Biopsych Cold Pressor

Physiology of Behaviour; Sex differences in physiological responses of the cold pressor test. Abstract This lab report aims to analyse the sex differences in a physiological responses to a potentially aversive physiological stress inducing stimuli. This was conducted by a cold pressor test. 8 males and 8 females participated. Heart rate, respiration rate, and galvanic skin was recorded whilst participants undertook the CPT test. Results showed no significant differences that there is a gender difference in experimental induced stimuli of pain. IntroductionTo say that male and females are biologically and physiologically the same is denying physical reality’s differentiation takes place immediately as the male or female begins to develop within the womb. The sex hormones –primarily oestrogen and testosterone–have a significant impact on the behaviour of males and females. Why do boys typically like to play with trucks and girls like to play with dolls? Feminists u sually claim this is the result of socialization, but there is growing scientific evidence that boys and girls are greatly influenced by their respective hormones.Within biological psychology the biology and physiological differences are studied thoroughly between male and female. In biological psychology, physiological pain has been studied frequently. Furthering this, the differences between male and female pain response and threshold for pain have been measured in several experiments. Pain is often described as an uncomfortable response to unpleasant stimuli. Different physiological responses take place when pain is perceived.The International Association for the Study of Pain's widely used definition states: â€Å"Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage†. (Bonica,1979) Pain motivates the individual to remove themselves from these unpleasant stimuli or situations, to prot ect the body. Pain is a part of the body’s defence system. Humans attempt to avoid similar painful and unpleasant experiences in the future. (Lynn,1984)Most pain resolves promptly once the painful stimulus is removed and the body has healed, but sometimes pain persists despite removal f the stimulus and apparent healing of the body; and sometimes pain arises in the absence of any detectable stimulus, damage or disease. (Raj,2007) People report a pain threshold and a pain tolerance. The pain threshold is the point at which sensation becomes pain, where as Pain tolerance is the amount of pain a person can handle without breaking down, either physically or emotionally. Men and women have reported over several studies different measures of pain threshold and pain tolerance in this following study I aim to review the literature between the sex differences of men and women in line with pain tolerance and pain threshold. Previous tests for pain threshold and tolerance that have been used are the electric shock test, tooth pulp stimulation, and tourniquet induced scheme (von Baeyer, 2007. ) The pain experiment that will be used in this lab report is the cold pressor test. The cold pressor test is a cardiovascular test performed by immersing the hand into an ice water container, usually for one minute, and measuring changes in blood pressure and heart rate. Its response is clinically indicative concerning vascular response and pulse excitability.The cold pressor test has been used for several years as a means of measuring experimentally induced pain. The cold pressor test is a preferred method to experimentally induce pain. Even though inducing pain seems unethical, as it is a necessity for psychological research, this method is preferred. It does not cause any psychology damage, it does not cause any damage to tissue or limbs, and minimum means of stimulation is used in comparison to other experimental induced pain methods. Methodology needs to be clear and con cise for carrying out the cold pressor test to be accurate.Temperature of the water is important to take into consideration when carrying out the cold pressor test, as temperature activates the sympathetic nervous system to release physiological responses. In a study researching the difference that the temperature of the water can make to the results showed significant outcomes. Twenty-six participants (12 men, 14 women) underwent 4  cold pressor  trials with  temperature order counterbalanced across 1 °C, 3 °C, 5 °C, and 7 °C,  temperatures  representative of  the  range used in previous literature.Significant main effects of temperature  were found for tolerance time, with higher  temperatures  resulting in longer times, and pain intensity, with lower  temperatures  resulting in higher intensities. Gender differences were obtained, with men tolerating  the  stimulus for significantly longer than women. Mitchell et al has found that water variati ons in CPT pain response in adults elicited by temperature variations of as little as 2 °C. The local warming changes the pain stimulus, enhancing the likelihood of longer tolerance.In conclusion, small differences in water temperature  have a significant effect on pain intensity and tolerance time. Methodology has to be carefully followed to ensure that the water temperature does not change across the study as very minor changes in experimental protocol can produce significant differences in the cold pressor test. (Mitchell, 2004). Other measures can also be obtained from the cold pressor such as pain threshold and pain tolerance. (Lowery, 2006)This is done by requiring a participant to place their hand in the cold pressor for as long as they can.Once pain is present, they let the researcher know. Once the pain is unbearable, the participant removes his/her hand. This provides a measure of threshold (first feeling pain) and tolerance (total time minus threshold). Within the hum an race, the vast majority of studies obtained results that women are more sensitive than men to experimentally induced pain, as evidenced by the cold pressor test. (Dixon, 2004) In a meta-analysis of 17 studies, Riley et al (1998) found that the effect sizes for sex differences in pain threshold and tolerance were moderate to large.Nevertheless, different experimenters suggested that these sex differences might not be as strongly supported. (Berkley, 1997) In their 1995 review, Fillingim and Maixner summarized 34 human studies. In 24 of these studies, men exhibited less pain than women, but sex differences were reported in only one of several measures or conditions examined in 7 of the 24 studies. .) In 10 of the 34 studies, sex differences were not found. . (Fillingim, 1995). The menstrual cycle plays a big part in the explanation of gender differences of pain tolerance and threshold.Studies have previously shown that higher oestrogen levels produce a greater pain perception. One study analysed the difference using the cold pressor test where 22 female students participated at two different phases of the menstrual cycle (days 2–4 and days 20–24). A control group of nineteen male students participated on two occasions, separated by a three week period were used. The results showed that men have a higher pain threshold than women, and women seemed to have a greater threshold for pain in the second period of their cycle. (Helstrom, B. amp; Lundberg, U. 2000) After reviewing and assessing the literature relating to gender differences in pain using the cold pressor test, we have decided to test the following 3 hypotheses; 1. Females and males will differ in pain threshold. 2. Females and males will differ in tolerance to pain. 3. There will be sex difference in physiological stress response (as measured by heart rate, respiration rate, and galvanic skin response) Participants The participants used were a random sample of 8 males and 8 females within an age range of 18-23. The mean age was 20.No participants were wearing tights or clothing that would disrupt the results of the physiological measures All subjects were assumed as English as a first language therefore understanding the instructions of the experiment. All subjects did not suffer from any medical issues outlined in the medical history form which included Reynaud’s Syndrome, high or low blood pressure, diabetes or epilepsy, recent injury or surgery, neurological illness, chronic pain or any type of pain that might influence the results of the experiment. Materials One bucket of iced water at 20% of ice and 80% of water.A towel was used, a biopac physiological recording unit, a computer, a thermometer, electrode pads, timers, and recording sheets. Procedure Experimenters set up the lab, got ice for the bucket and measured the temperature of the water being between 3-5 degrees using a thermometer. The biopac was opened on the computer and electrode pads were set up to be ready for use. Participants were recruited, and asked to read the information sheets and sign the consent forms. Then the participants were brought into the lab where they were then hooked up to the biopac. Electrode pads were placed on the finger, wrist, and ankles.An experiment then explained to the participant the procedure. Participants were asked to take a deep breath when they heard the calibrate button, then a to relax for 2 minutes as a baseline was taken. The participants were then told that they would place their hands in a bucket of iced water. They were told when they began to felt pain say ‘uncomfortable’ and when they could not uphold a further threshold to say ‘stop’. Participants were facing away from the computer so they could not see the recordings. The experimenters then calibrated the biopac as the subject took a deep breath.The experimenters then recorded a baseline measurement of the participants GSR, Heart rate, and respirat ion. After 2 minutes the participants were then asked to place their hands in the ice bucket of water and the experimenters then measured tolerance and thresholdThe participants were then given a towl to watm their hands and they were debriefed. Experimenters then took note of the results from the GSR, heart rate and respiration rate from the baseline measurement, when the participant said ‘uncomfortable’ and when the participant said ‘stop’. The data was then analysed through means of SPSS. Results Hypothesis 1When reviewing the overall mean for the differences in male and female response to pain threshold, there was different means found; Females 28. 0 Males; 45. 8. The hypothesis that females and males will differ in pain threshold scores was tested by means of a t-test for independent group samples. The results were as follows; t=1. 83 df=10 p;0. 