An Evaluation of the Impact of Sales Representatives on International Dissertation

An Evaluation of the Impact of Sales Representatives on International Business - Dissertation Example This dissertation is a qualitative analysis of the value of this method of business management. It discusses findings in the form of revenue and profit charts of the selected company, and analyses those findings in light of the restructuring of the company business policy by the incorporation of sales representatives as marketing agents. It concludes by presenting recommendations on the measures that could be adopted to improve the impact and efficiency of sales representatives across the world, by highlighting and studying the challenges that the representatives might face in the field. Through this dissertation, it is recommended that instead of relying solely on one technique of international business dealing, the multi national companies should employ a combination of techniques so that the limitations of one are compensated for by the advantages of the other; in this case, such combination would be that of using sales representatives along with retail and departmental stores for international business. ... †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 23 3.2: Findings†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 24 3.3: Analysis†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 40 Chapter 4: Advantages and Limitaitons†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 43 4.1: Advantages of Sales Representatives†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 43 4.2: Limitations†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 48 4.2a: Limitations of the study†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 48 4.2b: Limitations of the method†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 50 Chapter 5: Recommenda tions and Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦... 54 5.1: Recommendations†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 54 5.2: Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 63 Bibliography†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 67 List of Tables Table Page Number 3.2.1: Revenue divisions of Avon†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 26 3.2.2: Fourth quarter revenue and profit Avon†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 27 3.2.3: Total and net global expenses of Avon†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 30 3.2.4: Zonal revenues and profits of Avon†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â ‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..39 List of Figures Figure Page Number 3.2.1: Overall percentage trend in total revenue and operating profits†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 33 3.2.2: Percentage trend in total revenue and operating profits in Latin America†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 34 3.2.3: Percentage trend in total revenue and operating profits in North America†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 35 3.2.4: Percentage trend in total revenue and operating profits in Central and Eastern Europe†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 36 3.2.5: Percentage trend in total revenue and operating profits in Western Europe, Middle East, and

Critical thinking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 8

Critical thinking - Essay Example This is the best motivational technique that a parent can use, because it is natural for children to behave in a certain way when their behavior is appreciated with a reward. The term coined by B.F. Skinner, negative reinforcement is a kind of motivational technique that aims at repetition of a certain behavior, by the removal of aversive stimuli. An aversive stimulus is some sort of physical or mental discomfort. A response or behavior is strengthened when an individual knows that he will escape a negative outcome. My mother has always told me to clean up the mess in my room before I leave for school. She has, at times, yelled at me when I left my room untidy. So, I knew that I have to clean up my room in order to escape the anger of my mother. In this example, my mom’s anger was the negative reinforce or the negative outcome, which I avoided by correcting my behavior. Consider a student whose mobile phone rings up when he is attending his favorite math class. His teacher reprimands him in front of his classmates, and gives a lecture on bad effects of using mobile phones during lectures. Since the student feels ashamed in front of his peers, he powers off his phone, and makes up his mind to always switch it off during lectures. This way, his negative behavior is weakened by positive punishment. Negative punishment involves taking away of some expected and desired outcome after a negative behavior is shown. Negative punishment is also intended for weakening the negative behavior, so that it does not happen again in future. I remember myself fighting with my little brother over a video game. He wanted to play it first, while I was saying that since it was my idea, so I should play it first. We started yelling at each other, while each of us snatching the DVD from the other. My mom came in, and with an angry look, took the DVD away with her in the kitchen, and hid it somewhere. This is an example of taking away a desired object with the

Barleria Prionitis Linn

Barleria Prionitis Linn

Essay --

About 13 years ago , America wasn't involved in any wars with any nation. Our nation deported not as many immigrants as we do today, and citizens used to get through airport security in five minutes. As we can see a lot can change in little over a decade. Many dramatic changes needed to be changed after September 11th. The 9/11 attack stands alone as a unforgettable moment in United States history, that showed the most influential effects on the America and its citizens. 19 groups of combat that were known to be associated with the Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda hijacked four airliners and carried out suicide attacks against targets in the United States on September 11, 2001 ( "9/11 Attacks."). Two different planes flew into the towers of the New York City, World Trade Center. Meanwhile there was a third plane third plane hit the Pentagon that was outside Washington, D.C. The fourth plane took a wrong turn and crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. Death and destruction came out of the 9/11 attacks. More than 3,000 people were killed during and afterward the attacks in not only New York City but also Washington, D.C., this count did not include the 400 police officers and firefighters who also died.( "9/11 Attacks."). The human tragedy of 9/11 is unbearable and immeasurable. Yet there is another cost, the kind we are known to measuring, which is the economic cost. 9/11 Affected the United states economically. First it started off with the 2001 recession. In 2001, four days after the attack the economy started to drop for the first time since the Great Depression. Between the insurance cost, cost of rebuilding the World Trade Center into a Memorial and Museum, the United States spent a lot of money. New York City, had 430,00... ... higher chance of developing cancer compared to those in the group that was not exposed to the dust. 135 people had cancer in a non-exposed group. This was being compared to 161 smaller sized group (9 /11 Ten Years On - The Health Effects On Rescue Worker). Not all effects of 9/11 were good, but some of them changes the United states for the better. 9/11 was one of the worse days in american history that affected americans economic, security, health, and physiologically. Fortunately, the person who planned this horrible attack was found in 2011 and killed. This was a sense of relief for american people. Yes, people are still scared about future attacks but know that this time the united states know what to do. The 9/11 attack stands alone as a unforgettable moment in United States history, that showed the most influential effects on the America and its citizens.

Nutrition Final Paper Essay

Question 1 (3 pts): Clients will often approach the RD, bewildered as to how to select, plan, and prepare a healthy diet for themselves or their families. Using yourself as an example, discuss the six basic principles of diet planning and how they apply to your dietary intake. Answer 1: Preparing and eating health meals for me and my family can be difficult with our busy schedule, but it starts with a plan. Using the 6 principles of diet planning I start with adequacy. I accomplish this by writing out a grocery list of all the things my family will need for the week. I also shop weekly because we prefer fresh fruit and vegetables. Next, I make sure we have an even balance of foods. I write out meal plans for the week to make sure my family has an even items of food and also a variety of foods. This can be very challenging with young picky kids, because my son would just eat fruit and oatmeal all day long if I let him. Variety is really hard in the Parker home because of the limited food choices do to my husband intolerance to red meats and dairy products. I also struggle because my favorite food list consists of about 10 different kinds of foods. We don’t really have problems with the nutrient density because we only eat lean proteins such as fish, turkey, and chicken. My husband cannot tolerate fatty food so we don’t fry, and we enjoy a fixed variety of fruits and vegetables. I do not pay attention to calorie content unless it is a prepackaged food you heat up or add water to, but I do make sure what I’m putting into my families bodies is enough to keep them going for the day. Moderation is the last of the principles and a big one in my house. When cooking we do not add extra salt for taste nor do we consume foods with high trans fat, saturated fat,or cholesterol. Water is also the most consumed beverage. Soda has no home in my pantry, but we do elect for juices that are not made from concentrate. Question 2 (2 pts): Discuss the key recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010 and differentiate these guidelines from the Canadian Guidelines for Healthy Eating. Do you have a preference as to which one you would use with clients? Answer 2: The dietary guidelines for Americans in 2010 have 4 main points. Starting with balancing calories to manage weight. With in this section it talks about how to maintain calorie control,intake,and balance. Also, is talks about physical activity and keeping active to maintain a healthy weight. In the Canadian guidelines it has in own section for keeping active and doing it in accordance to your body weight, but it really doesn’t touch on calorie balance or intake. Next, the American guidelines touches on foods to reduce from your diet. Focuses limiting sodium, saturated, mono and poly saturated,cholesterol ,trans fats,added sugars,refined grains,and alcohol. Whereas Canadian guidelines really just focus a lot on salt intake, alcohol, and caffeine. Next American guidelines talks about food to increase. Included in this list is fruits, vegetables, fat free dairy, lean proteins, seafood, and foods that have more vitamins within them. The Canadian guidelines emphasis consuming a variety of complex carbs and foods from the earth. Also, incorporating low fat dairy products as part of a daly routine. Although, both will guide the average person to a healthier lifestyle I would refer my clients to the American guidelines because it goes in to more depth of how to live healthier. Question 3 (3 pts): MyPyramid is a popular graphic source for nutrition information. In fact, it is so popular that it has been duplicated as a graphic for exercise information, vegetarian diets, etc. Given its popularity, it would appear that MyPyramid is the best pictorial to teach consumers nutritional information. Would you agree or disagree? Why? After you have stated your own personal argument, consider the other perspective and discuss why someone would take this perspective. Answer 3: I believe MyPyramid is a great way to teach consumers nutritional information, but I disagree that’s it is the best way. The people who need these guidelines the most are most likely ones who do not take the time to get on the Internet and use the tools that MyPyramid has to offer. I don’t think it properly educates people on the right food choices in each group. Education on nutrient density is a lacking component when using MyPyramid. I also believe that the MyPyramid is lacking in teaching balance of healthy foods. It seems like they stress certain foods more than others and thus creating unhealthy habits for individuals not properly understanding their nutrition needs. Question 4 (3 pts) : Food manufacturing and technology continue to grow in sophistication. While one can certainly debate about the pros and cons of such growth, there is no doubt that consumers are often confused about the different labels given to the different types of processed foods! (a) In a few sentences, describe each of the following: fortified, refined, enriched, whole grain, and textured vegetable protein. (b) What are your thoughts on how these types of foods fit into the diet of the American consumer? Question 4 a) Refined foods are highly processed that have been stripped of their original nutrient content such as white flour and white pasta. Enriched foods add vitamins and minerals to replace the ones lost in the refining process. Fortified foods add vitamins and nutrients in addition to the ones found before the refining process. Question 5 (3 pts): To fully gain command of their dietary intake, consumers should know how to read food labels. Many find reading food labels very confusing. Why do you personally believe that consumers find food labels hard to read? Describe how you, if you were an RD, would educate your client on reading a food label. What do you think would be your priority point of education for your client? Question 6 (5 pts): As noted in your readings, describing a vegetarian diet is somewhat like describing a typical American diet; there are many varieties. Please describe the types of vegetarian diets one might come into contact with and provide a short synopsis on the food plan that would be followed. Question 7 (3 pts): Discuss the rationale why consumers/clients select to pursue a vegetarian dietary plan as well as the health benefits of following a vegetarian diet. Question 8 (3 pts): Discuss nutrients that an RD should be careful to assess for and discuss with a client pursuing a vegetarian program to ensure that their dietary plan allows for sufficient quantities of that nutrient.

