The Nature of the Beast: An Analysis of the Genre of Science Fiction

All modes of inquiry correlate with each other due to their tendency to coalesce in their emphasis on questions, which raise issues on autonomy, justice, and politics. The differences of literary theories, for example, merely spring from their construal of the relationship between the exercise of power and the text. Structuralism views the relation in terms of the relationship of the formal elements in a linguistic system. Marxism assesses the relationship in terms of the role of such relations in the existence of social structures.The same method is used by Psychoanalysis, with the emphasis on the conscious and unconscious mind. Deconstruction, on the other hand, perceives the texts’ role in destabilizing oppositional modes of power. Despite of these differences amongst discursive procedures, it does not overshadow the fact that these theories give emphasis on their analysis of the political and institutional structures within society. A concrete example of this can be seen i n the opposing theories of constructivism and essentialism.Despite their adherence to competing narratives of oppression and resistance [constructivism places emphasis on multiple identities thereby opposing essentialism’s stance on singular categorization] both theories show interest on the subject’s position within society and how this position can affect the development of his identity. In fact, if one isolates the discussion of identity and narratives of oppression in both discourses, one will notice that the ultimate commitment of the theories they adhere to gives emphasis on the idea of political justice.Politics within these discourses is seen as a collective action of resistance, which aims for change in the hopes of attending to the problems evident in the formation of identity and agency. It is important to note that literature as a repository of human experience has always been influenced by politics. Exercise of power within society is associated with and d ependent on the mass production of certain kinds of literature, which allows the cultural qualification of ideas.The relation between literature and politics can also be seen in literary theory’s assessment of the formation of consciousness and unconsciousness, which is related to the maintenance, and transformation of the predominant modes of power made possible by literary output (Eagleton 210). It is also dependent upon the ahistorical positioning of the literary text, since this allows the continuous creation of meaning for a particular text. This mode of relationship invokes the aesthetic character of literature. Literature as a form of discourse enables the perception of aesthetics as a process of communicating while remaking a work.The aesthetic act becomes the incarnation of meaning rather than a demonstration of truth. This is possible since in the process of reading a text, the subject -which can be both the reader and the author- produces another text which is the same as the earlier text yet entirely different from it. Perceived within the dialogic process, the interconnectedness of completion and fragmentation can be understood by recognizing that it is in fact the fragmentation of the text, which allows the completion of the text itself.Within this perspective, the aesthetic act becomes political through the social interaction necessitated by the creation and continual recreation of an artistic work. Literature, in this sense, becomes the locus of a condensed and social evaluation. Intersubjectivity precedes subjectivity wherein the production and repression of meaning is seen as a socio-ideological process rather than an individual process. In this scheme, the text is allowed the character of fluidity. No permanent theoretical stipulation and ethical meaning can be attached to it since to do so is tantamount to denying the ahistorical character of the text.This character is invoked since in the end when one considers a text, what is given importance is not necessarily the historical reading of the text but the various readings made available by the literary theories and ethical standpoints that one may attach to the text. Within this process, there is an emphasis on the reassessment and creation of new standpoints since the interpretation of the text involves the consideration of both the act of writing and reading the text.The re-conceptualization of a literary text through reading enables the individual to undergo a process of analyzing the truth connected with the discourse in which the text is situated, while at the same time reassessing its connection to his self. Due to this, assessing a text becomes a personal and political act wherein the common adage â€Å"the personal is political† can be phrased into an equally influential counter notion that â€Å"the political is personal†. It is important to note that there is a big difference between these two adages.To say that the â€Å"personal is po litical† is only tantamount to equating political importance to personal experiences whereas to say that the â€Å"political is personal† involves following an ideology and political theory in making decisions in everyday life. The function of the verb† is† in both adages is not that of identification. This process, wherein the reading of a text becomes a vehicle for self-realization and self-transformation is emphasized within the literary genre of science fiction. The Genre of Science FictionGenres, as systems of classification, are means of strategic control. Within the field of literature, it is believed that the continuous division of literary works into different genres leads not only to the classification of the work and the text but also to the imposition of values and ideals to those people who read the works belonging to a specific genre. Through genre categories like ‘Romance’, ‘Horror’, or ‘Mystery’, those i n control of the modes of production control both the reader and the author of the work.By promising the readers a familiar set of meanings and controlling the demand for the production and formation of those meanings, those who are in control of the modes of production direct the construction of narratives. Within this context, it is possible for the stories that are produced within society to be a part of a broader form of social classification. Due to this, there is the construction of a particular set of meanings, which can only be understood within specific systems of classification. Genres in this sense become instruments of control.This is evident if one considers that genres â€Å"encode rules that constrain the†¦production and reception of meanings†¦communicated through a large number of meta-texts† (Hodge 27). These meta-texts become the basis for the production of knowledge. All knowledge is positioned as knowledge in itself and knowledge produced from an d within body. As soon as both forms of knowledge are connected to a knowing subject, the subject becomes ensnared to the poststructuralist dictum of the unity and independence of the self, which leads to the formation of the narratives of the self.Narratives then display the imprint of culture and its institutions on the individual’s sense of identity. Since self and language are mutually implicated in an interdependent system of symbolic behavior, the language that one uses for the creation of literary narratives dictates the creation of identities. The modern era thereby places the individual in a kind of political double bind as it coerces the individual to conform to normalizing and disciplinary forms of narrative construction evident in the â€Å"domestication of literature† (Suvin 373). Science fiction, however, as a genre eludes the monopolizing character of other genres.As a genre, it is at the intersection of various fields. It draws on the elements of popula r culture, science, and all types of social relations (James and Mendlesohn 1). This is evident if one considers that it employs a methodology and an approach, which enables the specification of a new set of values through the depiction of a radical form of reality. In this sense, science fiction is less of a genre if one is to conceive of a genre as specifying a particular text’s subject matter and approach to themes. As opposed to the other literary genres, science fiction cannot be expected to employ a specific set of elements and tropes.It may however be depicted as a form of ongoing discussion since the texts within the genre may be perceived as mutually referential due to their characteristic opposition towards a naturalistic and empiricistic conception of reality. Science fiction as a genre is thereby defined by its critical stance towards the normative depictions of reality. However, to state that this is the defining characteristic of the genre provides problems for the genre itself. This is evident if one considers that it leaves the genre open to other forms of literary texts with the aforementioned characteristics such as fantasy and myth.Contrary to this, science fiction stands in opposition to the aforementioned forms of literature. Science fiction is neither totalizing nor deterministic as it presents a predetermined conception of the conception and end of reality [myth]. Furthermore, it is neither based upon a conceptual scheme that posits the impossible as ordinary [fantasy]. James and Mendlesohn state, â€Å"the sense of wonder is the emotional heart of science fiction† (3). David Nye refers to this as the appreciation of the sublime evident in science fiction texts.Such a description further echoes Frederick Pohl’s description of science fiction as â€Å"a way of thinking about things† (qtd in Malzberg 38). Generally, this â€Å"way of thinking about things† may be†¦ All of these will show that the spo ntaneous and habitual orientation of attention is inimical to the maintenance of reality. Therefore, scientific fiction provides a reorientation of attention and a kind of ontological conversion, which affects the aesthetic, ethical, and political perceptions of the reality. This reorientation also affects the ontology of the world.

Free Research Paper Example Essay

I. INTEGRATED SCIENCE(Interaction: Environment and organism) II. COURSE PAPER: CASE STUDY Bacteria constitute a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals. Bacteria were among the first life forms to appear onEarth, and are present in most habitats on the planet, growing in soil, water, acidic hot springs, radioactive waste, and deep in the Earth’s crust, as well as in organic matter and the live bodies of plants and animals, providing outstanding examples of mutualism in the digestive tracts of humans, termites and cockroaches. On February 6, 2013, scientists reported that bacteria were found living in the cold and dark in a lake buried a half-mile deep under the ice in Antarctica. There are typically 40 million bacterial cells in a gram of soil and a million bacterial cells in a millilitre of fresh water; in all, there are approximately five nonillion (5Ãâ€"1030) bacteria on Earth, forming a biomass that exceeds that of all plants and animals. Bacteria are vital in recycling nutrients, with many steps in nutrient cycles depending on these organisms, such as the fixation of nitrogen from the atmosphere andputrefaction. In the biological communities surrounding hydrothermal vents and cold seeps, bacteria provide the nutrients needed to sustain life by converting dissolved compounds such as hydrogen sulphide and methane. Most bacteria have not been characterised, and only about half of the phyla of bacteria have species that can be grown in the laboratory. The study of bacteria is known as bacteriology, a branch ofmicrobiology. Most bacteria secrete a covering for themselves which we call a cell wall, However, bacterial cell walls are a totally different thing than the cell walls we talk about plants having. Bacterial cell walls do NOT contain cellulose like plant cell walls do. Bacterial cell walls are made mostly of a chemical called peptidoglycan (made of polypeptides bonded to modified sugars), but the amount and location of the peptidoglycan are different in the two possible types of cell walls, depending on the species of bacterium. Some antibiotics, like penicillin, inhibit the formation of the chemical cross linkages needed to make peptidoglycan. These antibiotics don’t outright kill the bacteria, but just stop them from being able to make more cell wall so they can grow. That’s why antibiotics must typically be taken for ten days until the bacteria, unable to grow, die of â€Å"old age†. If a person stops taking the antibiotic sooner, any living bacteria could start making peptidoglycan, grow, and reproduce. Bacteria were the most prominent creatures in the early stages of life’s history almost 4000 million years until 600 million years ago. Fossils called stromatolites can still be found and were made by Cyanobacteria. III. SOURCE/REFERENCES * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacteria * http://biology.clc.uc.edu/courses/bio106/bacteria.htm * http://bacteriamuseum.org/cms/Bacteria/what-are-bacteria.html * http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/indexmag.html?http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/wimsmall/bacdr.html * http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/indexmag.html?http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/wimsmall/bacdr.html IV. CONTENT A. BRIEF PRESENTATION OF THE CASE Endogenous endophthalmitis is a potentially blinding ocular infection resulting from hematogenous spread from a remote primary source. The condition is relatively rare but may become more common as the number of chronically debilitated patients and the use of invasive procedures increase. Many etiologic organisms (gram-positive, gram-negative and fungal) have been reported to cause endogenous endophthalmitis. Risk factors are well defined and include most reasons for immune suppression. A high clinical suspicion is needed for early diagnosis and treatment. Early intravenous antibiotic therapy remains the cornerstone of treatment. The roles of intravitreal antibiotics and vitrectomy are evolving and may become more widely accepted as therapeutic modalities. The authors report a case of endogenous endophthalmitis and provide a brief review of the literature. Endogenous endophthalmitis is defined as an intraocular infection resulting from hematogenous bacterial spread. It is relatively rare, accounting for 2 to 8 percent of all cases of endophthalmitis, and is associated with immunocompromised states, debilitating diseases and invasive procedures.1 Because of the rapid advance of medical technology, a longer life span of patients with chronic diseases and a rising prevalence of long-term intravenous access, the disease may become more common in clinical practice. It is important that the family physician be aware of endogenous endophthalmitis because early diagnosis and prompt aggressive treatment are imperative if vision loss is to be avoided. B. POINT OF VIEW Banana bacterial (Xanthomonas) wilt, first detected in Uganda in 2001, has since spread rapidly. Approximately one third of Uganda’s banana growing land is now affected by the disease, which renders fruit inedible and ultimately kills the plant. The Ugandan government has been praised for its promptness in attempting to control the spread, but despite these efforts, and the encouraging success of control in some areas, the risk of further spread, both within and beyond Uganda, remains. Strengthening and refining the control effort is now clearly essential, but how should this be done, where are the research priorities, and what action should be taken by Uganda’s neighbours? In July this year an expert consultation of senior stakeholders from policy, research and disease control, was convened at the UK’s Central Science Laboratory near York. They offered New Agriculturist their points of view on the current status of the disease and the ways forward for control.