98, 2tailed. The hypothesis was therefore not upheld. There was no significant difference between the pain t hreshold scores and gender. Hypothesis 2 When reviewing the overall mean for the differences in male and female results for tolerance to pain; the following means were obtained Females; 110. Males; 45. 8. The hypothesis that females and males will differ in tolerance to pain scores was tested inferentially by means of a t-test for independent group samples. The following results were obtained t=1. 16, df=10, p;0. 273. The hypothesis was therefore not upheld. There was no significant difference between pain tolerance scores and gender. Hypothesis 3 A 2 way ANOVA was carried out to asses the sex differences in physiological responses. The results showed no significant differences in relation to sex differences in Heart Rate df=1, f=. 066, p=. 802, GSR- df=1, f=. 534, p=. 82, and Respiration rate- df=1, f=. 410, p=. 885 Discussion The results that were collected from the data did not support any of the 3 hypotheses. This can be due to several different reasons. Our results were in line with several different studies, where sex differences were not found in pain tolerance and pain threshold. .) In 10 of the 34 studies reviewed, sex differences were not found to be statistically significant. (Fillingim, 1995). However, other studies have found that gender differences did support significant results. . In 24 studies reviewed by Riley et al, men exhibited less pain than women.Several variables in different studies have been taken into account which produces different outcomes of results. In several studies, it shows that hunger can be important in the threshold and tolerance of pain. One study reported the effects of 2, 10, 14, and 24 hr. of food deprivation (hunger) and of 0, 2, 3, and 4 min. of cold-pressor stimulation. This study found that the relationship between intensity of hunger and level of autonomic response is not linear and that there seemed to be no gender difference between hunger and pain. (Engel, 1959). Personality factors have also shown in some stu dies to show a difference in pain perception.This study effects of personality and pain catastrophizing upon pain tolerance and pain ratings and to examine the impact of an experimental pain induction on subsequent ratings of catastrophizing. The results found were t that sex differences in catastrophizing and pain responsivity are partially accounted for by the dispositional tendency to describe oneself as emotionally vulnerable. Females tended to describe themselves more emotionally vulnerable than males resulting in males having a higher threshold for pain. (Thorn, 2004). Anxiety can also possibly play a part in the effects of a cold pressor test.It has been found that anxiety based situations can provoke a higher intensity of pain. In Jones (2002) they found that, contrary to previous results, that men had a higher rating of intensity of pain in anxiety provoked situations compared to women. A major issue that has been addressed in the introduction plays a big role to why women can possibly have a higher intensity of pain compared to men. Previous studies have found that it can depend what time in the menstrual cycle that women are in can have an effect on their ratings and perceptions of pain.The hormone oestrogen seems to produce a higher sensitivity to pain and when conducting the cold pressor test this is a serious issue to be taken into consideration. evaluated sex differences in response to cold pressor pain in normally menstruating women (NMW), women maintained on oral contraceptives (OCW), and men. Testing occurred during 5 phases of the menstrual cycle. All participants completed 10 sessions (2 sessions per phase). During the cold presser test, participants immersed the forearm into water maintained at 4 °C, and pain threshold and tolerance were measured.The results were analysed and the study supports the notion that differences in pain perception between the sexes and among menstrual cycle phases are subtle. However, normally menstruating wome n showed an increase in pain tolerance and threshold over repeated stimulation, whereas men only exhibited a minor increase in pain threshold, therefore it shows a sex difference in reaction to repeated painful stimuli between men and women. Following our results, it is believed that our results could have been implicated due to the distractions of the participants.The cold pressor test was conducted in a lab where there was other cold compressor tests being conducted, therefore with the level of noise it was easy to be distracted. This can be an issue for methodology. A previous study has undertaken a study on how distraction can affect experimental pain results. The results were found that distraction had varying impact on different aspects of pain responding, and affectively neutral distraction during pain stimulation reduced the sensory pain ratings but not pain tolerance.Affectively neutral distraction may be used to manage a patient's reaction to brief, painful stimulation, bu t may not work in long term chronic pain (Hodes, 1990). Also as discussed in the introduction, temperature is an extremely important methodological factor when carrying out the CPT. In this experiment we found it very difficult to keep a perfect modulation of the temperature. Previous studies have shown that this minor glitch in the experiment can have an affective major impact on the results. Although water temperature only had risen to an extra one degree, this should be still taken into account for the outcome of the results.Within our sample size, we obtained 16 subjects. (8 males and 8 females). Although the results are weighted, one can feel that this is too small a sample size to draw correct inferences and conclude from. In the future a bigger sample size should be obtained as there will be a greater sensitivity to the results and different results could possibly have an outcome. In continuation with the methodology implications of the participants, they should of not known what the experiment was about. Some of the subjects stated after the experiment that they already knew this experiment via the media.Therefore, participants could of possibly tried to withstand a threshold for longer as they knew what exactly the experimenters were testing. As the experimenters were all female, in sociological aspects, men could have possibly pretended to not feel pain, in order to impress the experimenters. This can affect the results to an extent. There also could be an implication of anticipation of pain versus actual pain. If the subject is anticipating feeling pain, this can make them think that they feel more pain as they have psychologically believed that this experiment will amount to a certain level of pain.Even though some would conclude that inducing pain and stressors on individuals is ethically wrong, psychology needs a mean to test experimental pain for a growth in psychology. The cold pressor test was the best test to carry out to induce pain as it do es not cause any psychological or physiological harm, the participants’ control over the process (i. e. , their ability to withdraw the limb), and the pain only mounts very slowly, the subject can withdraw their hand if it reached a level of any severe pain.After analysing and assessing various discursive points and implications of the study, this study can conclude that there are methodological implications within the cold pressor test. Different studies all have different outcomes on whether there is an actual sex difference within pain tolerance and pain threshold, and this can be due to different variables being used within studies. Further research should progress in the areas of the affect of a difference in water temperature, and anxiety provoked situations in relation to gender difference as there has been previously little research conducted.Berkley, K (1997) Sex differences in pain Behav Brain Sci, 20 pp. 371–380 Dixon, K. E, Thorn, B. E, Ward, L. C (2004) An evaluation of sex differences in psychological and physiological responses to experimentally-induced pain A path analytic description Pain, 112 pp. 188–196 Engel, B. T. (1959), â€Å"Some physiological correlates of hunger and pain†, Journal of experimental psychology, vol. 57, no. 6, pp. 389-396. Fillingim, R. B, Maixner, W. (1995) Gender differences in the responses to noxious stimuli Pain Forum, 4, pp. 209–221 Fillingim, RB; Wright, RA (2003). â€Å"SexDifferences and Incentive Effects on Perceptual and Cardiovascular Responses to Cold Pressor Pain†. Psychosomatic Medicine 65 (2): 284–91 Helstrom, B. & Lundberg, U. (2000), â€Å"Pain perception to the cold pressor test during the menstrual cycle in relation to oestrogen levels and a comparison with men†,  Integrative Physiological & Behavioural Science,  vol. 35, no. 2, pp. 132-141 Hodes, R. L. , Howland, E. W. , Lightfoot, N. & Cleeland, C. S. (1990), â€Å"The effects of distracti on on responses to cold pressor pain†, Pain, vol. 41, no. 1, pp. 109-114. Jones, A. , Spindler, H. Jorgensen, M. M. & Zachariae, R. (2002) â€Å"The effect of situation-evoked anxiety and gender on pain report using the cold pressor test†, Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, vol. 43, no. 4, pp. 307-313. Lynn B. Cutaneous nociceptors. In: Winlow W, Holden AV. The neurobiology of pain: Symposium of the Northern Neurobiology Group, held at Leeds on 18 April 1983. Manchester: Manchester University Press; 1984. Mitchell, L. A. , MacDonald, R. A. R. & Brodie, E. E. (2004), â€Å"Temperature and the Cold Pressor Test†, The Journal of Pain, vol. 5, no. 4, pp. 233-238 Raj PP.Taxonomy and classification of pain. In: Niv D, Kreitler S, Diego B, Lamberto A. (2007) The Handbook of Chronic Pain. Nova Biomedical Books; Riley, J. L, Robinson, M. E, Wise, E. A, Mers, C. D,Fillingim, R. B (1998)Sex differences in the perception of noxious experimental stimuli A meta-analysis Pain, 74 pp. 181–187 Thorn, B. E. , Clements, K. L. , Ward, L. C. , Dixon, K. E. , Kersh, B. C. , Boothby, J. L. & Chaplin, W. F. 2004, â€Å"Personality factors in the explanation of sex differences in pain catastrophizing and response to experimental pain†,  The Clinical journal of pain,  vol. 0, no. 5, pp. 275-282 von Baeyer, C. L. , Piira, T. , Chambers, C. T. , Trapanotto, M. and Zeltzer, L. K. (2005). Guidelines for the Cold Pressor Task as an Experimental Pain Stimulus for Use With Children. Journal of Pain, Vol 6, No 4, pp 218-227 2!!! a b International Association for the Study of Pain: Pain Definitions [cited 10 Sep 2011]. â€Å"Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage† Derived from Bonica JJ. The need of a taxonomy. Pain. 1979; 6(3):247–8.

