watches on, as if individuals are nevertheless grain, as individuals keep on being executed for not having a place with a specific clan. It is of Africa, I talk decimation proceeds into even this our cutting edge age. I likewise can't resist the opportunity to think about the Native Americans, on a landmass where a huge number of countries once flourished. Presently there are nevertheless an insufficient bunch. Numerous countries went from this world to termination. Holocaust, massacre horrendous, massive malevolence brought into the world. The issue is pounding such malicious. The Talmud instructs that, to do nothing even with malicious, that individual is as without a doubt blameworthy as the attackers. The blood of many is on the entirety of our hands. Christian Theology and Anti-Judaism Since the commencement of Christianity there has been erosion among Judaism and Christianity. These issues were tended to in the New Testament starting with Acts and proceeding with the letters of Paul. The essential issues were whether Jesus was the Son of God and whether Christians needed to adhere to Judaic law. The primary issue made an unmistakable abyss among Jews and Christians. Christians tolerating the divinity of Christ. While Jews dismissed this. The subsequent inquiry with respect to Judaic law was at last dismissed by the Christian church. Also, the two beliefs went separate ways. Shakespeare depicted Jews as penny pinchers, in the Merchant of Venice. So the contention among Jews and Christians has a long history. Here and there maybe, the Holocaust was the summit of this disdain. In any case, by one way or another, I don't think so. People tend to abandon helping other people not quite the same as themselves. I think one about the saddest pieces of the Holocaust is the disavowal of normal, standard Germans who knew, who needed to know about the abominations around them and sat idle. The craziness of Hitler is a certain something. Be that as it may, for standard individuals to permit such monstrosities, I can't comprehend. Americans are similarly as liable expression of the camps was known at the outset and America decided to sit idle. I am helped to remember a statement from Elise Wiesel: It happened yesterday, endless time periods back, a youthful Jewish kid found the kingdome of the night. I recollected his bewilderment. I recollect his anguish. Everything happened so quick. The pronouncements. The expelling. The fixed cows vehicle. The red hot change whereupon the historical backdrop of our kin and the fate of humankind were intended to be relinquished. I recollect that: He asked his dad. Would this be able to be valid? This is the twentieth century not the Middle Ages. Who might permit such violations to be submitted? How could the world stay quiet? To be sure, how does the world stay quiet still? Unquestionably, this is a definitive sin, a definitive ungodly act against God. Individuals see. Individuals hear. Individuals know. What's more, individuals stand inactively by and sit idle. Shoah obviously, Shoah in Hebrew methods Holocaust. Luckily it is additionally the name of a venture started by Steven Speilberg. The Shoah is a momentous venture to help safeguard the abominations of Nazism and the Holocaust. The Shoah venture assists with safeguarding the recollections of survivors who are maturing. The Shoah Project assists with keeping what the Nazis did a contemptuous wrongdoing and not to diminish these survivors recollections to negligible books. I realize that piece of the objective is to shield such things from happening once more. In any case, this isn't the situation. Individuals are as yet executed for the shade of their skin, their convictions. Today, those of Arabic plummet are currently at the brunt of other people who think themselves better or prevalent. The exercises took in should shield mankind from permitting destruction. However, more than 200,000 Africans have been executed in light of the fact that they are of an alternate clan. Millions more are in displaced person camps trusting and standing by to get away from the abhorrences of this war. Little kids have been macheted and lost their appendages. The Holocaust ought not blur from our recollections, ever. Keeps an eye on ability of awful loathsomeness and to safeguard the narratives, the message of the Holocaust is saved. There are the individuals who might need to eradicate the holocaust from memory, as most likely as servitude is still denied. There is no reason for such conduct, it is left to the informed to keep the memory and to guarantee that the abominations of history are not overlooked. Each age can profit by the Shoah venture. Discrimination against Jews is inconvenient, in light of the fact that there are individuals who have the boldness to guarantee that the Holocaust never occurred. Tragically, numbness is the foundation of this ailment and as miserable as it seems to be, obliviousness will stay a piece of mankind. There is likewise this abnormal need, need of people to think themselves unrivaled. The foundation of this being individuals feel mediocre thus should bring down another to cause themselves to feel better. Reparable, yes. Likely, no. I don't accept that there is any reason for discrimination against Jews or Anti-Judaism. The Jewish culture has advanced our lives, despite the fact that individuals regularly don't value all that Jewish culture brings to the table. Tragically, there is no motivation to ever take another individual paying little mind to race, religion, or some other purpose behind allowed. Jewish individuals have contributed extraordinarily to our way of life. However, their achievements are stayed silent out of dread or disgrace. An ongoing model, is the recently chosen Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. His mom is Jewish and in light of the fact that a people Jewishness is demonstrated along the line of the mother (since ones mother can be denied). This man shrouded an extraordinary and amazing society. The Jews are by all account not the only ones blameworthy of such conduct numerous different outsiders have done likewise, for example, those of Irish or Italian plummet. Hostile to Judaism may well have an influence in keeping the Shoah program from being effective. One issue is that the Holocaust was not entirely against the Jews. Others likewise endured and passed on because of the Nazi system gay people, the intellectually sick, tramps, and different races. Russians were additionally killed in Nazi camps. It is these individuals that may are not perceived or recalled. Not the slightest bit should the hazards of the Jewish experience be minimized. However the Jewish individuals ought to likewise assume a job in assisting with reviewing the individuals who were not Jewish and who were additionally killed. I think disdain manufactures when the Holocaust is treated as though those of Judaic plummet were the main ones to endure. Helen Keller once stated, The world is brimming with anguish. On the off chance that nothing else maybe the way that being human is to endure, might be something that could unite individuals as opposed to isolating them. The Nazi Pogrom and Christianity It is deplorable, however though evident. Nearly a similar kind of Antisemitism was shown during the Passion of the Christ. Indeed, even the Catholic church in choosing not to see away from the Jews during the Holocaust, concurred with the reason. Jews depicted as the killers of Christ. The incongruity being on the off chance that Christ had not been martyred, at that point Jesus could have barely been spoken to as the Son of God or Messiah. Shockingly this was the association Germans and numerous Christians made to legitimize the holocaust against the Jews. Scholarly religious philosophy, I don't accept can make the contention. Be that as it may, in the time of the 30s and 40s depicting the Jews as Christ executioners was a significant bit of satisfactory purposeful publicity. This subject cropped up again during the 80s when The Temptation of Christ, Martin Scorsces delineation of Christ was brought to the theaters. The Conservative Christian right mobilized thus started developments to shield individuals from seeing the film. In 2004, Mel Gibsons The Passion of the Christ, would likewise bring an influx of discrimination against Jews. I accept the individuals who have a propensity toward discrimination against Jews would utilize these as a further reason to legitimize disdain. The Jewish individuals were depicted as huge. Assumed clinical research upheld the contrasts among Jews and an ordinary person. This is by all accounts a standard practice when a race or culture is vilified for termination. The Indians were depicted as barbarian savages, unequipped for living among the white men. Africans were portrayed as kids that should have been dealt with and shielded. Jews are delineated as being narrow minded, stingy, and by one way or another not exactly human. By making the other race or ethnicity sub-human their elimination turns out to be by one way or another simpler. For on the off chance that one isn't completely human, however underneath humankind then isnt the world happier with the cleanse of these sub-people? As Americans, we see this de-acculturation process being conveyed against foreigners. Hispanics are portrayed as parasites some way or another exploiting the American individuals. Truly this has been the depiction of settlers all through American history, in any event. The Irish, the Chinese, any individual considered non-local to the Americas have been depicted as sub-human and dishonorable of settlement in Northern America. Deuteronomy and Jeremiah Throughout the Old Testament God beseeches, His kin to recollect. To recall what it is to be oppressed. What it is to be free. These are the establishments of human instinct. To endure. To recollect. To recount to the story, in case it be overlooked. The stanzas from Deuteronomy help the Jewish individuals to remember their once subjugation to Egypt and their excursion out of servitude. Neither of these encounters were not lovely, anyway at last it is Gods devotion and leniency that wins through each tribulation. Jeremiah, is more hard to decipher, except if it is attached to the Kaballah. The Kaballah, importunes individuals to recollect and satisfy the best of the individual who is gone from this world. In this unique situation, the statement in Jeremiah bodes well, again there is the guarantee of Adonai, to reestablish his kin to their legitimate status. End I am helped to remember the statement from Hosea 6. 1,2: Come, let us come back to Adonai. He has lease us and he will mend us; he has struck us and he will tie up our injuries