Human society Essay

Human society, as we know it, is becoming lazy and antisocial. It’s pretty much useless to deny it. Compare us to fifty years ago, and you will find we’ve let ourselves go. Compare us to a hundred years ago, and you’ll realize we’ve morphed into beanbags with brains. In the 1890’s they got by fine without even using cars. Or credit cards, for that matter. Of course, they couldn’t show skin at the beach, but that’s another matter. Take the Segway scooter for instance. For those of you not in the know, it’s a slow, ugly, two-wheeled, battery-powered (ooh†¦ ahh†¦), upside-down coffee table, with some junk in it that makes it impossible to fall off of (in case all that standing gets the best of you). It was designed for city use (like that god awful 1/8 mile from your work to the doughnut shop), and has no other practical use except possibly as a coat hanger/umbrella rack. 45 klicks, top. Can run about 200 kilometers on a battery. Offers little or no protection against cars, which is a moot point because it’s nowhere close to being street legal. All you have to do is stand. In other words, it’s a big wheelchair for the able where you don’t have to move your arms, legs, or even eyelids for that matter. Makes walking obsolete. Pretty lame invention for 5000 bucks a pop, huh? Here comes the scary part. This Yuppie-Mobile is being hailed as â€Å"something that will revolutionize the way we travel†. Scientists are calling it an â€Å"engineering masterpiece†. The website is taking advance orders because the things are going quicker than they can make them. And very few of these people are actually in need of these services. No, friends, it’s pure laziness. Next on the chopping block†¦ those insta-gas keys at gas stations. Such a stupid idea makes the Segway Scooter look like Edison’s light bulb. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about, but if you don’t here’s a run-down: For a small fee (your soul), you can get a little key-type deal with a gas station logo on it mailed to you (along with about a million pieces of junk mail). Although they look like toddler toys, they actually hold a lot of fat-gaining power for the modern lazy yuppie. Imagine, if you will, life before the Key. Imagine the horror of actually having to labour out of your heated SUV and talking to a low-life gas pump. Imagine social interaction. Imagine returning to find your (instant) coffee slightly less warm. Before the Key, all of these things were, in all their horror, a reality. Now, you can just beep the key in front of the reader, pump your gas, and get a friendly greeting from the meter such as â€Å"have a nice day†. Nothing puts you in a good mood like being complimented by an LCD screen. The gas is charged to the credit card or other easy pay billings system. Aga in, these mechanisms have alarming popularity. Shell introduced them to their gas stations about a year and a half ago, and now you would be hard-pressed to find a gas station that doesn’t have some form of instant-payment tool. Even the mom and pop stations are getting in on the fad. Only theirs involves paying 25 dollars for a rock, and proceeding to throw it at the pump when the gas is pumped. Gas pump deaths are at an all-time high. Just kidding, kids. Perhaps the most disgusting example of lethargy comes from the same people who bring you Enforma Diet Pills (for those too `busy’ to diet. Damn slobs). I am talking about none other than the queen of the late-night infomercials, the talk of the trailer park, the (drum roll please)†¦ AbTronic. This is their angle: â€Å"The AbTronic(TM) is so effortless that you can be watching your favourite television program, reading a book or even cooking dinner while getting your body into the shape you want it[1][1]†. Pathetic. Absolutely pathetic. I can’t even begin to tell you what’s wrong with this one. You apparently don’t even need to go to a gym anymore to get `rock-hard abs’. Sure, you’ll be porky in other places, but your abdominal muscles will be `rock-hard’. And ab muscles are enough for the modern ultra-lazy consumer. Who cares that this device has uncertain long-term effects? Who cares if â€Å"it doesn’t work half as well as ordinary sit-ups†[2][2]? Who cares? It’s easy, it’s expensive, and that’s good enough for the average American consumer. The scary thing is, unlike most infomercial products, the demographic this product is reaching extends far beyond the crackhouses and backwoods. American teens from all walks of life are throwing out their gym memberships for a shot at insta-abs. The decline of civilization at its lowest. Of course, I could be wrong. Maybe these innovations are for the better. Who knows what can be accomplished with the increased amounts of free time? Maybe the time saved by these devices could be put towards creating world peace. Or forming a perfect system of government. Or inventing life saving devices. Yeah†¦ right. _______________________ [3][1] Store.yahoo.com/wonderfullbuys/abtronic.html . The wonderfullbuys site is actually a haven of lazy-person tools. If this kind of stuff floats your boat, I recommend it. [4][2] [5]www.streetcents.cbc.ca. Great consumer review site. [image001.jpg] The Segway: Motorized Stupidity [image002.jpg] The AbTronic: The Pinnacle of human idiocy References Visible links 1. file://localhost/var/home/acumen/svn/trunk/engine/docs/working/11538/11538.html#_edn1 2. file://localhost/var/home/acumen/svn/trunk/engine/docs/working/11538/11538.html#_edn2 3. file://localhost/var/home/acumen/svn/trunk/engine/docs/working/11538/11538.html#_ednref1 4. file://localhost/var/home/acumen/svn/trunk/engine/docs/working/11538/11538.html#_ednref2 5. http://www.streetcents.cbc.ca/ Hidden links: 6. http://www.coursework.info/

Compare and contrast the records of one of Debussy 24 preludes WEST WIND

Compare and contrast the records of one of Debussy 24 preludes WEST WIND Introduction Claude Debussy (1862-1918) was a French pianist and composer whose exceptional work in technical composition made him one of the most prominent composers of his era.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Compare and contrast the records of one of Debussy 24 preludes WEST WIND specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More He is considered to be the founder of modern sensualist compositions, creating a new trend in musical performance by use of contemporary scales and a diversity of tonal arrangements, greatly influenced by Russian compositions and Eastern cultures. He had the unique ability of collectively assimilating different tonal variations simultaneously to form a richer unified reminiscent resonance which earned him the title of a musical impressionist. His mastery in solo piano saw the addition of Preludes to his repertoire, which until his contribution were not regarded as important in musical composition. Deb ussy composed the entire collection of preludes over a period of three years (1910-1913) and divided them into two separate books, each book containing twelve preludes. Preludes The 24 Preludes composed by Debussy in book 1 and 2 are short musical pieces that are meant to put across a specific atmosphere or feeling which is pointed out by the title of each piece. The titles are placed at the foot of each peace to allow the pianist and the audience to inwardly interpret the music before they get to understand the composer’s perspective (Harpole 1986). The Preludes are considered to be among the epitome of the composer’s keyboard mastery, but even Debussy himself admitted that not all the preludes received the commendation he had hoped for. West wind What the West wind saw (Ce qu’a vu le vent douest) is the seventh of the twelve preludes in Claude Debussys first book of preludes. The piece begins with tension preceded by a metrical build up of the bass which eleva tes the tension present in the music (Roberts 1996). The build up of the bass is gradual and then rapidly explodes with two tonal variations the high pitched tones in the registry giving out a howling sound while a growling sound emanates from the lower pitch tones to give a cumulative effect of rage and destruction (Harpole 1986).Advertising Looking for assessment on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Like most of the other preludes, Debussy withholds from the latent use of imagery and instead bases What the West wind saw entirely on musical and harmonic texture. He creatively replicates the natural sound of wind to produce the wailing, loud and moving sounds of a powerful wind (Muller, nd). This three minute prelude is supposed to induce the violent and overwhelming power of an aggressive wind. The piece is also particularly potent in tritones and whole-tone motifs which can be found in all of the aggr essive chords and fast comprehensive arpeggios (Roberts 1996). Debussys virtuosity is evident in the rapidly alternating tonal variations and the low range tremolos (Weiss 2003). Book 1 is made up of 12 preludes, What the West wind saw being one of them. Most of the preludes in book one are of a light texture though there are some preludes that come close to What the West wind saw (Park 1967). The first prelude, Danseuses de Delphes (Dancers of Delphi) sharply differs from West Wind in melody and harmony. The harmonies are of a lighter tone and the melody is more prominent and much closer to the accompanying chords. It also bears percussion accents which are not present in the west wind. However, the technique used is similar to that of west wind in terms of layered texture and modal scales. Voiles (Veils or sails) uniquely lacks the half-step and bears a prominent B-flat tone through out. The melody is intermittent projecting sonorously whole tone scale. This prelude bears no simil arity to west wind both in character and color (Lockspeiser 1978). Le vent dans la plaine (The Wind in the Plain) suggests the presence of wind and is similar to west wind in content (Harpole 1986). The prelude is however different from west wind in that it suggests a calmer and more bearable wind in form of a breeze. Whole tone scale only appears in the middle, the rest of the prelude being dominated by pentatonic scale (Weiss 2003). Les sons et les parfums tournent dans lair du soir (The sounds and fragrances swirl through the evening air) just like west wind, this piece is rich in harmonic content (Lockspeiser 1978).Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Compare and contrast the records of one of Debussy 24 preludes WEST WIND specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The melody is however different from west wind, and this prelude bears two thematic melodies that are layered over and interchanged through out the prelude. L es collines dAnacapri (The Hills of Anacapri) is similar to west wind in that it is richly embodied with energy. The difference is that the energy present in The Hills of Anacapri is thematic to a party mood whereas the energy of west wind is more of a destructive nature (Park 1967). Des pas sur la neige (Footsteps in the Snow) precedes west wind in book 1 and is a sharp contrast to the latter prelude. The perelude has a slow sad melody of the minor keys and ends with staccato bass. La fille aux cheveux de lin (The Girl with the Flaxen Hair) follows west wind and the use of simple harmonies make this prelude openly different from west wind. The melody is pentatonic, a stark contrast to the previous prelude (Roberts 1996). The layered harmony of melody and diatonic chords gives this prelude an impressionist aura. La sà ©rà ©nade interrompue (Interrupted Serenade) unlike the west wind is unique in attempting to imitate a guitarist as he attempts to serenade a maiden (Harpole 1986). This prelude is full of imagination and unlike west wind bears a legato melody together with a concise cadenza. La cathà ©drale engloutie (The engulfed cathedral or the sunken cathedral) is distinctively rich with Impressionist technique. Similar to west wind, this prelude uses of modal scales but differs from west wind due to the presence of pentatonic scales, bell-tones, and pedal-points that are used to sustain specific notes or chords. The prelude La danse de Puck (Dance of Puck) is a light and comical examination of an imaginary world and is Scherzos in nature (Weiss 2003). Unlike west wind, this prelude is presented as a sonata which begins with three F flat keys (Muller, nd). Chromatic scale, thematic rhythms and bitonal melodies are constantly used to magnify the comical effect of the prelude. Minstrels is the final prelude of the first book and like the previous prelude, it is dotted with humor. A dominant G-major totonic pedals holds this prelude together and acts the con stant through out the prelude. Banjo and drum themes make a number of appearances through out the prelude to give it an animated feel (Weiss 2003). Conclusion Debussy’s mastery on the solo piano is evident by the uniqueness and richness of all 24 preludes that he composed. Even though his initial work was not widely recognized or appreciated by accomplished solo pianists and composers, Debussy deeply understood that music was not about physical learning rather it was a form of suggestive expression. His attitude led him to produce some of the greatest works in the early 20th century that set the trend for other pianists and composers.Advertising Looking for assessment on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The prelude What the West wind saw can be said to be one of Debussy’s greatest accomplishments due to the fact that no other composer had ever successfully attempted to imitate the sounds of nature as he did. A captivated audience would easily get a mental picture of a strong wind clashing with sea water as it made its way to the shore. This makes What the West wind saw unique in many ways, both in composition and in content. There are however other preludes that are similar to west wind in terms of tonal composition and harmonic structure. Preludes such as The Wind in the Plain and The sounds and fragrances swirl through the evening air bear a slight semblance to the west wind but the difference is much greater. A closer examination of Debussy’s book 1 of preludes reveals the overwhelming difference the west wind has from other preludes. The west wind is inanely violent and loud and the detailed technique requires a pianist’s full attention when playing it. The layered tonal pattern found in the west wind and also in some of the other preludes is what caused Debussy to be referred to as an impressionist. All in all, Debussy’s work is indeed truly unique and light years ahead of other pianists of his generation. References Harpole, W. (1986) Debussy and the Javanese Gamelan. 3rd edition. London: Heinemann. Lockspeiser, E. (1978) Debussy: His Life and Mind. 1st edition. New York: Cambridge University Press, Muller, N. (n.d) Preludes. Piano Society Web. Available from:  pianosociety.com/ Park, R. (1967) The Later Style of Claude Debussy. 1st edition. Michigan: The University of Michigan. Roberts, P. (1996) The Piano Music of Claude Debussy. 2nd edition. Portland: Amadeus Press. Weiss, C. (2003) Debussy’s preludes book 1 and 2. Ohio: ivory classics [E-book]. Available from:  ivoryclassics.com/releases/73004/pdf/booklet.pdf

Informative Essay Sample on Somatoform Disorder

Informative Essay Sample on Somatoform Disorder Free example essay on Somatoform Disorder: Somatoform disorder is someone who appears to have a physical medical ailment but doctors cannot find the origin of the illness. For something to categorize as a Somatoform Disorder, the physical symptoms must be serious enough to interfere with the patients employment or relationships, and must be symptoms that are not under the patients voluntary control. In general, somatoform disorder deals with the physical aspects of unknown illnesses, and on the other hand, dissociative disorders deal with the patient’s sense of identity or memory. There are seven different kinds of somatoform disorders, each with their own description, or way to be identified. The major problem with somatoform disorders is that it is very hard to recognize and treat because the illness is well camouflaged to appear like normal illnesses. This would create situations where people are being treated for sicknesses that they do not really have, which is an overuse medical services and resources. The Different Sub-Disorders: Somatization disorder, used to be known as Briquets syndrome since he was the man who first recognized it, require four symptoms of pain, two symptoms in the digestive tract, one symptom involving the sexual organs, and one symptom related to the nervous system. Somatization disorder is a chronic disorder that is persistent throughout a person’s life and is likely to appear in families. Conversion disorder is a condition that the patients senses, ability to walk, or move are impaired without a medical, neurological disease, or cause. Instead, psychological factors are believed to be the causes. Typically, the disorders appear when the patient is under stress or trauma and the disorder rears its head to try to get the patient out of the situation. When speaking of conversion disorders, doctors may refer to the primary or secondary gain, which is the effect that the disorder has on the patient’s lives. Pain disorder is where the patient suffers from chronic headaches, back problems, arthritis, muscle aches and cramps, or pelvic pain. In some cases, the pain comes from psychological factors only, and in other cases, there is a mix of psychological factors, and an actual medical condition. Sadly, this disorder is relatively common in the United States because of the frequency of work-related injuries. Hypochondriasis, formerly known as hypochondriacal neurosis, is where the someone has excessive fear or preoccupation with having a serious illness in spite of medical testing and reassurance. Body dysmorphic disorder is the preoccupation with an imagined or exaggerated defect in one’s appearance. The patient can be preoccupied with any part of the body, but typically would be with the face, hands, or their breast or genitals. Is probably the only somatoform disorder where men and women have equal occurrences of the disorder. There have been many theories as to what the causes of the disorders are. Family stress is believed the most common cause of these disorders in children and adolescents. Somatization disorder and hypochondriasis may surface from the patients unconscious reflection of parent’s behaviors. This is likely if the patients parent derived secondary gain from their symptoms. Somatoform disorders patients can be given antianxiety or antidepressant drugs if diagnosed with mood or anxiety disorder. However, most believe that it is better not to give the patients any drugs as treatment, but in some cases, it has been very successful. Alternative treatment such as acupuncture, hydrotherapy, therapeutic massage, meditation, botanical medicine, and homeopathic treatment can help people with pain or somatization disorders would be able to ease their pain, and soul in some situations.