Factors That Influence the Development of Individual’s Self Concept Essay

Income can influence the development of individual’s self-concept in a negative and positive way whereby people with good income with be able to live a luxurious life-style, for example will be able to afford good healthy balance diet, expensive cloths, shoes and jewellery able to afford good expensive accommodations with nice furniture, expensive cars, private hospitals, can afford their children to go to private schools which will them the advantage to good education and will be able to reach their full potential in life; can afford to go on holidays. But most importantly, possessions are not the only important thing in life, as long as one is able to maintain basic standard of living. on the other people with low income will even find it difficult to maintain the basic needs of life and this will their self-esteem especially if they are surrounding by images of people who have a lot of wealth. They will be restricted from a lot of things for example, will not be able to afford nice cloths for them and their children, will not be able to afford nice secured accommodation, not be able to access higher education and in terms of sickness they will have to be on the NHS waiting until is the time for them to be treated because they cannot afford to go to private hospitals to be treated or seen by a doctor. This is why so many people on low income are dying due to health problem because they cannot afford private hospitals so they have to wait on the NHS waiting list for a year or more meanwhile the sickness is getting worse and if they are unlock by the time the NHS get to them they would have been dead. Therefore, money in an important factor that influence the development of individual’s self-concept. Media edia means things like newspapers, television, internet, sites and music and these may influence the development of individual’s self-concept in that they positively enable us to have knowledge on what is happening around the world as well as playing a big role in the development of especially teenagers’ self-esteem and self confidence in relation to how they perceive their body image and beauty because media can alternation how to look beautiful by making them eat less to maintain their body figure, body transformations an so on thereby developing their self- esteem and confidences. On the other hand media can influences the way we think and feel about ourselves as it affect the person’s perception of body image and present them with an unrealistic view of how their bodies should look like thereby making them not to appreciate who they are, causing them always want to look like others and so begin to copy what they do and how they like as well as hoe they dress hence leading them to attempt unhealthy diet that is eating less because they do not want to gain weight as they want to be models, get stressed with money to buy designer clothes and so on and if they fail to achieve what their hearts desire, their self confidence will decline as well as having low self-esteem. Also when we watch media we tend to hate certain features of our appearance for example hate your nose and admire another person seen on media causing you to go for face transformations like plastic surgeries which may have an impact on your general health as time goes on because it may cause you to develop health issues sues as developing cancer, and also the feeling that we are not good or beautiful makes us unhappy and hence gets withdrawn. Family The family in which a person is brought up in plays an important role in influencing the development of someone’s self concept because when members of your family for example your parent love and care for you, it can make you feel good about yourself and develop a sense of belonging as well as self awareness. Also parent who praise and reward their children for what they have done contribute to the development of their self-concept because rewards and praises make them love and believe in themselves that they can also do things something which makes them have a feeling being useful people as well as developing their self confidences. On the other hand poor relationship between parents and children with in the family may make children lack confidence as well as as feel unloved and valued something which can result them in not being able to form long lasting relationships in adolescent or adulthood because of the effect that was cause during their childhood of not being loved and therefore they are passing on what they experienced during childhood making them having no love for anyone. However family members who abuse and neglect their children, this affect their self-concept because it makes them feel unloved, and insecure as well as having a feeling of not belonging in the family causing them to always feel withdrawn, and isolated leading to to develop low self-esteem and having negative image about themselves as they may see themselves as being useless, not wanted and not worth of living hence leading to suicide attempt and children who think poorly about themselves always have a hard time on finding solutions to problems. Education education is another factor that influences the way we feel about ourselves in the way that the person’s idea of how they are is strongly influenced by the experience at school and later experiences at college or university can also change what we think about ourselves. However this depends on which school we have attended, which experiences we have faced and how successful we have been because when we perform well in school and be praised for that which we have achieved, it develops a sense of confidence in ourselves as well as making us feel good about ourselves by making us feel that we are important people to the society thereby creating a positive self-image. But when we do not meet the expectations of education, we tend to develop negative attitudes about ourselves, for example we begin doubting our abilities to progress, we get discouraged, we loose confidence and self-esteem thereby making us become, withdrawn, and have a feeling of not belonging especially when with those who have achieved careers through education hence affecting our self concept. Also educational achievement is a positive influence on self-image because it increase out self-esteem as well as forming a positive self-image leaving a person with confidence feeling in our abilities and rise to challenges. It also influences us because it involves mixing with other people and we may compare our selves with them, learn theories and new ideas from them something which can help us to understand our lives. Peer pressure During adolescent stage, teenagers rely much on their friends and most of them follow what their friends do hence friends becoming a major influence on the development of the person’s self-concept because they can support their friend’s existing attitudes and values thereby making him/her feel good about his/her self and gaining confidence as well as making you feel you belong to their group as they support you. Also peer pressure can lead to the development of a positive image by encouraging you on how to dress nicely as well as helping you to choose which outfit can make you look nice because if you are smartly dressed, it can make you feel good inside and have confidence in what ever you do. Peer pressure also influence the way we behave in society by making us copy their behaviours whether they are good or bad just because we want to fit in their group and a sense of belonging and if you do not behave the way they want you, they may exclude you from a certain social group making you feel bad, unacceptable or failure and as a result you become withdrawn and isolated hence affecting our social development. Conclusion: there are different factors that can influence the development of individual’s self-concept and they can be influenced positively or negatively it all depends on the individual. When it comes to children and teenagers the parents have an important role to play in their children’s life; you as a parent suppose to set up a high standard behaviour and self-discipline because your children will be watching if you are a parent that wants to live life any how that will play a big role on your child/children’s behaviour; they will never respect you as a parent and they will start to look up to other people outside and also look for a role model that will be a big influence in their lives making you a second class citizen. It is therefore important to train yourself to live a good and valued life style so that you can be respected by your children, family and other people outside. You as an adult, and your children will feel good and proud when you are respected and at the same-time you are a role model to your children.

American novel Essay

Inspiration is something that some people have difficulty finding, whether to write the great American novel or simply to get out of bed in the morning. Creative inspiration is much more delicate a subject, as when one does not feel the desire to create, the product most often suffers greatly. However, for me, creative inspiration comes from almost everywhere I look, as long as I manage to see beauty before me, and luckily, the world is a beautiful place. Beauty is truly everywhere; it can be in a sunset, a work of art, or in a masterpiece of architecture. There is manmade beauty and natural beauty, and both have unique appeals that inspire to humans in many different ways, including creatively. Along with the millions of writers, painters, and poets that came before me, I find creative inspiration in noticing the beauty of things, no matter how common or rare. I can also find beauty amidst things that are ugly, if anything gaining an increased appreciation for the beautiful moments of peace and lightness. No matter how much I suffer or observe suffering, it is easy for me to remember that life is indeed beautiful, and this often inspires me to continue creating beauty of my own. Human physical beauty is also something that inspires me creatively. It is impossible to deny that certain men and women are not beautiful, for a perfect face and body attracts many people from all around; however like the old adage that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, everyone else may not universally agree upon the external and physical beauty of these people. Some people make think blonds are beautiful, while others prefer brunettes; some people may like blue eyes, while others only find brown beautiful. This shows the subjective nature of beauty, which begs the question as to whether this beauty is significant at all or merely a matter of taste. However, like the beauty of Helen of Troy, legendary and often referenced in all arts, beautiful people inspire me to create. But, while physical beauty can inspire me to create, it is most often the beauty I find within people and myself that most inspires me. I believe the greatest and most inspiration beauty in life comes from within; and this kind of beauty can be achieved by everyone without pills, painful operations, or costly beauty treatments. I have learned not to put too much stock in the media’s representation of beauty, because I feel it robs from the more significant beauty that can be achieved in society when people think of each other and treat each other with equal respect and consideration. I do my best to live by the golden rule, and find situations the most beautiful when others do the same. I feel that many of the popular conceptions of beauty are based on half-truths and blatant deceptions, encouraging people to hide their flaws rather than love themselves. For me, honesty is beautiful and inspirational, and I try always to be honest, and subsequently inspired. Life is beautiful enough without having to worry about perfecting physical attributes, and the truth is that aesthetic beauty is not nearly as lasting or inspirational as emotional, spiritual, and mental beauty. These are the kinds of beauty to which I aspire and have successfully managed to cultivate in my efforts to harness creative inspiration. While beauty may truly be in the eye of the beholder, I feel confident in my own beauty because I treat everything in life as it is: beautiful. From this view, it is easy for me to find creative inspiration in just about everything I see, hear, and feel. I find joy and inspiration in everything, and I try to make everyone share in the beauty that I possess and inspiration I find, hoping that they can also create his or her own. I try to be truthful in all regards, and try never to feel insecure that my beliefs in my own beauty are false. I refuse to adopt the media’s perception of beauty, and prefer to find my own conceptions in what I see is true beauty: generosity, compassion, and joy. All I have to do is sit back for a moment, reflect on the wonders of existence, and I will inevitably be convinced of the beauty of life, and subsequently inspired to create some of my own. For me, this is the truth, and like the words of John Keats, â€Å"Beauty is truth, truth beauty,—that is all/ Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know† (Keats, 1901). For me, beauty is truth, and truth is inspiring. REFERENCES Keats, J. (1901/1999). Ode to a Grecian Urn. The Oxford Book of English Verse. Ed. Quiller- Couch, Arthur Thomas, Sir. Bartleby. com. 31 Jul 2008. .