How to Find a Supplier for Your Products in China

How to Find a Supplier for Your Products in China The past few years have seen a huge surge of interest towards China. Foreign businesses are taking advantage of the country’s lower manufacturing and labor costs, as well as the huge market potential the country offers. © Shutterstock.com | zhu difengIf you’re thinking about finding a supplier in China for your products, this guide will help you navigate through the process smoothly. It’ll explain you the benefits and risks associated with contracting a Chinese supplier and provide you tips on how to find suitable suppliers from the endless sea of options. You’ll also be provided guidance on how to test your potential suppliers and follow up on your deal.WHAT TO CONSIDER BEFORE LOOKING FOR A CHINESE SUPPLIERBefore you start searching for a supplier, it’s important to understand the benefits and risks involved in the process of finding a supplier in China. There’s plenty to think about whenever you are dealing with businesses in a different country. Its not only the logistics, the whole business culture can differ from what you are used to.Whilst China has been a popular country to find cheap suppliers in recent years, it has had its fair share of success stories and disasters. Thats why y ou should consider the following points carefully before you venture into China.China is a great location if you want to enter the Asian market, but lower production costs are not a compelling argument anymoreWhat’s your main motivation for working with Chinese suppliers? Is it the cheaper prices or are you also considering launching your products in the Chinese market? If you are only thinking about China in order to cut costs, you should also look at other countries.Whilst China has certainly been known for its cheaper manufacturing and labour costs in recent years, the prices in China have increased significantly. Additionally, cheaper electricity has driven down costs in countries such as the US, making it less attractive to manufacture overseas.A Fortune article from 2015 highlights research by the Boston Consulting Group, which estimates that manufacturing will be around 2% cheaper in the US than in China in the coming years. Therefore, if costs are your only reason to outso urce to China, think twice.On the other hand, if you are aiming to expand your business operations to China or in general the Asian market, China is a viable option. Shipping costs will be lower and China’s proximity to growing markets such as India and South Korea can help your business to create valuable networks in the region.Intellectual property is not well-protected â€" if business secrets are critical to your success, China might not be the right place for youThe legal landscape in China can be complex to navigate. In addition, intellectual property issues are commonplace in China, with government’s and companies accusing Chinese firms for outright spying and stealing. Therefore, you want to carefully consider how much information you are willing to share with a Chinese supplier. Depending on the type of supplier you are angling for, you need to understand the risk management procedures and contractual frameworks. It is definitely worth considering to hire a qualified and experienced lawyer for guidance.Quality will most likely not be on par with European or American suppliers?You naturally need to consider the quality of the products and services. Counterfeit products are an issue in China so you need to be careful if you are dealing with branded products. Moreover, most Chinese suppliers will not be able to produce the same level of quality as European or American suppliers. While the quality might be sufficient for some products, it will create problems in sectors like high-tech.Differences in business culture might cause confusionChina’s business culture can differ significantly from the western model. If you’re not familiar with the Chinese culture, you should read about their way of communicating and doing business.For example, watch the below video on the challenges of doing business in China: There is plenty of guidance available to overcome some of these barriers. As more foreign companies are operating in the country, the communication between Chinese suppliers and their foreign counterparts has improved. Gather information about the local business culture and ask for advice from other businesses operating in the country. Contacting an intercultural consultant may help as well.UNDERSTAND YOUR NEEDS â€" WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM A SUPPLIER?If you have your mind set on China, you can begin searching for the supplier. Since there are a variety of options available, you need to first define the kind of supplier you are looking for. You should consider the following questions beforehand:Do you want a manufacturer or a third party supplier? You should discern whether you are hoping to find a manufacturer or a third party supplier, as the process can be different depending on your needs.Do you wish to deal with a small company or a big corporation? There’s a wealth of availability in China when it comes to suppliers. Depending on your business needs, you might prefer to deal with a large corporation, which has gained ex perience with foreign businesses. Large corporations could also have a better resource pool at their hands, which might be important for your business. On the other hand, a small business can provide a closer relationship and be able to respond to your individual needs better.What is your budget? The budget definitely plays a big part in finding the supplier. You should have a clear idea how much you are able and willing to pay, so you don’t waste your time talking to suppliers with expensive costs.What product/service features are essential? What do you consider a bonus? It’s essential to outline the product or service features beforehand. If you dont know what you expect when talking to suppliers, you can easily end up paying for more than you wanted, or end up with a product that doesn’t fit your needs. Be clear about the essentials you need to have and which are features you don’t mind having, but can live without.Defining your supplier needs with the above questions can help you understand the type of supplier you want. This will help you save time and money, as you can quickly pick up the suppliers that fit the description.Furthermore, if you end up asking for external help with your search, you’ll need to provide these information to the sourcing agency. This will make their job easier and ensures you don’t pay more than necessary.BEGIN YOUR SEARCH â€" USE ONLINE AND OFFLINE RESOURCES TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL SUPPLIERSFinding a supplier in China won’t be as difficult as you might think, since there are a number of channels to start searching in. Although the amount of options might seem overwhelming, you can take a strategic approach to your search. You’ve already narrowed down your search by defining what you need and now you can identify the appropriate channel for finding the perfect match.You should create a file for monitoring suitable supplier options during your research. If you come across a genuine resource site or a possible suppl ier, enter basic information about the company into your file. This could simply include information such as name, contact details, website address and a few quick notes on why you prefer a certain supplier.This way, you will create a database of options which will enable you to compare different suppliers during the process. You also don’t want to spend too much time at the start focusing on individual suppliers. Once you have a selection of suppliers available, you can begin contacting your preferred options.Conduct preliminary research on the InternetUnsurprisingly, the Internet is the perfect place to begin your search. You should use it to conduct preliminary research and get an overview of what kind of supplier options are available.You can do a quick Google search with keywords such as “suppliers in China”. Remember to narrow down the keywords with any specific types of suppliers you need. For example, “clothing suppliers in China”.In addition, social media can help you to identify Chinese suppliers. Platforms such as LinkedIn have professional groups, that can be valuable in finding suppliers, as well as receiving help with the process. Check out groups such as China Sourcing and China Trade Group.Browse B2B websitesPopular B2B websites and business directories provide plenty of supplier options. You should visit websites such as:Alibaba.comForbuyers.comGlobalsources.comThe key is to remember there are a number of B2B websites and business directories out there, but not all of them are legitimate. Deal only with trustworthy and credited websites. In addition, you should ensure the suppliers are verified.Talk to trade organizations and business chambersAnother great source for finding suppliers and additional information are your country’s trade organizations and business chambers. These organizations can provide you contact details and establish first contacts in the country. You can find them by searching for “[country] business chamber China” or “[country] trade organization China”.Remember that you don’t necessarily need to deal with your country’s organizations. Smaller countries, for example, might not have their own business chambers in China, but you can deal with other countries’ organisations as well. Furthermore, the European Union has a business chamber in China, which might be worth contacting.Different trade associations and trade shows should also be on your research list. Not only are trade shows perfect for meeting suppliers face-to-face, but they also provide plenty of hands-on information about dealing with Chinese suppliers.Note that you can find Chinese suppliers often in large industry specific trade shows outside of China. If you know a trade show is taking place nearby, check with the organizers whether Chinese suppliers have a presence at the fair.Additionally, you could visit trade shows in China. The Canton Fair is a large trade show, which represents a number of industries. It is held twice a year and you can find out more about it at the official website (in English).Network with other companiesYou should talk to other companies within or outside of your industry, which are already doing business in China. You could first focus on your competitors. Search information relating to your product or service. Examine the companies that pop up and check whether they use Chinese suppliers. If so, which companies are they operating with?Talk with fellow businesses you know and ask whether they are using Chinese suppliers. You can use social media, local business and industry organizations, and other such channels to find companies already operating with Chinese suppliers.Consider hiring a sourcing agentIf you find the above overwhelming or you don’t have time to start examining different supplier options, you could consider hiring a sourcing agent. This will naturally cost more, but it can help you to find a suitable supplier more quickly.However, you also need to be careful when finding an agent, as different sourcing agents use different fee structures. Hence, make sure you understand the costs upfront to avoid  an expensive bill.Furthermore, just as with B2B websites, there are a number of unprofessional specialists out there. You want to check the sourcing agent’s licence and credibility. Check with other companies and the business chambers whether they can recommend a company or an individual to you.CONTACT YOUR SUPPLIER CHOICES; BUT UNDERSTAND THE BUSINESS CULTURE FIRSTThe above steps should provide you with a list of potential suppliers. You should conduct further research into the potential companies and start contacting the ones that seem promising.Notice that Chinese companies often have representatives in other countries, especially the larger corporations. It’s an excellent idea to arrange a meeting with these business representatives to develop a better understanding of the organizations structure and approach to business .You could also visit China yourself. Arrange the meetings with different representatives before you book your trip, to guarantee that you meet as many suppliers as possible without having to extend your visit.You could also use your local contacts to help you arrange meetings or start communicating. Local foreign business chambers and industry organizations are especially valuable help at this point.Furthermore, ensure you are well versed in the business etiquette in China. You don’t want to “get into business” too early, as you want to build a proper working relationship with your supplier.Finally, remember to hire a legal adviser to help you with paperwork and conduct due diligence on potential suppliers. Pick an expert with experience in dealing with Chinese suppliers.CHECK THE PRODUCT QUALITY AND CUSTOMER SERVICEInstead of drafting a full contract at this point, test the quality of the supplier by ordering a sample product first. You don’t want to order hundreds of prod ucts, only to find out they aren’t quite the quality you were expecting.Pick a few suppliers and sample their products not only for quality of the product, but for the quality of the service you receive as well. You want to ensure the customer service, the pace of the product’s production and shipping, and other such matters are in line with the standard you were expecting.Once you receive the samples from your suppliers, ask for other people’s opinion. This could be your potential customers at an industry fair or your friends and family. Bigger companies probably have their own product specialists, which should examine the product.If you aren’t satisfied with the product or the way the order was handled, don’t hesitate to walk away. You don’t want to end up dealing with a supplier that is only causing problems for your business in the long-term.FOLLOW UP, FINALIZE THE DEAL AND ESTABLISH A LONG-TERM BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPFinally, when you find a supplier that matches your expectations and needs, you should continue communicating with the company. You want to develop the relationship over time, to get to know them and make yourself a valuable business partner.Order another patch of samples and continue monitoring the quality of the product. The first batch could be of a superior quality, as the suppliers want to impress you, but you’ll need quality consistently. Therefore, you should establish efficient quality control procedures.Moreover, negotiating the payment process with your Chinese suppliers requires you to conduct proper due diligence. You need to mitigate risks and ensure the payment is done through secure channels.Furthermore, the payment procedure in China differs from other countries and suppliers often prefer to use methods such as Western Union transfers for payment. Whilst these come with high costs, in China there aren’t always a number of other options available.   Remember to also consider payment methods such as Escrow and Payp al for smaller payments and International Wire Transfer for larger payments. Keep an eye on the costs though, they can add up quite quickly.It’s definitely an excellent idea to hire an experienced legal expert to help you with the process. This might increase the initial costs, but in the long-term will prove to save you money. It can also ensure you don’t end up with a legal battle on your hands.Overall, finding a supplier in China requires plenty of research. The benefits of using Chinese suppliers remain fruitful and the available options are vast. If you’ve not worked with Chinese businesses before, you should learn about the business culture and the process of using foreign suppliers in general. Keep in mind that you should fully understand what you are expecting from the supplier before you rush into China. There are other options available as well and you can’t be too cautious about limiting risks.