Problems 50 & 51 (Ch. 22)

50. (LO3)Jack and Jill are owners of UpAHill, an S corporation. They own 25 and 75 percent, respectively. a. What amount of ordinary income and separately stated items are allocated to them for years 1 and 2 based on the information above? 1st Year or Year 1: Ordinary income is 42,500. 00 42,500*25% = 10,625 is allocated to Jack 42,500*75% = 31,875 is allocated to Jill Separately Stated Items: Interest Income 2,000. 00 500. 00 is allocated to Jack 1,500. 00 is allocated to Jill Dividend Income: 1,000. 00 250. 00 allocated to Jack 750. 00 allocated to Jill b. Complete UpAHill’s Form 1120S, Schedule K, for year 1. See attached c. Complete Jill’s 1120S, Schedule K-1, for year 1. See attached Schedule51. (LO3, LO4)Assume Jack and Jill, 25 and 75 percent shareholders in UpAHill corporation, have tax bases in their shares at the beginning of year 1 of $24,000 and $56,000, respectively. Also assume no distributions were made. Given the income statement above, what are their tax bases in their shares at the end of year 1. Considering the 24,000 and 56,000 respectively, Jack tax basis is calculated with his original cost of 24,000 + 10,625 + 500 + 125 = 32,250. 00 Jill 56,000 + 31,875 + 1,500 + 375 = 89,750. 00 1. LO1) Joey is a 25 percent owner of Loopy LLC. He no longer wants to be involved in the business. What options does Joey have to exit the business? The remedy to Joeys issue should be contained within the operating agreement. In some states such as CA, this is a requirement for LLC’s. In some cases where operating agreements are not available, a buy out membership interest dissolve the LLC may be the only options. 2. (LO1) Compare and contrast the aggregate and entity approaches for a sale of a partnership interest. Two approaches govern the rules governing the federal taxation of partnerships and partners– aggregate and entity. The aggregate, also known as conduit approach views a partnership as though each partner owned the assets and liabilities of the partnership. An entity approach treats the partnership and its partners as separate entities. Whereas congress is aware, the two approaches are confused due to nonspecific statutory language offering guidance. Under the aggregate approach, section 701 recommends that the owners are subject to tax, not the partnership. The entity approach is recommended by the IRS that subchapter K follow this approach with respect to partnership interest transactions. What restrictions might prevent a partner from selling his partnership interest to a third party? Restrictions on the activities of general partner places a limit on the amount of private investments management of a venture capital can make from any private investment. General partners are limited in their ability to sell their general partnership interest in the venture fund to a third party. These sales would reduce the general partner’s incentive to monitor and produce an effective exit strategy for the venture fund portfolio companies.

Abercrombie & Fitch case study exam Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Abercrombie & Fitch case study exam - Essay Example Another example is the complaint mail and lawsuit threats that A&F received for their racy and explicit ads. There, the activities in the micro-trading environment of A&F were influenced as the company decided to take measures against the complaints. B. There are several major macro trends that are impacting on A&F’s sales performance in the UK. The first is the economic trend of high cost of overhead. Secondly, the products are being sold at a considerable mark-up from United States prices, which is a competition trend. Third, a social trend is that the fashion scene in the UK is similar to that in the USA, but must also be followed carefully to ensure that the products that hit the stores are the ones that customers want. The fourth is a social trend mentioned in the case brief is that UK customers are attracted by that souvenir appeal. Customers previously would only buy A&F merchandise on a visit to the USA, and this is affecting the company’s popularity now that they have moved to the UK. A. The Augmented Product model is represented by 3 circles: inner, middle, and outer. The inner circle represents the core products that are seen at every A&F store; i.e. basic jeans and logo t-shirts. These are expected by every consumer at every store. The middle circle represents the products that are just beyond the basic elements; i.e. clean and comfortable stores. In order to be classified as a quality provider, A&F needs these elements. The outer circle represents the surprises that customers are not expecting if they have never been to the store before; i.e. the loud music, lighting, and fragrance. This is what really sets them apart from their competitors. B. They take painstaking care to always be abreast of the latest clothing looks and they even design their stores (with the loud music, lighting, and fragrance) to appeal to the trendy

Lean Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Lean - Essay Example The lean system puts together equipments, labor, and material that are the fundamentals of production, in a perfect manner to minimize cost and maximize profit. Labor requirement is reduced as utilization of human resource both skilled and unskilled is maximized. The model allows productivity as machines are utilized to the maximum while the less productive one are disposed. This reduces delivery and production time as well as increasing the quality of the services and goods produced. It also provides an opportunity for continuous improvement as the equipment wear out and become less productive, and is replaced with efficient ones putting into consideration the technological advancement. Return on assets is increases significantly with lean manufacturing systems. Lean production involves a traffic flow of materials and labor that is smooth thus allowing insertion of conveyors, buffer stock, and balance automation. The flexibility of the model ensures the business keep pace with the market and accommodates changes in customer preference. Review of the system helps to do a competitive analysis and examination of technologies. The importance of lean manufacturing is very crucial in business strategies to increase productivity, increase efficiency, maximizing profit and increasing capital

Harassment and Bullying when using Email, SMS, Facebook in Workplace Research Paper

Harassment and Bullying when using Email, SMS, Facebook in Workplace - Research Paper Example This study also denotes employers’ inadequate capacity to deal with cyber bullying due to constant evolution of communication platforms and sensitivity of intertwined political and personal issues, particularly in regard to social networking and instant texting. Nevertheless, the paper denotes measures, guidelines and standards that can be adopted in a work environment to curb cyber bullying and bolster a firm’s productivity. Bullying at the work environment is not a new phenomenon. However, following the continued advancement of technology, and particularly in digital communication, bullying is adopting new platforms. For instance, employees if not properly managed can easily convey negative messages about their co-workers via email, short message service (SMS) and other social media conduits like Twitter and Facebook. With the current levels of development, malevolent gossip regarding an employee can be transmitted to others across the internet within an instant, thus reaching a broad audience not just within the organization, but to external targets as well. Such hurtful, and most often false rumors, can adversely affect the subject’s working capability, reputation and even his or her future career. It is also crucial to note that any person can post the negative comments online and once this is done, it is difficult to dispute the information or even remove it. Another noteworthy aspect is that, cyber bullying is not limited to conventional working places and work hours. This is because of the rise in number of laptops and other mobile communication gadgets, such as internet enabled phones and computer tablets (Privitera and Campbell, 2009, pp. 398-400). As a result, cyber bullying traverses the physical and time limitations of an ordinary workplace, and workers can post negative messages even in the comfort of their homes. Failure to address cyber bullying at the workplace would lead to the unnecessary loss of productive employees, hen ce inability to utilize social media to foster the organization’s performance. Cyber Bullying Incidences The conveyance of negative information within or outside the workplace, by employees with malign intent has led to the increasingly worrying cases of cyber bullying (Hinduja and Patchin, 2007). Outlined herein are some of the most common forms of employee harassment via the internet and other contemporary communications channels: Conveyance of spiteful or intimidating SMS communications or emails to a certain worker’s cellular phone or computer address, respectively. Electronic or mobile communications, which are characterized by unpleasant content like explicit pictures, comments or jokes that seek to mock an individual’s religion, sexual preference or ethnicity. Mobile or electronic messages which seek to provide feedback or propose correction to a certain person, with the sole aim of demeaning the individual or shaming him or her publicly. Malevolent or me nacing comments regarding a particular person put up on social sites of blogs. Distribution of offensive and embarrassing videos or photographs of a person, which in most cases may be falsely acquired through manipulation. Displaying desktop wallpapers or screen savers that feature offensive content, with the aim of shaming a specific person. Even though cyber bullying bears numerous similarities with the conventional modes of harassment, it has the capability to escalate faster and with elevated aggression. This is because perpetrators of the

