Thursday, November 28, 2019

The Makah Essays - Whaling, Animal Rights, Makah, Clallam County

The Makah The Makah are a Native Indian tribe who have recently decided to enact their treaty rights, and start to hunt for whales. These actions have caused an uproar in North America. The Natives state that they are not doing anything but exercising their legal rights. Opponents to their hunting of whales argue that the Makah are a group of uncivilized and inhumane individuals, and that they are harming nature. The reportage of the controversy surrounding the Makah can be seen as ethnocentric in many ways. Through the language used by the media involved in the controversy, one can constantly see the Native people being viewed as inhumane savages. In turn, this language allows readers to be sent mixed messages about the Makah and their position in the whaling dispute. Finally, the protestors themselves have contradictory arguments which leads one to question the motivating factors behind their position. In order to fully understand the whaling controversy, it is necessary to understand the history of the Makah. They were a group of Native people who hunted gray whales. As a result of their increased trade with the Europeans, the 'white man' decided to also enter this hunt for the whale. This competition between the Makah and the 'white man' lead to the whale coming close to extinction. Due to their love for nature and respect for the whale, the Makah decided to voluntarily refrain from hunting whales. It is important to note however, that in 1855, the Governor of Washington State agreed to the Treaty Of Neah Bay, which gave the Makah a right to hunt for whales. This is what is at the heart of the controversy. The Makah have recently enacted their hunting rights of the whale after seventy years, and are now resuming their hunt for whales. The Makah reasoning is a relatively simple one. In 1946, the gray whale population was 2000, and now their count is over 26,000. They believe that it is safe to hunt for whales again. The Makah have been a group of people who have relied on whale hunting. . They used the blubber from the whale to feed their families, and they used the rest of the whale to provide themselves with shelter and tools. However, their opponents have dismissed this practice of hunting whales as inhumane. Through the language that is being used by the media, one can see Native people being viewed as savages. The language being used is not blatantly discriminatory against the Native people, but is done in a subtle, yet powerful way, in order to evoke a message that Native people are inhumane. One of the reasons for this negative commentary regarding Native people hunting for whales could be due to ethnocentrism. This is the belief that one's own culture is considered to be normal, therefore, other cultures are considered abnormal. The media carefully uses words that show their bias towards the Native People. The media tries to make the Makah look like a band of savages. While writing about a recent anti-whaling demonstration, Peggy Andersen writes, In a simmering dispute that ended with a scuffle and arrests, angry Makah Indians pelted a protest boat with rocks as the two sides bickered over a tribal plan to hunt gray whales. The wording of this opening paragraph leads the reader to th ink that it was Makah who were causing trouble, and that they were the one's that were arrested. However, if one were to complete the article, they would realize that this was not the case. Another example of media bias against the Makah people is when Jonathan Dube writes, As much as it's possible for one dead animal to give new life to an entire nation, that's what has happened here. Dube is implying that it is impossible for an animal that has died to bring life to a nation, however, that is what has occurred. He does not understand how killing this whale could give life to the Makah, and therefore, he conveys this message of doubt to his readers. Dube is indirectly stating that the Makah need to kill in order to have life. Many readers and viewers of the media are being sent mixed messages about the