Statistics on Tweens and Dating Violence

Statistics on Tweens and Dating Violence While many adults have become aware of the prevalence of teen dating abuse and violence, few realize that preteen girls (and boys) are also victims and that the earlier they become sexually active, the more likely tweens will experience abuse and violence throughout their teen and young adult years. According to the July 2008 Tween and Teen Dating Violence and Abuse Study commissioned by Liz Claiborne Inc. and loveisespect.org, The National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline, tweens involved in relationships with the opposite sex experience significant rates of dating abuse and violence. For the purposes of this study, the following groups were defined as follows:Tweens - adolescents age 11-14Teens - adolecents age 15-18Parents - adults with a child age 11-14 The survey revealed the following about tween dating violence and abuse: Tweens who have been in a relationship report peer pressure and emotional and physical abuse. 62% know friends and peers whove been verbally abused by a boyfriend/girlfriend. 36% know friends and peers whove been pressured by their relationship partner to do something they didnt want to do.20% of 13 and 14-year olds in relationships know friends and peers whove been physically abused (kicked, hit, slapped or punched) by a boyfriend/girlfriend. Tweens identify abuse as a serious problem but dont know what to do about it. 24% say dating abuse and violence is a serious problem among their age group, and 37% say verbal abuse is a problem. Only 51% of tweens say they know the warning signs of a bad tween dating relationship, and 54% say they would know what to do if a friend asked for help. Tweens who engage in sexual activity are more likely to experience teen dating violence and abuse. 69% know say theyve experienced one or more types of abuse in a relationship 61% have been called names or put down verbally. 34% were physically abused . 36% were pressured to have oral sex when they didnt want to . 34% were pressured into having sexual intercourse when they didnt want to . In marked contrast, teens who delay sexual activity experience significantly less teen dating violence and abuse. 36% have been called names or put down verbally. 9% were physically abused . 15% were pressured to have oral sex when they didnt want to . 15% were pressured into having sexual intercourse when they didnt want to . Teens and tweens in relationships are most likely to discuss their experiences with friends and parents. 67% of tweens in relationships discuss their experiences with friends. 67% of tweens in relationships discuss their experiences with their mom. 78% of teens discuss their dating relationships with friends . 48% of teens discuss their dating relationships with their mom . Parents who delay talking to their tweens about relationships may find themselves out of the loop later on. 70% of parents who havent talked to their tween say its because their child is too young. 67% of parents say they know a lot or everything about their tweens dating relationship, but only 51% of tweens agree. 20% of tweens say their parents know little or nothing about their dating relationships, although only 8% of parents admit that . 38% of parents say their tween has been in a relationship, whereas 47% of tweens say that about themselves . Only 8% of parents say that their child has hooked up with a partner, versus 17% of tweens who say theyve hooked up. For parents, educators, and other adults concerned by these findings, two factors clearly have impact on the incidence of tween and teen dating abuse: Delaying the age at which a teenager first has sex greatly reduces the chances she/he will be involved in abuse.Talking to a child very early on about dating, relationships, and sexual behavior even before it seems necessary is essential to maintaining open communications between parent and child and may reduce the incidence of abuse. The Tween and Teen Dating Violence and Abuse Study was conducted January 2-18, 2008 by TRU (Teenage Research Unlimited) and the surveys findings were released July 8, 2008.

The Implications of Downsizing (Rightsizing) to the Employees, Research Paper

The Implications of Downsizing (Rightsizing) to the Employees, Communities, and Families of the Employees - Research Paper Example    Downsizing exposes the employees, communities, and the families of employees to psychological, emotional, and physical distress whether they remain employed or get fired. Generally speaking, the implications of downsizing include embarrassment, lack of the source of income, depression, low self-esteem, emotional abuse, social exclusion, and poverty.   I shall also identify the relative importance of the three kinds of stressors, so that the most significant, the significant, and the least significant stressors are identified separately. The expected outcome of the result is a list of contributors of psychological, emotional, and physical distress for the identified populations, along with the relative importance of each category of stressors. Knowledge of these stressors is the preliminary step towards the identification of the potential ways in which the effect of these stressors can be reduced. ... The first challenge in front of these employees is to seek employment somewhere else. Since they have not left the organization on their own and have rather been fired, this serves as a very negative point if the employees cannot somehow manage to prove that they left the organization on their own. The recruiters tend to suspect the eligibility of such employees for the job because they were rejected by their previous employers. Downsizing is mostly a consequence of the deteriorating political and socioeconomic conditions in a country, so when one organization downsizes, most of the other organizations are also doing the same. Finding a job in these circumstances becomes even more difficult for the employees. The process of searching for the job is not only physically tiring but is also emotionally demanding as one has to face the high expectations of the friends and family members who depend financially on one with no job in hand. The second challenge in front of the unemployed empl oyee is the constant feeling of embarrassment in front of the friends and family members. Owing to the shortage of money, it is not very uncommon for one to decline to the level that one has to ask friends for money, which in itself is a very embarrassing process, and often the loan is not granted without interest that puts the individual into an even greater financial stress for the time to come. The employees have to meet the daily needs in an increasingly tough environment wherein the prices of things are skyrocketing. All of these factors mutually function to negatively affect the individual’s health and psychology.  Ã‚  

Why plagiarism increases in schools and universities around the UK Essay

Why plagiarism increases in schools and universities around the UK - Essay Example Some of the reasons why plagiarism is rising in that manner are explained in this essay. One of the reasons for the increase of plagiarism in universities and schools around UK is the easy access of the internet (Watkins, 2008). There are various tools such as Google that students use to conduct their research and get access to information and ideas that can be used to complete assignments and research projects. However, such research tools have contributed to plagiarism increase across the UK because it enables learners to copy information from the internet. It is difficult to spot this form of plagiarism and cannot be identified manually. Indeed, there is a â€Å"significant, negative influence on the rate of plagiarism due to the internet† (Ison, 2014). The internet is therefore a significant cause of increasing plagiarism in most universities and schools around UK. Online education is also a significant contributor of plagiarism on the internet platform. Ison (2014) argues that online coursework or online education which is common in various institutions in UK causes a great temptation for students to plagiarize than the brick-and-mortar form of education. Online education allows students to stay on the internet for a long time, tempting them to search through various websites for information that can enable them to complete their online assignments easily. Furthermore, there is limited supervision in online studies because the student and the lecturer operate from different places and the lecturer cannot supervise the student directly.

Bell South Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Bell South - Essay Example This is necessary if companies choose to offer various broadband packages and dial up services. In order to prepare for the new service offerings, Bell South laid off 1,500 managers in 2005. Early in 2006 it merged with AT&T and began realignment of its corporate structure. Positions included in the layoff were in staff support functions. Typically this might include human resource, technical and other ‘behind the scenes’ positions. The company states that the layoff was necessary for it to compete in the broadband market, claiming â€Å"the workforce reductions to save the company $175 million annually† (Duffy, 2005). With roughly 2.5% fewer employees, managers might have been required to reassign those tasks to other employees. Options might be to add one or two additional tasks to full time employees or to increase part time employee hours a bit. An entirely different approach would be to require employees to perform tasks for themselves that support personnel previously performed. Performing support tasks for oneself could require special training. It might also require current services to be streamlined. Bell South has reorganized its corporate structure by separating Residential Markets and Business Markets. Residential markets include small business and residential customers. Customer service, marketing, sales and product development within each unit now work together to provide customer oriented service more quickly. Bell South maintains that such restructuring should â€Å"streamline the process for delivering customer solutions† (PR Newswire, 2006).

Strategic Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 4

Strategic Management - Essay Example Operational control is guided by the strategy used by the company and in the example given above, the operations of the company would need to setup the right kind of offices, get the required HR for the various functions of the business in the new market and then manage the day to day running of the business. In essence, while strategy is set to guide the company, operations are set to manage and run a business. While it may be possible and even politically correct to say that a company could work with the idea of bringing continual improvements to itself and thus remove any requirements for operational controls, the reality of the situation may be quite different. Operational controls are required to give the company some guidance in terms of how things are supposed to be done and how they are to be optimized (Welch, 2005). Simply searching for continual improvements may lead the company to be guided in several different directions in terms of operations as each department or even each individual may seek to bring improvements that may only apply to them on a personal basis. Similarly, it would be difficult to say that strategic controls could replace operational controls and the simple reason for that is they both have different realms of operation. Quality may have different implications for different customers since it is essentially an ethereal concept where the measure of quality for one customer may not be the same for another. For example, in the automobile industry, there are certain brands which are known for their quality and their repute as luxury brands. On the other hand, there are companies which work across the spectrum in the automobile market and produce economy as well as luxury cars. However, the perceived quality of the brand which is a luxury brand would likely to be higher than one which is a value brand. At the same time, there are customers who would consider

SOFTWARE ENGINEERING assignment 4 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

SOFTWARE ENGINEERING assignment 4 - Essay Example To some, one thing could be different form another, to someone else. They precisely have different set of requirements which help them to conceptualize what they think is true. The point when emergency changes have to be made to systems they can be modified in the requirements document using a suitable process model. The model to be employed is the spiral model. The process activities involved in maintaining the consistency between the requirements document and the system implementation are: The spiral model is best to be used as it keeps on circling and thereby steps in all the phases of software development life cycle including system implementation and requirements documentation gets implemented. It makes the system consistent by circling every time a change takes place in the software and traveling all the phases so as to make it organized and complete. It is the best model to accommodate the changes in the business environment and document it for future reference.

Thematic element Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Thematic element - Essay Example The monster was not happy with Victor because he was lonely and people always shied away from him. This is when it embarks on a revenge mission to ensure that Victor was also as lonely as it was. He does this by killing all the people that were close to Victor and even threatens to kill Victor himself unless he made him a beautiful lady monster for it to marry. Victor is afraid and decides to make a lady monster but the thought of the harm they would do once they are together, makes him destroy her. The big monster is not happy with this act and threatens Victor that he will visit him on his wedding night. On that fateful night, the monster did as he had promised and kills the bride, Elizabeth. On hearing this news, Victor’s father died out of shock and it is here where Victor decides that he will also destroy the big monster to revenge for his dead relatives and friends. Victor though dies before he could do this but the monster assures the people that he was alone and that h e was guilty of what he had done and that he will also kill himself so as to come to terms with what he had done. â€Å"Beloved† by Toni Morrison is also a thrilling story about a mother who had three children but was held in slavery. The master at the plantation was so stressing and always wanted to take the children from Sethe, the mother. Sethe was not happy and decided that instead of giving her children out; she would rather kill them and take them to a place where they will be â€Å"safe†. In the process, only the first born daughter dies and she is buried on a grave that was only labeled on its plague â€Å"beloved†. After a long time, the family returns home from a journey to find a beautiful woman seated in the front of their house and identified her to them as beloved. Sethe realized that this could be her dead daughter, who had come back to life and out of guilt, pampered her with so much

SOFTWARE ENGINEERING assignment 4 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

SOFTWARE ENGINEERING assignment 4 - Essay Example To some, one thing could be different form another, to someone else. They precisely have different set of requirements which help them to conceptualize what they think is true. The point when emergency changes have to be made to systems they can be modified in the requirements document using a suitable process model. The model to be employed is the spiral model. The process activities involved in maintaining the consistency between the requirements document and the system implementation are: The spiral model is best to be used as it keeps on circling and thereby steps in all the phases of software development life cycle including system implementation and requirements documentation gets implemented. It makes the system consistent by circling every time a change takes place in the software and traveling all the phases so as to make it organized and complete. It is the best model to accommodate the changes in the business environment and document it for future reference.