Personal Leadership Development Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Personal Leadership Development Plan - Essay Example The principles of appreciative coaching are differentiated herein: The Constructivist Principle focuses on the influence of social structures in significantly affecting the behavior of individuals in relation to others. The Positive Principle, as the term implies, centers on the positive aspects of an individual’s life through experiences that have been perceived to be constructive and optimistic in general. In addition, the Anticipatory Principle ventures on anticipated scenarios that become the basis for behavior and decision making processes. The Poetic Principle, on the other hand, creatively utilizes vivid illustrations and storytelling to solicit crucial information, not solely on the facts, but also in terms of emotional experiences. And finally, the Principle of Simultaneity focuses on the premise that â€Å"inquiry is change†¦ (and) intervention† and guidance is redirected to the first inquiry and its influence to effect change. Personal Assessment of Leadership Coaching Skills To increase one’s capacity to lead, coach, and develop others, one realized the need to familiarize oneself with the basic theoretical framework needed for leadership coaching. The objective is to be achieved through a research on secondary literatures on the crucial elements of coaching and leadership from a coaching perspective. As indicated by Peters & Austin (1985), â€Å"coaching is a form of leadership that pulls together people with diverse talents, backgrounds, experiences and interests, encourages them to step up to responsibility" and continued achievement, and treats them as full scale partners and contributors† (p. 232). Likewise, the authors emphasized that â€Å"coaching is not about memorising techniques or devising the perfect game plan. It is about really paying attention to people – really believing them, really caring about them, really involving them†

RAWAN SULIMANI-Personal Statement t- THE GEORGEWASHINGTON UNIVERSITY Personal

RAWAN SULIMANI- t- THE GEORGEWASHINGTON UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL - Personal Statement Example I will not settle for second best and after obtaining knowledge from George Washington University Law School I can be the business leader I was born to be. By business leader I mean a woman who is strong and proud of her accomplishments. Why Law? Law is powerful and honorary. The law places judgment. Where I come from, law school is typically for men. Women do not have to settle for ordinary. Women can excel in any career field. Obtaining my masters will prove that women can accomplish anything they set their mind too. Good education is a necessity in a growing world. It is important for people to become more independent and become a good example for the younger generations. The more good examples that are set will only lead to better leaders of tomorrow. I am certain that with my previous accomplishments and new goals in place that I will prove and set examples. These traits are what it takes to be a leader, the type of leader that comes from hard work. Hard work from a proper education like that of George Washington University Law School is essential for personal development. The LLM program will fit my personal development

Critically evaluate Susan Brownmillers (1975) assertion that ' war Essay

Critically evaluate Susan Brownmillers (1975) assertion that ' war provides men with a tacit license to rape - Essay Example Brownmiller feels that rape perseveres as a way for men to perpetuate their historic societal dominance over women on the whole. Assault laws have evolved over recent decades with respect to different classes of rape; harsher sentencing for wartime rapists has also been achieved where once it was nearly impossible to convict a man. Wartime continues to be the most difficult scenario for the control and subsequent punishment of rape. Brownmiller and her colleagues agree that because of the relaxed morality of a battlefield or a war-torn country, men feel free to not only take advantage of their baser instincts to fight and kill, but also to rape. Brownmiller explains rape as a purely human issue; she notes how zoologists will not address rape since it is believed to be nonexistent in the animal kingdom. To Brownmiller and many other researchers, â€Å"human beings are different† (1975, 1) in that their males are capable of rape and their females are capable of succumbing to violent sexual acts. In nature, the sexual act of animals is governed by the female’s fertility cycle: in essence, animals will not have sex unless the female is fertile and the male senses this. With humans, however, the female fertility cycle does not govern sexual acts nor does it have any effect on the sex drive of males; this is the fundamental difference between people and animals on which Brownmiller bases her distinctions of rape. Instead of being based on the fertility cycle, people copulate based on their individual urges. As Brownmiller says, â€Å"our call to sex occurs in our head† (ibid.). With animals, the male of the species will not attempt to copulate with a female unless she is clearly fertile; therefore the fertility cycle governs not only sexual urge but the act itself. Since humans do not behave based on this fundamental principle, women are always able to be viewed in a sexual way, men are always able to become aroused

Developing work in and with communities Assignment

Developing work in and with communities - Assignment Example There is no denying that the only way forward is by strengthening the community through cross-community relations. Personally, I believe that integration is a long-way battle considering that Northern Irish society in general, do not subscribe to a unilateral agenda. And as long as these divisions are encouraged, the same issues will thrive and Northern Ireland will remain a weak state in the face of a hypercritical world. Today, various interests groups abound but it is the growing number of youth and working professionals taking part in a nonviolent form of resistance that holds a promise. It means that students do not only feel the burden, they also want to lessen the burden. It means that the working class seeks for counter-culture attacks in the face of the ignoble Irish failure (against European success). It means that the status quo is not favored and the once naà ¯ve groups are finally capable of taking responsibility. The foundation of Section 75 I believe is a testament that the conditions mentioned above are recognized by the state. It is like reinforcing the people that public authorities are there to serve and that amidst the many divisions, the government is one with the people in pushing for a better and inclusive Northern Ireland. Unfortunately, statistics and empirical evidence do not seem to reinforce the government’s stance. Records would agree that children’s rights are continuously hindered by poverty and that poor children are still easy preys for discrimination and economic exploitation. Children remain voiceless. Though there have been researches that involved children’s perspectives on sectarianism, equality promised by Section 75 is nowhere to be found. Although various structural mechanisms have been created to foster service provisions to the youth, the fact is that even schools are no longer havens

Please discuss the following question with philosophy knowledge and Essay

Please discuss the following question with philosophy knowledge and ethics - Essay Example All societies have an established and well defined moral code of conduct that governs the people’s behavior. This code of conduct is agreed upon and adhered to by all members of that society. Failure to uphold this moral code of conduct gives rise to the disruption of the social order of a society. This is followed closely by social chaos and social unrest. Insecurity in a society will also be rampant if the upholding of morality is not in an individual’s rational self-interest. Insecurity gives rise to vices such as theft, rape and violence. In an insecure society, people lack respect for one another. This is the reasoning behind the occurrence of most of these vices. The perpetrators of these vices do not care whether what they are doing is right or wrong. They simply commit them for their own self-gratification. Societies are governed by moral law whose main objective is to ensure the well-being and peace of its members. When the moral law is not adhered to, peace demises and insecurity flourishes. Morality is considered to have an innate value. This is why people ought to be morally upright. An individual or society that does not adhere to the laid down moral principles would easily destroy this innate value. The society will not achieve its goals and it will always lag behind in developmental issues. The individual will also be filled with guilt and lack focus in

Negative Influence of Social Media Essay Example for Free

Negative Influence of Social Media Essay Today, Mass Media is notoriously known to project a negative influence on teens and society. It manipulates several aspects of our lives including, but not limited to, the choices we make about our overall physical appearance, how we perceive beauty, healthy decisions we make regarding drug and alcohol use, engaging in premarital sex, and our peer and social interactions. We emulate what the media portrays as acceptable and desirable, though it goes against the norms and values put forth from society. As we mature, our goals and values seem to change as we break from the traditional values and connect with those portrayed as cool and current, through the media and pop culture. During adolescence, one often struggles with choosing between what is right from wrong and the media often accentuates the lives of celebrities. Young children are known to emulate their role models, unconscious of the consequences that may result in their actions. The media has been proven to be detrimental to the health and lifestyle of the youth. The media has a strong impact on the appearance satisfaction of today’s youth. Young women are constantly comparing their bodies to the ones seen advertised on television commercials. Around 10 million females and 1 million males in the United States are suffering from eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, etc. After seeing these beautiful and flawless models on billboards and advertisements, many women are disturbed with their personal body images. This is known to be a main contributor to eating disorders around the world. Thus, the media has the effect to change ones mental set up. Beauty and Body Image in the Media† is an article that explains the negative affect the media has on young women and how they view themselves. Images of female bodies are seen in films, TV, magazines, ads, etc. These models are engraving the perfect body image into the minds’ of the youth. Women’s magazines are full of ads influencing women that if they lose weight they’ll have it all. Researchers have observed that these images of thin and airbrushed models are associated with depression, loss of self-esteem, and the development of harmful eating habits. It’s been suggested that almost half of all preadolescent girls are dissatisfied with their appearances and either diet or think about dieting. Further, 50 to 70 percent of average weight girls feel that they’re overweight and 90 percent of women are frustrated with their body images. These advertisements are not only advertising their products, but they’re also selling an entire way of life. The media promotes tan, fit, and outward physical perfection in men and women. It is not only middle-aged adults who seek cosmetic surgery to alter their appearance. Today, children also undergo cosmetic procedures. In fact, in 2005 it was reported that children under the age of 18 underwent approximately 333,000 cosmetic procedures. Some included liposuction, breast augmentation, otoplasties (ear pinnings), and rhinoplasties (nose jobs). Teenagers of both genders are trying to acquire a perfect figure rather than living a healthy lifestyle and appreciating themselves for who they truly are. The media also has a reputation for promoting unhealthy choices, such as unprotected premarital sex and drug and alcohol use. The media is sending the wrong message to young adults that taking part in these activities is okay. The article, â€Å"The Media’s Influence Undermines America’s Morals†, by Tim LaHaye contains numerous examples of how the media is detrimental to the future of the United States. AIM, Accuracy In Media, and PMRC, Parents Music Resource Center, are organizations that support government regulation of the media. They believe that the media is destroying our culture and altering our values. Moviemakers, producers, and journalists are provoking sexual immorality in our society by explicitly exposing and promoting sexual relationships. The media is even found glamorizing teen pregnancies in the MTV series, 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom. LaHaye states that, â€Å"the media’s power is seen in its degrading influence not only on the nation’s morals, but on†¦ virtually every area of life. † Music also plays a huge role in influencing teens toward becoming sexually active and provocative. â€Å"Rock Music Has a Negative Effect on the Youth†, by Rob Lamp is another article which states that rock music is somewhat accountable for the increase in teenage pregnancies. A counselor for pregnant teenagers believes that young girls are emulating celebrities. They are buying their albums and dressing like them. Today, 30 percent of all women loose their virginity before age sixteen. Violence sexuality has also become popular in music videos and song lyrics. Rap lyrics are being criticized by child advocate groups such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, for imparting the wrong message to the youth about sex and drugs. Misogamy is a derogatory or hateful comment geared towards girls and women and a lot of rap artists tend to include misogamy in their lyrics. The  APA has determined that today’s youth actually spends more time listening to and reading to the lyrics via the Internet to their favorite music than they do watching television. This council urges parents to be vigilant when it comes to knowing what their children are listening to. Lamp also states the kind of electronic music played at raves has been associated with the use of drugs and alcohol. † The Robert Wood Johnson foundation backed a report titled â€Å"Substance Abuse: The Nations Number One Health Problem†, which shows juveniles are starting to use drugs and alcohol between the ages of 12 and 13. In fact, by eighth grade 52 percent of adolescents have used alcohol and 20 percent have used marijuana. This figure jumps to 80 percent use of alcohol and 49 percent use of marijuana by the 12th grade. A research conducted in 1997 showed that in the 200 most popular movie rentals, alcohol appears almost 93 percent of the time and illicit drugs appeared roughly 25 percent of the time. Further, of the 1,000 most popular songs, 27 percent were shown to include alcohol or drug references. These numbers have surely risen since 1997. In addition to music videos and song lyrics promoting premarital sex and drug/alcohol use, this form of media is also seen promoting violent behavior among adolescent teens. Robert Lamp also believes that â€Å"heavy metal and rap have been associated with reckless behavior and below-average academic performance†¦ heavy metal and rock music have also been associated with an increasing risk of suicide, depression, delinquency risk behavior, smoking, and conduct problems† (Neale 1). In recent years, lyrics are becoming more vulgar and inappropriate. The violence heard in rock music instigates adolescents to commit violent crimes. In Northport NY, a seventeen-year-old boy was slaughtered; the names of Ozzy Osbourne and his former band members were spray painted at the crime scene, along with many satanic symbols. Doctor Guttman, a Professor of Psychiatry at Northwestern University states that, â€Å"Rock has so often been involved in these things (violence, teen suicide, etc. ) many of us in psychiatry have had to take it more seriously. † 45 percent of about 1,200 rock music videos supervised were viewed as explicitly violent. Video games and movies also play a prominent role in promoting violence among youth. The article â€Å"Most Teens Play Violent Video Games†, by Ben Berkowitz and published in the Washington Post, states that â€Å"70 percent of American teenage boys have played the violent, but popular â€Å"Grand Theft Auto† video game, and they are more likely to have been in a fight than those who have not played. † It is clear that the violence depicted through these games are mimicked by youth who have difficulty distinguishing between fantasy and what is appropriate and acceptable in a realistic environment. Tim LaHaye gives a real life example of how the media affects certain people. In San Diego, a High School honor student watched An ABC horror movie on the life of Lizzy Borden, an infamous axe murderer in the 1890’s. After viewing this film, he decided to murder his mother, father, and sister. These examples illustrate how juvenile violence is promoted through music, video games, and movies. We live in a society that depends greatly on the media to impart information, allow for communication, and provide entertainment on a regular basis throughout our daily lives. It is vital that we are attentive and vigilant in deciding what our youth should be allowed to view and listen to, as we know there is a direct connection between what one consumes and what one in turn values, how one behaves and how one interacts in society. Too much exposure to the negative aspects of the media can be detrimental to one’s mental, emotional and physical health. The media influences how we perceive beauty, the healthful decisions we make, and how we interact socially. The negative media is harmfully transforming our ethical values of life and our outlook on society.