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Globalization of Financial Reporting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

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Tom Peters on Uncertainty - Essay Example There is a great challenge to management to meet the changing landscape and capitalize on the new economies. Tom Peters was telling us that there is a brave new world of business and our management structures and organizations must be equipped to meet the uncertainty of the 21st century. The post bureaucratic era has introduced many new norms for institutions and business. While the staid structures of clearly defined hierarchy may have served history well, they can not keep pace with the speed of change in today's world. By understanding that we are faced with continual uncertainty, organizations can restructure to take advantage of that change. Networking and team concept approaches can offer the ability of an organization to react and act in the face of sudden change. While many opportunities will exist, it is the organizational structure most adept at handling change that will define the success from the failure. The globalization of capitalism has also presented new markets and manufacturing bases. Yet, here again the organization is faced with uncertainty. The firm may find itself embroiled in international politics or environmental issues that may threaten to sink their investment. The venture must be structured in such a fashion that they can withstand the assault of the unknown.

Net-centric Computing and Information Systems Essay - 1

Net-centric Computing and Information Systems - Essay Example While describing the structural details of the wireless networking protocol the tutorial also significantly addresses the issue of security vulnerability that is associated with the said protocol. Since the protocol is not guided or guarded by wires or fixed connections it is often said to have substantial susceptibility to noise and other unseen deflections. Similarly, the protocol also does not ensure secure data transfer because since it is prone to interferences, then it can also be prone to unauthorized access to private information being passed over it. Another drawback associated with the Wireless LAN protocol is that despite all the technological advancements, the current data transfer rate over it is comparatively significantly lesser than that over the Local Area Network (LAN). The Wireless networking protocol 802.11has revolutionized the concept of connectivity among individuals. Thus this has had amazing effects on the corporate world as well. The need of the hour for businesses that involved the need to get network connectivity anytime and at any place within a particular set up without the restriction of physically laden networking wires in the premises have been addressed with the emergence of this protocol. Run time connectivity within business environments is not possible via wi-fi enabled computing devices that can be secured by binding the identity of hardware logged on to the system by pre-registering their MAC addresses. It was interesting to realize the concept behind the much prevalent wireless internet connectivity that has become so very common the world over. It was an informative and interest capturing tutorial indeed. The tutorial studied addressed the most integral concepts of today’s world: ‘Computer Security’. Ever since the advent of the concept of connecting computing devices over a network the concept of

Material and Ideological Conditions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Material and Ideological Conditions - Essay Example In developing world, the GDP is low. This implies that the earnings of most people cannot sustain them. Low living standards leads to poor diet and impoverished health. Economic history focuses on survival issues and viable solutions to be implemented. Struggle for existence is common in the developing world while the developed world lives in comfort. Despite the comfort, there are issues that need to be addressed as far as survival is concerned. Some communities face poverty but are economically independent. A material life is experienced in other parts of the world like in New York. Life in such like areas is characterized by dependence on others. Most are untrained in rigorous activities of life like farming, repair of machines and hunting, among others. This is a paradox. The richer a nation the more it will be vulnerable. Rich nations will therefore need poor nations to survive. The solution to its problems results to division of labor (Freud et al 52). According to this scenari o, man is the source of all his economic problems. Kit 16: Resistance and Repression- Civilizations and its Discontents by Freud, Sigmund Civilization has improved in every century. Technological advances have created demand for wealth. This has developed other social issues that the society needs to address. Besides, experience has taught these psychoanalysts that various individuals opt to sit in strategic positions, in their endeavor to evade access to this form of treatment. This significantly assists in the patients’ understanding of their inner self, hence significantly aiding in rapid recovery. Above that, the psychologists claim that some patients possibly will break the cooperation rule, thereby leading them into becoming lonely, claiming that some challenges are their personal opinion, citing that these experiences are confidential, and as such, they need not to disclose them. Additionally, people may not be willing to air all their predicaments and keep some of the ir challenges to themselves. In such cases, the psychologists have no authority to intervene and may only encourage the patient into airing all his predicaments. Moreover, it is usually inadvisable to permit the patients to break the rules of such psychological sessions, since they only produce results that the psychoanalyst is unsatisfied with. Individuals with other varieties of neurosis, including obsession are known to disregard the rules of these sessions, based on their unaccounted doubts. However, sufferers of anxiety are renowned for the relentless adherence to the rules of such sessions. Besides, the psychologists ought to compel the patients to adhere to these rules, and with patience and perseverance, they manage to achieve this (Freud et al 331). This considerably aids in ascertaining the success of such sessions. Various Diseases resulting from warfronts lead to traumatic neuroses, as well as an accord the contiguous of neurotics. The distressing patients provide an app arent sign, showing that an obsession during the distressing disaster lies at their derivations. These patients habitually duplicate the distressing circumstances in their imaginings. The subsistence of comatose mental courses is revealed in the fixation actions of these patients. Discontentment in civilization has prompted several diseases to human kind, making life even more unbearable. Inequality causes many to develop illness. In search for a solution, religion is thought

Macroeconomics Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Macroeconomics - Term Paper Example At present, the national debt is $8.8 trillion and is increasing at nearly $2 billion per day (Hall, 2007). If Congress does not control its overspending through measures such as passing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution and adhering to it, the country’s economic future is in deep peril. This discussion will provide an overview of the federal budget process and outline the disastrous consequences of continuing to be a debtor nation. The President submits a proposed budget to Congress in early February for the coming fiscal year that runs from October 1 to September 30. The President’s budget request to Congress accomplishes two main objectives. First, it relays the President’s opinion of how much should be taken in via taxation and how much should be spent. Second, it prioritizes the President’s present and future federal funding desires. â€Å"The budget typically sketches out fiscal policy and budget priorities not only for the coming year but for the next five years or more† (Coven & Kogan, 2006). When Congress receives the President’s budget, it usually conducts hearings to discuss many of the requests before developing a budget resolution. This is the budgetary parameters that Congress will work within when making their determinations regarding taxes and spending. The budget resolution, drafted by both Senate and House Budget Committees includes both mandatory and discret ionary spending goals. Following committee approval, the resolution is submitted for a vote and possible amendments by the entire membership of the Senate and House. Afterwards, a joint House-Senate committee is convened to resolve any disparities in the resolution of the two versions passed by each house of congress. The resulting joint report is sent back to both houses for a vote. Congress can choose to employ a procedure known as

Discuss the major barriers to entry of new firms into an industry and Essay

Discuss the major barriers to entry of new firms into an industry and how these barriers can either give rise to or maintain a monopoly company - Essay Example Such firms face little or, in some cases, no competition at all. Each firm in perfect competition is a price taker. This means that changes in output by one firm do not shift the industry supply curve sufficiently to alter the price. If the whole industry makes more or less output, the supply will shift and the price will change but not if one firm increases or decreases output, this means each firm can sell all it wants at the given market price. This also indicates that marginal revenue equals price. Since each unit is sold for the same price in such a market structure, marginal revenue also tends to stay constant therefore giving us a straight horizontal line. However, a monopolist faces a downward sloping demand and is able to set either the price or the output, but not both. A profit maximizing monopolist would choose the output where marginal cost equals marginal revenue. This output will be somewhere over the price range where demand is pricing elastic and will be sold at the price consumers will pay. In most instances, the total revenue for such firms are higher than the cost hence enabling monopolies to earn abnormal profits in the short run as well as the long run. In order for a firm to maintain its monopoly power and abnormal profits there must be barriers to the entry of new firms. Barriers to entry are specifically designed to prevent potential firms from entering into a market. They provide firms a degree of market power without losing their existing market share. Barrier to entry anything that allows incumbent firms to earn supernormal profits without threat of entry (Boyes and Melvin, 220-222). The barriers that can be used to create or maintain a monopoly include: The high fixed cost or setup cost can be the toughest obstacle to tackle. The barrier here is access to capital. Only large firm will be able to fund the necessary investment. An established monopoly is likely to have developed specialized