Proctor and Elizabeth change Essay Example for Free

Proctor and Elizabeth change Essay How does the relation ship between Proctor and Elizabeth change from the beginning of the play until now?  In the beginning of the play John speaks about Elizabeth once to Abigail. Abby has said that Elizabeth was a cold and sickly wife. John says to her that she has no right to speak of his wife in such a manner and renounces the comment about her being sickly. He does not, although, dismiss Abbys charge that Elizabeth is a cold wife. But, he means it is because of him that she is this way. In the beginning of Act 2 there was a great feeling of detachment and tension in the Proctor household. We see John trying to start a conversation with Elizabeth and she only gives him short answers to please him. Then the tide turns to her questioning him and he is the one that becomes short with her because she is requesting that he go to Salem and confess that Abigail is liar. To do that, though he must confess his sin. During most of the scene theyre not sure of each other. She doesnt quite trust him, but she loves him. Proctor believes himself to be an abomination in his own eyes and according to his own high standards and especially in the eyes of God. He only wants his wifes trust in him restored and for her to love him again. At the end of the act is where you feel the great love that they hold Proctor holds for her. When she is arrested he nearly gets into a fight with Cheever because he is going to chain her. He knows that she is being arrested because of his mistake. He verbally fights with Hale over the evidence as he promises to bring her home soon. They need to protect each other now. In Act 3 you see that he is doing his best to fulfill his promise to free her from that jail and have all the charges acquitted. He goes to the court with Mary Warren and was trying to convince Dansforth that she was innocent when Mary Warren betrays Proctor to save herself from the wrath of Abigail. He even tells the secret that brings him the greatest pain, to save his wife. It is her that the reader is assured of Elizabeths love for Proctor when she lies for him to protect his name. She lied and just the moment before hed told Dansforth that his wife never lied. But she did for him unaware that Proctor himself confessed ad only putting then deeper into trouble. Yu are again reassured of Proctors great love for her when he tells the court of his disloyalty to his wife. This shows that he is adamant to save and free his wife. In Act 4 Elizabeth is asked to speak to Proctor in the hope that she will be able to persuade him to lie and save his life. Even the Reverend Hale is begging her to make him confess and he sworn to truth in his bond with the Lord. When she says that she will try to see what he can do they are left to themselves. This is the first time that they have seen each other in three months and greet each other in a great display of love and sorrow for each other. Their love is one that is everlasting. He asks her what to do, he is willing to go with her choice, even if it were that she wanted for him to be honest and die. He would have done it just because she had asked for him to. She tells him instead to choose for himself because she feels that it is not her place to judge him. She tells him that she will love him regardless of his decision. Their love is restored even though they have not been able to see each other they both understand that they both share some blame even if it the most remote amount of blame, for Elizabeth.

History Of The Industrialised Building System Construction Essay

History Of The Industrialised Building System Construction Essay Steel framing construction is classified as one of the Industrialised Building System. However, Industrialised Building System (IBS) is common in construction industry in Malaysia. Steel framing is becoming more common in residential construction. The use of steel for framing residential construction has both advantages and disadvantages. Steel frame elements are manufactured in the factory and then will be transported to a job site for installation once it passed the inspection on it quality standard. This method has its own significance and shortage. Construction site take very high attention on the safety aspect especially when the construction is running. Safety is an issue that has no end and every year will have accidents occurred on construction site. However, it can be lead to accidence that may cause injured or dead to worker or public. Steel framing construction also having their own risk and hazard in its construction process during the installation component although it was convenient to install. For example steel column base plates are a fundamental component of a steel structure. Poor base plate installation can lead to steel columns tipping over, which can cause severe injuries or death to worker in the area. The experiences contractor on steel framing installation knows there are procedures required to pull off a high level of quality, customer satisfaction and most important safety. To make installation run smoothly it is the best to have experienced worker or else have a good safety and health management to guide and control the workers to comply with the safety rules. By the way, the major problem was poor attitude of the worker and poor management system. Aim and Objectives The overall objective for this proposal is to investigate and evaluate the safety aspects in steel framing construction. The specific objectives of this study are as follows: 1. To study the process of installation steel framing component. 2. To identify the safety aspect and the requirement during the installation process steel framing component at site. 3. To identify the level of safety during installation process at site. Problem Statement The Industrialised Building System (IBS) is not a new approach in Malaysia. It has been introduced in Malaysia since 1966. However, the most steel framing construction accidents occur because the developer or contractor lack of proper planning or using the unsafe equipments and do not follow the correct method when installation. Apart from this, unsafe site condition, not using the safety equipment that was provided, and poor attitude of workers toward safety during installation process also the issues that causes accident. Therefore, it indicated that there is lack of consideration of safety and risk evaluation in IBS construction. Based on the information from Social Security Organization (SOCSO), Malaysia recorded a worrying increase in the numbers of accident occurring at construction site. It shows that a total of 4654 out of 73858 industrial accidents recorded in 2003 were come from the construction industry. (Mohammed Taher Alashwal, 2008). But it different if used steel framing system, the statistic from CIDB shows the accidents are 50% from heavy lifting, 20% installation, 10% other factor, and other 10% from during transportation component to storage accidents. Scope of study The scope of this study is focussed on safety aspects on installation of Industrialised Building System (IBS) which specific in steel framing construction. This study is to identify the safety aspect during the steel framing construction at the installation stage. The information will be collected from observation, interviews, internet resources, journal and some of the documents. 1. This study covers Industrialised Building System specific in steel framing. 2. This study identifies the safety requirements within the installation stage of steel framing construction. 3. Information will be collected at Kuala Lumpur and Selangor area. Methodology Interview In this research proposal, interviewed is to be conducted with the contractor which are using steel framing system for their project or any other relevant position of staff within construction site to get the information. 4 to 5 interview question will be set which related to my research objective there are to identify the safety aspect and requirement during the installation process of steel framing component at site and to identify the level of safety during installation process at site. After that, I will do an summary based on the information that I collect from the respondent. Face to face interview will be conducted and several questions will be asked and the answer will be recorded down. Face to face interview is chosen because it was very convenient for the respondent and interviewee to discuss and different date collection techniques can be used for example open-ended questions and visual aids can improve the understanding of interviewee. Desktop based review To improve my understanding and experience to do future thesis, I will using desktop based review as my secondary data collection techniques which reading through the articles, journal papers, conference papers, books and websites browsing related to my title. Through this method I can have better understanding on the process of installation steel framing component before I go to the construction site visit to do observation. So when I go to the site visit, I can directly go to the point of the installation process and can easily understand the information given by the respondent to get the good idea to write my research. Review of previous research and book done by other people also make me more familiar with the correct way to do research in this topic and also increase the accuracy. Observation Besides, observation will as my one of the method to collect data to identify the level of safety during installation process at site. Besides, I also will observe on the process of installation steel framing component to fulfil my objective. I will make appointment with the contractor which using steel framing system to have a site visit at his construction site to observe the going of project specific in installation process of steel framing system. I also will take a reference on the lay out plans for steel frame component, steel frame installation guide, and other communications which provide by contractor. The important of study Through this research, the contractor which specific on steel framing construction can use this as a guide for them to review their safety requirement when installation of the steel framing component to reduce the rate of accident of construction work in Malaysia.

Othello: How does it Measure Up? :: Othello essays

Othello: How does it Measure Up?  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   The inconsistent ranking by critics of the Bard of Avon’s tragic play Othello is the subject matter of this essay. Let’s study the possible causes of this problem.    The ranking of this famous play is not cut and dried, totally clarified and undebated. A. C. Bradley, in his book of literary criticism, Shakespearean Tragedy, describes the equivocal ranking which some critics give this play:    Or is there a justification for the fact – a fact it certainly is – that some readers, while acknowledging, of course, the immense power of Othello, and even admitting that it is dramatically perhaps Shakespeare’s greatest triumph, still regard it with a certain distaste, or, at any rate, hardly allow it a place in their minds beside Hamlet, King Lear and Macbeth? (173-74)    To many of the audience, Othello would appear to have a beauty about it which is hard to match – thus ranking the play high. Helen Gardner in â€Å"Othello: A Tragedy of Beauty and Fortune† touches on this beauty which enables this play to stand above the other tragedies of the Bard:    Among the tragedies of Shakespeare Othello is supreme in one quality: beauty. Much of its poetry, in imagery, perfection of phrase, and steadiness of rhythm, soaring yet firm, enchants the sensuous imagination. This kind of beauty Othello shares with Romeo and Juliet and Antony and Cleopatra; it is a corollary of the theme which it shares with them. But Othello is also remarkable for another kind of beauty. Except for the trivial scene with the clown, all is immediately relevant to the central issue; no scene requires critical justification. The play has a rare intellectual beauty, satisfying the desire of the imagination for order and harmony between the parts and the whole. Finally, the play has intense moral beauty. It makes an immediate appeal to the moral imagination, in its presentation in the figure of Desdemona of a love which does not alter ‘when it alteration finds’, but ‘bears it out even to the edge of doom’. (139)    The play is so quotable; consider Desdemona’s opening lines before the Council of Venice: â€Å"My noble father, / I do perceive here a divided duty,† or Othello’s last words: â€Å"Killing myself, to die upon a kiss.† Could the continuing reputation of Othello be attributed to the quotable â€Å"ultimate form† in which the Bard of Avon expressed his ideas?

Extreme Apathy in John Guare’s Six Degrees of Separation Essay

Extreme Apathy in John Guare’s Six Degrees of Separation Many authors go to great lengths to explore the limits of human experience, testing realms beyond the imagination. Anything from physical boundaries to social boundaries are broken and thus redefined; Kafka explores the life of a man turned into a bug, Nabokov examines the life of a man ruled by a sexual desire that is taboo. With so much effort focused on the extremes of life, one work, a play by John Guare entitled Six Degrees of Separation, stands out. Certainly, the events are extraordinary; based on a true story, Six Degrees is the tale of a young con man, professing to be the son of Sidney Poitier, and his effect on the lives of several New York socialites. Paul is the Eliza Doolittle of the modern age, adopting all the skills, stories, and styles that make him the perfect houseguest. Paul's charisma ensures that at every encounter, his presence leaves its mark. One broke and broken young man named Rick, after losing his last dime and last shred of dignity to an encounter with Paul, throws himself from his third floor tenement apartment. From the way that the New Yorkers speak of their experiences with Paul, one would think that Guare has crafted yet another story exploring the range of human experience, probing the impact and significance of encounters among friends and strangers. However, as much as some incidents, such as Rick's suicide, suggest the extreme and most violent ends of the interaction, Guare's play leads us down a too familiar path to a rather harrowing conclusion: that the most unnerving edge of human experience is not, in fact, the most extreme and violent, but the most common and natural to human nature. Guare's play is peopled with characters ... ...e to present ourselves and have some hand in our own destiny, we are paralyzed. As Paul says, the end of Waiting for Godot is "Let's go. Yes, let's. They do not move" (25). At the end of the play, Ouisa is about to go to Sotheby's, but then pauses to watch Paul in her own mind. The lights go down as she remains on stage. Ouisa is not saved, and in the end we must doubt that she will find momentum enough to collect the substance that is required to have a life. Instead of moving into a life of meaning, she will float to Sotheby's, with a drink in hand and an urbane smile. One can picture the unwritten end to follow, Ouisa at Sotheby's "We had the strangest call tonight, that imposter that came into our lives, and you know, I had such a revelation about our lives . . ." NOTES [1] John Guare, Six Degrees of Separation. New York: Dramatist's Play Service, 1992.