Sunday, November 24, 2019

How a style guide can transform your organisations documents

How a style guide can transform your organisations documents Why you need a style guide Whats one thing you can do to transform everything you write at work? In fact, not just what you write: what your colleagues write too – even everyone in your entire organisation. Better still, as well as improving the emails, reports, letters, proposals and other documents you all produce, it can overhaul everyones experience of writing. So what is this magical act? Well, its taking the time to think about style. (And no, I dont mean what to wear on casual Friday.) Specifically, working with a style guide. Defining style And what is a style guide? In short, its the go-to reference for writing within a particular industry, organisation or publication. It outlines how to write the key documents in whatever arena it covers, touching on tone of voice, key terms, formatting and (sometimes) design. Style guides are particularly great at coming to the rescue on any questions that dont have an easy black-and-white, right-or-wrong answer. This would include things like whether to put one or two spaces after a full stop, how to punctuate bullet points, using US or UK spelling and how to style your company name in running text. (And hasnt every workplace or department temporarily ground to a halt at some point, as factions gathered to fight over such a matter?) When a question can be answered only in shades of grey, someone needs to make a style choice. Theyll decide that – for example – theyll always use one space after a full stop, US spelling and an initial capital for their company name. And then everyone at the company will always do it that way. Style guides are the norm in the publishing world. But youll find them in all kinds of fields, including law, medicine, academia, government – and increasingly in business too. Do you need one? Is a style guide right for you and your company? Yes, probably. That may seem like a bold statement (I dont know you, after all). But its a safe guess, because a style guide can help people at almost every level of almost any organisation. For example, if youre a team leader who spends too much time editing colleagues documents and emails before youre happy with them, a style guide can help. If youre the head of marketing and frustrated that the tone of voice in your companys external documents is at odds with your brand, a style guide can help. And if you find yourself heading to Google again and again over the same sort of questions – you may have guessed already. Yes, a style guide could definitely help. What style can do for you So, what benefits can a style guide bring? Well, it can help to settle office arguments. But it can do much more than that. When everyone has the same reference point, the key benefit is consistency. And for a companys or organisations written output – whether thats documents, webpages, letters, emails or all of the above – this is vital. Small inconsistencies in spelling, formatting or tone may not seem like a big deal. But they can niggle at the people reading them – even if those people dont realise quite why. Page by page, or screen by screen, those little irregularities chip away at their confidence in your company. How about that overstretched team leader? Consistencys important for them too. After all, it could mean the difference between needing just 20 minutes to sign off their teams work or several hours and another late night at the office. And its not just the time – its the decisions themselves. With no authority giving a casting vote on style matters, the poor team leader is left to decide every time. That can be exhausting. Research suggests we have capacity for only a limited number of decisions a day, even the seemingly tiny ones. So, finding ways to bypass some of them means preserving a valuable resource: your mental energy. This saving naturally extends to every person writing within the organisation – which, in the age of email, is probably almost everyone. With just one handy reference to check, all are saved from falling into a potential black hole of online searching. Pick a guide (not any guide) But how do you go about choosing the style guide for your organisation? You can choose to use someone elses, such as the highly regarded, informed and eloquent guides of The Economist and Guardian. As long as everyone at your workplace knows which one theyre supposed to check, this can work. However, the best style guides are effective because theyre relevant: everything in them applies to the work that people at the organisation actually do. For most of us, that doesnt include writing articles for the Guardian. When you try to bend someone elses guidance to your needs, you can find yourself stuck with a lot of information thats of little use to you. (For example, the Guardians guide includes a curiously detailed entry on canal boats, and how narrowboats differ from barges.) Meanwhile, youll probably also be missing areas you do need. So you might want to refine your search. For a more business-focused book, you could look no further than our own. We produced The Write Stuff as a universal guide to help people write at work. Thats why it includes sections on writing for the web and for a global audience, tips for clear writing and getting the best from email. Plus, of course, our take on those tricky style issues. Its designed to answer the kinds of questions that youre likely to face at work. You can download it for yourself here. Build your own The ultimate answer is to develop your own guide, purpose-built for your organisation. But how do you go about this? You dont have to start from scratch. Instead, start by looking at whats already out there to see what could be covered, then adapt it to fit as needed. Then pin down the questions that crop up repeatedly in your department or company. Which decisions have to be made over and over again? Which words and terms cause problems or dispute? Is the company name formatted in too many different ways? What tone of voice are you hoping to encourage? What values best sum up your company ethos? How can this be reflected in your writing choices? Gather examples to illustrate all these points – youll need to include these. Create a list, then ask other people to look at the list and add their own ideas. Keep in mind that this isnt a place to catalogue everyones personal punctuation bugbears or to explain complex grammatical issues. (The latter might require training; the former may be best reserved for a personal blog.) Remember that youre aiming to end up with a useful resource for quick reference. Making it work Clearly, even the best guide will do little good if no one uses it or even knows it exists. So bring your colleagues into the process early on: ask them for their thoughts on drafts and for feedback on the finished article. Theyre more likely to take it to their hearts if they dont feel like its merely the product of one persons mission. When its published, consider having a launch event to get people on board and enthusiastic – you could even combine the launch with training. And make the guide easy to find. A searchable online version is good, as long as its not buried on your intranet. But if you really want to encourage people to thumb through it regularly, go old-school and put a hard copy on everyones desk. We can help Even for a seasoned editor, all this can sound like a daunting task. If it does to you, thats OK. You can enlist some experienced help. Weve worked with many clients to create guides that are a perfect fit for their company. Starting with The Write Stuff as a basis, we work directly with them to see what we need to add (or subtract). For example, one client added a section on how to write for PowerPoint. Another cut Writing for a global audience and added guidance on referencing and bibliographies. And whatever additions or subtractions make sense for your team or organisation, by consulting every step of the way we can create the reference that is exactly what you need. If youd like to talk to us about developing the right guide for your company, get in touch. Finding the answers Writing at work comes with all kinds of challenges. It involves hundreds of tiny decisions along the way and – as weve said before – theres no one authority on high to tell us whats correct in the widest sense. The good news is that that doesnt really matter. Within the cosier confines of your daily working life – and with the right book on your desk – you can still have all the answers you really need in one place. If you feel its time for you to settle on a style for your team or organisation, dont forget you can download our guide, The Write Stuff, here. And if youd like to talk to us about helping to develop one tailor-made for you, get in touch. Image credit: Eric Isselee / Shutterstock

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Sacred Time Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Sacred Time - Essay Example tice, and the art and clearly marked sacred spaces.†1 Many times people have relied on their dreams in order to make predictions or help them in their daily lives by providing them guidance. Dreams can be very helpful to people who are looking for answers in their lives, and dreams were used in several different religions to make sense of the world around the people who were dreaming. My most sacred space in my own personal life is in my room in the house. I always make sure to close the door whenever I come in, so that I don’t let in â€Å"bad airs,† also called malos aires in Spanish. Of course, I’m sure that sounds a little bit superstitious, but I am always careful about things which I see as sacred in my personal life. I regard and take care of stones which have power, and I don’t see anything New-Agey about that at all†¦it is just my way of belief. I believe in the power of stones. Their energies can subsequently help or hurt someone. The truth is, all of life and the entire earth is sacred. We must learn how to use these spaces every

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Case study on an historical Civil Engineering failure Essay - 2

Case study on an historical Civil Engineering failure - Essay Example After continuous investigations that lasted over 14 months, the investigating bodies concluded that the collapse was prompted by the inadequacy in load capacity of gusset plates that had been used to construct the bridge. The problem of the connecting gusset plates to the truss members had been a design problem, and the error was caused by the designing firm, Sverdrup and Parcel Associates Corporation (Higgins et al. 988). It was assessed that the loading particulars incorporated a mixture of substantial additions in the total weight of the whole bridge construction that had been caused by past modifications to the bridge. It was also assessed that the traffic on that day of the collapse added on to the construction loads on the bridge. The evidence used to assess and investigate the damage of the bridge has been reviewed in this report. In the year 2007, on the evening of August 1st at around 18:00 hours, the 1,900 foot long I-35 bridge situated on top of the Mississippi River, Minnesota underwent a disastrous failure. The bridge deck truss that measured around 1,500 feet collapsed together with some other adjacent sections of the bridges approach spans that had been sustained by the deck truss. Media reports showed that there were over 190 individuals who were on that bridge at the time of the collapse. A total of 14 fatalities were reported, with approximately 150 individuals sustaining various injuries. It was also reported that a total of 111 motor vehicles had been on the bridge when it collapsed (Feldman 541). A handful of those vehicles was recovered from the water. The figure below shows the collapsed bridge on the morning after the collapse. The NTSB commissioned a team of experts to investigate the accident scene. The investigations commenced immediately on the next day after the disastrous collapse of the bridge. The complete investigation with extensive documentation and analysis of the destroyed bridge were presented to the Senate and

