Tuesday, November 26, 2019

The Assessment of Greenwich Town Centre A Case of Visitor and Destination Management Plan

The Assessment of Greenwich Town Centre A Case of Visitor and Destination Management Plan Executive Summary Tourism is defined as the activity of persons moving from one place to another, naturally beyond their usual place, for the purpose relaxation, business and other purposes. Thus, a tourist can be said to be the person who moves, stays and visits a place for the purpose of deriving pleasure.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on The Assessment of Greenwich Town Centre: A Case of Visitor and Destination Management Plan specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Tourism has become a diverse industry in our economy, due to the range of the economic opportunities that it provides to the society at large (Eagles et al. 2003, p. 341). The management of visitors has increasingly become an important issue in tourism destination. Greenwich, having attained a world heritage site status, has seen significant growth in the number of visitors. This has been attributed to the diverse use of time in the society, the ability t o travel at reasonable cost, and the extensive media publicity given to Greenwich as a tourist destination. The market is also reported to have matured; this has made tourists to be more discerning, and they have great expectations regarding access to such destinations. This has created pressure on the destination, prompting the need for visitor management (Flanagan 2002, p. 23). The dilemma associated with visitor management, is the one demanding a balance of tourist interests on one hand, and the provision of education and recreational opportunities for the members of the public. On the other hand, it is important to note that visitors expose the destination, to a range of harmful risks and particularly to the artifacts. Tourism is associated with overcrowding, congestion at specific bottlenecks, and the physical stress on sensitive parts of the site. It is therefore important to have a visitor management mechanism, which best controls the visitors, by balancing the interests of t he tourists with those required for safeguarding and managing the tourist destinations (Morgan et al. 2004, p. 43). There is need to examine the various approaches that have been applied in the management of tourism, in order to facilitate good management of the increased levels of tourist visitation. Tourism is said to be an irregular movement, and this calls for appropriate management strategies. The potential of Greenwich as a tourist destination is high, and an effective management plan has to be developed. The development of an effective management plan demands a good documentation for the facilitation of development of the appropriate infrastructures (Eagles et al. 2003, p. 51). In addition to this, detailed policies are important. The management plans helps in the maintenance of the tourist destination and management of the visitors.Advertising Looking for case study on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Lear n More The management of visitors includes their safety as well as the accessibility of the destination by the visitors, and particularly the disabled. There is also need to manage aiding and interpretation of the tourist destination to the visitors, through the use of the tour guides, booklets that create a synopsis of the tour destination, and other information boards (Howie 2003, p. 178). Problem Statement Greenwich is a world heritage site and the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site Steering Group is responsible for the management of the site. The site has demonstrated effective partnership with both the public and private sectors in terms of service delivery and other management plans. The Greenwich town was established and managed on the voluntary basis, and this makes it a unique approach in regard to destination management. The management of the Greenwich tourist site developed this management approach after the World Heritage Site Marketing Group failed to financ e the management of the site, due to lack of funding. The priorities were set in terms of collaboration in the setting and developing of annual marketing schedules, between the stakeholders of the destination. This explains the fact that the activities of the Steering Group are facilitated and co-ordinate by the council on behalf of the partners. This management feature has made Greenwich Town a unique case, and it was selected as an appropriate destination (Flanagan 2002, p. 202). This paper seeks to identify the key organizations that are involved in the management of the Greenwich tourism. The paper also seeks to draw an analysis of the management strategies of the Greenwich town as a tourist destination. This paper will draw an analysis of Greenwich as a tourist destination, and the key features in appealing to visitors. In addition, the paper will draw an analysis of key issues facing the destination. This will include the experience of the visitors. These issues will be develo ped in accordance with the SWOT/PEST principles. The appropriate recommendations will be considered as likely to promote sustainable approach to the provision of quality visitor experience (Eagles et al. 2003, p. 254). Analysis and Evaluation Greenwich as an Appropriate Destination Greenwich is a World Heritage Site and also home of Greenwich Mean Time as well as the meridian time. These are famous landmarks in addition to the National maritime museum and the royal observatory. The Christopher Wren’s Old Royal Naval College is also placed within the Greenwich Town.