Tennesee Williams

All writer use to one degree or another elements of their life to help formulate their characters and stories, but Tennessee Williams seems to draw more from his personal experiences than most. After reading â€Å"The Resemblance Between a Violin Case and a Coffin† and doing some background research on the author it becomes quite clear that he wrote this story as a reflection of his life. The similarities between the narrator/boy in the story and Tennessee himself are quite obvious, as well as other characters and members of his family.There are many specific aspects of Tennessee’s life that make â€Å"The Resemblance Between a Violin Case and a Coffin† a story that he is uniquely if not exclusively able to write. The first and most obvious similarity between Tennessee and the story is that the main character of the story is a boy, but not only a boy, a boy who is starting to discover that he is attracted to men and may be a homosexual. This is obviously an area that Tennessee can relate to because he too was gay.But that single factor does not make the author unique in being able to write the story. What makes Tennessee specifically qualified to write the story is the time and place that he experienced the realities of being a boy discovering his sexuality. Tennessee was born in the deep south of Columbus, Mississippi on March 26, 1911. This time in history is known for being intolerant of homosexuality, and if there was one region that stood out the most for this intolerance it would be the south.Even today Mississippi is considered one of the least tolerant states being ranked 38th on The Daily Beast’s ranking of most tolerant states(thedailybeast. com). In fact Mississippi was one of the states that continued to practice sodomy laws until 2003 when the supreme court ruled it unconstitutional (thetaskforce. org). Growing up gay in the American south at this time would be riddled with hardships that few other places could match.For example Tennessee probably felt an obligation to hide his sexuality or suffer dire consequences. This would most likely result in awkward and strained relationships with members of the same sex. This can be seen in the story whenever the boy runs into Richard, â€Å"When he turned to me and held his enormous hand out, I did a thing so grotesque that I could never afterward be near him without a blistering sense of shame. Instead of taking the hand I ducked away from him. †(Kenison, 318).This shows an insight into the life of a young Tennessee that feared being exposed if he were to talk to a boy he was attracted to. Another example in the story of the struggles of the author can be seen when the boy says, â€Å"How on earth did I explain to myself, at that time, the fascination of his physical being without, at the same time, confessing to myself that I was a little monster? †(Kenison, 319). This shows the authors denial of his sexuality and his view at the time that it was monstrous to be gay.Another area of resemblance between â€Å"The Resemblance Between a Violin Case and a Coffin† and Tennessee’s life is the similarities between characters in the story and member of his family, specifically his mother and sister. In â€Å"The Glass Menagerie† as well as many other of his works, Williams is suspected to base one of the character on his sister, â€Å"Amanda's daughter seems modeled on Rose Williams: the fragile Laura who retreats from reality to play with glass figurines. (amswers. com). Williams’s sister developed schizophrenia at some point in life which undoubtedly left a mark on Tennessee. The fragile nature in sister characters is seen as well in â€Å"The Resemblance Between a Violin Case and a Coffin†, â€Å"when my sister got up later than usual with an odd look, not as if she had been crying, although perhaps she had, but as though she had received some painful or frightening surprise†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Kenison, 312).This fragility in her character in not only violin but his other stories shows the unique relationship between Tennessee and his ill sister. That relationship resulted in very specific character traits in some of his prominent female characters. Tennessee’s mother was also used as an influence in many of the characters in Tennessee’s works. Williams viewed his mother as a prototypical southern belle, constantly trying to climb the social ladder.He saw her as snobbish, neurotic, and hysterical and portrayed her that way with the characters she influenced. One such example in violin is when the boy compares the mother character to his aunt. â€Å"Though my mother would certainly never make verbal acknowledgement of my aunts superiority in matters of taste and definitions of quality, it was nevertheless apparent that she approached Knoxville and my father’s younger sister in something very close to fear and trembling. † (Kenison, 315).This d isplay of neurotic fear over refined social skills exemplifies the mother character in violin and through association the authors actual mother. Tennessee Williams story â€Å"The Resemblance Between a Violin Case and a Coffin†, in my opinion is a good story that reveals a great deal about the author himself. Through analyzing this story I acquired a much deeper and richer knowledge of Tennessee Williams than I have of many other authors. This is interesting considering I never even heard of him before reading the story.To conclude what I learned about Williams I would say that he was able to write violin because of the specific circumstances that he lived and persevered through, as well as the impression his mother and sister left him. Him being gay during the early 1900’s in the American south led him to write a story that offered an insight to a very different reality than my own that I would never had been aware of otherwise. For that widening of my horizons, I am thankful.

Masculinity in Beloved

Bondage steals away the human characteristics of the slaves. They are treated by others on par with animals that the fine distinctions that inhabit their society are not only blurred from the vision of the observers but also from themselves. Masculinity as a human trait that defines the other half of human race is an expression of individuality and it is no wonder that any trace of such individuality is suppressed and disfigured beyond recognition in the era of slavery.In Tony Morrison’s Beloved, there is a lot of malevolence and violence but the masculinity is itself like a slave trying to buy its freedom of expression and more often than not failing to do so. The murderous rage and grief of Sethe which prompts her to behead her own daughter with a saw (how savage) and try to kill her other children is an expression of the brutality of Slavery that mother would want her children dead than suffer the same fate as her.It is the destruction of masculinity, which finds more expre ssion in Beloved than the ideal shape of Masculinity. The distinction between the genders is obliterated in their common suffering and pain. Halle, who is reported to be a witness to the molesting of his wife by the nephews of he school master who nursed their milk which was by natural right her other daughter’s and also hid in the attic as a mute witness to her punishment which left her scarred is an expression of helpless ness that pervaded the male of the species called Slaves.A father’s natural instinct to protect his children and a mate’s instinctive reactions to the suffering of his partner are the truest and most enduring qualities of Masculinity which are denied to Halle (which perhaps leads him to become the mad, invisible, melancholy loser of the book) The biggest blow to a man’s identity and his gender is, perhaps, when his own wife is taken as a mistress by the man who is also his master and he can do nothing about it. Stamp paid was a victim of such misery and he became apart of the under ground railroad which helped the Negroes escape to freedom.All that he asked in return for his assistance was that their homes remain open for him always. The lack of a family or the loss of his erstwhile family and the need to be seen as a savior/protector, which is the ordained role of male of the species according to the rules of nature drives stamp paid o be of help to all who need it. He is also Baby Sugg’s friend, and keeps frequenting 124. In fact he is instrumental in saving Denver and the other two boys the day school teacher comes to take Sethe and her kids away and Sethe in a fit of rage kills her elder daughter.The central character, which in all its multihued splendor or pain brings about the various stages of suppressed masculinity in Beloved, is Paul D. He is the still living sweet home man and he has a colorful past to say the lest. He along with his two brothers, Halle and Sixo plot their escape from Schoolteach er but are captured. He is captured and lie an animal in chains with a metal in his mouth is dragged to prison for allegedly trying to kill Brandywine. He escapes to north and since attaining his freedom; he is restless with the normal human and male emotions of finding a home and settling down.He reaches 124 and finds Sethe whom he has fancied from their time in Sweet home and chooses to settle down there with her as she had none to take care of her except Denver and Beloved. In spite of himself and against his wishes he becomes tempted by Beloved’s seduction and makes her pregnant. He leaves 124 after he learns from Stamp paid about the fact that Sethe had killed her own daughter. A person trying to run away from himself and his painful past does not want to be man enough to deal with a life with Sethe, which forever shall remain ensconced in the past of murder of her own blood.On the other end of the spectrum is Sixo, the indigo colored slave at Sweet home who has his soul mate in a slave yard 30 miles away and therefore he calls her the thirty mile woman. As he along with Paul D and F and the thirty-mile-woman plan to escape, Schoolteacher catches him and sets him on fire. It is mentioned that he laughs for the first time when he set on fire and as his legs are burning, he shouts Seven –O as his thirty mile woman has escaped and she is pregnant with his child.This one instance of defiance and mirth in the face of mortal danger is the only symbol of malevolent and idealistic black masculinity to be found in the entire book. Paul Garner, as the kind man who knew to treat his slaves with respect and trust their judgment in the plantation matters and who gave them the independence to marry and in the case of Halle, buy his mother’ s freedom comes across as a man who is quietly confident of his won masculinity and also in the fact that men in any race or tribe try to be responsible for their women folk and children.Black masculinity is the most mutilated under-current of the story Beloved that Tony Morrison is able to create pathos in the novel towards the travails of Slavery by bringing into sharp contrast the suppressed need of a man to be a man and the deathly anguish (like that of Halle sitting by a butter churn, with a vacant look on his face with butter smeared all over his face) when he is not allowed to be so.More tragic than the murder, loss or betrayal is the denial of basic human traits and the lack of identity, which Slavery forced upon the colored people and shall forever remain a blot on the history of all civilized nations, which permitted the inhuman practice.

A Report On Effectiveness Of Ultrasound Education Essay

Ultrasound technique has been used in the past 60 old ages in medical services. It has since developed significantly and its function is more advanced and recognised by patients and wellness professions. Diagnostic imagination is an of import portion of the wellness service, US is one of this household, which contributes greatly to the patient ‘s directions. Title of this survey is:Effectiveness of Ultrasound ( US ) imaging in Genito-urinary system ( GUS ) for diagnostic intents: A comprehensive comparing with other modes in position of safety and handiness.Every mode has some sort of restrictions and advantages. Safety is a major issue in utilizing imaging techniques. Ultrasound is considered as one of the safest and most readily available imaging mode ( Bates, 1999 ) . However, these advantages do non warrant the undermining of the other modes, because restrictions in ultrasound can be overcome by other modes for patient directions. GUT is prone to many diseases in which some of them are life endangering ( Ref ) , patient directions require an efficient method for diagnosing. Sonography plays a great function in this respect. Some of the common GUT diseases:Infection, Glomerular disease,Diseases related to blood circulation:Atherosclerosis can do hypofunction. High blood pressure can take to mortification of the glomeruli.Metabolic disease:chronic nephritic failure, diabetes.Cysts:lone, multiple, inbornTumors:affects kidney, ureter, vesica and urethraRenal cell carcinoma:Wilm ‘s tumorBladder tumorsNephritic rocks and urinary piece of land obstructorSurvey Purposes:Advantages and disadvantages of US imaging in GUT.Can US be the first mode of pick in GUT imagination?Study Aims:Study the usage of US imaging in GUT.Study the restriction of US imaging in GUT.Accuracy of US imaging for diagnostic intents.Cover the latest engineering in US imagination.BackgroundUltrasound is a sound wave that can non be heard by human ears, it uses a frequence above 20,000 Hz ( Ref ) . The moving ridges are converted by engineering to enable us to see constructions within our organic structures, which is really utile for medical intents ( Szabo, 2004 ) . Ultrasound attenuates otherwise in human organic structure depending on tissues ‘ fading coefficients, and tissues reflect wave otherwise, in which a assortment of strength and contrast images are produced. Main advantages of ultrasound compared to other modes that justify this survey are:No major known hazardImmediate diagnose or referral for farther scrutinyReadily availableShort waiting clipPatient convenienceCost effectualReal clip imageNon-invasiveGood contrast of soft tissueCan separate between stable and traveling tissue ( Doppler consequence )Ultrasound scrutiny in GUT has a broad scope of usage. Imaging starts from kidneys down to bladder, urethra, and venereal variety meats. Ultrasound can observe many pathologies and abnormalcies in this system without the demand for farther scrutinies. In fact, some pathology such as obstructors and tumors can be detected without intercessions, while other modes intervene such as utilizing contrast agents ( Ref ) . Other modes used in GUTX-ray utilizations ionizing radiation as the rule of bring forthing radiogram, widely used in initial GUT scrutinies for being convenience and fast with high rate of diagnostic value images ( ref ) .Computed Tomography ( CT ) Scan, uses ionizing radiation as the rule of bring forthing radiogram, widely used for farther scrutiny in GUT system. Produces high-resolution two-dimensional images ( can be reconstructed to 3-dimension ) . Very sensitive in observing different lesions, concretion, obstructor and bleeding. Main concern about utilizing CT is the high radiation dosage to the patient ( Ref ) .Magnetic Resonance Imaging ( MRI ) , uses a strong magnetic field to aline H atoms in the organic structure, pulsations of wireless moving ridges sent to realine and aline H atoms, during this, H atoms let go of energy, which is detected to bring forth great contrast images peculiarly of soft tissue. MRI scan can supply definite reply to uncertain instances because of its superior soft-tissue contrast when other mode can non. The function of MRI in GUT is largely in distinguishing benign lesions from malignant if CT has contraindication to the patient ( Ref ) .Nuclear Medicine Imaging ( NMI ) , Radiopharmaceuticals administered to the patients so that the patient become radioactive, Gamma camera scan the patient and detects gamma beam emitted from the radiation and so concept images from these informations. NMI chiefly used to analyze the map in GUT system and look into the obstructors ( Ref ) .This thesis reviews literature in relation to ultrasound scrutiny in GUT system. Comparing the usage of other mode while look intoing pathology of a patient. Why in some instances ultrasound is the first pick of usage, why it is non in other instances? This paper can heighten the advantages of the scrutiny and reexamine the progresss in this engineering, these can back up patient directions and besides be used in instruction. The inquiry needs to be answered in this survey: is US effectual plenty to be the first pick scrutiny in GUT system issues? What makes it to be the first pick? What makes it non to be? The survey efforts to analyze the conditions in which US scrutiny can supply doubtless replies to indicants. All beginnings that have relevant information will be used, and the chief database hunt will be Medline, CINAHL, Psycinfo, Embase, AMED, PubMed and e-books.