Tanglewood Case 2 - 1018 Words

Staffing Report One Table of Contents 1. Forecast of Labor 2. Markov Analysis Information 3. Demographic Categories 4. Promotion Practices 5. Organizational Memo Forecast of Labor: MGT Consulting gathered information from the previous year (2010) and used a Markov analysis to generate a plan of action for the employment needs for Tanglewood in 2011. The Washington market is very stable for Tanglewood and we decided that the current workforce will be sufficient for the 2011 forecast. There are 10750 current employees in the Tanglewood stores in this region. The corporate structure within Tanglewood is well known for its advancements of employees throughout the chain of command, so MGT Consulting feels that it is safe to†¦show more content†¦With this being an example then I would suggest that Tanglewood maybe initiate some kind of incentive for these females to apply for jobs within the organization and move up the ladder which is a well known fact that Tanglewood’s core value is a standing relationship amongst its employees. Promotion Practices Tanglewood is built on hard work and honesty, One of Tanglewood’s core values is to have an open floor when it comes to ideas within the organization. These new ideas are what drive the company to be as successful as they are today. If you were to change this structure you would be killing their corporate structure. Hard work and the ideas is the key to employees moving up the chain of command. Hiring new graduates is another way to bring in new ideas to a company but it has to be the correct job/ personality match for it to work. This is true with bringing in a manger with experience into the company as well. If the core values of the company are different of that of the new hires then your making a bigger issue within the organization. I would suggest that when making these promotion or new hire decisions that they would first look from within the company and when all else fails then look for that great fit from the outside workforce. Organizational Memo: When hiring and promoting here at Tanglewood we want to give everyone the greatest chance of advancement as possible. We want to be a company known for hard and honest workers.Show MoreRelatedTanglewood Case 21334 Words   |  6 PagesChristian April 6, 2014 Wk 2 Dropbox Assignment TangleWood Case 2 Currently the organization expects that their forecast for labor requirements is essentially constant from the previous year. 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The next largest minority group, HispanicRead MoreTanglewood Case 3 - Recruiting Mehtods Essay1447 Words   |  6 PagesRecruiting Like many retailers, Tanglewood experiences a stable rate of turnover, and thus recruiting efforts remain high. The methods used by Tanglewood vary from many regions in which they serve, and by gauging these methods we are able to optimize and perhaps unify company operations. By reviewing the recruiting methods used by Tanglewood, we will be able to devise a guide that can be functional along with Tanglewood developing recruiting services which reflect Tanglewood’s unique personality

The State And Economic Life - 1507 Words

Do the people run the state? Does the state control its people? Is there an invisible hand controlling all aspects of social and economic life or are the workings of the state and companies within the realm of economic life completely transparent? In order to answer these questions, we will need to first define the state, the people, and how they interact with each other like gears in a clock. These interactions between the state and economic life can lead politicians to impose their will on the country and market. To begin defining the relationship between the state and economic life, we will address the works of sociologist Karl Polanyi. Polanyi, in his 1957 paper titled â€Å"Trade and Market in the Early Empires† first differentiates†¦show more content†¦It relies on the ideas of choice between two, insufficient means (idea of scarcity) and using a rational and logical decision making process to choose between the means. (Polanyi 1957) Within economies, Polanyi co ncludes that there are four different modes or sectors of economical transactions. They are reciprocity, redistribution, exchange, and householding. Following are examples of each: reciprocity can be thought of as gift-exchange and is exemplified through holidays like Christmas or doing a favor for your friend since you believe that sometime, somehow it will be repaid back to you. Redistribution is all about hierarchical structure and the flow of resources up and down the chain of command. A prime example of resource redistribution would be the state and how it collects taxes, and then redistributes those taxes following whatever preset distribution they have. Next we have householding, which is probably the most abstract form of economy. Householding is made up of whatever you do yourself to advance or better your life that does not require any immediate market action such as cooking, cleaning, or childcare. The final mode of economy is exchange. Exchange includes markets and ratio nal actors with transactions based on a means-end relationship. Exchanges focuses on minimizing costs and maximizing benefits/profits, which is what you see