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Medical Ethics in Palliative Care Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Medical Ethics in Palliative Care - Essay Example This begs the question, just how precious or sanctified is human, life? That is probably the most subjective moral question one can posit , and the answers will vary widely based on the respondent religious humanist beliefs or lack of thereof. Many people hold that life is indeed priceless and/or sacred, however their view of how it should be treated in different circumstances tend to be radically different, under the phase sanctity of life, the idea of life’s sacredness is widely applied by pro-life activist to argue against issue such as abortion, euthanasia and abortion (Doerflinge and Gomez, 2010). Central to the debate on life sanctity is the subject of euthanasia which is one of the most controversial moral, religious and medical issues of all times (Baranzke 2012, p.295). The setting in which it most frequently arises is in palliative care where many patients spend the last days of their lives under medical care without any hope of recovery only awaiting what is assumed to be a certain death. In some cases, patients in this situations or their family may request that treatment is stopped or that the patient is given a lethal dosage or drugs such as morphine to â€Å"save† them from pain. While it is allowed in some states and countries but the legality has not significantly served to reduce the amount of controversy surrounding the issue. This paper will discuss the importance of sanctity of life through several arguments against euthanasia for patients undergoing palliative care and then examining and disproving some of the opposing views that have been used to trivialize sanctity by pointing out their underlying weakness with a view to prove that; irrespective of the intentions, euthanasia is morally and medically unjustifiable. The concept of euthanasia has been in existence for almost as long as the

Friday, November 15, 2019

Climate Change Mitigation To Adaptation And Resilience Environmental Sciences Essay