Descartes discourse on the method Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3

Descartes discourse on the method - Essay Example From there, he reaches the point that as he could prove his existence from the fact that he is thinking and that this â€Å"I† or his mind is totally different from the body. Thus, he reaches the finding that this â€Å"I† will exist even without a body (Descartes, 2007). However, Descartes (2007) faces the dilemma that he has to adopt very distinct perceptions as factors leading to truth. Though it is possible to claim that things like sky, earth, light, and heat are all the delusions of an imperfect mind, it is not possible for an imperfect mind to develop the idea of a perfect God. Descartes points out that it is not possible to receive ones existence from nothing, and hence, there is a perfect Being upon whom he is dependent. Thus, Descartes reaches the conclusion that all the perfections in him and other beings are from God’s perfection. One reaches the realization that Descartes is going to deviate from the claim that in order to prove ones existence, one should accept it as coming from a perfect Being, that is

Food in Eritrea Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Food in Eritrea - Essay Example The fight for freedom, which lasted for approximately 30 years, left the country in a state of destruction, especially in the agricultural sector. This is due to the fact that most of the lands which could be used for farming are littered with unexploded ordinances, which pose a security hazard to the farmers (Rena, 2007). In this context, any person trying to cultivate in these lands risks the possibility of triggering the explosion of landmines, which were buried during the war, but failed to explode. Tensions that continue to exist between Ethiopia and Eritrea have contributed to more installation of these landmines as a defensive mechanism at the expense of the farming communities (Zwi, 2005). The temporary security zone, which is considered to have been the most productive agricultural land measuring approximately 25km2 remains unutilized as a result of these landmines, which have kept away more than 50000 inhabitants, who were displaced by the war, regardless of the fact that n o more fighting takes place in this area (Zwi, 2005). With these developments, food production is deemed to remain low and as such, more people will continue to be affected by extreme hunger. This is also due to the fact that the government has continued to spend a lot of the already scarce resources to finance and facilitate the war with Ethiopia. For instance, it is estimated that more than 300 000 men and women are serving in the army instead of letting them engage in farming activities (Gebre, 2009).

M6 discussion Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

M6 discussion - Assignment Example equired (examining whole population will take much more time than a sample), budget is limited (cost of examining few individuals will be low as compared to whole population), or sensitive information (such as sexual harassment in a large organization) is examined. A population proportion may be appropriate to use when population is small, required sample size is close to population, database already exists (if the data are on disk, we can examine 100% of the cases), or there is a legal requirement (The 2010 decennial population census). The large sample confidence interval is a range (or an interval) of values used to estimate the population characteristic. The interval is estimated using sample data. A confidence interval is associated with a confidence level (such as 95% or 99%) that gives us the success rate of the procedure used to construct the confidence interval. The confidence level is the probability that the confidence interval actually does contain the population characteristic, assuming that the estimation process is repeated large number of times. A large sample confidence interval can be constructed for a single proportion or for a difference in proportions. The large sample confidence interval can be used for making inference from the biological experiments. For example, suppose we take a sample of seeds for any given plant and count the number of germinated seeds. Now, from this sample proportion, we can give an estimate of population proportion for the number of seeds that will be germinated by using the large sample confidence interval for a single proportion

News in the United States Political System Essay

News in the United States Political System - Essay Example However, the qualities of reporting and journalism in the country certainly have dimensions along which they can improve, and some observers are even severely critical of the state of affairs with respect to the media. The nature of content and safeguards against bias are especially controversial aspects of the matter. There are 3 major groups of stakeholders with respect to news and the media: the people who report, their audiences, and the entities covered by these reports (Bennett, 2007, p. 6). Each of these categories is further affected by their circles of acquaintances and votaries, and the effects that media content have on their images and societal positions. However, the audience should have precedence in all matters related to the development of media, because their vital interests should not be compromised in any circumstances. This document essays a review of how information is collated, analyzed, and presented by US media to its audiences, the impacts on each of the major categories of stakeholders, and how some of the important perceived limitations can be addressed. It is largely based on a major text on the state of the US media, which is widely used, and which is current as well (Bennett, 2007, p. 6). Two significant factors dominate key US media processes: economics and technology. It is expensive to gather first hand information, and to disseminate it as well. Owners, advertisers, and theories of what audiences would like to see and hear, cast overbearing spells on the workings and decisions of reporters and most professional journalists. Economics rule news content (Hamilton, 2004, p. 7). The advantage of free enterprise becomes an entry barrier as far as the collection and dissemination of news is concerned. Editors have to function as executives, with eyes on lines of financial statements, rather than on the strengths they should have, and the accountabilities which they should hold most sacred. Interference and interventions by quarters which provide financial sustenance to the media is not blatant in any overt way, but the subtle compulsions are not to be denied. The most influential of such pressures on professional journalistic processes, relates to the role of advertisin g. The latter is directly related to sizes of audiences. Truth and relevance must be subservient to guessing as to what people would like to read and to hear. This leads to a high degree of subjectivity in the evaluation of the media and its utility, because the population which it serves is so diverse. Television has substantially displaced the print media as a source medium for news (Bennett, 2007, p. 23). Thus, technology is a determining factor in shaping views, and calls for an extension if not a shift of factual reporting skills from newspapers to electronic media forms. This aspect of media process does not end with television as the Internet grows in influence at unprecedented rates. This trend is set to accelerate much further as cellular telephones offer to keep people in touch at virtually all times. However, this does not mean that mainstream media is condemned to obsolescence, and the resurgence of radio is a reassuring example of how quality news management can retain the loyalties of audiences. The business sector of media is incredibly complex, and most lay people are not conscious of the logistics and management skills which are integral

Managing Communication in Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Managing Communication in Business - Essay Example Every member of an effective group should have the required professional skills for a job, which is assigned to him (Rhee 2007). For a group related to business working, the group members of the group should have skills such as understanding of the work environment, business demands and the job needs. Every group member should be aware of the business setting, job specifications and should be target oriented (Devine, et. al 1999). Effective group also forms when people related to the group have interpersonal skills (Silver and Bufiano 1996). Every group member should identify the skills of other members and should be aware about his/her own working that can be supported by other members of the group (Knouse and Dansby 1999). In an effective group, the group members prove themselves as a support for other members and each member is aware of the skills of other person. Balanced diversity and time frame are other characteristics that the group members should have to make the group effective. Each member of the group should be able to offer diverse ideas in case of need (Devine, et. al 1999). For performing any activity, diverse ideas play an effective role. The group members that have diverse skills are much more suitable to form an effective group. Time frame is a very crucial factor and all the group members should take care of the time allocated for a task to make the group effective. Every member of the group is assigned a different role and every group member should perform the role that is assigned to him/her (Pescosolido 2003). Roles are of many kinds such as initiator, contributor, information seeker and giver, coordinator, orienteer, energizer and many others. The performance of each member affects the over all group performance so it is essential for all the group members to complete their assigned roles within allocated time (Knouse and Dansby 1999). Group size is a very important factor. The size

One Thousand And One Nights Essay Example for Free

One Thousand And One Nights Essay Authors Note: I will confess that sucked-into-video-game styled stories have always been a guilty pleasure of mine. My only complaint is that they always tend to follow the same formula. With that in mind, I am going to try and switch things up a bit with this story. I hope you enjoy it, and regardless of the feedback being good or bad, I would love to hear your thoughts. PROLOGUE By the time you are nine-years-old, you are already considered a woman. In my mothers country, you could already be married off at that age. You could live in a house with your husbands family, you could bare children, and you can consumate your marriage even before you are of a mature age. Alas, I am not nine, I am not married, and in many respects, Im not yet a woman. At least, Ive never felt that way. To be perfectly honest, Ive always felt like a child. My family may have disciplined me into being quiet and intelligent, to pray five times a day to Allah, to read the Quran and wear the hijab, and always to get good grades, but Ive always felt this longing for adventure. They wanted me to grow up quickly so I would have a future that was every bit as special and important as the ones promised to other American children. But during my studies, my mind would always wander to imaginary worlds of castles, dragons, fairies, and of knights and princesses that banded together to save the day. And that feeling would build in my chest: warm and comforting, so light that it can almost lift you off your feet, whispering promises of laughter and happiness to come. It isnt easy being a Muslim in a sixth grade class full of conservative Christians, girls with gothic make up, or boys with their pants worn so low that their underwear shows. Despite how different they all are from each other, all of them were the same in their treatment towards me. At the very least, my imagination would offer feelings of companionship. Close friends who would accept me for who I was and not for what I wore or how many times I had to stop and pray throughout the day. At least, when I had finished my homework and had the time to write and draw in my notebooks, I could return to that imaginary place of peace and happiness. And sometimes, as childish as it may sound, I would pretend that such a place existed. Then I was killed. At least, thats what I think happened. The nicest aspect of imagination is that, in your own world, there are no Islamophobes. There are no people who want you dead simply because you are Muslim. You dont have to worry about stepping into the mosque and some scary man driving a van full of explosives into the building. He wanted to take out as many Muslims as he could, and one of them was me. Everything happened so suddenly that its hard to recall exactly how it happened. I remember hearing glass shattering. The doors leading into the mosque were made of glass, so I assume that was where the van drove into the building. There was the sound of doors being broken down, or wood snapping, and then the blast. I was the closest to the wall where the explosion went off. I remember feeling something smash against the side of my head and I briefly remember the heat that followed. There was nothingness for awhile: I could not see, think, or hear anything that was happening around me. I could not feel anything anymore. The best way I can accurately describe it would be a black out. Because it happened so quickly, I did not have time to register whether or not I was dead. I reached that conclusion when I woke up here. The Quran describes paradise as a place of large trees, sweet water, and pure soil of musk. The dwellers of heaven would not feel the excessive heat of the sun, nor the excessive cold of the moon. It is a realm of magnificence. This afterlife did not fit that exact description. There were trees larger than any I have seen in this life. There was water, beautiful and sweet, with the ability to heal me if I were hurt, or provide me with energy when I was weary. There was soil so pure that flowers and plants of all kinds could grow. It was indeed a realm of magnificence, but also a realm of both wonder and ruin. There were times that were heartbreaking. There were moments where I was sure I was going to die a second death. There were moments where we would walk and walk and walk with no chance of knowing if we would ever truly reach our destination. But there were moments of happiness and laughter. There were moments where we could laugh about the hardships we had just overcome. And there was that feeling of acceptance. I had found people who did not hate me for what I wore or what I worshipped. Before I continue with my story, I should introduce myself: My name is Nasira. I was twelve-years-old when I died and woke up on the Mist Continent.