Continuous Human Activities Towards Global Warming Free Essays

string(38) " during the industrialization period\." The phenomenon described as global warming has been well studied and documented by researchers throughout the world for several years. It is a phenomenon that has the potential to destroy our planet and all life on it. This essay will briefly define global warming, provide evidence of global warming, outline the main causes of global warming and discuss both the known and potential impacts of global warming on the planet earth. We will write a custom essay sample on Continuous Human Activities Towards Global Warming or any similar topic only for you Order Now Comments are also made concerning actions being taken as well as others that need to be taken to protect our planet from the potential catastrophic consequences of continued global warming. For thousands of years the earth has gone through many changes in climate. In the last decade however, the earth has experienced notable increases in temperature, resulting in rising sea levels, changes in precipitation as well as other climate changes. The earth has not experienced such dramatic climate changes before in it’s history as it has in the last one hundred years. Some of these climatic changes have been blamed on global warming. What is this phenomenon referred to as global warming? Global warming is the term used to describe a moderate increase in the earth’s temperature as a result of human activities. Examples include, the burning of fossil fuels and the production of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) which build up greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The greenhouse effect is a term used to describe the warming of the earth’s surface due to the presence of carbon dioxide and other atmospheric gases, which trap radiant heat at the earth’s surface. Diagram 1 illustrates the greenhouse effect. The denser these gases the more heat that is trapped. Energy from the sun drives the earth’s weather and climate, and heats the earth’s surface; in turn, the earth radiates energy back into space. Atmospheric greenhouse gases (water vapour, carbon dioxide, and other gases) trap some of the outgoing energy retaining heat. This is not unlike the glass panels of a greenhouse. (EPA 1) The increase in the amounts of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane from industries and cars causes energy to be trapped in the earth’s atmosphere resulting in a rise of global temperatures. Without a little greenhouse effect though, life as we know it could not possibly exist on the earth. The natural greenhouse effect causes the mean temperature of the earth’s surface to be approximately 33 degrees Celsius warmer than it would be if natural greenhouse gases were not present in the earth’s atmosphere. (The Greenhouse Trap, 1) However, scientists are worried that human activities are intensifying the greenhouse effect. Cairncross writes, â€Å"global warming is likely to be the result of the build-up of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide† (Cairncross 111). The three main greenhouse gases produced by human activities are carbon dioxide, methane and nitrogen gas. Carbon dioxide is the most common greenhouse gas produced by humans. It is responsible for over half of the increase in greenhouse gases present in the atmosphere. This is primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels. Each year, the burning of fossil fuels releases 5. 5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. (footnote) The main sources of carbon dioxide include, electric utilities (35%), transport (30%), industry (24%), and the other 11% is produced by residential buildings (Brisbane Adventist College www. ozkidz). The graph below shows the dramatic increase in carbon dioxide gases in the atmosphere. It is believed that since the Industrial Revolution began about 250 years ago, atmospheric carbon dioxide has increased from a value of about 275 parts per million before the Industrial Revolution to about 360 parts per million in 1996, and the rate of increase has speeded up over this span of time (Hartmann). Scientists have determined this by measuring the carbon dioxide levels in the air that became trapped in glaciers, hundreds of years ago. They then compare this to the amounts of carbon dioxide in today’s air. Global warming was first predicted in 1896, by a Swedish chemist named Svante Arrhenius. Arrhenius realized that the amount of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere was increasing rapidly due to industrialization. Arrhenius predicted that doubling the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere would raise the earth’s average temperature by about 5 °C (Herring). Though no one really paid any attention to him, Arrhenius’s prediction was surprisingly accurate. He was only off by about 2 to 3 degrees. This is very remarkable, considering he had to make the calculations by hand without the aid of scientific equipment. It was not until the 1980’s that it was determined global warming was actually occurring, almost a hundred years after it was first predicted by Arrhenius. Global warming has already raised the average temperature of the earth’s surface by about 0. 5 degrees within the last one hundred years (Bates 6). The top ten warmest days in recorded history have all occurred within the 1990’s. Global temperature changes between 1861 and 1996 are outlined in Diagram 2. It has been estimated that global average temperatures will increase of as much as 9 degrees F (5 degrees C) before the year 2999 (6). Up until recently most of the carbon dioxide produced was absorbed by the world’s oceans, trees and soils. The rest remained in the atmosphere. Unfortunately, now we are producing more carbon dioxide and our oceans, trees and soils are absorbing less. This is partly attributed to the fact that our forests are being destroyed. Research has been done to show that as many as 60 acres of rain forest are being destroyed, every hour, every day of the year. (The Rain forest Trust Inc. ) In the world, only 22% of the old growth forests are still alive. This is because more forests are being cleared to make room for farming and the trees are not being replaced. This destructive process is called deforestation. Deforestation has been going on since man began clearing land for agriculture and has increased substantially during the industrialization period. You read "Continuous Human Activities Towards Global Warming" in category "Essay examples" The dramatic decline in the earth’s forested areas can be seen on Figure 1. Figure 1 shows that between the years 900 and 1990 the earth’s forested area has declined from 40% to 20%. The rain forests of the world are being destroyed at an alarming rate. Their loss is very concerning because they do not grow back easily. Forests are important because they absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and release oxygen back into the atmosphere. Forests help reduce carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. If current trends continue, the world’s rain forests could disappear in the next few decades. As a result of the loss of these forests, global temperatures are rising faster than they ever have because less carbon dioxide is being removed from the atmosphere. Should global temperatures continue to increase at present day rates, scientists believe that there may be many negative impacts from global warming. For example, should temperatures continue to rise, polar ice caps and glaciers will melt, causing the sea and ocean levels to rise. Many beaches will sink beneath the water and many parts of low lying counties will be submerged below water. It is also possible that some coastal areas will be completely covered by water. The world’s ocean levels have already risen about four to six inches since 1990 and it is expected to rise another six inches by the year 2100. (Leatherman) This could flood many coastal cities, leaving thousands of people homeless. Maps 1 and 2 show the potential impact of raising sea levels on North Carolina and Florida respectively. Another potentially disastrous effect of global warming is a reduction to the general health of people. There are some diseases that only affect people that live where the climate is extremely warm. As a result of a general increase in temperature there will be more people dying everyday because of heart problems related to heat exhaustion. Hospital admissions show that death rates increase during extremely hot days, particularly among the very old and very young people living in cities. Diseases in tropical areas, like yellow fever and malaria would be more common in areas like Canada and the United States should temperatures rise. This would cause thousands to die each year from these tropical diseases. Global warming trends will also change rainfall patterns. Some areas of the world will become wetter while others will become drier. Historical evidence suggests that the grain-growing areas of North America are likely to have less rain (Bates 19). This would result in the Great Plains becoming a grassland or desert and the corn belt would experience more frequent droughts. These changes in rainfall patterns will test the agricultural and water management skills of many countries. It is still possible for both industrialized and developing countries to stop global warming. To prevent serious environmental problems associated with global warming we will have to bring together widely different cultural, political and economic interests to pursue the majority of the world’s people to make sacrifices for the sake of future generations. In December 1997, an agreement was made between 160 countries, in Kyoto, Japan, to cut greenhouse emissions by 5. % below 1990 levels by the 2008-2012 period. This means that the United States and Japan will have to lower their greenhouse emissions by 7 and 6 percent respectively. This reduction is to be accomplished by a blend of taxes and regulations, with some subsidies for implementing green technologies. (proquest article) Most companies are trying to work well ahead of the agreement date and reduce greenhouse emissions now. Should a company cut their emissions to the point where they reduce their emissions by more than 5. 2%, they can receive pollution credits, which can be sold to other companies. Stopping global warming will not be an easy task. There are going to have to be many initiatives taken to stop global warming. The only way we will be able to accomplish this is by getting the whole world to work together and reduce the production of carbon dioxide. This is especially true for the United States, a country which is the biggest polluter on the planet. The most effective way to prevent global warming is to stop emitting dangerous greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. A good way to reduce carbon dioxide emissions is practice the three R’s; reduce, reuse and recycle. Purchasing food and other products in reusable and recycled packaging can help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 230 pounds per year, while recycling all household waste newsprint, cardboard, glass and metal can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by an additional 850 pounds per year (http://www. p2pays. org/ref/01/00183. htm). Less use of automobiles, greater use of bicycles and more reliance on walking would also help to reduce carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. There are other gases like nitrogen and oxygen that have little or no effect on greenhouse warming. We need to find ways to replace the dangerous fossil fuels with these less harmful gases instead. We should immediately start implementing alternative energy sources like solar power, hydropower, and wind power. These sources of energy do not add to global warming but are very expensive to implement today. When we entered the 20th century, the human race did not have the technology to greatly alter the delicate balance of our planet. During the 20th century the human race quickly developed technologies and industrial processes that began to affect the balance of our planet. The problems related to global warming, which we face at the start of the new millennium cannot be separated into compact, well defined groups. The issues we face today are not just increased carbon dioxide levels, deforestation, increased sea levels, or increased polar ice melting. These issues are all interrelated and global in nature. They are also not just problems of science, they are political, economical and cultural problems. Global warming will only became a political and cultural priority when people see it as a serious problem which is likely to affect them personally. We first need to be able to understand clearly the direct impacts which global warming will bring before we will begin to change our values and lifestyles to one based on sustainable development practices. Sacrifices will have to be made from our current high standards of living in industrialized countries. While there does not appear to be any agreement on the scope and timing of the effects of global warming, we as a civilization face an uncertain future if we do not change our ways. Bates writes, â€Å"we stand at the edge of an onrushing catastrophe† (Bates 190). The human race needs to collectively act to avoid a global crisis. We as humans have the ability to change and adapt to change around us and to decide what our life will be like. Governments of the world will need to work together to stop global warming. There is only one planet that we can live on right now, so we need to respect it and protect it. We must stop destroying our only home. Are we as Canadians prepared to make the sacrifices needed to change our attitudes about our high standard of living and the pursuit of personal wealth in order to save our planet? How to cite Continuous Human Activities Towards Global Warming, Essay examples