Climate Change Mitigation To Adaptation And Resilience Environmental Sciences Essay Recent studies on climatic science suggest that our climate does not increase or decrease in a steady and slow pace as we once thought (Parry, et al. 2007). Rather, it changes abruptly over a short period due to a combination of natural or external forcing and anthropological factors (Parry, et al. 2007). However, the most compelling issue regarding climate change is not its main contributing agent but the reality that our climate is indeed or will inevitably change and that we have to do something in response to that change. In its fourth assessment report (AR4) in 2007, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) acknowledges that by the turn of the century our ecosystem will be overwhelmed by unprecedented combination of climate change and natural disasters such as flooding, wildfire and insect infestation, and other anthropogenic global change drivers such as land-use change, over pollution and over extraction of natural resources. The impact and magnitude of these disru ptions would take a costly toll on food security, water supply, health and the economy especially on settlements in low lying areas such as coastal and flood plains where most rapid urbanization in many developing countries is taking place. This is compounded by the fact that these will leave urban poor communities, which are usually in high concentration on those areas, highly vulnerable and unable to deal with these changes due to their limited adaptive capacity. This research explores the need to shift the current emphasis of climate change agenda on developing countries from mitigation to adaptation and resilience. It also relates the current trends in urban adaption on climate change concerning global perspective of international communities and the perspective of local state actors. It further explores the growing interests on utilizing resilience principles on top of conventional adaptation measures on its potency to address uncertainties that adaptation plans are not able to predict and account for. Research Problem I am studying how the practices and characteristics of low-lying and coastal urban poor communities in Metro Manila, which are perennially exposed to climatic stresses, make them sensitive or resilient to climate change, and to what extent these attributes able to contribute to the communities climate resiliency. While many studies point out that urban poor communities are one the highest vulnerable to climate change and ASLR, very few studies have actually been made that assess their needs for resilience. Without sufficient information regarding adaptation strategies to climate change, urban planners and managers are bound to haphazardly develop action plans in response to climate change. By exploring the strengths and limitations of these practices, this research aims to provide a better understanding on how urban planners and managers could improve upon these practices in addressing the residual effects of climate variability. Research Questions Vulnerability What are the effects of unpredictable climate variability to low-lying and coastal urban communities? Resilience What are the intrinsic characteristics of the barangay that makes them resilient to climate change? What indicators can be used to assess climate resilience at the barangay level? What are the national programs, policies and plans that aim to directly enhance climate change resilience and to what extent do these address issues of resilience at the barangay level? Implications What are the implications of the results of this study to urban planning and management at the city level and, concurrently, at the barangay level? Research Objectives To explore the characteristics of vulnerable urban settlements with respect to unpredictable climate variability To explore the climate resilient characteristics of communities The describe the extent of these characteristics in degrading and/or enhancing the resilience of urban communities To explain the validity of existing literature on generally accepted indicators for climate change resilience at the community level To evaluate how the results of this study could influence decision-making at the local level Scope and Limitations The study will involve the vulnerability and resilience assessment of two urban barangays in Metro Manila or in the Greater Manila Area, one with CBRM and the other with no CBRM. Further, the selection barangays is limited by the availability of required secondary data for the assessment. The study shall cover social, economic and environmental indicators linked to vulnerability and resilience based on the studies of Ibarrarà ¡n et al. (2009) on VRIM and Cutter (2008) on DROP. Limitations are directly derived from the limitations of the assessments models as acknowledged by their authors. Literature Review Responding to climate change necessitates a two-pronged approach: decreasing amount of GHG emissions will while at the same time addressing the impacts that are already manifested on vulnerable populations. Whether by merit good or by the financial prospects of clean development mechanism projects, a significant number of mitigation programs have already been implemented all over the even among countries that are non-Annex I party to UNFCCC (Chandler, et al. 2002) (UNFCCC 2010). Reduction of carbon emissions and carbon footprint are widely associated nowadays with climate change and became new buzzwords in media literature. These positively reflect on the existing attitude towards global commitment in reducing target GHG emissions. Adaptation, on the other hand, receives less media mileage and more or less the same attention from international assistance community in the form of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the bilateral and multilateral donors (Hayes 2006) due to its fu zzy nature. While this study does not discount the fact of the fundamental import of reducing global GHG emissions to their natural assimilation levels, it tries to highlight the increasing urgency of adapting to climate change. Fà ¼ssel (2007) posits four arguments which presuppose the emerging need for climate change adaptation: (1) the effects of anthropogenic GHG emissions are already felt on recent history of climatic extremes and unprecedented variability, (2) climate records from fossil data show that climate changed periodically in the past and will continue to do so indefinitely, (3) GHG continuous to accumulate so do the rate of global warming, (4) the effectiveness of adaptation programs implemented whether locally and/or regionally are not easily influenced by other strategic actions, and (5) there is a growing momentum of interest among development organizations to fund climate adaptation programs as reflected by the growing number of climate change assessment techniques. Hayes (20 06) adds that unlike mitigation measures, adaptation measures have always been practiced by societies and governments in responding to climate variability. While this makes it difficult to separate it from for those done in response or in anticipation to anthropogenic induced climate change, it is also in the realm of familiarity for many related professions and state actors. Many civilizations have learned to deal with the climate constraints overtime, usually in response to lack of water resources during dry periods (e.g., Egyptians Nile River irrigation system, Roman aqueduct, Mesopotamian dams) or the exceeding abundance of it during rainy season (Venetian Grand Canal, floating villages in Thailand and Cambodia). Fussel and Klein (2006) also points out the difficulty in monitoring the results and impacts of adaptation programs in aiding its intended beneficiary. There is a significant degree of uncertainty to what extent is the program able to reduce the impact of climate change . This raises a concern among international funding institutions as development programs necessitate a certain measure that ensures their effectiveness. Moreover, while mitigation measures done local level is generally considered to have a global impact, the same cannot be said for adaptation strategies that have a more localized benefit (Hayes 2006). Ironically, those who are least able to pay for it local communities from poor and under developed countries, suffer the brunt of costs by climate change. UNFCCC estimated that by 2030 the total investment and financial flows needed for adaptation is about $49-171 billion, of which $28-67 billion are needed by developing countries alone (UNFCCC, 2007). Emergence of resilience Climate change adaptation refers to a broad range of initiatives and measures that reduce the vulnerability of natural and human systems against actual or expected climate change effects such as (Metz, et al. 2007). Adaptation to climate change occurs as a response to an extreme event that exceeds the normal coping range of a system. It reacts and anticipates to these shocks continuously, given that the system is given sufficient capability, time and resources to cope up increasing its adaptive capacity. The context of adaptation is influenced by the climate-sensitive domain under study, types of climate hazard present, certainty of climate change models, on-climatic conditions in the form of political, economic, cultural and other environmental forcings, purposefulness, timing, planning horizon, form whether technical, institutional, legal or otherwise; and the actors involved. Due to its diverse context, there is no single approach to adaptation. It may take in the form or combina tion of anticipatory and reactive measures, private and public domains, and autonomous and planned measures. As stated before, many forms adaptation measures are not new. It incorporates well-established disciplines already practiced in the realm of regional and urban planning such as coastal resource management, disaster risk management, and integrated flood management. It is also present in public health management and advances in agricultural science research in developing pest/drought/flood resistant crops. However, we should also consider that some aspects of climate change adaptation arose very recently in contemporary history. Further elaborating on this papers introduction, our world have are starting to experience unprecedented climate conditions and extremes at an unprecedented rate of change. This limits the ability of many ecological systems and human communities to cope and adapt with changes. Further, the domain of identified climate sensitive receptors is continually expanding, necessitates the involvement of disciplinary approaches and actors not traditionally involved with regional-local planning and development such as gender, mathematics, communication, sociology, atmospheric sciences. Recent advances in climatic sciences also offer decision-makers and planners critical and timely information on determining the extent, magnitude, origin and, to some extent, the trajectory of climate induced impacts that are not available before. However, these new developments also bring with discoveries also pits traditional approaches to local climate variability with the more complex dynamics global climate change. Access to better prediction models also exposes limitations of adaptation structures in resolving uncertainties which results from sudden and extreme changes. Most urban planners and policy makers take into account the risk of natural disasters such as storms, flood and earthquake and by extension climate change. However, it is often in the light of natural catastrophic disaster such as floods, tsunamis and typhoons. It is less seen in the context of t he multiple hazards of an ever-changing climate to food security, health, disruptions to ecological balance and increasing vulnerabilities of urban centers. At the heart of these issues is the enabling capability to alleviate these uncertainties which is compounded by the nature of climate change: (1) it crosses local, national and global boundaries; (2) its effects are felt for many decades or even centuries; (3) overlaps and interacts with many layers of ecological systems; (4) it is a highly dynamic process whose domain entrenches social, economic and environmental spheres easily a sustainability issue. Adaptation measures are only effective if it is able to account and anticipate the magnitude of shock it is designed to suppress. Effective adaptation policies are developed by decision makers based on available prediction data. Uncertainties in these cases could lead to overestimation, which wastes valuable resources that could be allocated to other tasks, underestimation which exposes them to the risk of overwhelming impact (Barnett 2001), ignorance of a calamity that will hit them or indeterminate and prolonged exposure to climatic stress. There are many approaches to climate change adaptation in current literature; one of the more prevalent approaches is through increasing the resilience of systems, both human and ecological. Strengthening of resilience aims to increase a systems ability to cope with shocks, prolonged disturbances and unknown/wildcard forcings. Resilience is a measure of the ability of systems to absorb changes of state variables, driving variables and parameters (Holling 1973). These systems are able reorganize by undergoing change while retaining essentially the same function, structure, identity and feedbacks (Walker, et al. 2004). Resilience is not simply a return-to-original-state process. In the realm of social-ecological system, by extension the urban environment, Walker et al. (2004) further relates resilience to adaptability and transformability, the capacity to create a fundamentally new system when ecological, economic, or socio-political conditions make the existing system untenable. A citys resilience to climate change is therefore defined by its capacity to continuously respond, withstand the effects of climate variability, and still function organically. Resilience to climate change requires urban governments to display the following characteristics: decentralization and autonomy, accountability and transparency, responsiveness and flexibility, participation and inclusion and experience and support (Tanner, et al. 2009). A study on the role of local government units on climate change adaptation in the province of Albay, Philippines revealed that communities experiencing frequent and severe climate hazards are more aware and responsive to the need climate change adaptation on (Lasco, et al. 2008). This is supported by the presence of political will and the numerous policies, programs and projects (PPPs) that the provincial government has enacted and implemented. Working with adaptation programs at a mesoscale or provincial scale was also found to be more cost-e ffective than having to delegate it to smaller and more numerous municipalities. Place-based resilience vs. person-or-household-based resilience This research body builds upon the arguments presented by Adger (2003) in his paper on social capital, collection action and adaptation. He posits that communities, especially in developing countries, are focal points of social collective action and social capital building necessary for increasing adaptive capacity at the local level. In the Philippines, barangays are the smallest political administration unit entrusted by the government to promote social, economic and environmental welfare. Barangays are also tapped in most local development projects. Moreover, it also forms as the social circle of its inhabitants. However, it should be cautioned that the barangays do not necessarily draw community boundaries. Due to its political nature as an administrative unit, barangay is chosen as the scale for this study due to potential available secondary data from documents and reports from both public and private institutions. Adger (2003) also highlighted three lessons that are further explored in this study: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦adaptive capacityà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ has culture and place-specific characteristics that can be identified only through culture and place- specific research. there are the institutional prerequisites for the evolution and persistence of collective action and its relative importance compared to state intervention institutional theories of social capital provide a means to generalize the macro level determinants of adaptive capacity In light of these arguments, while this study shall be looking at the resilience of the community or the barangay as a whole, it will take in to account both place-based and person-based induced resilience as well as the influence of macro level policies that aim to enhance local adaptive capacity. Winnick (1966) and Bolton (1992) discusses the conflict and significance of place prosperity and people prosperity in the development of national policies that aims to assist to individuals and places. Measuring Resilience It is important to note that measuring resilience (and adaptive capacity) is a complicated issue that is largely unresolved. The resilience concepts presented above is just a sample of what is currently available in literature. Differences in data types (physical/social, quantitative/qualitative), temporal and spatial scales, and view on what variable and what receptors are critical produce different approaches to resilience building. Wardekker et al. (2009) summarizes the above characteristics of a resilient system into the following six principles listed in the table below. Table 2à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ: Principles and characteristics of a resilient system Principles Characteristics Homeostasis multiple feedback loops counteract disturbances and stabilize the system Omnivory vulnerability is reduced by diversification of resources and means High flux a fast rate of movement of resources through the system ensures fast mobilization of these resources to cope with perturbations Flatness the hierarchical levels relative to the base should not be top-heavy. Overly hierarchical systems with no local formal competence to act are too inflexible and too slow to cope with surprise and to rapidly implement non-standard highly local responses. Buffering essential capacities are over-dimensioned such that critical thresholds in capacities are less likely to be crossed Redundancy overlapping functions; if one fails, others can take over Source: Adapted from Operationalising a resilience approach to adapting an urban delta to uncertain climate change by Wardekker, et al. (2009) Another method for measuring resilience is proposed by Malone and Brenkert (2008) and Moss et al. (2000) using a vulnerability-resilience indicator model (VRIM). The said model utilizes a comprehensive framework that goes beyond the analysis of hazards exposure at the same time taking into account location based factors of resilience. VRIM is a four-tier model: (1) resilience index from sensitivity and adaptive capacity, (2) vital sectors (human, economy, environment), (3) proxy variables for each sector; and (4) scenario projection. Malone and Brenkert (2008) point out that the said model, as with many indicator based research, is not able to account for the function of demographic and social characteristics. Shaw et al. (2009) also proposed a similar approach but on a city scale. They developed a Climate Disaster Resilience Index that tries to account for the localized effects of climate-induced disasters, such as cyclone, flood, heat wave, drought and heavy rainfall induced landslide. The model assessed overall resilience based on natural, physical, social, economic and institutional resilience. Cutter et al. (2008) provides an attempt in integrating these unaccounted socioeconomic characteristics by proposing a new framework for measuring disaster resilience called disaster resilience of place (DROP) model. The said model improves upon the existing comparative assessment for disaster resilience at the community level. Their seminal paper in 2008 provides an initial candidate set of variables that will be used in the model. The model has three limitations: (1) it is specifically designed to address natural hazards; (2) it focuses on community-level resilience; (3) it focuses on social resilience of places; and (4) it does not into account national policies and legislations that may have significant influence of on community resilience. The model measures inherent vulnerability and resilience of the community using the following indicators: ecological, social, economic, institutional, infrastructure, and community competence. As of the papers publication, the model proposed w as not yet operationalized. The authors also suggest on improving and standardizing the initial set of indicators. Adaptation planning in Southeast Asia Lao PDR, Cambodia, Myanmar Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore National adaptation planning in the Philippines Existing Policies (CAA, CWA, ESWM, Rainwater (RA 6716) Recently passed CC law and recently signed National Framework on Climate Change Initiatives (CCCI Sorsogon, Albay, Malabon) Assessments (EEPSEA, Manila Observatory, IACCC, Sales) Gaps A recent project of UN Habitat in the Sorsogon City, Sorsogon, Philippines on promoting community resilience reflects the still-prevailing needs of many cities in developing countries (1) enabling capacity to implement measures in combating contemporary issues such as climate change; and (2) strong public involvement at all levels of planning, decision-making process and implementation. The latter case being largely solved (or at least in the process of being solved) already at least in countries where there is a strong presence of internationally denominated donor agencies. The former however is still largely unresolved. This is clearly echoed by the development priorities on capacity building and technical assistance from international assistance mentioned. Prioritizing the acquisition of knowledge and skills is clearly the first step in the effort of achieving climate change resilience. This, together with the strengthening of organic links within the city further inspires local cooperative action. Further, while it is one of the most essential parts for climate adaptation action, it is also one of the easiest to implement technically and financially. These effort necessitates only the participation of the vulnerably populations (which is a sufficient incentive given the perceived threat) and political willingness and resolve of local authorities (vulnerable populations are also potential voters). Local governments, such as Sorsogon City, as pointed out by Lasco et al. (2008), which are often exposed to the climate-induced hazards are those who are more readily aware to the needs of climate change, yet are unable to respond due to their limited set of knowledge and skills. Urban Planning Management and resilience Urban planning and management has big role, nay, it has the central role in building urban climate resiliency. Already illustrated in the examples given in the previous section are domains such as effective land use, public transport systems and housing on which urban planning are already championed in the circles of environmental sustainability, equity, economic development and climate change. On the other hand, there are also domains which are new (or whose responsibility is not often relegated or less visible) with urban planning such as energy, water and food security. Sourcing (or outsourcing) of these three sectors are often outside urban governance. These are often nationally or regionally shared resource and are also largely dealt with by such authorities. But then again, with the increasing need for resilience from external shocks brought by oil crisis, prolonged drought, food-biofuel competition, flood and other man-made and natural calamities, cities should start focusing on developing alternative options for these three sectors. This concept evades urban planning and management cultures even in many developed cities that are still highly reliant on resources taken outside (city as a parasite). Urban climate resilience is the marriage of urban management and governance, both old and new, which is of an advantage as it is already in the sphere of familiarity. It is wrong, however, to assume that climate resilience is just about semantics and simply a repackaging of existing concepts. Climate change resilience puts these concepts into perspective. It gives us a framework that guides us coherently toward securing sustained and uninterrupted city development that is responsive to the growing threats of climate change. In an age of unprecedented extremes in climate variability, selective and compartmental adaptation measures for climate change, marred with the inability to respond to uncertainties and ignorance of unforeseen calamities, only give misguided notion of resolution and maybe suspect to failure. Methodology The proceeding section discusses the specific aims and the methodologies of this research. Type of Research This research uses mixed method approach. It is a primarily qualitative study but augmented and validated by quantitative approaches as well. The qualitative approach aims to: Explore the characteristics of vulnerable urban settlements with respect to unpredictable climate variability. Determine the perceived effects of climate change. It aims to map out economic and livelihood fabrics and determine how these dependencies strengthen or weaken the communities resilience. Explore the climate resilient characteristics of communities with respect to their inherent capacities and local practices Describe the extent of these characteristics in degrading and/or enhancing the resilience of urban communities Evaluate how the results of this study could influence decision-making at the local and meso level The quantitative approach of this study aims to: Describe the effects of climate variability on the urban community using indicator-based measurement tools Explain the validity and limitations of existing literature on generally accepted indicators for climate change resilience at the community level Methodological Framework Research Instruments Unstructured interviews Key informant interviews (semi-structured) Review of published reports and public documents Livelihood mapping/zoning Onsite observations FGD Analysis Instruments Research Question Critical Information Set Data Sources Data Collection Techniques What are the effects of unpredictable climate variability to low-lying and coastal urban communities? Flood data Health records Mortality rate Other effects identified/perceived by respondents (exploratory) News articles Journal articles Published reports Key informant and respondents account Communities accounts Public documents and reports Documentation Analyses of published accounts/reports and public documents Unstructured interviews FGDs What makes these communities vulnerable to climate change? Settlement/infrastructure sensitivity Food security Ecosystem sensitivity Human health sensitivity Water resource sensitivity Economic and livelihood fabric Key informant accounts News articles Published reports Public documents and reports Journal articles Documentation Analyses of published accounts/reports and public documents Key informant interviews On site observations Livelihood mapping/zoning What are the intrinsic characteristics of the community that makes them resilient to climate change? Community competence Social networks and social embeddedness Community values-cohesion Institutional capacity Economic capacity Human civic resources Access to vital infrastructure and services Institutional capacity Social capital Indigenous practices Key informant and respondents account Communities accounts Observation News articles Published reports Public documents and reports Documentation Analyses of published accounts/reports and public documents Unstructured interviews FGDs Attitude surveys Key informant interviews On site observations What are the national programs, policies and plans that aim to directly enhance climate change resilience? Number and nature of strategic actions (PPPs) Public documents and reports Authorative reports and analyses regarding these PPPs Key informant interviews with experts Analyses of published accounts/reports and public documents Key informant interviews What are the implications of the results of this study to urban planning and management? Results of the study Expert judgment Study area The study shall be conducted on two communities located in Metro Manila or in Greater Manila Area: (1) urban barangay located on the coastal zone with CBRM and (1) urban barangay located along the coast with NO CBRM. The barangays can be selected from already-identified vulnerable cities or communities from existing studies of Perez et al. (1996), Sales (2009), EEPSEA and others.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Ancient Greeces Obsession with Beauty Essay -- Ancient Greece Essays