Land Degradation In The Nile River Basin Environmental Sciences Essay

Land Degradation In The Nile River Basin Environmental Sciences Essay Per capita availability is generally calculated by dividing total annual renewable water resources with population. While this could provide an accurate picture for countries with no dependency on external water resources, it does not provide an accurate depiction for countries with trans-boundary water resources. Taking into account the dependency ratio of the countries provides a much more realistic depiction of future water resources. For instance, Uganda has a 40.9% dependency ratio for its total annual renewable water resources (Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, DRC and Kenya contribute runoff into Lake Victoria). This will be impacted when increased water demand in upstream nations results in reduced water runoffs into Uganda. Egypt which originally had a 98% dependency ratio has been able to bring down its dependency by increasing alternate water resources but still has a 76% dependency ratio (55.5 BCM out of 73 BCM). Chapter 4 Land degradation is one of the challenges faced by several countries in the Nile River Basin. Land degradation comprises of any negative or undesirable change in the texture, content, moisture of land due to a combination of natural hazards and man-made activities. The African continent is characterized by 46% of extreme desert and 11% of land mass that is humid. Presently, in Africa around 250 million people are directly affected by land degradation while, worldwide 1 billion people in 100 countries are at risk of land degradation. The causes of land degradation are a combination of changes in the natural ecosystem, and the impact of the human social system, including human use and abuse of sensitive and vulnerable dry land ecosystems. Land Degradation in the Nile River Basin In Rwanda, around 71% of total land area is facing severe degradation and about 60% of its forest cover has been lost in the last two decades partly due to genocide, displacement and repatriation. Similarly, more than 30% of Burundi is severely or very severely degraded. In Tanzania, widespread land degradation is found in the highlands, especially on the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Kenya faced about 30% land degradation in 2002 and around one third of its population was directly dependent on degraded land by 2008. Also, land degradation is widespread in Kenya, affecting 20% of all cultivated areas, 30% of forests, and 10% of grasslands. Uganda faces land degradation and erosion covering 60% of its total land area, the majority of which is in the highlands of the South-west. Ethiopia also faces land degradation mostly in its highlands, especially in the Amhara region. It is estimated that Ethiopia loses 4% of its GDP due to land degradation. In Sudan, approximately 1,200,000 km2 of land has degraded in varying degrees. The most degraded zones are the arid and semi-arid regions in the Northern half of Sudan where 76% of the countrys population resides. In Egypt, the North-western delta faces highest degradation due to contamination and increased salinity. Common Causes of Land Degradation in the Nile River Basin Some of the causes for land degradation in the Nile River Basin are as follows: Population Pressure: Growing population in the Nile River Basin countries puts immense pressure on land and its resources leading to severe degradation and reduced outputs. For instance, the majority of the population in Egypt and Burundi, 98% and 58% respectively, live in the Nile Basin. In Kenya, 70% of the population lives in 12% of the countrys land area which is suitable for rain-fed cultivation, thereby putting immense stress on its resources. Deforestation: The most common cause for land degradation in the Nile River Basin is deforestation. To adhere to the needs of growing population, forests are cleared and there is immense pressure on its resources. In Rwanda, the forest area was reduced to 4700 km2 from 7000 km2 post the genocide in 1994. Deforestation also took place due to increased need for wood to construct makeshift shelters for displaced people and for cooking. Bushfires have also become common especially in the dry seasons in the Eastern and South-eastern regions of Umutara, Kibungo and Bugesera. In Burundi, the rate of deforestation in high due to increased dependency on wood for fuel. The forest cover declined from 11.3% in 1990 to 5.9% in 2005. In Tanzania, deforestation is severe in areas populated with refugee populations. Also, wild fire is common in its grasslands. Between 1990 and 2005, Uganda lost one-third of its forest area due to deforestation. It is estimated that at this rate, Uganda will not have any forests by 2055. Uganda loses around $ 200 million annually due to deforestation. Deforestation is a major factor for land degradation in Ethiopia. While the forests once covered 65% of the country and 90% of the highlands in Ethiopia, by 2001 they were reduced to 2.2% and 5.6% respectively. The Blue Nile basin faces such severe deforestation that very little forest cover remains in the region. The forest coverage fell from 16% to 2% in the 1980s itself. Over Grazing: The demand for livestock is high in the Nile River Basin. Cattle farming leads to over grazing in fertile lands, depleting its quality and productivity. In Rwanda, over grazing is observed in range-lands especially in the North-west parts of Umutara. In Tanzania, over grazing is witnessed mostly in the Lake Victoria Zone and parts of Northern Tanzania. Over grazing accounts for 75% of the total degraded land in Sudan. In Uganda, the cattle corridor has most of its land degraded due to over grazing from Moroto and Kotido in the North-east through Luwero and South to Masaka and Mbarara. Leaving aside the North, most of the Corridor is seriously degraded. Lack of Awareness: Improper farming practices, poor soil management policies due to lack of awareness also lead to land degradation in the Nile River Basin. For instance in Rwanda, only 36.6% of the total land had soil protection structures in 2005 as compared to 83% in 1998. Climate Change: Climate change is another factor due to which there is immense land degradation. Increasing instances of floods and droughts lead to wide spread land degradation. There are various forms of land degradation. These include Soil erosion and sedimentation Surface runoff and floods Desertification and loss of natural vegetation Sand encroachments Sedimentation and Soil Erosion Sedimentation has three stages. It starts with soil erosion which is essentially the removal of top soil which is then transported and deposited in different locations depending upon the flow of water or wind or gravity. Some of the causes of sedimentation include deforestation which reduces water retention thereby increasing soil erosion; floods and droughts; and changes in river flow. Sedimentation in the Nile River Basin is witnessed the most in the Nile Equatorial Region, Blue Nile catchment and the coastal belts. Wide spread deforestation has a detrimental impact on the sedimentation levels in the Nile Equatorial Lakes and leads to increasing soil erosion. The siltation of the Nile Equatorial Lakes if combined with unusually high rainfall could lead to a rise in the lake levels which could in turn lead to flooding. The key problem sites for soil erosion in the Lake Victoria Basin are the Kagera River and the Nyando River in Kenya. Due to its topography and torrential rainfall, the Blue Nile catchment faces high rates of sedimentation as compared to the White Nile, whose sedimentation is largely retained in the Equatorial Lakes and the Sudd region. While the Nile catchment runoff is estimated at a low rate of 5.5%, the ratio of the runoff of the Blue Nile catchment on its own is 20%. Sedimentation has a negative effect on reservoirs built along the Nile River Basin. It clogs the area thereby reducing the amount of water that can be stored. Rwanda Around 40% of land in Rwanda is at high risk of erosion, 37% requires soil retention measures before cultivation, and only 23% is erosion free. Data from field research stations report soil losses between 35 246 tonnes per hectare annually, amounting to losses costing about 3.5% of Rwandas agricultural GDP. The Nyamitera River delivers 567,000 tonnes of particles in a matter of five flood days to Rwanda, of which more than half is the annual suspended sediment yield of its Nile Basin region. Increasing use of land for tea cultivation is also leading to sedimentation in Rwanda. The Mulindi tea plantation in Gicumbi district uses fertilizers that cause soil degradation, water pollution and deforestation, which in turn results in soil erosion, floods and sedimentation in the valley. Burundi Deforestation, over grazing and agricultural expansion into marginal lands are the main factors leading to soil erosion in Burundi. The sediment yield of Burundi and its contribution to the Nile basin is presently unavailable. Sedimentation causes many problems in Burundi including blocking inlet channels of pump irrigation schemes, clogging hydropower turbine areas, corroding pumps among others. Tanzania The main type of erosion witnessed in the Lake Victoria Basin in Tanzania is sheet erosion where a uniform thin layer of top soil is washed away. In Tanzania, 61% of land area faces soil erosion with a topsoil loss of 100 tonnes per hectare per annum. Highest soil loss within the Lake Victoria Basin is from cropland which loses 93 tonnes per hectare annually, followed by rangeland losing 52 tonnes per hectare each year. Additionally, there has been soil loss in Shinyanga, Dodoma, Morogoro, and Arusha. Also, Kagera Basin is vulnerable to soil erosion and leaching of nutrients due to its high population and poverty levels. The Masalatu Reservoir constructed on Simiyu River receives an annual sedimentation yield of 406 m3/ km2 or 1.43 tonnes per hectare. Kenya The Nyanza province bordering Lake Victoria is undergoing rapid catchment deterioration due to frequent droughts, deforestation and old agricultural practices. This results in Kenyas high sedimentation load contribution to Lake Victoria Basin through its tributaries. 61% of the basin area contributes to soil sedimentation at a rate of 43 tonnes per hectare each year, whereas the rest of the basin forms a sink area where sediments are collected. Due to high sedimentation on the bed, the rivers Nyando, Nzoia and Sondu, and other tributaries emptying into Lake Victoria are prone to flooding. Surface runoff in wet season causes sheet, rill and gully erosion. Wind causes erosion in dry season. Nyando River experiences severe gully erosion due to heavy water runoff. The removal of the top soil is very high ranging from 90 tonnes per hectare annually in degraded areas, to 67 tonnes per hectare elsewhere. Uganda Major source of soil erosion to the Lake Victoria Basin is the Kibale River at 0.06 tonnes per hectare annually. Runoff in sub-catchment of Bukora is the main reason for causing soil erosion. Soil loss rates are the highest on bare soils, followed by annually cultivated land, degraded range lands and perennially cultivated land. Lake Albert is also under threat of siltation due to inflows from Kyoga Nile, as well as Semliki River which carries sedimentation from DRC. It is estimated that 4% 12% of GNP is lost from environmental degradation, of which 85% is through soil erosion, nutrient loss and crop changes. Also, the rate of soil fertility depletion in Uganda is one of the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa. Ethiopia There is high erosion in the Ethiopian Highlands. Around 1900 million tonnes of soil is eroded annually at an average of 100 tonnes per hectare. Also, up to one billion tonnes of top soil is lost each year. The Highlands face severe types of soil erosion including sheet, rill, gully and wind. It also witnesses stream bank erosion, biological, physical and chemical degradation Blue Nile is the major contributor of sedimentation during the flood season, contributing approximately 125 million tonnes, while the Atbara contributes roughly 50 million tonnes. The flows of the Blue Nile are unregulated until they arrive in Sudan leading to an enormous amount of sedimentation at the Roseires Dam. With increased deforestation and agricultural activities along the banks of the Blue Nile, there is a substantial amount of debris added to the flow which is carried downstream. The proportion of runoff to sedimentation is higher for the Atbara River which is due to its geographic location in a drier region than the Blue Nile and also due to a relatively longer period of dry season followed by heavy rainfall in a relatively short period. Sedimentation peaks three weeks before rainfall peaks as rainfall washes away soil loosened due to loss of moisture during the dry season. A decline in crop yields has been witnessed at a rate of 1 to 3% on cropland and 2.2% in Ethiopian highlands. It is estimated that the cost of land degradation due to soil erosion to Ethiopia could be about $2 billion in 25 years or $80 million each year. About 80% of the losses are from reduced crop production and 20% from reduced livestock production. Soil nutrient depletion reduces crop production by 885,330 tonnes annually amounting to losses of around 14% of agricultural contribution to Ethiopian GDP. Sudan Soil erosion is leading to rapid siltation and loss of functionality of reservoirs and irrigation schemes in Sudan. The small reservoirs get silted quicker. Irrigation schemes are witnessing major damage due to siltation which is leading to a reduction in water transported to crop lands. For instance, crop water requirements are no longer met in the Gezira and Rahad irrigation schemes. River band erosion along the Blue Nile River has been witnessed with most affected areas lying downstream of Roseires Dam, Singa to AlSuki. River widening in the region also leads to bank erosion where irrigable land is lost as has been witnessed in the main Nile and Atbara River sections. Around $1.5 million worth of economic losses have been witnessed via the loss of mature date palm trees as a direct result of bank erosion. Egypt The Nile Bank is witnessing bank erosion due to the corrosive action of sediment free waters as witnessed in Sudan past Roseires Dam. Agricultural land is depleting at a rate of 13,000 hectares on an annual basis due to bank erosion. Increase in coastal erosion and extensive erosion of the Nile Delta is being witnessed due to lack of sedimentation and increase in salinity levels. Sedimentation in Reservoirs Sedimentation is the single greatest problem reservoirs face in maintaining their functionality for water storage, as well as for hydropower generation. Hydropower generation is reduced during peak sedimentation periods as debris gets caught in the turbines and need to be shut down for cleaning. Sedimentation stuck in the cooling mechanism of the hydropower plant leads to loss of efficiency in energy generation and also requires shutdown for repair. Also, silt adds to the wear and tear of the plant which decreases the lifespan of the machinery, depending on the abrasiveness of the mineral content in the silt. Hydropower generation is often stalled during floods to clean turbines and prevent damage resulting in very low power generation during flood season. Sedimentation also leads to reduced water storage capacity which results in less water for irrigation and cost of construction to raise the dam to maintain storage capacity. Currently, the cost of