Early Childhood Education in Australia

Questions: The assessment folio has two parts: A newsletter Reflection1. Create a succinct and informative newsletter for parents.2. Write a reflection covering the following points: How can teachers use newsletters to encourage parental involvement? What kind of language style did you use to make families feel welcome? Why it is important to work in partnership with parents/families to support childrens language and literacy learning? What strategies do teachers use to value the childs home language/s and cultural backgrounds? Answers: The Model of Reggio Emilia From the perspective of educational systems, Reggio Emilia a north Italian town has an established reputation worldwide for keeping a forward thought process towards initial education of children in their early childhood. Reggio Approach functions with inherent factors which are inclusive of a childs image, the preschool establishment expressive arts, progettazione, communities and relationships between parents and schools, environment and teachers. All these factors are considered essential because of their general inter-relation. Childs Image: The image of a child under Reggio Emilia approach model is not that of an empty glass eagerly waiting for being completely filled with information. Rather the belief of educators of Reggio approach lies in the childs image filled with positivity, strength and limitless potential. According to them, a child has all fundamental rights to realize and analyze their individual potentials. Expressive art: holds an important place in the approach of Reggio and is known as a learning vehicle. Expressive art Is inclusive of activities related with drawing on daily basis in order to making the early childhood children express themselves through art. Various expressive activities are used for motivating children and these are inclusive of sculptures, dramas, plays, puppet play, painting, dance and even music. Progettazione: The term is understood often to imply emergent curriculum or curriculum centered on children. Teachers under this approach learn by observing the mood of children, by listening to them in a careful manner and by giving value to the childrens thought so that interest can be generated in them. The word implies children to be protagonists of students. Learning strategies adopted by Teachers Teachers play an important role under Reggio Emilia approach model especially because they are responsible for managing the relationship between learning and teaching known as progettazione and based on that teachers adopt speculative principles and learning strategies that will help students to grow individually and consistently: Learning Strategy 1: Teachers acknowledge children to be individuals and helps them in creating trust with the teachers so that learning can take place in a fruitful manner. By this students become more supportive and the teachers keep motivating them to enjoy on their journey to learn. From time to time, students are monitored by giving them projects based on environment or individual assessment so that the teacher knows the children are grasping what they are taught in a proper manner. Open ended questions are also part of this strategy because teachers by this strategy can help teachers monitor the progress of the students. Learning Strategy 2: Teachers always document everything that they teach to the children and this is why programs inspired by Reggio Emilia approach are always documented as they serve various functions and are essential tools. According to Gandini, 1996, routinely teachers are meant to take notes and photos along with making tape records of discussions and play of children in the class. The childrens projects being documented are properly also arranged with the use of transcript conversations with the students. Learning Strategies 3: Expressive Arts is another strategy under the approach of Reggio Emilia which helps students to establish their selves through art and become more expressive when they grow up. Encouraging Parental Involvement Educators under Reggio Emilia approach describe their technique to be a collaboration of relationship pedagogy and the whole foundation of this model is to develop relationships by explaining conceptions and experiencing them. Through Reggio Emilia approach parents and teachers in a collaborated manner work towards accomplishing the goal of children progress and through this relationship the growth of the students can be monitored in collaboration. The most distinctive characteristic of Reggio Model is the participation of parents and communities. The core significance to the school life has been highlighted in the Right Charter inclusive of a part on parents rights illustrating that parents active participation makes students more adhere to their learning principles and are able to perfectly grow through the same approach. Parents through this approach and their communities can see their children prosper through collectivism and co-operation. Such an educational approach is not only important from the perspective of education systems but the fact that it establishes relationships is a proof of parental responsibility in early childhood years of their children when educating them. Reflection Encouraging parents involvement through Newsletter The significant role of parents in initial childhood education has delivered increasing recognition in various countries since several years. Most schools have encouraged parents for being involved in life at school in various ways (Moss et al 2002). Fundraising and children accompanied by parents on trips from school were initial techniques that had a narrow scope of really encouraging the involvement of parents throughout early childhood consistently. Newsletters have been highly successful in bringing parents closer to their childrens school life. I think, newsletters are the traditional medium by which parents are able to analyze, see for their own selves and effectively understand the educational system their child is studying at, in their early childhood years. Moreover, parents through the medium of newsletters are ensured of the following: Being the first to come in contact with the education system through the medium of newsletter which means there is no third party involved that can influence the parents decision (Moss et al 2002). Communication is possible in a straight forward manner and simply avoids jargon of educational systems which have made it repeated for the parents to acknowledge Ensuring that every parent should have a consistent access over clear, concise and can easily read the data on the school and the curriculum. Parents are also able to share their issues and thoughts directly at the address mentioned in the newsletter. Language and differences of culture are not promoted through newsletters Newsletters are able to consistently establish meaningful way of communicating Language style used The use of language is important when communicating with children as well with their parents. Parents are warm towards their children and their attitude aggravates if the use of language is even slightly disoriented (Moss et al 2002). Therefore, the language used was very soft, it was warm and completely positive so as to motivate the parents in taking part and forming a bond under the education model recommended highly through the newsletter. Significance of working in partnership The relationship which is shared between schools and parents is an important one. Parents need to be encouraged for becoming involved with activities in classroom but this is not enough as parents need to be explained the value of becoming partners in the learning process of their child. If parental involvement in the hours of classroom is encouraged then it certainly disturbs the learning of children (Moss et al 1996). With equal partnership of parents in the matters of school, without their physical involvement itself everything about the progress of the student is directly explained in the form of assessment sheets. By enhancing their partnership, information is delivered to the parents by asking them sensitive questions on the school events. It is complicated for the parents to be completely partnered with school without them having adequate information about what goes on the thought process and learning process of children. Also, true partnership encourages personal contact whic h makes the parents know that the teachers with whom their children spend most of the hours with are efficient. Strategies used for valuing the home language and cultural background of Children There are various factors in the school that impact the culturally diverse students success inclusive of the atmosphere of school and complete belief on diversity, community involvement and curriculum which are culturally responsive. Of the many factors individual relationship and academic relationship of the students with their teachers is of extreme important because without this, there is hardly any subjective outcome that can be enabled through subsequent usage. The relationship which is shared between schools and parents is an important on (Penn et al 1997). Parents need to be encouraged for becoming involved with activities in classroom but this is not enough as parents need to be explained the value of becoming partners in the learning process of their child. In addition, the strategies that the teachers use are mostly related to their behavior illustrating that a teachers behavior needs to be positive and inclusive when teaching a large number of students with different cultures and languages. If not all but there should be some knowledge in the teacher about those language specific words with some of the languages of the students studying in the classroom. This would in turn illustrate that the teacher has an inclusive attitude and through such similar enlightenments the teacher is able to offer the students with a place where everything is equal. Building a relationship with every child in the school is also very crucial. Focusing on the way in which learning for students is taking place and students are observed for identifying their orientations of task leads towards advancements in learning and understanding (Rinaldi 2006). There are various issues that the teacher can face in multi lingual and culturally diverse such as, students f acing problem communicating and understanding but with matching attitudes and matching behaviors, teachers will be able to establish profound relationships in the classroom which consequently cultivate productivity. Students learn only when they experience positivity but this positivity is not possible in a socially excluded environment of school. References Moss, P., and Petrie, P., From Childrens Services to Childrens Spaces: Public Policy, Children and Childhood, Routledge, 2002 Moss, P., and Penn, H., Transforming Nursery Education, Paul Chapman Publishing, 1996. Penn, H., Comparing Nurseries: Staff and Children in Italy, Spain and the UK, Paul Chapman Publishing, 1997. Project Zero and Reggio Children, Making Learning Visible: Children as Individual and Group Learners, Reggio Children, 2001 Rinaldi, C., In Dialogue with Reggio Emilia: Listening, Researching and Learning, Routledge, 2006

Analyse the dramatic function of Benvolio and Mercutio in the play Romeo and Juliet Essay Example