Determinants for Demand in Private Housing

Determinants for Demand in Private Housing Principle determinants of demand for private housing. The dominant factor is price. Providing all of the other factors remain equal, one would expect a fall in price to increase demand. This increase occurs for two reasons. Firstly, the product has become better value for money and therefore becomes a preferred area of expenditure for consumers. Secondly, it enables consumers to purchase the product in replacement of a previously purchased inferior product. Household Income. As incomes rise, so does the household purchasing power. Therefore, the consumer is better able to afford products. Comparables. In incidence where, apart from price, there is a direct comparison between two products, as prices fall on product b) so consumers may substitute it for product a) where there has been no fall in price. Taste and preference. Consumer tastes and preferences change. These may be affected by outside sources such as promotion or peer pressure. In this event, such changes will have an effect on demand. Expectations. The perception of future changes in price will affect demand. If prices are expected to rise in the future, present demand will increase, and visa-versa. Therefore, if it is expected that private house costs will rise, but the present cost of purchase falls (i.e. mortgage payments), because consumers generally view property rental as inferior to private ownership, the demand for private housing will increase. Difference between supply of new housing and manufactured goods New Housing The Supply of new housing has limitations. The principle limitation is it’s fixed core element, the land. Although there can be changes made in the use of land, for example from agricultural, it is a limited resource that cannot be easily expanded. As a result, it is considered a fixed cost. Every individual product (house) will require a significant element of land for manufacture. The relative scarcity of the supply of land, this has the affect of increasing the cost of supply. Manufactured goods The supply of manufactured goods can be more easily increased. Once the fixed costs are in place, i.e. property, plant and machinery, these are equally divided over the number of goods produced. An increase in the number of products manufactured will therefore reduce the fixed cost element per unit. For example, fixed costs of  £100 spread over 1,000 products will be one tenth of that cost if it is spread over 100 products. Comparison of affordability with effective demand for a product Concept of affordability The concept of affordability (Marshall et.al. 2000) in respect of property rental is threefold. 1) That such rental is set at a level, which does not force the tenant into a position of poverty. 2) That it does not consume more than 25% of the tenant’s affordable income and 3) that the lessee is left with sufficient funds to be able to afford other basic necessities. Concept of effective demand The concept of effective demand is based upon the premise that supply and price determines demand. Whilst taking into account the available budget of consumers, effective demand works on the basis that increase of supply reduces cost, which enables lower price and therefore fuels demand. The motives for these concepts vary in that the affordability concept is based upon social precepts, whilst effective demand is based upon profitability and price. Other Criteria The criterion for assessing affordability is centred on five key issues. There needs to be an effective analysis of the RSL’s[1] own rental levels. Such analysis should determine rent averages by authority area, levels as calculated in relation to the type of property and the area in which the property is located. Comparison of rental levels with other RSL’s. Comparison of rental levels with other rental organisations. For example, those in the private sector. By evaluation of the income levels and type of household, for example single parent, pensioners, families etc. Formal assessment. Within this issue, RSL’s need to determine that households have sufficient income level to be able to afford the rent and still be able to achieve a certain standard of living. It is also needs to assist in reducing the reliance of tenants on other benefits by providing them the opportunity to rejoin the employment market. Other criteria that could be used include locality of tenant to work concentration areas, which would reduce tenant expenditure and increase job opportunity. Expectation of affordable housing schemes An ideal affordable housing scheme should provide occupiers with reasonable living accommodation sufficient for the needs of the household unit, at the same time allowing a standard of living that provides for all their basic needs. For the provider who finances the scheme it should allow for a reasonable return on their investment, plus sufficient capital replacement to enable them to continue the provision of such housing. Learning Activity 10 Supply differential between houses and other household product requirements Supply of houses differs from other products such as cars, white goods and luxury goods in that it is not as easily adaptable to meet demand. A car can be readily supplied and that supply rapidly replaced. This is not the position with a house. Here the supply source takes longer to react to any movement in price, because of the motivation of the house seller. A number of factors that affect supply, such as the motivation of the occupier to sell. If they are satisfied with their accommodation and the location, they are less likely to sell, limiting supply. Similarly, if they perceive prices will continue to rise, they will delay selling, a reverse effect will happen when house prices are depressed. Houses completed The chart above generally shows that the increase in house prices has not been met by a significant rise in the level of new builds, in fact, House builds supply has remained at a similar level throughout the ten years from 1995. If one wanted to construct a genuine graph for new house other data would be required, including variety of construct, for example flats, houses etc, and take into account the population demographics. Learning Activity 12 Scarcity Scarcity occurs within the social housing market where there is a lack of availability of the core element of house building, namely the land, and where house occupiers do not put their houses up for sale. Opportunity cost Many landlords have seized the opportunity of increasing their housing stock during the periods of deflation or housing slumps. In such cases, there is a need to weigh this cost against future gains. The conditions of demand In the housing market if the price is right and compares favourably with other housing options, such as renting, and that price is within the budget of the householder, then they will purchase a property. This is generally the preferred route of households. The conditions of supply To conditions that determine supply is the availability of products, in this case houses, at the right price. Supply will also be affected by the future expectations of the market in terms of price. Perverse demand behaviour In the housing market the major action that perversely affects demand is the substitution behaviour. Consumers generally perceive house ownership being preferable to renting and will therefore seek to move to this status as soon as is possible. External effects Several external situations affect the housing market. These include the inability of young people to get onto the property market; changes in employment conditions and types of households. Similarly, issues such as planning and taxes will affect the market supply and demand. Sources of inefficiency Inefficiencies within the housing market, particularly with social housing, where results of data analysis do not take into account all of the relevant factors and the resources are not being used to create the maximum economic welfare.. Sources of inequity issues Inequity can arise in the housing market because of the house-building programme failing to keep pace with the rate of demand. Monopoly power Monopoly power exists where there is no alternative to the product cost or the method of acquisition. It gives a monopoly the ability to affect the price of their product without reference to market trends. Nostradamus Housing Association Nostradamus is a social housing organisation. They are faced with a situation of reduced occupancy as a result of mortgage rates being reduced to a level where repayment are at a significantly lower level than the association charges. The occupancy issue is exacerbated by the fact that the council has transferred its housing stock to another association. Current research shows that the trend in the move to ownership is likely to continue for the near future. Therefore Nostradamus have decided to sell off their surplus stock, under a right to buy scheme, in order to rectify it’s worsening financial position. HA Rented Housing Owner-occupied Housing Low cost housing Reduction of mortgage rates Selling of houses Ownership Right to buy Within the case study presented, we see that the association is operating a system of allocative efficiency, in that the sale of their houses benefits them by reducing their financial difficulties, thereby making the business more efficient. It is equitable to both parties, as the association benefits by reducing its financial difficulties and the occupier benefits by acquiring a property at a cost, which is less than they were previously paying. It is found that owner-occupied housing is also provides equity, as it assists with the distribution of wealth between individuals who were previously disadvantaged. Thus, the association is also fulfilling its role in economic welfare. Determinants On Demand Owner-Occupied Housing Market price of product Rent exceeds mortgage payments, therefore exceeds market price Levels of household income Incomes have improved as the region is recovering economically Comparable prices The cost of ownership is below that of the rent being charged making rents no longer comparable Taste and preference Generally consumers prefer ownership, seeing renting as of lower social standing. Expectations Those who are moving to ownership expect to benefit from better neighbours. The sale of redundant houses by the association does give rise to a number of criticisms in addition to the fact that these were transferred from the local council. One of the most important criticisms is that it leaves the association with a much lower stock of houses, thereby it would be ill prepared to be able to provide housing for those who need social housing, should the local economy suffer a future reverse of fortunes in the future. A further criticism is that such houses could have been utilised to reduce the difficulties being experienced in other areas of the country. With areas such as the South East suffering shortage of low-cost housing for rent or sale, there could have been some relocation effected to have reduced this difficulty. This would have also have had the effect of assisting those in need in those areas by providing them with the opportunity of possible work as well. Furthermore, by selling the houses below the original cost, the association can be said to ha ve misused council funds. These funds essentially would have been provided by the members of the local community, through the payment of local taxes. As a result of all of these issues, a criticism could be levelled at the association that it failed in its duty of social care and welfare by not undertaking a study of other possible ways in which it could have utilised the excess housing stock and, at the same time, addressed its financial issues. The social imbalance could have been addressed in other ways. Primarily, it could have been offered to the government at an equitable rate, for use in helping them to address local and national homeless problems. This would have satisfied the issue of welfare. Secondly, the association should have looked at the possibility of reducing the rate of its rent to that which would be comparable with current mortgage payments. This would have led to higher levels of occupancy and increased the income of the association, thus reducing over time the level of its cash flow difficulties. The third way of reducing the social imbalance would have been by helping to address the issues that first time buyers suffer, namely not being able to gain entry into the property market. In line with other organisations, the association should have looked at the possibility of a â€Å"Rent and Buy† scheme. Under this scheme, the buyer purchases part of the property equity and the association purchases the balance, for example, the buyer may buy forty percent and the association sixty. Over the years, and as the buyer’s income levels rise, under this scheme the buyer would be able to then purchase the remainder of the property equity, on an instalment basis, from the association. These future equity purchases would have been at current market rates. This would have had the additional benefit of enabling such people to be able to remain within the location of their choice, close to families and their work environment. Accounting Issues Indicators Loss of Income Increasing turnover of tenants. Rentals too high Reduction in ownership mortgage rates Improvement in local incomes Housing turnover exceeding budget Tenants attracted by ownership Rentals too high. References Marshall, D., Grant, F.L., Freeman, A. and Whitehead, C (2000). Cambridge Housing and Planning Research. Retrieved 12 October 2006 from http://www.dataspring.org.uk/Downloads/Discussion Paper 2.pdf Live Tables on Housebuilding (2006). Department for Communities and Local Government, Retrieved 11 October 2006 from http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1156032 Demand and Supply for housing (2006). Tutors2u. Retrieved 12 October from http://www.tutor2u.net/economics/content/topics/housing/housing_demand_supply.htm Research Project. The UK Housing Market. biz/ed. Retrieved 12 October 2006 from http://www.bized.ac.uk/current/research/2004_05/090505.htm Footnotes [1] Registered Social Landlords