clearing sedimentation is prohibitive at $625 million ($5 to clear 1 m3 of silt, about 125 MCM is being cleared per year). Roseires Dam The primary mandate of the Roseires Dam is to ensure that runoff levels are maintained to meet irrigation and water storage requirements. The Roseires Dam is losing considerable parts of dead water storage capacity, as well as live storage capacity. In 1966, its storage capacity was 3,329 MCM which has been reduced to 1,920.89 MCM as of 2007, leading to a 37% decrease in storage capacity. The Roseires Dams height has been elevated in order to mitigate losses in functionality and another elevation project is being currently discussed. Aswan High Dam in Egypt Aswan High Dam has 100% trap efficiency of sedimentation which means that waters are almost perfectly sediment-free beyond the Aswan High Dam. Sedimentation transported to the reservoir and deposited there is practically negligible from December to June, peaking from July to September, reducing in October and November to none in December. Aswan High Dam is losing considerable part of live storage capacity, as opposed to dead storage capacity which was designed to absorb sedimentation. The reservoirs total operational span has been reduced to 362 years from an initial estimate of 500 years as a result of sedimentation. Desertification The African continent, with the Sahara desert in the North and the Sahelian belt below, is vulnerable to desertification. This condition is exemplified with increasing instances of drought and famines. The causes of desertification are complex, including both direct and indirect factors such as: Cultivation, inappropriate agricultural practices and overgrazing Unsustainable animal husbandry and pastoralism Climate change including reduced rainfall Population growth pressures Poor land use and management practices Lack of soil and water conservation structures; Removal and loss of vegetation; Deforestation and land clearing; Total dependency on natural resources for survival; Human activities comprising technological agents (water pumps, boreholes, dams) and institutional mechanisms and policies. Desertification in the Nile River Basin East and South-east regions of Rwanda show increasing desertification trends due to increase in population and migration leading to over exploitation and degradation of land. People from densely populated provinces in the North, for instance Ruhengiri, Gisenyi and Byumba, and Butare and Gitarama in the South, are moving towards the least populated provinces in the East including Umutara, Kibungo, Kigali and Ngali in the South East. In Burundi, the area of Imbo witnesses long dry spells leading to a gradual decrease in water resources, especially in the levels of Lake Tanganyika with a tendency towards desertification. Since 1999, there has been a strong variability of rainfall with a tendency for a long dry season from May to October (6 months) in the lower altitude outlying areas like Kumoso, Bugesera, and Imbo. In Tanzania, the main reason for desertification is expanding agriculture rather than overgrazing by pastoralists. Around 33% of Tanzania is affected by desertification. The coastal areas face pressure from intensive cultivation and fuel wood gathering. In Kenya, 80% of its area is estimated to be threatened by desertification with up to 30% of the population affected by desertification and drought. Drought and increasing population are key factors that enhance desertification in Kenya. The Nyika Plateau and the Coastal Region are affected and threatened most by desertification. Also, the woodlands are prone to drought and desertification, primarily due to slash and burn methods of land preparation. Kenyas drylands occupy 88% of the land surface area, and have a population of 10 million people. Approximately 50% of livestock and 70% of wildlife are located in these drylands. In Uganda, the North-east, especially the Cattle Corridor has been witnessing overgrazing, soil compaction, erosion and the emergence of low-value grass species and vegetation which have subdued the lands productive capacity, leading to desertification. Some dryland districts like Moroto, Nakasongola, Karamoja and Kakuuto in Rakai are experiencing desertification. Around 71% of Ethiopian land is prone to desertification including its highlands and lowlands. The Rift Valley suffers immense desertification and land degradation. Desertification threatens Ethiopias agricultural productivity, wherein more than 80% of the population depends on various forms of agricultural production. Also, 95% of the farms are small-scale and depend on rain-fed agriculture. Ethiopia suffers a loss of $139 million per year due to reduced agricultural productivity. Sudan and parts of Egypt are more prone to desertification in the Nile River Basin. Egypt has experienced accelerated desertification of rangelands in the last few decades. Presently, 45% of rangelands are severely degraded, 35% are fair, 15% are good, and 5% are excellent. It is reported that 11,000 hectares of land has been lost due to desertification. Parts of Western Egypt fall into the Sahara and are hot and dry areas which are extending into the mainland. Increasing evaporation has also led to drying out of one of the Toshka Lakes. Egypt witnesses various forms of desertification such as: Degradation of irrigated farmland due to low quality water in irrigation Degradation of rain-fed farmland (Northern coastal belt and Northern Sinai) Degradation of rangeland (Northern coastal belt) through overgrazing, plant covers degradation Sand Encroachments from the Western desert on the Nile Valley land (Southern Egypt) and on the High Aswan Dam reservoir (in Egypt and Sudan). Desertification in Sudan In terms of desertification, Sudan is the largest and most seriously affected country in Africa. The arid and semi-arid lands cover an area of 1.78 million km2, constituting around 72% of the total area of the country. There is moderate to severe land degradation in the desert and semi-arid regions in the Northern half of Sudan. The Western part of Sudan (in the Sahel region) is most prone to drought and increasing desertification, especially the states of Darfur, Kordofan, Khartoum and Kassala. The total desertification between Darfur and Kordofan is 22% i.e. 200,000 km2. A decline in precipitation has caused a stress factor on pastoral societies in these two regions, thereby contributing to conflict. There is a very strong link between land degradation, desertification and conflict in Darfur. In northern Darfur, increasing population growth, lack of resources and environmental stress led to conflicts which were further sustained by political, tribal or ethnic differences. As a consequence of desertification in Darfur, there has been increased mortality due to famine and disease, a decrease in total water and land availability, quality of water and land (including fertility), production of major staple foods, and deaths of domestic animals. It is estimated that since the 1930s, there has been around 50 to 200 km Southward shift of the boundary between semi-desert and desert. This boundary is expected to continue to move Southwards due to declining precipitation. The remaining semi-desert and low rainfall savannah, which represent 25% of Sudans agricultural land, are at considerable risk of further desertification and could lead to a 20% drop in food production. Sand Encroachment Instances of desert encroachment in Sudan are increasing, whereby the entire strip of the country along the Nile especially between Delgo and Karima in Northern Sudan is threatened. Sand dunes on the Eastern bank of River Nile in Sudan and encroachments in North-central regions can threaten the rivers course. Sand encroachment is also affecting the productivity of soil which has been witnessed extensively in the Gezira scheme and also in some areas of North Kordofan, North Darfur and Kannar in the Northern State, Sudan. In the Dongola-Merowe region of Sudan, the area covered by sand dunes increased from 51.2 km2 to 61.2 km2 between 1976 and 1996 and decreased to 35.1 km2 in 2000. This decrease could be attributed to an increase in the area covered by gravel and/or coarse sand. In Egypt, active sand dunes and encroachments occupy more than 16.6% of the countrys total land area. Sand encroachment in Egypt is further enhanced by the erratic rainfall, active winds, and scarcity of plant cover. Some inactive sand accumulations have been noticed in the Eastern side of the Nile delta and in the Sinai Peninsula. Types of Desertification Processes Underway in Sudan Climate-based conversion of land types from semi-desert to desert The least drought resistant vegetation fails to survive and reproduce. For instance, in Northern Darfur and Northern Kordofan, this is manifest in the widespread death of trees during drought events which are not followed by recovery. The desert climate is estimated to move Southward by approximately 100 km over 40 years. Degradation of existing desert environments, including wadis and oases At least 29% of Sudan is desert, within which there are hundreds of smaller wetter regions resulting from localized rainfall catchments, rivers and groundwater flows. It was discovered that all these areas were moderately to severely degraded, primarily due to deforestation, overgrazing and erosion. Conversion of land types from semi-desert to desert by human action Activities such as deforestation, overgrazing and cultivation result in habitat conversion to desert, even though rainfall may be sufficient to support semi-desert vegetation. One of the problems is the conversion of dry and fragile rangelands into traditional and mechanized cropland. Chapter 5 Water Quality Several factors pollute Nile waters, in particular faecal coliform bacterial contamination caused by lack of sanitation facilities and a high dependence on pit latrines, leading to presence of animal and human waste alongside open water bodies. Additionally, agricultural fertilizers and pesticides discharge high concentrations of nutrients and phosphates that runoff and leak into ground and surface water. Also, chemical pollution from industrial waste, mining activities and domestic sewage are released into water bodies without any effective wastewater treatment. Furthermore, sedimentation and siltation caused by deforestation, land degradation and soil erosion impact overall water quality. Lastly, poor planning practices, weak infrastructure and inadequate wastewater treatment systems add to the untreated water discharge. Some of the impacts of water pollution are death and destruction, loss of livelihood and income, and health hazards. The problem with a transboundary water resource in terms of water quality is that, polluted water from one area flows into the other area. This is specially witnessed in the Lake Victoria Basin. Water Hyacinth is another transboundary issue between the countries as it has a tendency of spreading fast and also leads to increased evaporation. Pollutant loads are washed away along with runoff and sedimentation loads which lead to water quality deterioration further downstream, rendering it non-viable for drinking purposes. Rwanda The main sources of water pollution are domestic, commercial, industrial, agriculture, water hyacinth and mismanagement of wetlands. Due to increased population and agricultural practices, inadequate sanitation facilities, there is an extensive use of fertilizers and pesticides. Also, wastewater from rural towns and villages containing faecal pollution are left untreated, giving rise to water borne diseases. In River Nyabugogo, there have been high rates of Iodine at 7.62m per litre. Additionally, there are large concentrations of Copper at 1.3mg per litre, Fluoride at 1.85mg per litre, Ammonia at 1.7mg per litre and Sodium at 105.3mg per litre. Also, Hexavalent Chromium was found ranging between 0.09 to 0.28 ÃŽÂ ¼g per litre. Although the Rwandan Ministry of Lands, Environment, Forest, Water Mines (MINITERE) and ELECTROGAZ have laboratories in place for water monitoring, the data is insufficient. The water drinking standards have been defined but have not been adopted yet. As a result of eutrophication by water hyacinth and agricultural pressure, Lakes Mihindi and Muhazi in Southern Rwanda are diminishing in size. Burundi There are several types of water pollution including bacteriological pollution from animal waste, organic pollution due to waste effluent from coffee processing plants, and industrial pollution via chemical fertilizers such as nitrates, phosphates and pesticides. Some of the causes of pollution are high demographic density, lack of latrines and waste dumping, and mining activities resulting in discharge of heavy metals and arsenic, especially in River Kanyarus tributary, Nowgere. Bujumbura accounts for 90% of industries in Burundi. However, data regarding industrial pollution is unavailable and not much has been achieved in monitoring and managing water quality due to under-resourcing of laboratories. Tanzania The water quality in Tanzania is affected by natural factors and human activities. The former comprises high fluoride concentrations and salinity in natural waters. The latter includes discharge of municipal and industrial wastewater, run-off from agricultural lands, and erosion encompassing high concentrations of nutrients, pathogens, BOD and COD levels. Additionally, gold mines in the Lake Victoria Basin consist of heavy metal pollution. Tanzania has no comprehensive national program for monitoring the quality of water or pollution even though water utility companies are required by law to monitor the water source and quality of water they supply. Kenya Water pollution in Kenya is caused by point and non-point sources such as agricultural activity, urbanization, industry, leachates from solid waste tips, sediments, salts, fertilizers and pesticide residues. Additionally, municipal sewerage plants discharge untreated wastewater into surface watercourses, causing significant health hazards and localized eutrophication. Tanneries, pulp and paper mills, coffee processing factories, breweries and sugar cane processing facilities do not have effective wastewater treatment plants and their effluents contribute organic loads, heavy metals and other toxic substances. The point pollution sources include sugar, paper, and fish industries, and also municipal sewage, oils and lubricants, marine workshops, petrol stations, human wastes and refuse from market and urban centres and fishing villages. The main non-point pollution sources comprise high nitrate, phosphate and pesticides from poor application of agricultural chemical and soil erosion. The Kenyan Lake Victoria Basin has a population of 12 million people and a low depth of approximately 6 meters, thereby causing an inability of catchment areas to perform purification of water. Although only 8% of Lake Victoria falls into Kenyan territory, tributaries such as Sio, Nzoia, Yala, Nyando and Mara are already severely polluted and contribute further to the lake pollution. Uganda The increased demand and use of pesticides, fungicides, herbicides and fertilizers is impacting the water quality in Uganda. Agricultural practices account for 50% of nitrogen and 56% of phosphorus into the Lake Victoria Basin. Additionally, the exploitation of petroleum threatens the overall ecosystems of Lake Albert and Edward Basins. The Northern end of Lake George, Uganda, and its associated wetlands receive localized metal pollution from a former copper mine and tailings left after metal extraction. There is a