Analyse the dramatic function of Benvolio and Mercutio in the play Romeo and Juliet   Paper Romeo and Juliet is traditionally a love story, however it also includes elements of humour and tragedy. The characters Mercutio and Benvolio both contribute to these elements, providing not only comedy but also sensibility. Both are important as not only do they bring another layer to the story and keep the audience entertained, because they are friends with Romeo they influence him significantly, and provide the catalyst which prompts him to meet Juliet, kill Tybalt and ultimately to a certain extent kill himself (leading to Juliet killing herself). The huge contrast between the characters of Mercutio and Benvolio is also very important one is extremely peaceful and passive, while the other is aggressive and lively. To a certain extent they almost signify Romeos two extremes, both of which can be seen in various points throughout the play, as Romeo shows aspects of both Mercutios enthusiasm and Benvolios peace loving nature (although not to the extent of the original two character s). This role is important because it means that Mercutio and Benvolio can show the huge contrast in Romeos character and influence him in different ways. Benvolios prosaic function is that he acts as an objective reporter or messenger of actions to others. This is necessary as it not only informs other characters of what has happened so far, it also serves as a quick reminder to the audience of the events that have taken place (as they may have forgotten during all the action). For example, after Mercutio has been slain, the Prince asks Benvolio to explain who the beginners of the bloody fray were, and he recounts the events accurately and fairly. Even though Lady Capulet accuses Benvolio of speaking not true as he is a kinsman to the house of Montague, the Prince does not see it necessary to doubt his words, which shows that he is even trusted by high members of authority, further proving his sincerity and earnestness. Another function of Benvolio is that he, to a certain extent, is a peacemaker. This role of peacemaker is crucial to the story as it provides a good level of contrast with most of the other characters in the play, who are either locked up in the feud, or just generally have an aggressive disposition (like Tybalt and Mercutio, for example). We will write a custom essay sample on Analyse the dramatic function of Benvolio and Mercutio in the play Romeo and Juliet   specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Analyse the dramatic function of Benvolio and Mercutio in the play Romeo and Juliet   specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Analyse the dramatic function of Benvolio and Mercutio in the play Romeo and Juliet   specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer This is shown well in Act 1 Scene 1 when a fight breaks out between the two opposing houses. Benvolio tries to keep the peace by beating down their swords. Although he does try to get the combatants to put up their swords, he will not hesitate to fight himself if necessary (as proved when he defends himself against Tybalt, who calls him a coward). This demonstrates that although Benvolio does like to avoid confrontations and conflicts, he wants to uphold the Tudor honour (and thus the honour of the Montague house) which would be important both at the time and also to the audience watching (if Benvolio did not fight when he was threatened, then he would be considered a real coward, and many audience members would think that he was weak and therefore would not like him as a character). Also, this proves that he is not so much of a pacifist that he will not fight when someone is threatening him, therefore showing that he is also sensible and rational. His level-head and shrewd actions are highlighted in two of his other functions. He is the serious one out of the three friends (Romeo, himself and Mercutio), and he is always the one to stop Mercutio and Romeos bantering getting out of hand. For example, when in Act 2 Scene 4 Mercutio and Romeo embark on a small quibble involving lewd wordplay, Benvolio tells them to stop there. He is necessary here so that the plot can move on from the humorous teasing (which, however funny, cannot go on forever) to the arrival of the Nurse, which is required to confirm the impending marriage of Romeo and Juliet. Benvolios other role is as a comforter and sage to Romeo. At the beginning of the play, Romeo is suffering from unrequited love with fair Rosaline, and calls this love a choking gall but also a preserving sweet, showing that although for him the love he feels is beautiful and healing, because it is unreciprocated it is also poisonous and painful. Benvolio tries to console Romeo by telling him to forget to think of her and to examine other beauties. Although Romeo refuses to believe that Benvolio can teach him to forget about Rosaline, Benvolio still persists, illustrating that he is a good friend who is determined to make Romeo happy again. Benvolios resolution to cure Romeo of his good hearts oppression is what causes both of them to go to the rich Capulets ancient feast, as he thinks that going to this party will allow Romeo to look at other admired beauties and no longer think that Rosaline is like a swan, but more of a crow. Therefore Benvolio acts as a catalyst in the storyline, as it is at this party that Romeo meets Juliet, and the whole basis of the play is formed. It is also on the way to this ball that we meet Mercutio, another important character in the play. Unlike the peace-keeping role of the serious Benvolio, Mercutios main function in the play is that he acts as a comedy element. He constantly jokes and mocks, often using vulgar imagery (for example when the Nurse asks about the time, Mercutio answers that the dial is now upon the prick of noon). Shakespeare made Mercutio tease others continuously because this way, the audience would be frequently kept entertained throughout the play. Many of the audience members (especially the poorer ones) would have had to stand up for three or four hours, and if Shakespeare could make them laugh through Mercutio, then they would perhaps forget about their discomfort and enjoy the play more. Also, as the play is ultimately a tragedy as well as a romance, adding comedy would bring another layer to the story, allowing the audience to experience a full range of emotions, from sadness and despair to delight and amusement, thus enriching the experience of the play. However, Mercutios function does not just involve being the comic element (as this function is also supported by the Nurse, who too contributes her own type of coarse humour). He can also use beautiful poetic language, which illustrates his eloquence and vivid imagination, which is used to entertain the audience in another way (as opposed to his witty remarks). A good example of this is during his speech about Queen Mab in Act 1 Scene 4, where he juxtaposes lovely and delicate imagery about the wings of grasshoppers and Queen Mabs harness of the smallest spider web to more unsettling and violent pictures of soldiers who have dreams of cutting foreign throats. This shows his aggressive nature, which is needed as it eventually proves his undoing (as he challenges Tybalt which ultimately results in his own death). This speech also shows his cynical side, as he talks of lawyers who think of money and fees. This cynical personality is another function of Mercutio, as it allows his perception and understanding of love to sharply contrast that of Romeos. Mercutio uses coarse physical imagery and sexual jokes when he describes love and women (as he views women as solely a physical pursuit) and is sceptical and mocking of Romeos devotion to the fair and distant Rosaline and his idealised notion of love, for example when Romeo describes love as pricking like a thorn, Mercutio puns lewdly that if love be rough with you, be rough with love: prick love for pricking, and you beat love down!. Mercutios view of love does not change throughout the play, for example when he is trying to summon Romeo later on he makes the bold statement that he wishes Rosaline were an open-arse and Romeo a poprin pear. This description falls on deaf ears with Romeo, who says that Mercutio jests at scars that never felt a wound, implying that Mercutio has not experienced true love like Romeo has, thus showing us how intense, real and spiritual his love for Juliet really is, as compared to his old love (or lack thereof) for Rosaline or Mercutios perception of love. This therefore illustrates to the audience that Romeos own perception of love has changed, which is also shown by the different language that he uses. Instead of talking of love being too rough as he did with Rosaline, he starts to use imagery that is celestial and associated with nature, calling Juliet his bright angel and dear saint. This change in language tells us that the love he feels for Juliet is not just physical, it is also in a way physic. Consequently, Romeos beautiful language to describe Juliet and the love he feels for her contrasts even more sharply than before with the language that Mercutio uses to describe what he feels love is, so it allows the audience to see even more clearly how Romeo has matured in his outlook. This maturation of Romeo is another function of Mercutio he gives rise to Romeos growth in personality, not just through the contrast between his view of love and Romeos, but also through his death. Mercutios death is very important as it serves many purposes not only does it change Romeo completely (as Romeo has to come to terms with the fact that Mercutio was hurt under [his] arm), it also is the turning point in the play, moving it from what was predominately a comedy to a tragedy. Throughout the play Mercutio has been a light hearted, fun character, who generally enjoys life and has constantly made witty remarks. His attitude to the fight keeps in with his character it begins playfully, with Mercutio calling Tybalt Good King of Cats and fighting in an elegant and skilful manner with his passado and punto reverso. However, ironically, the fight ends tragically, with Mercutio being stabbed. Even in death, Mercutio fulfils his role as comedian right to the end, stating that tomorrow, he will be a grave man. Using comedy here helps to buffer the sadness and shock that will come with the audiences realisation that Mercutio is dying, as it is the first death of a main character in the play (after Mercutios death, many other deaths follow in succession). The comedy element is also why people warmed to him to begin with, so to see him especially dying is poignant and heartbreaking, and shows to the audience the stupidity of the feud and how it lacks necessity. Although Mercutio is the only character to blame his death on actual people (both of the houses) instead of some external force (namely fate), he also puts a plague on both of houses, which contributes to the role of fate in the demise of Romeo and Juliet. In fact, it is after Mercutios death that things really start to go wrong for the eponymous hero and heroine of the play Romeo slays Tybalt, resulting in his banishment, Juliet is forced to marry the County Paris, so seeks Friar Lawrence for help, meaning that he gives her a vial which makes her take on some sort of feigned death, ending in the real deaths of both Romeo and Juliet. Romeo would not have been banished if it was not for Mercutio dying, as then he would not have slayed Tybalt. Therefore Mercutios death is a catal yst and it is necessary in moving the story forward. His death also causes Romeo to mature as he has to come to terms with being blamed for killing Mercutio, killing Tybalt and being banished from Verona so consequently from his bright angel. To conclude, the characters of Mercutio and Benvolio are essential to the play Romeo and Juliet because they act as catalysts which move the play along towards the fated ending, as well as add humour and sensibility on the way. They (Mercutio especially) are needed to entertain the audience, and therefore make them enjoy the play more (as the role of a play is to be enjoyed). Plus, the fact that Benvolio and Mercutio are consistent characters who do not change make a brilliant comparison with Romeo, who alters in many ways throughout the play. Their consistency makes Romeos development far more marked. It is also worth noticing that Benvolio is perhaps the only character at the end of the play to remain unharmed and unchanged, unlike the passionate Mercutio or the loving Romeo. Perhaps this is Shakespeares way of showing us that a peaceful, docile and sensible nature will ultimately mean that one can survive, while fervour and fire are dangerous and may lead to untoward circumstances .

The Great Gatsby9 essays

The Great Gatsby9 essays In The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the scene of violence in which Myrtle Wilson is hit and killed by Daisy Buchanan in the car contributes to the books meaning by showing that in the end lovers never win. There is evidence of many characters in The Great Gatsby cheating on one another. Once the cheater is revealed relationships and peoples lives are ruined. While at the hotel, Jay Gatsby, Tom and Daisy Buchanan argued about who Daisy really loved. As the argument escalated Jay Gatsby, Daisys lover, left with Daisy in his car for home. While Daisy was driving, a frantic woman ran out into the road, and Daisy hit her. Daisy was so distraught by what had happened at the hotel, she didnt stop to see if the woman had been killed. The woman that Daisy hit and killed was Myrtle Wilson, which happened to be her husband, Tom Buchanans lover. Tom and Myrtles relationship seemed false from the start. Myrtles dream of being rich led her closer to Tom. And the feeling Tom got when he gave Myrtle expensive gifts pleased him. Tom liked the feeling of giving Myrtle something material that made her happy. Myrtles husband, George Wilson, was poor, and he couldnt provide the rich life Myrtle wanted. Their relationship was built on this false hope of Tom and Myrtle one day being married, although Myrtle believed this to be true, Tom knew that he would never be able to leave his wife. These two came from different ends ...

Economic Integration within the EU Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Economic Integration within the EU - Essay Example (Arestis, P. et al 1999) DG ECFIN economists are playing vital role in the ongoing forward-looking review of the European Union single market that the European Commission is chalking out. The barriers still exist in the internal market of the Union. Which indicates that many benefits have yet to be realised The potential of the single market is to be contributed to a more dynamic, innovative and competitive EU From the economic perspective of the single market review, DG ECFIN analysts advised that it is time to move towards a more economics-based and results-oriented approach using the targeted monitoring of selected markets and sectors. It would bring real improvements to the operations of the single market. The objective is to realize the four freedoms enshrined in the treaty. . At present, this vision is a successful reality in many spheres. The individuals can live, work, study or retire in any EU country. The Consumers would have an extensive choice of products and services at lower prices. The businesses would have lower costs and more opportunities to flourish in a Europe of close to 500 million customers without internal boundaries. The expected gains for the EU economy from the single market inducts an extra 2.2% on GDP and more than 2.75 million jobs created between 1992 and 2006. The The single market may be deemed as a natural coefficient of economic and monetary union (EMU). The euro is not only substitutes the single market by removing the costs and inconveniences of multiple currencies, but it is also the concrete expression of the willingness of the euro-area Member States to work together within EMU. This is a strong, united and sustainable EU economy that can defend Europe's citizens against global catastrophe and turbulence. Many policies for a single market Using a constitutional political economy approach, this paper attempts to demonstrate that both the "principle of integrity" and the "principle of efficiency" of collective action appear to be violated by the European economic constitution. This occurs, respectively, because its provisions are not neutral, nor revisable, and because they do not sufficiently allow for the possibility of cooperative collective decision (leading to convergence in welfare) in a more than ever numerous and heterogeneous EU. Essential argument in this respect regards the implications of the structurally different economic performances and incentives of small and large countries under the European economic constitution. (Laurent, E., and Cacheux, J. L. (2005), From the very beginning, the single market mechanism was more important than an economic policy decision. The ongoing crucial negotiations on an EU patent to defend European innovations; and a common trade policy. It would gives flawless access to the single market for our global trade partners while promoting EU exports and our social and environmental standards globally. It was expected to launch a more dynamic, innovative and competitive EU economy. This has not materialized: economic growth in the EU, determined by GDP per capita, has been below that of the US over the last ten years. Fabienne Ilzkovitz, one of the report's authors, who clarifies the economic