Ancient Greece was one of the most important civilizations in the history of mankind. Ancient Greece spanned thousands of years, beginning in 1100 BC and ending with the end of the Hellenistic period in 146 BC. Ancient Greece made many contributions to the modern world, such as language, politics, philosophy, science, art, architecture, beauty, and much more. Beauty now a days is in most cases considered as how pretty something looks on the outside. Most people these days look at outer beauty rather than inner beauty. Beauty in ancient Greece is different than beauty now in many different ways. In ancient Greece, beauty can be defined in many things. Beauty in family, art, architecture, sculpture, and literature shows all the many definitions of beauty in ancient Greece. Family was important in ancient Greece. â€Å"The ancient Greeks had a society of Patriarchy and Misogyny† (Katz 71). Patriarchy is a society where the father had supreme authority over the family. Misogyny meant that the women were worthless. Women would usually get married at a very young age of around twelve to sixteen years old. Most women did not have a choice of whom to marry and instead their father, uncle, or brother chose for her. The richer the woman was the earlier she got married, but the poor woman got married at a bit higher age. They did not have the authority to do many things that men did. They were not able to go to the Olympics, the streets of the city, or even sometimes the marketplace. If they ever went anywhere they usually went to weddings and funerals and religious ceremonies, or to visit other women. Since they stayed in their houses for long periods of time they were usually in charge of the house when it comes to cleaning or or... ...aic Period, Archaic ‘patriarchy’ and high sexual culture in Classical Athens. Kats, Marilyn. â€Å"Ideology and ‘The Status of Women’ in Ancient Greece.† History and Theory, Beiheft 31: History and Feminist Theory. Vol. 31. Blackwell Publishing for Wesleyan University. 1992. 70-97. This chapter of the book focuses on the status of women in ancient Greece in comparison to the eighteenth through twentieth century. Levin, Saul. â€Å"Love and the Hero of the Iliad.† Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association. Vol. 80. The Johns Hopkins University Press. 1949. 37-49. In this chapter it talks about the Iliad and what the Greeks point of view is over the Iliad. Plato. The Allegory of the Cave. This piece of literature is written by Plato and in it Plato explains through the use of many metaphors what it is to become the philosopher king.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Oilwell: Team Management