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Strategies and Benefit

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Strategies and Benefit 1.0 Chapter 2 Literature Review A literature review of research was carried out to put light into the definition of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as this differs from country to country and different authors have modelled different definition for CSR. This makes the study of CSR more complex. Also factors influencing the strategic issues of CSR are also reviewed. Electronic database is used such as emerald to select appropriate   articles. This   review of literature is worked out on published research on CSR, CSR strategies and benefits. The first focal point is on the definition of CSR, then the strategies of CSR in business was reviewed and the benefits associated with the strategic management of CSR. The main aim of this review is to sum up the studies in relation to the integration of CSR in its core business to gain advantage to the target group that receive the CSR and also to the business in the long run to place the business at a competitive advantage. Findings on environment have also been taken into consideration. 1.1 2.1 Theoretical Review 1.1.1 Models, Concepts, Frameworks In the book ‘Corporate Social Responsibility by Crowther D and Aras G, 2008, Milton Friedman (1970) stated that â€Å"there is one and only one social responsibility of business- to use its resources and engage in activities designed to increase its profits so long as it stays within the rules of the game, which is to say, engages in open and free competition without deception or fraud† So we can understand that according to Friedmans 1970 theory the sole responsibility of the business is to capitalise profit. According to Friedman (1970 cited in   Galbreath 2009, p.111   ), it is the firm responsibility to meet the economic needs and that only leads to the welfare of the society and it is the role of the government, service organizations, educational institution to meet the societal welfare. Galbreath, (2009) cited that after the publication of the thesis of Friedman, (1970)  Ã‚   there was much research on the social responsibilities of the firm. Galbreath, (2009) states that ‘In the late 1970s, Carroll (1979) offered one of the first and perhaps still the most widely accepted conceptualisations of CSR (Matten and Crane, 2005). In Galbreath (2009), Carrolls (1979) model conceptualises the responsibilities of the firm as: the economic responsibility to generate profits; the legal responsibility to comply by local, state, federal, and relevant international laws; the ethical responsibility to meet other social expectations, not written as law (e.g. avoiding harm or social injury, respecting moral rights of individuals, doing what is right, just, fair); and the discretionary responsibility to meet additional behaviours and activities that society finds desirable (e.g. philanthropic initiatives such as contributing   money to various kinds of social or cultural enterprises). The last concept applies to the Mauritian context where NGOs are engaged in the philanthropic activities. They are funded by firms making profit and 1% of the profit after tax is given to the NGOs to look at the vulnerable groups in Mauritius , the other 1% goes to the contribution of programs offered by government, (NEF, 2008). NEF,2008 cited that the economics needs of the firm are met to comply with CSR. The firm has to contribute 2% of its profit after tax in the CSR fund. If the firms make no profit then there is no contribution to CSR. This brings to the circular Mauritian model In Mauritius, the government uses the profit for the welfare of the society. 1.1.2 Activities not meeting the criteria of CSR in Mauritius The following activities do not fall under the definition of CSR IN Mauritius, NEF (2008): Contribution for religious activities Contribution to activities discriminating on the basis of race, place of origin, political opinion, colour or creed. Contribution to Trade Unions Sponsorship for marketing purposes Contribution for political parties Shareholders and Senior Staff benefits (schemes benefiting staff and/ or their family members and shareholders holding more than 5% of shareholding) Staff welfare cost (including e.g. current and future staff training costs), Activities which are against public safety and national interest. In Galbreath (2009), Friedmans (1970) social responsibilities, stakeholder theory and corporate social responsibility, Carroll (1979) are normative: they give a description of what the dos and donts of the firm in terms of their societal responsibilities (Rodriguez et al., 2002) Katamba D and Gisch-Boie (2008) made a study with regards to CSR in Uganda a developing country. They stated that CSR is a new concept in Uganda and the study was carried out to know the perceptions of CSR, approaches and needs of companies in the matter of CSR.   The CSR defined by company managers in Uganda as stated by Katamba D and Gisch-Boie (2008)   are â€Å"when companies consider the interests of society by taking responsibility for the impact of their activities on customers, suppliers, employees, shareholders, communities and other stkaholders as well as the environment.† â€Å"how companies manage their business processes to produce on overall positive impact on society.† â€Å"considering all stakeholders while making business decisions that manage stakeholders relationships â€Å"giving back to society and cementing the bond of the company to society through demonstrating the caring heart of the company† Katamba D and Gisch-Boie (2008) made the observations that large companies in Uganda do not have a CSR strategy and they cannot satisfy all the requests of communities and NGOs. The Government of Mauritius has catered for the approved programmes relating to socio economic development, Health, leisure and sport, environment, education and training and catastrophe, (NEF, 2008). The NEF has an important role to play to drive firms to CSR strategies. The Government of Mauritius stated in NEF (2008)   has set up a guiding principle with the general purpose of   directing registered companies to give 2% of their book profit to programmes contributing to the social and environmental development of the country. NEF (2008) stated the objectives of the fund   to: Support firms to administer their own agenda, resulting in the triple reporting aspect, that is, the economic, social and environmental development. Ease the involvement of the companies to sustain existing Approved National Programmes applied by Companies, national agencies or NGOs support a serviceable society to NGOs working with the approved national development program 1.2 Empirical Review 1.2.1 Applied Studies and Findings Research gaps In Sidsel Grimstad (2011) pp. 73-74, Shrivastava and Hart (1994) suggested green politics will be among the powerful forces of economic, social, and political change,   businesses and managerial theory have to change them drastically to hold environmental distress. In the same paper In Sidsel Grimstad (2011) pp. 73-74, stated that after more than ten years, Kallio and Nordberg (2006)   there are still questions that have not been answered regarding firms and their link with the natural environment. These questions are : â€Å" what is the organisations relationship with the natural environment? Why does integration of concerns for the natural environment happen within organisations? Where does it happen? Who does it happen to? How does it happen? What are the consequences of an integration of the organisation and the natural environment? â€Å" (Sidsel Grimstad 2011 stated by Kallio and Nordberg   (2006 )) They also found that while considerable empirical research had been done, there were few development of theory conbining organizational and management theories with natural environment. Sidsel Grimstad (2011) stated that few research has been carried out to assess how prolonged actions affects firms or clusters competitiveness and the way natural environment is bonded to the involved firms of organisations (businesses, government, non-profit, or others)   day to day activities (Gladwin et al., 1995; Kallio and Nordberg, 2006). Little has been done to judge against framework, local formal and informal institutions while looking at business-driven environmental action (Gjà ¸lberg, 2009; Halme et al., 2009; Hart, 1995 cited in Sidsel Grimstad (2011) ) Sidsel Grimstad (2011) found from the above literature review comes up many knowledge gap. He states that more study   examining how firms operates and implements environmental action, the insight of environmental action, the reason they are doing it, what they see as main factors for the environment and business to mutually develop and benefit each other, the way they carry out environmental action, the way they organize and the short and long term consequences for the environment and society.   Sidsel Grimstad (2011),More concept is required the forming of   the relationships between the natural environment business organizations and competitive advantage. Sidsel Grimstad (2011) cited that â€Å" More comparative research is required analysing how businesses deal with environmental issues within different contexts and different national institutional frameworks.† Sidsel Grimstad (2011)   cited that â€Å"When faced with serious environmental issues, it would be expected that the way/mode and means a business, a business cluster or society will respond to the environmental challenge will differ according to the countrys formal and informal institutions.† Sidsel Grimstad (2011) stated that these matters would be more outstanding in areas where the natural environment and landscape encompasses basis for tourism as an additional strategy for earning income for businesses based on agriculture. Sidsel Grimstad (2011) also found that â€Å".. it would be expected that agriculture based tourism businesses would have a vested interest in going beyond compliance with the environmental regulatory systems. In addition such clusters would also perceive the natural landscape as a prerequisite for value-adding for their tourism businesses in the future and are therefore worth taking care of.† Sidsel Grimstad (2011) found that the two countries chosen, Norway and Australia have clearly different situations and organizational frameworks when dealing with environmental management in rural areas. He chose two business-driven green initiatives have been identified and there are still on-going research. Sidsel Grimstad (2011)   cited that re â€Å"They are self-defined or self-organised clusters, in as such they do not follow administrative or geographical borders, but rather are based on a common business focus agriculture-based tourism in a geographical area where the borders have been defined by the business community itself through formal organisations such as local chambers of commerce.† He also stated that they hold the definition of clusters given by Porter (1998), that describes these geographic clusters of interrelated firms and institutions in a specific field. Sidsel Grimstad (2011) also stated that the clusters include both suppliers of provider of inputs, services, and education( universities, training), and later stage of businesses centered on customers that both compete and work together. In Australia the associating organisation is a Chamber of Commerce in a wine tourism region, and in Norway is a farming of apple and tourism region, a shareholding firm has been set up with the objective of promoting continuing improvement in the area, (Sidsel Grimstad 2011). In Norway, the area in agriculture has received much subsidy to cater for both self-sufficiency in essential foods and secondly in sustaining the rural population. the subsidies in agriculture have been drastically reduced in the last decade, but they have been turned towards subsidies for farm-based ecological protection and preservation. These have led to new ventures in tourism sector for a new value-adding strategy. The above extract is from (Sidsel Grimstad 2011). Sidsel Grimstad 2011 also found in his study that traditional farming has been drifted towards   a mix of farming and agri-tourism, preceded by the principles of geo-tourism. In Sidsel Grimstad ( 2011) the definition of   Geo-tourism is given by â€Å" tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents (National Geographic Society, 2009).† Sidsel Grimstad ( 2011) stated that small agricultutal sector tourism clusters have been founded by the concepts of   geo-tourism that they call landscape parks that are natural and cultural regions described by the natural landscape and by the identification of local population.   The development of home agro and tourism have to undertaken in an sensitive way Taking care of the environment that must be attractive to both local people and the tourist (Sidsel Grimstad, 2011). From the above extract this leads to the creating of strategies to look after the issues of sustaining and preserving environment. Mauritius being a tourism industry can give importance to the environmental programs for maintaining and preserving it keeping in mind the problems that are the world is facing towards natural ecological change. 1.3 2.3 Case Studies Added on17/04/11 Volker Turk (2003) has worked in a paper e-business and CSR- the business case for the new economy. The paper looked at the major significance   for corporations working in the ICT and e-business sector concerning environmental and social issues. Volker Tà ¼rk (2003) developed an essential finding from the research that is e-business is not entirely virtual but it is related to the use of natural resources. Volker Tà ¼rk (2003), identified key factors influencing the ecological consequences of environmental ICTs and e-application. He identified them as â€Å"Monitoring the environmental impacts of ICT and e-business, greening the hardware, shifting to e-services, enabling transport efficiencies, raising awareness and changing habits, recognize and extent the (digital) responsibility, acknowledge the technologies limitations and risks, Improve sustainability and accountability along supply-chains. social responsibilities are different from social issues but closely linked (Galbreath 2009).   