Write an interesting topic Thesis Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Write an interesting topic - Thesis Proposal Example strialized world that Western society finds itself in today, coupled with its renewed capitalistic tendencies, has actually served to destroy the basis for our rational and peaceful culture that previously existed. This can be seen through an examination of life before the first World War was thrust upon us, and how the rapid industrialization that took place throughout Europe and North America was accompanied by the breakdown of the traditional family structure, resulting in increased greed and corruption throughout much of society. The suppositions proposed herein can be verified with empirical evidence located in historical records and the writings of scholars that lived throughout and studied this particular time period of Western society. This study will focus on a carful analysis of the various cultures of the West and how industrialization has slowly eroded away at its rational, peaceful, and congenial

The Meaning of Life through Subjectivity

The Meaning of Life through Subjectivity Humans are subjective because despite trying to stop affecting world that they are a part of, they are changing it. This relationship, which causes a change in the world through action, changes any objective view into a subjective one because they are influencing what a pure observer cannot. By trying to simply stop doing and merely observe, people attempt to reach a state of pure objectivity. This, however, becomes an impossible task once one considers that their mere existence is an act in and of itself. Meaning that the only way to become truly objective is to temporarily stop existing, observe purely in that non-existent state, and then resume existing within the world as a human being. To be able to even consider performing these impossible tasks is akin to being God. In total, it is impossible for a human being to achieve a state of non existence simply because the mere act of living causes one to become subjective due to the fact they have an influence on the world around them . While they are young, humans eventually reach a point when they become aware that their existences are enveloped in exclusivity. They see that their lives are filled with choices, forks in the road which make it apparent that whenever one chooses something, something else must be excluded. These choices can bring the pain of having to weigh between the options and the respective consequences, as well as coming to terms with the idea that one cannot have everything. Considering the human limitation of having to exclude one thing in order to gain another, people will always reach for a level of objectivity in their choices; they want to remove some of the pain and difficulty that they feel from having to make those choices by detaching themselves emotionally from the choices they have to make. Despite the truth of existence lying in subjectivity, there is a paradox shown here; that humans are almost preset to reach for objectivity despite the answer existing in the other direction: bey ond subjectivity. To reach the answer of life, one must first come to terms with the truth of existence. Kierkegaards existential truth is subjectivity; for a human to understand that subjectivity is the core of existence then enables them to pursue and eventually understand the answer to life. Subjectivity in itself is important to grasp as a human, and as a result, it also serves as a differentiation between the simple man and the wise man. If the wise man is being subjective, he knows that there is a difference between subjectivity and objectivity. However, the only indication that he is being completely subjective at a given point is that he objectively knows the difference between objectivity and subjectivity. This understanding allows him to grasp the concept of the answer to life while at the same time brings up the paradox of only being subjective when being objective. In contrast, if the simple man is being subjective, he is simply being subjective by point of impulse and would not be aware o f it. Thus the simple man cannot be considered to have reached the same existential truth as the wise man. To be wise is a curse as well as a blessing, for the paradox teaches him the importance of the existential truth, while at the same time, prevents him from reaching it. Given Kierkegaards belief that the existential truth is subjectivity, that all humans eventually become at least slightly objective and that people need to be slightly objective in order to be subjective, then a paradox presents itself. If a human cannot be subjective without being objective then this begs the question about whether or not a human reach a state of pure subjectivity. Within the World-Historical view, there is but a single objective truth to any individual event throughout history, but subjectivity shows a different, individual truth for every person viewing it. Seeing that people cannot objectively observe and think over the past (without first accomplishing the impossible task of becoming God-like), people are left to view the events themselves from the present, filling in the gaps between objective facts with subjective interpretations. These all compile to subjective truths; each being the truth, yet none being any more or less valid than the last. By being human, one is restricted by the world they have subjectively constructed; a world made with the subjective truths influenced by their own thoughts, feelings and experiences. However, as partially subjective existences in what can only be perceived as a purely subjective world, one must ask if human beings can really exist in the same world as anyone else and if the answer to that query chan ges the answer to life itself. This presents us with the final paradox; that in order to obtain the answer one must be an objective and static entity, but humans as a whole are subjective simply through existence. Were one to find the so-called answer to life, ones life would fundamentally change. However, as a direct result of finding that answer, this newly changed life is basically a new life in and of itself. This new life is at least slightly different from the old life and, as a result, has a new subjective truth to it. This effectively renders the previous answer worthless, perhaps having never existed to begin with. This in itself proves that the answer cannot be found in the constantly active life, but only in the static death where the constant, static world is unaffected by a person. Despite this, the answer holds no meaning after death and cannot be communicated to the living resulting in the same lack of truth. As a result, Ive found that Im unable to submit my answer to this lifelong assignment, and that to do so I would have to no longer be considered alive. I apologize and would like to request an extension; preferably to sometime in the late 2070s.