Oilwell Cable Division Bill Russell was acting general manager of TRW and now he is being appointed as general manager with an assignment of lay off twenty people or  achieves an equivalent reduction in labor cost. The Oilwell Cable Division is part of the Industrial and Energy Segment of   TRW that represent 24 percent of its sales and 23 percent of its operating profits. The Oilwell Division is a acquired business by TRW what was Crescent Wire and Cable Company of Trenton. The four reasons for moving the Oilwell cable (Crescent Wore and Cable Company) from Trenton to Lawarence are Lawerence is considerably closer to the customer †¢ Lawerence has a more supportive labor environment. †¢ The wage rate for the Lawerence area are very reasonable †¢ There is an already existing building Gino stripoli, formal general manager, was gien the task to start operations in Lawrence and he established new management system. He established eleven team relating the activities and all teams were doing their jobs very well. There is also a co-ordination team. The team is successful. Though there were some problems initially.There was a good deal of mistrust among employees regarding management’s   motives. There were also some technical problems. But after two years Gino solved the problems. Though TRW has ten competitors in the cable market, its market mainly depends on the demand of the submersible pumps. Because the basic product produced by the Oilwell Cable Division is wire that provides power   to submersible pumps used in oil drilling. Question: 1 Evaluate team management at TRW’s Lawrence plant. What organizational behavior system is it most similar to? Does it reflect theory X or theory Y assumptions? Answer: †¢There were in total 11 teams where five production teams are formed around the production process. †¢ Each team meets on a weekly basis or as needed and resource team meets every two weeks. That increases the coordi nation between the team and team members. †¢ There was no formal agenda but the meeting on production process and labor scheduling which increases the production. †¢ Team also build relationship between various level of the organizations Collegial organizational behavior system is most similar to. It reflects Theory Y assumption. Question: 2 Examine the results from team management at Lawrence.Do they support a â€Å"satisfaction causes productivity† or a â€Å"productivity causes satisfaction† relationship? Explain. †¢ There were some initial start-up problems, but late it seems to be a success. †¢ In the beginning there was a good deal of mistrust among employees. But later it being solved. †¢ First there was a lot of frustration with a high level of turnover. Because there was only one union employee brought from Trenton. To solve the problem a compensation scheme was developed that encouraged employees to master the various pieces of equipm ent in the plant. Turnover dropped from in excess of 12 percent to a range of 2 to 4 percent. Also employment had dropped from a high of 132 to what seemed to be a more optimal level of 125. They support â€Å"satisfaction causes productivity†. From the workers’ point of   view, the major benefit of team management is their ability to control their   jobs. This control has resulted in a high level of commitment by the employees, as evidenced by the numerous suggestions made by the teams that have resulted in significant improvements in quality and productivity. Question: 4Can participative and team management approaches work equally well during times of organizational crisis and during normal times? Explain. NO, from my opinion, though during normal times participative and team management approaches work equally but during organizational crisis it can’t work equally. The responsibility of the team management is to solve any problem equally and help other tea m members to solve the problems. But in participative approach people can deny to help others. Beside this when contradiction between the people exist the situation also become more complicated in participative approach