The society have expectations on the firm and these are social responsibilities. These responsibilities are related to factors. These are social issues. These factors can have an effect on the ability of the firm to meet objectives , and can also affect the social responsibilities. This view has been supported in the work of Galbreath (2009). ELABORATE HERE Galbreath (2009) states that ‘In this sense, these definitions help to describe what the â€Å"firm side† of the social contract (Donaldson and Dunfee, 1994, 1999) between business and society consists of. On one hand, the â€Å"formal† social contract defines a firms explicit responsibilities, including generating returns for shareholders, obeying laws and regulations, creating jobs, paying taxes, and honouring private contracts. On the other hand, the â€Å"semiformal† social contract reflects societys implicit expectations. Here, societys unspoken expectations of firms include responsibilities such as adherence to global labour and environmental standards (e.g. SA 8000, AA 1000, ISO 14031) that are not required by law, triple bottom-line reporting, following industry norms and codes of conduct, fulfilling brand promises and contributing philanthropically to the community. Scholars have looked at the social issues concept, mainly through the life-cycle approach (cited in Galbreath (2009), Lamertz et al., 2003). Although several definitions exist, a widely accepted definition in the life-cycle tradition describes social issues as: ‘Social problems that may exist objectively but become â€Å"issues† requiring managerial attention when they are defined as being problematic to society or an institution within society by a group of actors or stakeholders capable of influencing either governmental action or company policy (Mahon and Waddock, 1992, p. 20; emphasis added). Galbreath (2009) expressed this view. The definition implies that social problems exist at the societal level (but not necessarily at the organizational level)   and these problems are   elevated to the â€Å"status† of a social issue by the actions of various actors, including stakeholders. However, such a definition does not address how these social problems and issues might be an opportunity for the firm and thus, is problematic with respect to the concept of strategy. Galbreath (2001) cited that ‘some firms signal that CSR is a fundamental purpose mission of their existence. As part of its mission, The Body Shop makes cosmetics that do not hurt animals. Here, The Body Shop has addressed a social issue animal cruelty through the very core of their business: developing the highest quality, innovative, effective and safe cosmetic products. A bank with a heart The Mauritian bank, Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB) is involved in ‘Corporate Social Responsibility to serve the communities by not only by financing of projects but also to build and sustain schemes for social, environmental and economic welfare of the community. The MCB Group contributes 2% of its bok profits annually to the MCP Forward Foundation . This extract is from MCB Ltd,2010. Another example of Corporate Social Responsibility in a   Mauritian company is the IBL Children (Schumpeter, 1934; Nelson and Winter, 1982; Jacobson, 1992) economic growth can be attained through innovation.   (Schumpeter, 1934; Jacobson, 1992; Hill and Deeds, 1996; Chan Kim and Mauborgne, 2004)   presented the views below. Innovation can be an opportunity to meet social needs and deal with social issues instead of considering them as a threat. The knowledge acquired from the target markets, target customer needs and the unmet social needs and/or social issues directly from the market, can be used to explore the opportunity to reach new markets and gain competitive advantage. This can be done by introducing new customer offerings, developing new processes or creating new market segments. Gabreath , 2009 cited that Corporate managers admit that CSR is a vital reflection for motivating achievement. But they acknowledge to be under pressure to anticipate about the uncertainty of unmet social needs or social matters that will affect their business or how to develop strategies to cater for these problems (Galbreath, 2009) . Galbreath, 2009 said in his findings that much has been on paper to recommend that CSR is important for competitive success, but efforts have been prevalent on conceptual and theoretical advancements and empirical tests between CSR and firm accomplishment. Galbreath, 2009 came to the conclusion that this causes a breach regarding CSR and strategy. Galbreath, 2009 cited ‘If an assumption is made that CSR is important to competitiveness, and if strategy serves as a foundation for a business firms creation, while establishing its position in the market, its competitiveness and its on-going existence, then placing CSR within the context of strategy seems vital. Galbreath, 2009 first implication was that CSR should not be regarded only in terms of   the duties organizations have toward society or to whom they are accountable. Galbreath, 2009 cited that ‘Normatively postulating, for example, that firms have an economic responsibility to generate profits or a legal responsibility to obey appropriate laws or that firms have a responsibility to meet the needs of various stakeholder groups (and who those groups are) does not describe how they can do so in a strategic manner. Galbreath, 2009 suggested that to know CSR strategically, unmet social desires and social matters   and also the firms responsibilities toward society, these have to be considered individually. This is essential to tackle CSR more accurately within the underlying elements of strategy (Galbreath,2009). Galbreath, 2009 implies and questions ‘to what degree does CSR have to be built into strategy before it can be considered â€Å"strategic†? ‘ During its existence, the firm has to frequently face with   different opportunities and threats and decisions are made to deal with them (Galbreath, 2009). According to Galbreath, 2009 there are six-dimensions of strategy firm mission; strategic issues; markets; customer needs; resources; and competitive advantage. Galbreath, 2009 says that at any stage one facet of strategy of the six-dimensions might be more vital than others. In Galbreath, 2009 for some scholars ‘strategic CSR deals with contributing slack resources (profit spending) to the needs of society and community that are related to objectives and strategy of the organisation such as philanthropy, sponsorships and cause-related marketing (Mullen, 1997; Lantos, 2002; Porter and Kramer, 2002). Galbreath, 2009 observed that strategically, this is a limited view and is mainly related to the discretionary (philanthropic) component of Carrolls (1979) theory of CSR. Galbreath, 2009 demonstrated in his paper that CSR is not an organizational occurrence strategically limited to a restricted aspect within the organization. He states that while taking corporate responsibilities, unmet social desires and social matters into account, synergies develop that are essential for several dimensions of strategy.   In Galbreath, 2009 he stated an example;    ‘while the economic responsibility to produce profits constitutes part of the firms formal social contract, by exploring unmet social needs and social issues through strategy dimensions such as markets served, customer needs and resources required to compete, a firm not only can address social opportunities that generate profits (thereby meeting its economic responsibility to shareholders), but can offer societal benefits as well (Burke and Logsdon, 1996; Husted and Salazar, 2006). Galbreath (2009) found from his study that CSR cannot only be philanthropic or an obligation towards ethics, that is code of conduct; CSR can be carried out within six elements of corporate strategy,   adding up to good organisation practice,   profitable to the economy and to the wellbeing of society (Galbreath 2009). Galbreath 2009,   concluded that firms contribute economically to the society and profits making is a social responsibility (Carroll, 1979; Henderson, 2005). But in the present ambience, social matters are cropping up on firms to the extent that CSR seems to be the new battlefield for competitive achievement (Porter and Kramer, 2006 cited in Galbreath 2009). According to the guidelines, NEF, 2008 it can be extracted that the Government of Mauritius is mainly dealing with vulnerable groups as philanthropic activities to eradicate poverty rather than using CSR as an competive edge for the business. But for business perspectives in Mauritius, firms can deal with the CSR activities dealt as per the government program but at the same time build a strong long term competitive advantage by building good reputation for the company and at the same time deal with societal issues. Galbreath, 2009 concluded that if the statement is true then firms do not have to meet the interest of shareholders but also of society at large. Galbreath (2009) sated that â€Å" strategy takes on significant meaning not only with respect to fulfilling social responsibilities and the development of firms, but also with respect to the development and sustainability of society/nations (Raimond, 1996; Rodriguez et al., 2002).† Galbreath, (2009) made an interesting conclusion: companies who have a broader understanding of their social responsibilities and who starts to   investigate further on how they can build CSR into strategy at a more competitive edge in the future benefiting the shareholders and also the society at large. Galbrath (2009), to deal with CSR more strategically, the paper made an argument that organizations should consider six strategy dimensions: â€Å"firm mission†, â€Å" strategic issues†, â€Å"markets†, † customer needs†, â€Å" resources† and â€Å" competitive advantage.† Galbreath (2009) stated that strategy is about recognising matters that have an influence on a organisations capacity to attain its mission, so goods/services can be given to achieve markets needs providing through valuable resource construction to build and maintain competitive advantage. When CSR is thought about in these aspects it provides a way to methodically delve into means where social responsibilities can be constructed into strategy (Galbreath, 2009). If CSR is not done this way, companies  Ã‚   take the risk of defining CSR as â€Å"codes of ethics†, triple bottom line reports and public relations campaigns, (Galbreath 2009).Galbreath(2009) cited that â€Å"Such approaches are too limited, too defensive and are too disconnected from strategy. Nur Diana Hidayati, (2011) , showed in the case study that there is elevated dedication from the four companies she studied to catty out CSR programs and company moral values. The companies attempt to deal with the triple bottom line issues,(Nur Diana Hidayati,2011).   Nur Diana Hidayati, (2011, p104), found in the case study that ‘ two consumer goods companies (Unilever Indonesia and Sari Husada) and one manufacturing company (Astra International) conduct CSR programs that are both related and unrelated to their core businesses while a mining company (Aneka Tambang) tends to conduct CSR programs that are unrelated to its core business. The other finding from the case study is that both programs related to CSR and not related to CSR are   ways for the companies to go for ‘sustainable development, Nur Diana Hidayati, (2011, p104), This leads to carry out a study in the Mauritian context of the competitive advantage placed while incorporating Corporate Social Responsibility as a strategic management in the business. Anonymous, nd from the Emerald Group Publishing stated that it is difficult to manage Corportae Social Responsibility issue if the firm you are running a firm of huge size. Senior management are more conscious that the firm is presumed to put forward some kind of advantages to the wider world, (Anonymous, nd). ‘newspaper articles, academic papers, the activities of their peers and the public all tell them so. ‘ Many executives of firms are anxious that their firm is not looked as making contributions morally to the society and   to the environment as their day to day activities then they can lose their reputation and customers, (anonymous, 2008). Lance Moir ‘the basic idea of corporate social responsibility is that business and society are interwoven rather than distinct entities. Business depends on society to run and it is using natural resources may be at the detriment of the environment. Though it is contributing to the economic development of the country or society, it has other duties to fulfil to contribute part of what it has gained during the business process   by providing Corporate Social Responsibility. Holmes (1976), in a study of executive attitudes to social responsibility, finds that the strongest response was that in addition to making a profit, business should help to solve social problems whether or not business helps to create those problems even if there is probably no short-run or long-run profit potential. This applies to the Mauritian context where the contribution is enforced by 2% contribution after profit although it is given as tax. But how far the business person is agreeable to this is to be studied through the research questionnaire. Proponents of CSR claim that it is in the enlightened self-interest of business to undertake various forms of CSR. The forms of business benefit that might accrue would include enhanced reputation and greater employee loyalty and retention. We can identify this approach in some of the current approaches by business. So, the introductory section of the recent report by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development on Corporate Social Responsibility (WBCSD, 1999) used phrases such as business benefits, could destroy shareholder value, control risks, identify market opportunities, improving reputation and maintaining public support. CSR Europes approach is that business benefits from being more socially responsible and that this can help to build sales, the workforce and trust in the company as a whole. The objective is to build sustainable growth for business in a responsible manner. Frederick (1994) identifies the development in the understanding of CSR up to 1970 as an examination of corporations obligation to work for social betterment and refers to this as CSR1. However, around 1970 he notes a move to corporate social responsiveness, which he calls CSR2. Frederick (1994), identifies corporate social responsiveness as the capacity of a corporation to respond to social pressures. (Moir L. 2001) In effect the move from CSR1 to CSR2 reflects a move from a philosophical approach to one that focuses on managerial action.    Lately, Frederick (1986) has developed this analysis to include a more ethical base to managerial decision taking in the form of corporate social rectitude and terms this CSR3. In this development, Frederick claims that the study of business and society needs an ethical anchor to permit a systematic critique of businesss impact upon human consciousness, human community and human continuity. Frederick (1986), asserts that whilst CSR1 was normative, it was hesitant and that CSR2 led to non-normative enquiry. Thus the requirement for a moral basis provides a normative foundation for managers to take decisions in the area of CSR. As part of a normative manifesto, he proposes that the The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (1999) defines CSR as: â€Å"the ethical behavior of a company towards society . . . management acting responsibly in its relationships with other stakeholders who have a legitimate interest in the business, and CSR is the continuing commitment by business to behave ethically and contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of the workforce and their families as well as of the local community and society at large.† Examples cited in Moir L, 2002 are from individual companies in the area of CSR reinforcing stakeholder analysis: Johnson Johnson: â€Å"the companys responsibilities to be fair and honest, trustworthy and respectful, in dealing with all our constituents (Johnson Johnson, 2000). Volkswagen (2000): â€Å"adopt a position which builds both shareholder value and workholder value in order to deliver sustainable growth for the future. Shell: â€Å"We all need to assess the impact our business makes on society and ensure that we balance the economic, environmental and social aspects of everything we do† (Moody-Stuart, 1999).   Apart from the triple bottom line, I think business should feel responsible and contribute to the social growth and go beyond the expectation of society   and integrate CSR in the way business is