General Essay on Chinese Religions Essay

Early Chinese religion belongs to the mythical and prehistoric period. Tradition speaks of the origins of Chinese culture lying in the 3rd millennium BCE with the Hsia dynasty. As of yet no historical evidence has been found for such a dynasty; all references to it are mythical. It is only with the Shang dynasty, which is traditionally dated from 1766 to 1122 BCE, that we find evidence of a developing culture and religious practices. The religion of the Shang was principally characterised by the use of oracle bones for divination and the development of the cult of ancestors. It was believed that the cracks that resulted from burning ox bones or tortoise shells represented messages sent from the gods about a variety of matters such as illness, the weather or hunting. Belief in deities and the practice of the worship of ancestors has persisted in Chinese life, and has come to form the basis of what has broadly been termed popular religion. Popular religion in fact represents a mixture of early religion and elements of the three great religions: Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism. At the heart of popular religion is the worship of deities and veneration of ancestors at shrines in the home or temples. There are many deities associated with this form of religion, but the best known are Shang Ti, the supreme ruler of heaven, and Kuan Yin, the goddess of mercy and protector of women and children. In the Chou dynasty a more structured form of religion developed. This is associated with the teaching of Kung-Fu Tzu (551-479 BCE), whose Latinised name is Confucius. Confucius sought to establish a socio-political ethical system, with theological beliefs concerned with human destiny and the conduct of human relationships in society, based on a belief in the goodness of human nature. He believed in a providential Heaven (T’ien) and in prayer which encouraged him in his mission. He emphasised the five relationships – namely, Father-Son; Ruler-Subject; Husband-Wife; eldest son to brothers; friend and friend – to be expressed by ‘li’ (correct ceremony) to bring ‘he’ (harmony). Such relationships were rooted in family piety which came to give a prominent place to Ancestor Worship and to respect for deified men, which came to find expression in the Sacrifices of the State religion. The Confucian canon can be divided into two parts: the Five Classics and the Four Books. The Five Classics were handed down from earlier times and emphasised by Confucius. These are the Book of Odes; the Book of History; the Book of Rites; the Book of Divination; and the Spring and Autumn Annals. The Four Books consist of The Analects (Conversations of Confucius); the Doctrine of the Mean; The Great Learning; and the Book of Mencius. Out of the teachings of Confucius emerged various schools associated with a master. Notable was the work of Meng-Tzu (c. 371-c. 289 BCE) and Hsun-Tzu (300-230 BCE). Meng-Tzu and Hsun-Tzu formed rival schools whose doctrinal differences were based in a fundamentally different conception of human nature. Meng-Tzu taught that people were fundamentally good and that what made them bad was their environment. Consequently, Meng-Tzu emphasised the importance of education as a means for bringing out the innate goodness of people. By way of contrast, Hsun-Tzu had a more pessimistic view of human nature. Hsun-Tzu taught that people were inherently evil, and that they could only be taught to be good through training. He also was religiously sceptical, teaching that religious ritual had no purpose except to provide moral training. It was this negative attitude towards religion that was one of the main factors behind the subsequent rejection of the teachings of Hsun-Tzu by mainstream Confucianism and the establishment of Meng-Tzu’s teachings as orthodox. At the same time that Confucianism was developing, two rival schools were active in China: the Mohists and the Legalists. Mohism was founded by Mo Tzu (c. 470-390 BCE). Mo Tzu advocated universal love and opposed the elaborate and expensive rituals that defined Chinese religious life. This put him at odds with Confucianism in that Confucianism advocated particular love for one’s parents as well as the importance of ritual for interpersonal relations. Although during the 4th century Mohism was strong enough to rival Confucianism, it went into decline in the 3rd century, and by the time of the unification of China in 221 had virtually disappeared. It is unclear why the tradition declined so quickly. Legalism is more of a political philosophy than a religion. The various strands of legalist doctrine were systematised by Han Fei Tzu (d. 233 BCE). Han Fei Tzu had been taught by Hsun Tzu and adopted his pessimistic attitude to human nature. Unlike Hsun Tzu, Han Fei Tzu did not believe that people could be reformed, advocating instead a strong, even ruthless, form of government that could control human behaviour. Legalist principles were put into effect by the Chin dynasty, which unified China in 221 BCE, and was subsequently overthrown in 207 BCE. The brief rule of the Ch’in had a devastating impact on Confucianism, whose scholars it persecuted and whose books it destroyed. Fortunately for the tradition, Confucianism received official acceptance of the Han dynasty and flourished during the Han period. Under the Han dynasty (206 BCE – 220CE), the T’ang dynasty (618-907 CE), and the Sung dynasty (960-1127CE) Confucian teaching was used for public examinations. In 631 CE the Confucian canon was made the sole subject for the examination of aspirants to official positions, so Confucianism came to be known as â€Å"Ju-chiao†, â€Å"the Doctrine of the learned†. During the Sung dynasty (960-1126 CE) Neo-Confucianism emerged as a distinct movement in response to Taoism and Buddhism. Two traditions of Neo-Confucian thought emerged: the School of Principle, represented by Chu Hsi (1130-1200), and the School of Mind, represented by Lu Chiu Yuan (1139-1193) and, later, Wang Yang Ming (1472-1529). Chu Hsi sought to provide a metaphysical explanation of the nature of reality as well as an ethic for human conduct. For Chu Hsi the basis of all reality was the Supreme Ultimate (T’ai Chi). In order for people to live properly they had to purify their ch’i (vital energy) through taming their desires so that they could be united with the Supreme Ultimate. In reaction to Chu Hsi’s dualistic perception of reality Lu Chiu Yuan presented a monistic picture of the universe. He claimed that the universe and the mind are one. Therefore, through understanding one’s own mind one could understand the nature of the cosmos. This was developed by Wang Yang-ming. Wang Yang-ming believed that individuals could perfect themselves through moral self-cultivation. This involved returning to an original mind whose principal quality was love (jen). Also of ancient origin is Taoism – whose classic text, the Tao Te Ching, is attributed to a supposed contemporary of Confucius (551-479), Lao Tzu. This text has had many interpreters whose works have developed in various sects, some of which have been very influential. There are two streams of Taoism: Religious Taoism, which is represented by the many sects concerned with the quest for immortality, and Philosophical Taoism, which was concerned to explain the human condition. The major imported religion is Mahayana Buddhism which is believed to have entered China in the 1st century BCE. An important early Buddhist teacher was An Shih Kao who founded what came to be known as the Dhyana School, characterised by its emphasis on meditation. Another major early school was the Prajna school whose doctrines were based on the interpretation of the Perfection of Wisdom (Prajnaparamita). It was, however, between the 5th and 8th centuries that Buddhist schools flourished and developed in China. Schools that were active at this time were: San-Lun, Ch’ing-tu, Ti’en-t’ai, Ch’an, Chu-she, Hua-yen, Lu, San-chieh, Fa-hsiang and Chen-yen. The great persecution of Buddhism in the middle of the 9th century led to its rapid decline, and by the time of the Sung dynasty only the Ch’an and Ch’ing-tu schools remained significant. Incursions from the West began at an early date, mainly in regard to trade and commerce from Arabia and India, probably to Canton or Hangchow. Infiltration of a different kind took place under the Mongols (1260-1368), when the armies of Ghengis Khan spread westwards over countries occupied by the Muslims. The records of the Yuan dynasty indicate that many distinguished officials (both military and civil) were Muslims, bringing with them knowledge of Arabic science known to Kublai Khan and the use of catapults in siege warfare. In Ming times Arabic books on science came into the Imperial library. After the Mongol period, no great influx of Muslims took place, but they spread into most provinces of China, especially in the north-west and west (the provinces of Kansu, Szechwan and Yunnan) and in the north-east (in Manchuria and Hipei). They mainly live in their own communities in their mosques and schools. Their first mosque appears to have been built in Sian in 742. Another group attracted by commerce were the Jews who traded across Central Asia, during the T’ang dynasty (618-907), whose communities have mainly been along the sea board in cities such as Shanghai and Canton. The earliest evidence we have of a Jewish community in China derives from a letter written in the 8th century by a Jewish merchant I China. By the 9th century there was a distinct Jewish community in Kaifung, its continued presence evidenced by the construction of a synagogue in the city in 1163. From the 15th century onwards the Jews became increasingly integrated into Chinese life to the extent that by the 19th century the community had all but lost its distinctive identity. As a result of the western colonialism of China in the 19th century and the establishment of new trading contacts with Europe Jews settled in some of the major cities of China. Christianity came to China first by the way of Nestorian Christians, after the arrival of A-Lo-Pen in 781 where it flourished for two centuries (by favour of the imperial court) until the reign of Wu Tsung who closed the monasteries and persecuted the church. It flourished again under Mongol rule in the 13th century, and in 1289 Kublai Khan established an office for the supervision of Christians. At about this time the Roman Catholic Church came to the Mongol empire, when a Franciscan monk came to the Khan’s court of Kharatorui in 1246. Shortly after that St Louis of France sent an embassy, followed by Marco Polo in 1275; a request from Kublai Khan for a hundred teachers did not, however, bear fruit apart from a small Franciscan mission led by John of Monterovino, who was appointed Archbishop in Cantilec in 1289, and under him three bishops were appointed. Then in the 16th century the Society of Jesus became very active in China inspired by the work of Francis Xavier who had preached in India and Japan. Matteo Ricci came to Canton in 1610 and then to Peking, where he founded a Christian community and gained prominence as an outstanding astronomer. From that time the Roman Catholic Church has continued despite periods of persecution. Protestant missions date from 1807 with W. Morrison’s arrival in Canton for the London Missionary Society. Other missions soon followed – with the Presbyterians in 1847, the Anglicans in 1849 and the Methodists in 1850. Also prominent have been the China Inland Mission, under Hudson Taylor – an interdenominational missionary society. In the twentieth century house churches have been prominent, often associated with such evangelists as Watchman Key. These Protestant activists have contributed greatly to educational and medical developments as well as political and social influences from the West; these were often backed by military force and, therefore, deeply resented. Recent changes under Communist influence, led by Mao, have been profound, strengthening agnostic tendencies for many in the population. Traditional religious practices are still continued in many homes in China and among overseas Chinese. In recent times relaxation of restriction has given fresh opportunity for religious activity. Many Taoist and Buddhist temples, as well as mosques and churches, are being renovated and reopened. Greater openness to the West has been accompanied by renewed conversion to Christianity; the demise of communism has encouraged the rediscovery of traditional religious values. Taiwan has provided an important haven for traditional Chinese religions, as well as the establishment of new religions, since the Nationalist government established itself on the island in 1949. A number of syncretic movements such as San-I-Chiao (â€Å"Three in One Religion†), were suppressed in China following the Communist victory, but have found a haven in Taiwan. Other interesting traditions that have been transplanted to Taiwan are those which are collectively designated the Hsien T’ien Tao (â€Å"Way of Former Heaven sects†). Five of the best known of these are the I-kuan Tao, the T’ung shan She, the T’ien-te Shang-chiao, the the Tao-yuan, and the Tz’u-hui T’ang. These are characterised by a belief in a creator deity (usually a cosmic Mother figure) from whom humanity has strayed. These sects also claim to transcend all other religions and, therefore, provide a way by which all these religions can be united. All but one (the T’zu-hui T’ang) were founded in mailand China, later moving to Taiwan. The T’zu-hui T’ang was itself founded in Taiwn in 1949. Also originating from the mainland are the spirit-writing cults. These are cults which derive religious beliefs and practices from a deity mediating through an entranced medium. The practice of spirit writing has been a part of Chinese life probably since the T’ang dynasty (618-907). In the 19th century a spirit-writing movement developed in China and entered Taiwan in the same century. This continues to be part of the Taiwanese religious landscape to the present day. There are, of course, a number of recently emerged distinctively Taiwanese movements. Xuan Yuan Jiao (â€Å"Religion of the Yellow Emperor†) was founded in Taiwan in 1957. Xuan Yuan Jiao represents the attempt to recapture the spirit of pre-Han Chinese religion through incorporating Taoist, Confucianist and Mohist teachings and interpreting these as emanating from a tradition that derives from the Yellow Emperor. The religion is highly political in character since its purpose is to revive China’s national spirit following the â€Å"loss† of the mainland to communism. Buddhism continues to flourish in Taiwan. Following the Communist victory in mainland China in 1949 a further wave of Buddhist monks arrived in Taiwan from the mainland. This has strengthened the presence of Chinese Mahayana Buddhism in the island and influenced the character of earlier traditions. Since 1950 the Buddhist Association of the Republic of China has been the focal point of Taiwanese Buddhism. This is responsible for ordination ceremonies for Buddhist monks, nuns and lay people. In more recent years Taiwanese Buddhism has adopted a more missionary approach both within Taiwan and abroad, particularly in North America. In the 1960s two important Buddhist organizations emerged: the Tzu Chi Compassion Relief Foundation and Fo Kuang Shan. The first of these was founded in 1966 by a self-ordained nun named Cheng-yen. This organization has sought to introduce a strong degree of social concern into Taiwanese Buddhism. Fo Kuang Shan’s origins can be dated to 1967 when when a Chinese monk, the Ven. Hsing-yun, opened a temple at Fo Kuang Shan in Southern Taiwan. Like the Tzu Chi Compassion Relief Foundation, Fo Kuang Shan emphasizes social action as a means to promote Buddhist values. More recently, Ling Jiao Shan in the north of Taiwan has become a centre of Buddhist activity. Founded by Master Hsin Tao, Ling Jiao Shan has acquired prominence within Taiwan and beyond on account of its establishment of a museum of world religions with branches in Taiwan and the United States.