Mississippi’s school Essay Example for Free

Mississippi’s school Essay The SAGE program in partnership with John Hopkins University of Baltimore Maryland, invites, states or districts to become members in improving the student achievement in the potential members’ schools. Through the National Network of Partnership Schools, SAGE and others in the network will work states, districts and other educational organization members to form an Action Team for Partnership plan. Members follow the Six Types of Involvement format (NNPS online). Five years of NNPS surveys and result focused studies on member schools’ progress has been reported (2005). NNPS uses research results to develop practical tools, materials, and guidelines for schools and school districts. Presently, over 1000 schools, 100 districts, and 17 state departments of education are working with NNPS to use research-based approaches to establish and strengthen their programs of school, family, and community partnerships (2005). It is suggested that incorporating the following elements create better programs and outreaching to parents of the students and increased parental involvement (2005). 1. Leadership 2. Teamwork 3. Action plans 4. Implementation of plans 5. Funding 6. Collegial support 7. Evaluation 8. Networking Results from longitudinal studies showed that â€Å" a review of literature on family involvement with students on reading, indicated that, across the grades, subject specific interventions to involve families in reading and related language arts, positively affected students’ reading skills and scores (Sheldon Epstein, 2005b). The original SAGE pilot program research involved participants of which fifty percent were below the poverty level (Vinson, 2002). Participating classes were reduced from average size to fifteen students per teacher. An evaluation by Molinar, Smith and Zahorik (1999) revealed that the first grade SAGE students demonstrated higher achievement when compared to nonparticipating schools in both language arts and math. Second and third graders were reported to follow the same pattern. The third study to be reviewed is the Prime Time (1984) project in Indiana. This was originally planned to be a two year project started in 1984 but it had such promising results that by 1988 all k-3 classes were reduced in Indiana. The average FTE was eighteen. In 1989, McGivern, Gilman and Tillitski compared samples of achievement levels of second graders from six districts with reduced class sizes and three districts that were not reduced and found significantly larger gains in reading and math among students of smaller classes. As with project STAR, SAGE has suffered criticism. Limitations mentioned were that â€Å"students were not assigned to experimental control groups on a random basis†, and that school policies were changed and implemented during the course of the study (Vinson, 2002). A widely criticized factor was the use of teacher incentives to motivate small classroom achievement. As mentioned previously, opinions on class size vary. Over the years several researchers have analyzed studies and evaluated the effectiveness of each. Glass and Smith (1979) found after analyzing seventy-seven empirical studies on class size versus student achievement, that small classes were associated with higher achievement at all grade levels. For greatest results in student achievement, students should attend small classes for over one-hundred hours (1979), with under twenty students. Small classes are beneficial because of 1) better student reaction 2) teacher morale and 3) quality of the teaching environment (Vinson, 2002). In a review of one-hundred relevant studies, small classes had been the most beneficial, during kindergarten and third grade, but only if teachers change their methods and procedures (Robinson and Wittebols, 1986). Slavin’s (1990) research of empirical studies, were chosen for analysis based on a three part criteria; 1) class size had been reduced for at least one year 2) twenty students were compared to substantially larger class sizes and 3) students in both class sizes were comparable (1990). Contrary to previously mentioned researchers, Slavin believed that smaller class size had minimal positive effects on students and those effects did not continue once students were returned to normal, larger classes (1990). A highly published researcher, Eric Hanushek has voiced his opposition to small classes benefiting student achievement since the mid-1980s. In all his reviews of class size studies, he’s always concluded that; â€Å"The evidence about improvements in student achievement that can be attributed to smaller classes turns out to be meager and unconvincing (Vinson, 2002)†. Johnson (2000), citing a study at the Heritage Foundation examining National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reading data, asserted that the difference in reading assessment scores between students in small classes and students in large classes was insignificant. He criticized class size reduction programs citing California as example of how such programs exacerbate the problem of lack of qualified teachers to fill classrooms. His claim of the lack of association between class size and performance was consistent with Hanushek’s conclusions (1999). Studies of the effects of class size in secondary schools are much more rare and largely equivocal (Deutsch 2003; Grissmer 1999). Many of those who advocate for smaller class sizes at the secondary level argue that small classes positively impact the school environment, thus, improving performance indirectly. In her review of the literature of class size and secondary schools, Deutsch (2003) highlights studies that conclude small classes stimulate student engagement, allow more innovative instructional strategies, increase teacher-student interactions, reduce the amount of time teachers devote to discipline, improve teacher morale, and minimize feelings of isolation and alienation in adolescence that can come from anonymity. Another important process variable the researcher will investigate is the effects of school policy on student achievement. An influential policy becoming common in schools is that of parental support and teacher incentives. As with the other factors in this model, conclusions about the effects of both on student performance has been mixed, but recent studies seem to point to more positive correlations, particularly teacher experience (Hedges, Lane, and Greenwald 1994). Mississippi’s Department of Education’s Schools and Parents Partnering for Student Success is a brochure given to the parents of Mississippi public school students to educate them on what level of proficiency their child should be on in an attempt to form a relationship between school and home. Strategies for improving student achievement according to Mississippi’s School.

Organic vs. Conventional Grown Food Flavor Essay Example for Free

Organic vs. Conventional Grown Food Flavor Essay Ever wonder what truly goes in to the food that is produced and sold in our grocery stores. You would be surprised as to what is used to grow the food we eat. Conventionally grown foods can use trace amount of nicotine and arsenic to keep food pest free. Conventionally grown food can be pumped with hormones that allow the crops and animals to grow larger or produce more fruit and vegetables. By using all of the artificial products in conventionally grown food we change the flavor, size and color of fruit, vegetables and animals, including their byproducts. People may not realize what is used to grow these huge vegetables and chicken breasts. Organically grown food is not only tastier but also has more health benefits when compared to conventionally grown food. We will discover the benefits and disadvantages to both organic and conventionally grown food. This will provide the reader with tools to make a decision on to whether to use organic or conventionally grown food. In order for food to be called organic, it must be grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. Although organic foods carry very minute levels of toxin naturally present in them, they are not harmful to us at these levels. By not using synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, organic foods can naturally develop the nutrients and vitamins that a person needs to maintain a healthy, well balanced diet. Keeping these foods the way they naturally grown allows them to develop larger and more full of these valuable items that would be reduced because of the many chemicals and pesticides used to grow the convention foods. As to whether organic food is tastier, is up to the individual. Many professional chefs and home cooks prefer to use organic food when possible because they feel the flavors are stronger and taste more natural. Organic food is richer in color; therefore making the dishes not only taste better but help also to create a more appealing presentation. To them organic food has a fresher taste and a more natural flavor because the food is allowed to grow naturally and develop the way it would occur as nature intended it to. Organic food does cost more because of the time it takes to prepare the soil and let the food grow as nature intended. This cost more in labor and time so that the price for these can be inflated. When you take into consideration the health benefits of not putting in harmful chemicals and better taste of the food, they outweigh the cost of purchasing these products Conventionally grown foods are grown with a large amount of chemicals and pesticides that can be harmful to consumers in the long wrong. Now there are arguments that the levels of these products are so small that they are not harmful to consumers; but there are plenty of signs to the contrary. Look at how rapidly and early boys and girls are maturing compare to those of the past. This can be accounted for or â€Å"blamed† on the amount of hormones fed to animals to grow them larger and enhance them, so that they produce more by products, such as eggs and milk. The chemicals used to grow larger crops and protect them from rotting and pest also has negative effects. It has caused a rise in allergies that was just not prominent twenty or thirty years ago. The shorten times of growth that conventionally grown foods have can stunt the development of vital nutrients that they would produce if they were to be grown in the normal periods they would have. This can really have a negative effect on having a balanced diet because consumers will have to add supplements, like synthetic vitamins, to get their daily nutrient levels. Again, as to whether conventionally grown food taste better or worse, is up to the individual but most professional chefs feel it does not taste as fresh or has natural flavors like those in organic food. The flavor in conventionally grown food is not as developed because it has shortened growth time. Fruit, vegetables and animals need time to naturally develop and grow as nature intended them to so they can develop all of the good stuff we love. Conventionally grown food does cost less because it is grown so fast and in mass quantities without care for the environment or any harmful effects to the consumers. The short-term side effects are not as bad to the long-term side effects that will be passed on to generations upon generation. Saving a dollar at the risk of a person’s health seems to me to be a very large risk that is not necessary. Organically grown food is a much better choice because more naturally nutrients, better developed flavors and appearance even if the cost of purchasing them is higher. Conventionally grown food is the exact opposite. The chemicals and hormones are resulting in early development in our children and an increase in the levels of people with allergies. Professional chefs prefer organic food to conventional food because it develops the flavor profiles of their dishes more and improves the appearance of it as well. Just because the cost of conventionally grown food is lower than that of organically grown food, the disadvantages of them are much higher. Risking the future of our children is simply not worth saving a few dollars. It is up to the individual as to where to choose organic food but choosing it will provide the tools for a brighter tomorrow and a healthier today. We need to teach our children healthier ways to eat and live, if we expect them to grown up and live productive lives.