How To Build Your Own Computer :: Process Essays

Before you start you will need to check if u need all of your pieces together and parts. Then you need to check if you have the right size case for your mother board. The find a bare floor to work on its the best place. Then download latest drivers for your pc so you cannot have headahces later on. Now you are ready to install your motherboard. Lay your case on it's side for installing the motherboard. If your case has a removable motherboard plate then take it out to install the motherboard on it. Match up the motherboard mounting hole with the case or plate. Now use the standoffs and install them to the case or plate where the holes lined up. Then use the screws and screw the motherboard down to the standoffs. Some case use plastic standoffs. These usually have pointed ends you push up through the back of the motherboard and then slide the flat head into the case or plate. Make sure that the motherboard is not touching the case or plate on the back of the motherboard. Now install the plate if your case came with the removable one. Make sure your motherboard is tight but not too tight as to cause it to crack.Next connect the power to the motherboard. If you have an AT motherboard it will use 2 large 6 wire plugs. The black wires have to be together in the middle or you will fry your motherboard and believe me it has happened a lot. They will be hard to install but they will fit just keep trying. The problem is the little tabs placed on 1 side of them. If you have a ATX motherboard then you will have 1 large 20 wire plug. It is made so it can only be installed the right way. If you have a cpu that needs the extra 12 volt hooked to the motherboard then you will need to install it also. It looks different from the other connectors and will install only the right way. You must decide if you want a desktop or tower or one of the new small cases. You will want to allow for expandability unless you are building a small form case. Make sure you get a case that will fit the space where you plan to put it. Make sure the case has at least one intake fan or a place to install one in the front.