Friday, November 8, 2019

Berlin Wall Crisis essays

Berlin Wall Crisis essays The rising and the falling of the Berlin Wall was an event that changed the world. It didnt just affect the people of Germany but it affected the world as a whole. As the first barbed-wire fences were put up on August 13, 1961, it was obvious that a wall was soon to be built. It was also obvious that this wall would have to become higher and higher and also more and more strong. It prevented eye-contact from a brother to a brother and also the possibility of tanks breaking through. But what was not obvious was that the all-escape-defying wall would be replaced by a massive wall. The GDR(German Democratic Republic), began under the leadership of Erich Honecker, to block off East Berlin and GDR from West Berlin . The streets were torn up and barricades of paving stones were built. The local subway and railway services between West and East Berlin were disrupted. People of East Berlin were not allowed to enter West Berlin. Sixty-thousand of them had commuted to West Berlin to work. On September 17, 1962, Peter Fechter was an eighteen year old that was a citizen of East Berlin. He bled to death after he was shot by East Berlin border patrols while he was attempting to escape over the wall. He was shot in the pelvis and was left to lie in the no-mans land between East and West Germany for nearly an hour as he bled to death. His cries of pain were left unanswered and this horrified many witnesses. His outcome showed how serious this Wall was and the cruelty the Wall created. More than 260 were killed trying to cross the Berlin Wall between 1961 and 1989. About three times that many were killed trying to escape west from elsewhere in Germany. The border between West and East Berlin was a total of 166 km. The border area looked pretty much as followed: First, there was a wall that was made up of concrete segments with a height of 4 m. Behind it (at the eastern side) the ...