The Iraq War and International Law

The Iraq War and International Law A critical analysis of the Iraq War of March 2003 This paper offers an insight into some of the politico-legal issues arising from the Iraq War of 2003 and the subsequent military occupation of Iraq by coalition forces led by the United States of America and the United Kingdom. The invasion of Iraq is assessed against the subsisting framework of public international law. It is hoped that a detailed, critical and generally objective appraisal is rendered throughout, although subjective angles are offered to present and support a personal view where such is deemed appropriate. Foreword The invasion of the oil-rich middle-eastern state of Iraq in 2003 was undertaken by the United States and the United Kingdom on March 20 of that year, with the tacit political and in some cases logistical backing of certain other states. Collectively these supportive states, amounting to fifty in total and including Spain, Australia, Italy, Turkey and Japan, were described as a â€Å"coalition of the willing†.[1] After approximately three weeks of concerted military operations, the rule of Saddam Hussein and the Baath Party under his dictatorial control was brought to an end and Iraq fell under the occupation of coalition forces. The fundamental legitimacy of the invasion was disputed since the outset and the question remains one of extreme controversy today. The often promulgated legal justification for the military campaign was that Iraq illegally possessed stockpiles of so-called Weapons of Mass Destruction, including chemical biological and possibly even nuclear weapons, in violation of the 2002 United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441.[2] In the run up to the invasion and throughout the campaign United Kingdom Prime Minister Tony Blair and United States President George W. Bush and their respective administrations repeatedly alleged that these putative weapons posed a serious and imminent threat to the West in general. Expert United Nations inspection teams had been searching Iraq for these alleged weapons prior to the invasion and nothing substantial had been found although there was a common suspicion, inter alios, in both the United States and the United Kingdom, that the Iraqi authorities, whi ch were often obstructive, were hiding something. The weapons inspectors were willing to continue their work, but were forced out when President Bush lost patience with Saddam Hussein by the onset of war. Scrupulous and unfettered investigations since Iraqs capitulation two and a half years ago have failed to unearth anything that could be described as a weapon of mass destruction.[3] Chapter 1:  The myths and realities of Public International Law in the context of the Iraq War of 2003 Public international law, sometimes unconvincingly referred to as the law of nations, may be defined as the system of law that regulates the activities of entities possessing international personality. In particular it is said to govern the relationship between independent sovereign states.[4] It is submitted that nation states derive their autonomy by means of inherent legitimacy or some other socio-political reality rather than through a decree granted by the international community. Exactly how is a political, constitutional and even philosophical matter which varies between countries and is largely beyond the ambit of this work. As things stand in 2005 there is no higher or global power. States may therefore choose to enter into international commitments voluntarily under the matrix that is referred to as international law, and sometimes they will accept legislative process outside their own consent. The fundamental problem with the concept of international law is that there is currently no global sovereign authority that enjoys universal recognition and therefore there is no supreme legal entity (such as a Parliament or Crown) to underpin and enforce a system of law. It follows that independent states tend to follow their own counsel and pursue their own national (and ultimately sovereign) agenda, when it comes to the interpretation of their commitments under international law. Scholars, commentators and political leaders alike have contended that international law has evolved to a point where it exists separately from the mere consent of states, but it is submitted that we are still very far from the crystallisation of that process. There is a trend toward judging the domestic actions of a state in light of international ‘law’ and ‘standards’ but the consistent lack of consensus, forceful capacity and machiavellian disabilities of the so-called United Nations even in fields such as the environment, disease and poverty of common interest to the entirety of the world population amply testifies to this conclusion. Many states, notably including the hugely significant and influential United States, vigorously oppose the idea of the supremacy of international law, maintaining that national sovereignty remains the dominant legal value. A number of commentators now point to the development of a legislative and judicial process in international law that parallels such systems within domestic law, but this is a nascent process, and far from true maturity. It is submitted that the status quo dictates that states only commit to international law with a pragmatic and self-serving view and that they retain the right to make their own interpretations of its meaning. Moreover, international courts only function with the consent of states and their rulings are often overlooked. In summary, international law in the early part of the twenty first century better resembles a â€Å"Pick and Mix† system more akin to a retail confectionery counter than a supreme, coherent and consistently reliable and enforceable legal superstructure. It is suggested that international law exists and is recognised only when each state wants it to be, when it suits their national agenda. There is no better example of the fluid and amorphous nature of international law than that under discussion in this paper. It was a new world order that gave rise to the 2003 Iraq War. In the context of the socio-political legacy of the horrific 9/11 attacks on American soil, which caused a seismic shift in global relations and received diplomatic wisdom, and what the Bush administration considered to be the relative success of the subsequent United States-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, it was deemed by American President that he had sufficient military justification and general support, certainly among middle American voters and hopefully overseas, for further armed operations against perceived threats in the Middle East. Iraq was unfinished business, and something that had given his father George Bush senior, a bloody nose when he held the Executive. It is submitted that the unanticipated survival of Saddam Hussein as leader of Iraq after his own father’s departure fr om office must have leant a strong and irksome personal angle to George Bush junior’s attitude and approach to the Iraq question. Given Saddam Hussein’s continued grip on power, relations between the leading members of the coalition and Iraq had not warmed since the nadir of the original 1991 conflict, which was provoked by the middle eastern state’s invasion of its southern neighbour Kuwait.[5] The nations had acquiesced in a state of bitter low-level conflict in the intervening years, characterised by British and American air-strikes, human shields, no-fly zones, an extensive sanctions regime, and other threats against the Iraqi state, which reacted with public belligerence. Iraqi air defences regularly engaged and fired upon coalition airplanes enforcing the longstanding northern and southern no-fly zones, which had been implemented after the 1991 Gulf conflict. All things considered, by 2003 the stage was set for a stern and high stakes test of the mettle of the framework of public international law and its application in the critically important arena of armed conflict and possible justifications for a military response to real and putative threat. It is submitted that what followed serves only to buttress and underline the opening comments in this paper namely that the phrase â€Å"public international law† may in harsh reality be a contradiction in terms. Chapter 2:  War in International Law, the general prohibition and primary exceptions The United Nations Charter[6] establishes a legal framework for the use of military force in international law. Almost all states are signatories to this Charter, including the United Kingdom, the United States and indeed Iraq. The Charter stresses that peace is the fundamental goal of the Charter, and that it is to be preserved wherever possible. The preamble emphasises a determination ‘to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbours’, ‘to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security’, and to guarantee ‘that armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest.’ Article 1 of the UN Charter establishes the United Nations’ objectives, the first of which is: â€Å"To maintain international peace and security; and to that end: to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace.† Article 31 of the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties,[7] provides that a treaty must be interpreted in accordance with its overarching purposes and objects, including its preamble. It is submitted that those provisions of the UN Charter which are relevant to this paper namely the prohibition on the use of force and its exceptions must therefore be interpreted in accordance with this fundamental sentiments. The Charter thereafter lays down two core principles: â€Å"2(3) All Members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered. 2(4) All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.† In Nicaragua v United States[8] the International Court of Justice described Article 2(4) as â€Å"a peremptory norm of international law, from which States cannot derogate†. The effect of Articles 2(3) and 2(4) is that resort to force can only be justified as expressly provided under the Charter, and only in situations where it is consistent with the goals of the United Nations. The UN Charter permits the use of military force in the situations set out in Chapter VII. Article 42 provides that, if peaceful means have not succeeded in deriving conformity with Security Council decisions, it: â€Å"may take such action by air, sea or land forces as may be necessary to maintain or restore international peace and security.† In practice this means that states require a breach of a relevant Security Council resolution in order to use military force against another State,[9] and such action can only be justified where any and all peaceful means available for resolving the dispute have been exploited to the full. It is submitted that where breach of such a resolution has occurred, states do not enjoy a unilateral right under Article 42 to use force to obtain conformity or to penalise the defaulting state: the question as to what action should be taken remains a matter for the Security Council. The above is subject to the provisions of Article 51 of the Charter, which reserves states’ rights to self-defence. A state does not require a Security Council resolution in order to defend itself with the use of military force, but it should be noted that even this right is subject to action by the Security Council. Article 51 stipulates: â€Å"Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence if [emphasis added] an armed attack occurs against a member of the United Nations, until the Security Council has taken measures necessary to maintain international peace and security. Measures taken by members in the exercise of this right of self defence shall be immediately reported to the Security Council and shall not in any way affect the authority and responsibility of the Security Council under the present Charter to take at any time such action as it deems necessary in order to maintain or restore international peace and security.† In line with normal principles of interpretation, exceptions to the fundamental principle of the prohibition on the use of force, Articles 42 and 51 must be interpreted restrictively and narrowly on the facts of the particular case. Therefore, under the UN Charter there are only two situations in which one state can legally resort to force against another: (1) In individual or collective self-defence (in this regard Article 51 of the Charter enshrines a right provided by customary international law.) (2) Pursuant to a relevant United Nations Security Council resolution. As for the question of self defence, it is clear that the United Kingdom has not been the subject of any direct attack which could be linked with Iraq. Therefore it is submitted that it is clear that the right of self-defence responsive to a military or even terrorist attack does not arise for consideration. Accordingly, the only possible justification is as an anticipatory species of self-defence presumably in contemplation of some real and imminent future threat. Regrettably, Article 51 of the Charter is silent as to whether ‘self-defence’ includes the kind of pre-emptive strike opted for by the United States and the United Kingdom in 2003. Internationally renowned commentators have taken different tacks on this question. Oppenheim concludes that while anticipatory action in self-defence is typically illegal, it will not necessarily be unlawful in all circumstances.[10] It is argued that the matter depends on the particular facts of the situation including especially the gravity of the threat and the extent to which pre-emptive action is avoidable, and any other options to circumnavigate or mitigate the risk of attack. In fact, it is submitted that the twin requirements of proportionality and necessity are even more important in relation to anticipatory or proactive self-defence than they are in reactive circumstances. On the other hand Detter endorses a more straightforward analysis rendering the practice plainly unlawful. In The Law of War he argues that it should be conceded that pre-emptive force is covered the prohibition of force in Article 2(4) of the UN Charter and that this derives a simple presumption that suc h action is illegal.