Subliminal Perception Essay -- Biology Essays Research Papers

Subliminal Perception Many people have heard of "subliminal" messages that are not consciously perceived by a subject but nonetheless influence his or her behavior. The concept first became publicized in the 1950s, when the advertiser James Vicary claimed that flashing the words "Drink Popcorn" and "Drink Coke" between frames in a movie theater increased Coke sales by 18.1% and popcorn sales by 57.7%. This caused a storm of controversy, although Vicary later admitted that this "study" was a hoax.(1)Many studies carried out in laboratory conditions do show that "subliminal" inputs can be perceived by the nervous system without the awareness of the conscious "I-function". Inputs perceived "subliminally" have also been shown to influence behavior to some extent, in some instances more than supraliminal inputs. These effects, however, are for the most part limited in magnitude and duration. The literal meaning of the word "subliminal" is rather misleading since it implies that there is an absolute "limen", or threshold, above which inputs are detected by the "I-function" and below which they are not.(2) However, while there are some "supraliminal" inputs of high intensity where perception is always self-reported by experimental subjects, as well as inputs of low intensity that are never reported, there is also a range of input intensities where subjects report only a fraction of the time.(3) The actual experimental definition of the "liminal" or threshold value of an input is the value where conscious perception occurs 50% of the time. The "limen" can also fluctuate with different prevailing conditions.(4) Therefore, an input could be classified as "subliminal" and still be accessible to the I-function. Some experiments tha... ...udies of "self-help" tapes billed as containing subliminal messages have not shown to be effective beyond an illusory placebo effect. (9) While subliminal perception definitely exists and subliminal inputs can affect behavior, so far no evidence exists that subliminal inputs can be used to exert any "mind control" on unwilling subjects. Internet Sources: 1. http:///www.actwin.com/nlp/random/sublm02.htm 2.http://atrey.karlin.mff.cuni.cz/magic/sublimin.txt.CP852 3.http://trevor.butler.edu/~woodruff/Courses/Subliminal/Bourbon.html 4. SUBLIMINAL PERCEPTION 5. Unconscious Perception 6. http://www.weber.u.washington.edu/~agg/release.html 7. Subliminal Mere Exposure 8. The Subliminal Mere Exposure Effect 9. CJBS: Subliminal Self-Help Sources not cited directly: Reinventing Subliminal Again 10)http://www.hunter.holowww.com/sublim.html Subliminal Perception Essay -- Biology Essays Research Papers Subliminal Perception Many people have heard of "subliminal" messages that are not consciously perceived by a subject but nonetheless influence his or her behavior. The concept first became publicized in the 1950s, when the advertiser James Vicary claimed that flashing the words "Drink Popcorn" and "Drink Coke" between frames in a movie theater increased Coke sales by 18.1% and popcorn sales by 57.7%. This caused a storm of controversy, although Vicary later admitted that this "study" was a hoax.(1)Many studies carried out in laboratory conditions do show that "subliminal" inputs can be perceived by the nervous system without the awareness of the conscious "I-function". Inputs perceived "subliminally" have also been shown to influence behavior to some extent, in some instances more than supraliminal inputs. These effects, however, are for the most part limited in magnitude and duration. The literal meaning of the word "subliminal" is rather misleading since it implies that there is an absolute "limen", or threshold, above which inputs are detected by the "I-function" and below which they are not.(2) However, while there are some "supraliminal" inputs of high intensity where perception is always self-reported by experimental subjects, as well as inputs of low intensity that are never reported, there is also a range of input intensities where subjects report only a fraction of the time.(3) The actual experimental definition of the "liminal" or threshold value of an input is the value where conscious perception occurs 50% of the time. The "limen" can also fluctuate with different prevailing conditions.(4) Therefore, an input could be classified as "subliminal" and still be accessible to the I-function. Some experiments tha... ...udies of "self-help" tapes billed as containing subliminal messages have not shown to be effective beyond an illusory placebo effect. (9) While subliminal perception definitely exists and subliminal inputs can affect behavior, so far no evidence exists that subliminal inputs can be used to exert any "mind control" on unwilling subjects. Internet Sources: 1. http:///www.actwin.com/nlp/random/sublm02.htm 2.http://atrey.karlin.mff.cuni.cz/magic/sublimin.txt.CP852 3.http://trevor.butler.edu/~woodruff/Courses/Subliminal/Bourbon.html 4. SUBLIMINAL PERCEPTION 5. Unconscious Perception 6. http://www.weber.u.washington.edu/~agg/release.html 7. Subliminal Mere Exposure 8. The Subliminal Mere Exposure Effect 9. CJBS: Subliminal Self-Help Sources not cited directly: Reinventing Subliminal Again 10)http://www.hunter.holowww.com/sublim.html

Gullah

The recent rise in Black consciousness has created an extraordinary interest in the study of Black heritage and the preservation of Black culture in America. Many scholars and students are turning their attention to A frican-American cultural patterns, which have been long ignored and often scorned. Black people are realizing more and more that these patterns exemplify key features of their heritage and may offer not only clues into the past, but also provide guides to survival in the future.As this interest gains momentum, African-Americans are looking toward the South, particularly to its rural and isolated islands where so many of the unique elements of contemporary Black culture have their roots. The culture of the Sea Islands is such a special case. The lack of contact with the mainland helped to preserve some of the important features of their African culture. Because the Africans that were brought to these islands were not sold and resold as often as those on the mainland, som e of their ancestral family patterns remain even to this date. ——————————————————————————- A. Sea Islands Begin just north of Georgetown, South Carolina, and continue to the Florida border. It is estimated that there are approximately 1,000 islands along the coast of South Carolina and Georgia separated from the mainland by marshes, alluvial streams and rivers. 1. Some of the islands are bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and are as far as twenty miles or more from the mainland. 2. They range in size from the uninhabitable ones to John’s Island South Carolina, the second largest island in the United States.B. European settlement 1. The Sea Islands have formed the basis of a very profitable agriculture. 2. During slavery, the long staple cotton grown here was considered the best available anywhere and brought very favorable prices on the world market 3. The economy of the region was based almost entirely on slavery, and because of the labor intensity of the crops, very large plantations developed in this area. a. Some Whites owned entire islands containing thousands of acres of land and maintained hundreds of slaves to till the soil. C. Isolation 1.The isolation of the islands and the large numbers of slaves meant that the influence of American White culture upon African and slave culture was minimal. 2. To further enhance the development of a unique Black culture, there was the continual importation of slaves directly from Africa. a. The overwhelming number of slaves entering South Carolina during the 18th century came directly from Africa. b. The isolation of the islands made them a prime location for slave traders to land illegal cargoes of Africans after the Slave Trade Act of 1808. c. Africans were imported into the islands as late as 1858.D. Cultural formations 1. There was a geographical, social and cultural basis for the retention of many elements of African culture in the Sea Islands and the development of a distinctive African-American culture. 2. The word â€Å"Gullah† was once defined as the way of speaking of Blacks on the Sea Islands. In recent years, Gullah has come to mean not only the speech of Black islanders but also their culture and way of life. a. Food- traditional seafood and rice dishes â€Å"Hoppin John† and â€Å"Frogmore Stew† b. Arts-basket weaving, donning fishnets, pottery, and quilting. . The first American cowboys were the Blacks in the Carolina low country (Sea Islands). d. Contributions to American music are also evident. e. Tradition of fishing passed from one generation to another. f. During the slave period many of the customs the people developed clearly reflected African culture and post-bellum conditions enhanced their retention. Basket weaving is one of the dominant crafts of the region, and one of the oldest crafts of African origin in theUnited States. Crabbing and fishing are a very important part of the Sea Island culture.Sea Island children are intimately familiar with the ocean and learn the art of casting and netting as early as the age of three. E. Development of survival patterns 1. Philosophy and utilization of time. Older Blacks have a different relationship to time than many younger and â€Å"up to date† Blacks. 2. Environment coping a. Dealing with atmospheric changes F. Psychological and sociological issues. 1. Many Sea Island Blacks may have different self perceptions and attitudes as compared to Blacks raised in other areas. 2. The Sea Island Blacks frequently owned their land since the years before Reconstruction.Many of them do not know what it means to pay rent or a mortgage and to some the very concepts are meaningless. 3. The fact that the people were very isolated from mainstream culture, they could only survive by developing a posture of self-s ufficiency and independence. 4. Many elderly Sea Island Blacks had very limited interaction with Whites. 5. Black activism of Sea Island Blacks a. Some of the earliest support for the civil rights movement came out of the Sea Island and Martin Luther King developed some of his major campaigns during retreats to the area. . Local independence and activism has its roots in the Reconstructionist Era and the Black majority in the area. c. A large portion of the elderly Sea Islanders registered to vote before 1910. G. Uniqueness of Sea Islands 1. They are home of a West African people called Gullah. They were captured from this area because the Europeans needed technology and labor to build their empires and America. The Gullah captives possessed skills (technology) in agriculture, science, animal farming, construction, navigation, government, and teaching. 2.The knowledge and need for farming and building in the Sea Islands required specialized skills that were found in abundance in Wes t Africa 3. The isolation of the Gullah from mainland whites and other Africans allowed the Gullah to maintain a high degree of African culture. Also, the high concentration of Africans allowed a Gullah community to form an Afrocentric cultural entity within a European American cultural context. H. Gullah Dialect 1. The Gullah â€Å"accent† is much more than just an accent on the English language. Gullah, as a language, uses distinct African language patterns, and conceptual meanings.In other words, the Gullah language is uniquely African, with English words added to it. 2. One study says that the origin of the term Gullah and the Blacks came from the West Coast of Africa, but exactly where has not been agreed upon. a. One is that Gullah is a shortened form of Angola, the name of an African West Coast district lying south of the Equator and the mouth of the Congo River. b. A second suggestion is that Gullah comes from the name of the Liberian group of tribes known as Golas li ving on the West Coast between Sierra Leone and the Ivory Coast. . Gullah has been called the most African of any of our Black dialects, yet it can be traced back in practically every detail to English dialect speech. There has been an interchange of cultural values between the Black and White communities who have lived and worked together on the Sea Islands from the first days of settlement. The dialect was nourished in isolation and has survived with little change because of the continued isolation of its native area. The Parable of the Lost Sheep, Luke 15:2-3 King James VersionAnd the Pharisees and scribes murmured saying, this man receiveth sinners and eateth with the them. And he spake this parable unto them, saying What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness and go after that which is lost, until hefind it? Gullah Version En de Pharisee en de law teesha dem saat ta mek cumplain,say â€Å"Dis man sociat e widsinna en ebn eat mong am. Now den Jesus done know dem binna nek cumplain bout am. So e tell am one parryubble, say â€Å"Supposin a hondad sheep blonks ta one a oona.Ef one a dem sheep done loss een de wood wa you fa do? Sho nuf, you gwain lef de ninety-nine oddares safe een de pasta. You gwain saach fa de one wa loss tel you fin am eni? † I. Sea Islands Today 1. Today, an estimated 270,00 people along the Georgia, Carolina, and northeastern Florida coasts speak of Gullah. The dialect survived primarily among rural Blacks who largely depended on farming and fishing. Many of these people are now moving into jobs in the various resort industries, which are springing up on the islands, thus ending their isolation.Nonetheless, Gullah has a way of surviving even in small clusters in New York City where its speakers are often mistaken for Barbadians. 2. Because many corporations are now building their resorts on the islands and the United States Marine Corps has established a training base on Paris Island, many sociologists theorize the Gullah culture will soon die out. Nonetheless, although the pressures on the Gullah culture to disintegrate and assimilate are great, there are a number of people who are making valiant attempts to maintain, and preserve this treasured culture.