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Why Was the ACT Called the American College Test

Why Was the ACT Called the American College Test SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Three little letters, one big test. Wondering what the letters ACT actually stand for? The answer reveals a lot about the history of the test as well as its goals. Read on to learn about the name of the ACT and why that matters. How Did the ACT Come to Be? The SAT has been around in some form or another since 1901, and was made by the College Board (itself founded in 1899). Beginning in 1925, when it was named the â€Å"Scholastic Aptitude Test,† the SAT aimed to measure scholastic skill through logical reasoning, as opposed to explicitly testing subjects learned in school. As the only college admissions test for the first half of the twentieth century, the SAT had a monopoly on the market. For students who struggled with the SAT, they had no other options. An education professor named Everett Lindquist at the University of Iowa disliked this. He also particularly disliked the SAT’s emphasis on logical â€Å"aptitude† as opposed to acquired knowledge. He wanted a test to more accurately judge how students of different backgrounds would do in college. This was because college enrollment patterns in the U.S. were changing, and more and more students wanted to enroll. While the SAT was particularly popular in the Northeast, and especially among elite schools, educators in the Midwest and beyond wanted a test that would judge what students had learned, as opposed to innate â€Å"aptitude.† The University of Iowa, where the ACT was created. In 1959, the professor created the â€Å"American College Test,† or A.C.T., that judged students on what they had learned in school, not logical reasoning skills. The test quickly grew in popularity, with over a million students per year taking the test by the 1970s. It became a well-known alternative to the ACT, and today, all colleges accept both the ACT and SAT for admission. What Is the ACT Known as Today? As of September 1996, The American College Test became just the ACT, with the initials no longer standing for anything. But why would the ACT no longer want to be called the "American College Test"? Isn’t it a fairly innocuous name? After all, the test is designed for admission to American colleges. Dropping the meaning â€Å"American College Test† helps the ACT brand be more flexible, especially in the twenty-first century. There are several reasons being called the ACT as opposed to the â€Å"American College Test† is a smart move. 1. It helps the ACT remain level with the SAT, so the two tests can no longer be easily categorized and compared. The SAT also dropped its original meaning (â€Å"Scholastic Aptitude Test†) and is only known by its initials. As both of the tests are widely used nationally and as of 2007 all colleges accept both, the ACT probably wanted to look like an equal alternative to the SAT, as opposed to a more niche option. 2. Dropping the name broadens the test's scope. The ACT is now a part of regular testing in many states. If it were called a â€Å"college† test it would be a harder sell as a test for school district progress. Furthermore, the ACT now has other products and services. It has expanded into elementary and middle school testing, through Aspire. It also creates test preparation products. In short, it’s no longer a company that just makes a college admission test, so dropping "college" from the name is helpful. 3. The ACT can now compete internationally. By getting rid of â€Å"American† in its name, it’s easier to sell the ACT abroad as an alternative to the SAT. As ACT participation grows worldwide, it doesn't make sense to keep calling it an American test. Does This Change How You Should Study for the ACT? The ACT was created in response to the SAT, and thus will always want to make itself seem like the more student-friendly option. Its more straightforward name – American College Test as opposed to Scholastic Aptitude Test – reveals its more straightforward mission, to test content students learn in school, rather than test reasoning ability or logic. Although the ACT has changed so it now tests broader skills like scientific reasoning (and the SAT in turn has worked to become more â€Å"relevant† and to stop testing obscure words, among other changes), it still is generally seen as the more straightforward counterpart to the SAT. Comparing the ACT and SAT can often feel like comparing apples and oranges. If you’re deciding between the two tests, take the ACT’s history and goals into consideration. Most students tend to do better on one test or the other. What’s Next? So how can you decide for sure whether you should take the ACT or the SAT? Use our fool-proof method to discover the test you’ll be best at. Learn more about the ACT – how it’s scored, how long it is, and get a guide to each section (English, Math, Reading, Science). So how long should you study for the ACT? Learn how to maximize your score here. Want to improve your ACT score by 4+ points? Download our free guide to the top 5 strategies you need in your prep to improve your ACT score dramatically.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Discussion Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 38

Discussion - Coursework Example A new division is thus getting the creation, and then gets nested within the already existing management structure. It has a comparison to adding a room onto an existing building. The other aspects of the company’s operation are left mostly unaffected by the change of adding a different section or department (Morgan, 2006). The newly appointed division heads must get personal with their employees for the growth of the organization. International organization structure can also have divisions, according to geographical location of operations. Structuring of the organization by geographical area is another form of global organizational structure. In dividing according to geographical area, the management usually appoints regional directors in different regions of a country or even a continent. Each of the local managers has responsibility for all the operational decisions within a particular geographical area. The type of strategy is often when a business first moves from only operating domestically to international operations (Linstead, Fulop & Lilley, 2009). Large national or multi-national organizations face significant and substantial communication and logistical challenges. It usually makes regional or geographical area structure necessary for effective decision making and control of the

Friday, November 1, 2019

Evolution of Transformational Leadership Assignment

Evolution of Transformational Leadership - Assignment Example Transformational leadership is perhaps the modern category of leadership which not only conceives from the point of view of leaders but it also attempts to renovate the followers or subordinates into leaders. " facilitates a redefinition of people's mission and vision, a renewal of their commitment and the restructuring of their systems for goal accomplishment. It is a relationship of mutual stimulation and elevation that converts followers into leaders and may convert leaders into moral agents. Hence, Transformational leadership must be grounded in moral foundations." (Leithwood, as cited in Cashin et al., 2000, p.1). 1. Genuine Transformational leadership builds indisputable trust between leaders and followers. They believe that without constant commitment, enforcement, and modeling of leadership, standards of business ethics cannot be attained in organizations. 3. They increase the awareness of what is right, important, and beautiful when they help to elevate followers' needs for achievement and self-actualization, when they foster in followers higher moral maturity, and when they move followers to go beyond their self-interests for the good of their group, organization, or society. The truly transformational leader is who seeks the greatest quality for the greatest number and thus sets an example to followers about the value of valid and accurate communication in followers. 4. In organizations where Transformational leadership has a broad influence, at times both leadership and follower-ship are equal but they perform different activities at different times. Individuals who assume leadership roles have sound visioning, interpersonal and organizational skills, and the desire and willingness to lead. Effective followers are distinguished by their capacity for self-management, strong commitment, and courage (Kelley, 1995).