[11] In unequivocal terms he concludes that: ‘the mere threat of attack thus does not warrant a military response.’[12] Chapter 3:  A Critical Evaluation of the Legality of the 2003 Invasion of Iraq and United States and United Kingdom justifications for the military campaign George Bush junior’s administration made no secret of the fact that removing Saddam Hussein from power was a primary goal throughout 2002. It did offer to accept major concessions in Iraqi military and foreign policy in lieu of this, but it is submitted that this would have resulted in what may have been calculated to be an untenable loss of face for Hussein which would thus have presented him with an unacceptable option, while maintaining ostensible negotiations to the world at large. Reportedly, on 9/11 itself, in the immediate aftermath of the strikes President Bush enquired as to whether there were any likely links between the terrorists and the Iraqi dictatorship. When told that none were obvious, President Bush responded by saying â€Å"Well, find them.†[13] As stated, the emphasised justification for the invasion focused on Iraqi production and use of weapons of mass destruction (hereafter â€Å"WMD†), but suspected links with terrorist organizations provi ded the underlying impetus for popular support, particularly in middle-America where attitudes are insular and introspective and the most generous appraisal would find that general knowledge on world affairs is limited to say the least.[14] Little if any convincing evidence was presented and has since been accumulated actually linking the government of Iraq to Al-Qaeda.[15] That said, the incidence of grotesque human rights violations in Iraq, including state-sponsored torture and mass murder organised under Saddam Hussein leadership, was also cited as a justification for the campaign.[16] It is notable however, that it has been suggested that only the WMD ground would have presented a legally defensible ground for military intervention under the auspices of international law, given the claimed breach of Security Council Resolution 1441.[17] The apparent absence of WMDs in Iraq is problematic to say the least in terms of the putative international and national legality of the 2003 c ampaign. In summary, Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld claimed that the stated goals for the invasion of Iraq were as follows: Self-defence To find and destroy weapons of mass destruction, weapons programs, and any terrorists sheltering under the regime; To gather intelligence on networks of weapons of mass destruction and terrorist groups. Humanitarian To bring to an end sanctions and to provide humanitarian support (Secretary of State Madeline Albright claimed that 500,000 Iraqi children had died because of sanctions.) United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution Resolution 1205, made in 1999. Regime Change To terminate the administration of Saddam Hussein; To facilitate Iraqs transition to democratic self-rule Other To secure Iraqs oil fields and other resources[18] Certain members of the Republican camp had even higher hopes for the war. The Bush administration claimed that the war could serve generally as a catalyst to facilitate democracy and peace in the Middle East, on the assumption that once Iraq became democratic and secured new influence, friends and prosperity there would be pressure and incentives for other states in the region to pursue the same route (presumably due to the so-called demonstration effect), and that the socio-political environment that previously had nurtured terrorism would be destroyed. Hamzeh defines the term demonstration effect as â€Å"a revolutionary event in one place [that] may act as a catalyst for a revolutionary process in another place at approximately the same point in time.†[19] That said, it is submitted that for diplomatic and bureaucratic reasons these goals were de-emphasised to allow stress to be put on justifications based on the allegation that Iraq represented a specific threat to the Uni ted States and to upholding the rule of international law. There is of course a popularly held counter point of view which argues that the reasons promulgated to justify pre-emptive war were either inadequate, specious or just plain falsehoods. A summary of critical opinions as to the true motivations that provoked the 2003 military campaign features below: The Oil Issue To seize control of Iraqs hydrocarbon deposits and in so doing preserve the United States’ dollar as the monopoly currency for the hugely important international oil market (Iraq had been using the Euro as its oil export currency since 2001); to reduce the price of oil for the high-consumption American market; To assure that American interests would be primary beneficiaries of Iraqi oil; To guarantee that the United States exercised military control over the middle easts hydrocarbon reserves, and thus secure a lever to control other countries depending on that market for supplies. Military and Construction Interests To divert vast amounts of money to the American defence and construction industries as a consequence of the campaign and subsequent occupation. Public Popularity and Executive Re-election (Falklands Factor) To buttress and enhance the ‘crisis’ popularity enjoyed by the President as a result of his stern response to the 9/11 attacks, and moreover to distract attention and dilute critical comment on other domestic political issues where President Bush was palpably vulnerable politically (In this regard it should be noted that George Bush junior’s father saw his own wartime popularity quickly eroded when the electorate began to focus on the economy in the aftermath of the 1991 conflict. It is submitted that this cannot have gone unnoticed in the political think-tanks of Washington DC, or indeed by Prime Minister Tony Blair’s advisors in London, where reference is so often made to the so-called Falklands Factor which boosted Margaret Thatcher’s ailing popularity and secured her re-election and subsequent political dominance in the 1980s.) Revenge and Ideology To obtain retribution. It is said that revenge is a dish best served cold and for over a decade George W. Bush junior had waited to seize revenge against Saddam Hussein for the humiliation of the dictators survival after the first Gulf conflict and for allegedly attempting to have his father, President George H. W. Bush, assassinated during a 1993 visit to Kuwait. It may also have been a temptation to secure closure for other members of the United States’ Administration, including the influential Richard Cheney, who was both infuriated and humiliated by the continuation of the Hussein dictatorship after the 1991 American action.[20] To pursue the fundamental strategic goal of unquestionable American geopolitical pre-eminence as promulgated, inter alios, by the Project for a New American Century.[21] Under pressure from its vociferous critics, in April 2005 the United Kingdom government published the full text of the advice provided by the Attorney General Lord Goldsmith on 7 March 2003 on the legality of the war.[22] In his advice, the Attorney General evaluated the various arguments on whether military action against Iraq would be legal without another specific United Nations Resolution. Lord Goldsmith was equivocal on many points but he firmly concluded that regime change was not a lawful goal of military action, indeed, he expressly stated that invasion for the purpose of usurping Saddam Hussein was an illegal endeavour.[23] A document that has come to be known as the Downing Street Memo, which details the minutes of a United Kingdom government cabinet meeting on 26 July 2002, was leaked to newspaper The Times on 1 May 2005.[24] The document corroborated the Attorney General’s advice, and restated Lord Goldsmith’s opinion that the desire for regime change was not a legal ground for military action under international law. The memo stated were three possible legal routes: self-defence, humanitarian intervention, or United Nations Security Council authorisation. It was found that the first and second grounds could not be the justifications in this case, and that reliance on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1205, which was, at the relevant time, some three years old, would be a tenuous and pregnable stance. The weakness of the argument is exacerbated by recognition of the fact that the cabinet were not discussing a new trade pact or esoteric diplomatic relations, but the single most important decision that a government can take, namely a pre-emptive war. The Downing Street Memo further stated that President Bush wished to remove Saddam, by applying military force, justified by the co-existence of sheltered terrorist factions and WMD. However, it is submitted that the intelligence was being posited around the policy. It was also found that the majority view of the UNSC was not satisfied with the general UN route, and that it harboured no enthusiasm for promulgating additional information on the record of the Iraqi regime. The Memo also indicated that there was little discussion in Washington of the consequences of military action or of the impact of the aftermath on the state of Iraq. It is submitted that it must have been quite apparent that the US President had already decided to resort military action, even if the timing of that action was still to be finalised. However, at this point the case for invasion remained flimsy.[25] Saddam was not posing any realistic threat to his neighbours, nor even posturing to do so. As the Memo sug gested, even in the worst alleged case scenario (which has thus far proved to be wrong) his WMD capability fell substantially short of that of Iran, Libya and North Korea. Four days after the leak in London, in a move initiated by John Conyers, a ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, the US Congress formally requested the President to answer a series of penetrating questions relating to the Downing Street Memo, including whether he or anyone in his administration disputes its accuracy.[26] The Bush Administration has to date failed to answer those questions. Exhibiting similar reticence, on 22 May 2005, the United Kingdom government refused a plaintive request for an investigation into the legality of the war from the families of soldiers that had lost their lives in Iraq. These bereaved families have now sought a judicial review of that decision. Treasury solicitors were responsible for refusing the request, which they did after Tony Blair had made his own view that a review was unnecessary patently clear. In a Channel 4 News interview he stated: â€Å"We have had inquiry after inquiry, we do not need to go back over this again and again.†[27] Seeking to justify their decision, the Treasury Solicitors claimed there were at least five principle reasons to deny the request of the families. These were as follows: The European Court of Human Rights has already clarified that decisions on military action abroad are not reviewable under the European Convention of Human Rights (hereafter â€Å"ECHR†). None of the fatalities occurred within the jurisdiction of the UK as defined by Article 1 of the ECHR. The ultimate decision to pursue military action in Iraq was not the â€Å"immediate and direct operative cause of the deaths of the proposed claimants’ relatives†. There was no â€Å"specific and individualised risk of harm† to those who lost their lives, such that could be distinguished from any other members of the United Kingdom armed forces. Dispatching armed forces to Iraq as part of an organised military force fully equipped and capable of defending itself could not be considered on the same footing as sending a helpless individual victim overseas to confront the risk of torture or death. The claimants would have to invoke the Human Rights Act in raising an action before the domestic courts, but that Act is not applicable in any relevant sense to any territory beyond the frontiers of the United Kingdom. The Treasury Solicitors also contended that the fraught question of the legality of the invasion of Iraq was irrelevant to whether there had been any breach of Article 2 of the ECHR.[28] The legal position in the United States was also both tenuous and pregnable. In conformity with the well known system of checks and balances protected and maintained by the United States Constitution the authority to declare war is granted exclusively to Congress, and there is no provision in the Constitution for its delegation, although it is true that under the provisions of the US War Powers Act of 1973[29] the President can send troops to a country without the consent of Congress for a period not exceeding 90 days. George Bush, therefore, did not have personal authority to declare war. On October 3, of 2002, US Representative and Congressman Ron Paul submitted a proposed declaration to the House International Relations Committee which stated that a state of war was declared to exist between the United States and (with a careful choice of words) the government of Iraq. He said: America has a sovereign right to defend itself, and we don’t need UN permission or approval to act in the interests of American national security. The decision to go to war should be made by the U.S. Congress alone. Congress should give the President full war-making authority, rather than binding him with resolutions designed to please our UN detractors.[30] However, this proposal was rejected. Although this would seem to the casual observer a damning outcome, the President was undeterred. To overcome this obvious setback, drawing on several factors, including unresolved matters still persisting from the 1991 Gulf War, George Bush junior’s administration forcefully claimed the intrinsic authority to engage Iraq militarily, and Congress was manoeuvred into circumnavigating fundamental ‘technicalities’ in transferring what were in substance its war powers to the President.[31] It is submitted that this policy in itself left the American action on shaky legal foundations to say the least.[32] On this tentative analysis, the invasion and military occupation of Iraq, while to all intents and purposes a war per se, may therefore be considered a police action initiated by the Executive, in similar fashion to the Korean War and, notably perhaps, the ill-fated Vietnam War before it. The United Nations: Competing perspectives on the applicable resolutions

Fan Violence Essay examples -- essays research papers fc

Sports fans must have certain rules and regulations against them in order to maintain violence outbreaks during games. For the past decade, fan violence has gotten more and more out of control. There should be certain limits for fans so that violence can be prevented during games. The route of fan behavior comes from many different things, all of which can escalate into very serious situations during games. That’s when it can get very dangerous for the fans and even for the players. There are lots of different examples of fan violence in sports. For instance, a Kansas City Royal’s fan attacked an umpire named Las Diaz (â€Å"Fan†). On April 30, 1993, a tennis fan named Gunter Parche, who was a fan of another player; stabbed Monica Seles. He was a fan of another tennis player (â€Å"Fan†). Cleveland Brown fans threw thousands of beer bottles, cups and debris onto the field after a penalty call was taken back from the Browns (â€Å"Fans throw†). Players, coaches, and referees had to sprint out of the football stadium. On January 25, 1995, Manchester United striker Eric Cantona, assaulted a fan during a game against Crystal Palace after a fan said a racial slur toward him (â€Å"Fan†). On August 29, 2004 an Irish priest, Neil Horan, burst out of the crowd to race the leader of a 5000 meter race in the 2004 Summer Olympics (â€Å"Fan†). On September 13, 2004, Texas Ranger pitcher Frank Francisco threw a chair at a fan during a game after the fan spoke inappropriate language to him (â€Å"Fan†). On November 19, 2004, a brawl broke out between the fans of the Detroit Pistons and the players (â€Å"Fan†). There are many different causes of misbehavior from fans. Of course not all fans do it, but there are many that do. Alcohol is usually the root to the fans menacing behavior during sports games. William Ligue Jr., who was fan at one of the games, admitted he drank before beating someone up (â€Å"Alcohol†). The fans were described as uncontrollable beasts. Winning is supposed to cause you to drink for celebration (â€Å"Alcohol†). And then losing is supposed to cause you to cry in your alcohol (â€Å"Alcohol†). The alcohol industry markets hugely on risk-taking fans (â€Å"Alcohol†). Maybe that is why fans are causing such problems at games. Fans are more inclined to be binge drinkers rather than non-fans. Studies found 53% of sports fans binge-drink 5 or more drinks in a short period of time as opposed to 41% of mal... ...es.† http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/oconnor/2003-04-17-ian.x-htm 17 2003. 03 Feb. 2005 5.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Home fans Behaving Badly.† http://www.collegeathleticsclips.com/archives/000169.html 28 2004. 03 Feb. 2005 6.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Fans Rally Around Pacers.† http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A8746-2004Nov23.html 24 Nov 2004-03 Feb. 2005 7.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Fifteen Students Taken To Jail After Boilermakers’ loss.† http://www.landmark-project.com/citation_machine/index.php/mode=form&list=nonprint&cm-9. 26 Mar. 2000. 11 Feb. 2005 8.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Replay Riot.† http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/news/2001/12/16/jaguars_browns_ap/. 17 Dec. 2001. 11 Feb 2005 9.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Fans throw bottles after call against Saints.† http://www.usatoday.com/sports/nfl/saints/2001-12-17-fans.htm 18 Dec. 2001 11 Feb. 2005 10.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Fan violence.† http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/violence_in_sports 17 Feb. 2005 11.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Fans subject to conduct code.† http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1993569 17 Feb 2005. 22 Feb 2005

Shaping Heian, Japan :: essays research papers

Shaping Heian, Japan Tenth-century Japan is characterized by images of elegance, beauty, and sophistication. Ritual and ceremony shape nearly every aspect of life during this time. Throughout The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon there are several examples of how everyday lifestyles are shaped through these mediums. Politics, religion, self-image, and interpersonal relationships played important roles in shaping life in Heian society, and a form of either ritual or ceremony influenced each of these assets. Government and political forces were a very important part of Heian Japan. The government and its actions affected all aspects of life. Under the emperor, the government was divided into two separate entities, one religious and one secular. One’s rank within the government was closely related to the political position held. Aristocracy and the civil service were combined so that a person was usually given a rank first, then a suitable office to fit that rank. This made it nearly impossible for anyone to enter the rank hierarchy by merit, allowing the Japanese to make their system diverge in fundamental and damaging ways from the Chinese governmental model. Those who held rank were afforded special tax breaks, special rights to have certain clothes, or to send their sons to universities (Morris 64-5). It is only natural to assume that when religion and government are so closely tied that a level of ceremony and ritual would be incorporated into political practices. The detail and precision put into deciding rank and position is just one example of how ceremony plays a role in politics during this period. Religion played a very significant role in tenth-century society, especially as it was tied to the political affairs of the country. During the time that Shonagon wrote, the traditional religion was Buddhism. Ritual and ceremonial practices dominated all aspects, from the practices to the wardrobe. For instance, â€Å"†¦ priests pay their respects to the statue [Buddha]; then, while intoing words of praise, they pour coloured water on the statue’s head. The Court Nobles also pour water over the statue, make obeisance, and withdraw†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Morris 160). Throughout the course of a year, several different ceremonies were held each representing some important face of the Buddhist lifestyle. One ceremony, which took place near the end of the Twelfth Month, was The General Confession. This ceremony was aimed at expunging the sins one had committed during the course of the year with â€Å"†¦painted screens depicting the Horrors of Hell are set up under the eaves as a reminder of the need for penitence† (Morris 165).

Realization of Life :: essays papers

Realization of Life At one point in one^Ã’s life, he will come to some realization, develop a higher understanding of himself, or have an epiphany of some type. This one incident can change a person^Ã’s entire outlook on life including their beliefs and practices. There will be many notable events in one^Ã’s life, but there will be only few incidents in which one will come to a profound comprehension of his life or life in general. These few incidents are what create adversity in one^Ã’s self. The mental unease which comes along with these incidents is not usually long lasting, but embeds a dramatic concept to which one will often refer. A few years ago, I underwent one of these experiences in which I realized that life entailed no inherent meaning, but only that of which I could myself assign to my actions and despite this I must somehow find happiness in my life. One will always perceive life and its events differently. Because of this, two entirely similar events may influence two individuals in the exact opposite directions. Persons can usually be associated with one of the traditional temperaments, which are phlegmatic, choleric, sanguine, and melancholic. These temperaments are representative of the four humors; phlegm, yellow bile, blood and black vile respectively. One will view and translate events based upon their own personal temperament. I find myself to be melancholic and in that, I find the most significance in seemingly insignificant events. During my freshman year, I was writing a paper for English Class late one night. I recollect the paper was based on the views of Ernest Hemingway. In my frustration, I asked myself, How important is this paper? This was the first time I had ever asked myself this question. In all the assignments prior to this point I had never questioned their importance. In fact, I surprised myself with the answer. At that moment, I realized that the essay was completely unimportant and would not effect me in the long run. Upon this, I began to exam all the events of earlier in the day. I could not find any real meaning in any of these events. Suddenly and horrifically I came to the assumption that not only my life, but life in general was seemingly meaningless in the scheme of the universe. With this conclusion I came to wonder, is life worth living? Up until this point I had found meaning in my life. In order to live productively, I