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on The Assessment of Greenwich Town Centre: A Case of Visitor and Destination Management Plan specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More There are also other attraction features which make Greenwich a suitable destination for many. There is a park which allows tourists to walk and experience the hospitality of the place. The re are restaurants, shops that are excellent, quite and independent. There are also friendly staffs that enhance the hospitality industry in Greenwich. A lot of information is provided to the tourists and this helps tourists in keeping them abreast with events at the events which are either sporting events or entertainment events (Eagles et al. 2003, p. 89). Greenwich town is about 20 minutes from London and is accessible through the Docklands Light Railway, rail, tube, river boat or bus. The tourists have access to the map and this helps them to find their way around the various attraction sites, accommodation facilities and other social facilities. Greenwich is an appropriate destination that has various strengths; the fact that it is a World Heritage Site makes it an appropriate destination for tourists. Many people around the globe appreciate a lot of history that is related to artifacts that are available within the Greenwich Town (Howie 2003, p. 178). The fact that Greenwich i s a UNESCO World Heritage Site means that it is an endangered tourist destination and this could mean that the future prospect of its development is at a threat. There is limited development that should be done to the facilities that are available in the World Heritage site to retain the historical value of these facilities. This is because such facility should not be modified or developed because this would change their value. This makes them vulnerable to due to exposure to tourism and environment changes. The fact that the destination has the status of a World Heritage Site makes it popular among tourists, this creates a lot of pressure on the resources and it is a challenge to manage the tourist population (Flanagan 2002, p. 77). There are various opportunities that are associated with the Greenwich Town. This means that a lot of economic gains are made from the many tourists who visit this destination. There are direct gains to the management of the site as a result of the reve nues that are realized from the fees that tourists pay. It also facilitates the existence of a sound investment environment, the members of the community benefit through direct and indirect investment that is facilitated by the tourism sector. There are threats associated with the management of Greenwich and particularly the management of tourist, irregular visits and this means that the tourists’ number may be high during certain seasons. This demands good management strategies that ensure that the tourists get the benefit of visiting the destination.Advertising Looking for case study on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More There is the challenge of providing security measures that ensures that tourists are safe and secure. There is need to provide enough tour guides who provide assistance to the tourists. Tourists also cause a threat to the artifacts at the heritage site. There is need to ensure that the historical value of the tourist destination is maintained. The management of the Greenwich Town is under the council and the steering group. The marketing plan is run by the organizations, this exposes it to political controls and this brings in the issue of political factor (Laws 1995, p. 48). The payment of taxes to the government, laws regarding the employment of staffs, environmental regulations that are associated with its management, there are also other trade restrictions that are applied by the government regarding the issues of human traffic and the political stability of the country and this has greatly been affected by the development of terrorism. The world is also experiencing challenges that are economical in nature and Greenwich is not spared. The issue of growth of certain economies, variation of interest rates and the exchange rates that has been attributed to inflation. The influence of the British Empire makes many common law states to identify with the Greenwich, tourist across the globe wish to identify with the many features that are found in Greenwich. There are challenges that are associated with this issue, health concerns, the population of tourists is overwhelming and this challenges the safety of the town and owing to the fact that different tourists have their own attitude which may not be easily pointed out. There is a lot of technological development in the world. Greenwich is a well automated tourist destination and this makes it accessible. The marketing of tourism in Greenwich has also been changed through advertising and online marketing. There are also legal issues that are involved in the management of Greenwich as a tourist destination. Thes e includes health laws, consumer related laws, traffic laws among others (Flanagan 2002, p. 142). The Identification of Key Organizations Involved in the Management of Greenwich as a Tourist Destination and their influence in it The Steering Group and the World Heritage Site Marketing Group are responsible for the management of Greenwich. The World Heritage Site Marketing is reported to have developed the annual marketing plan which is shared between the stakeholders (Elper 2002, p. 71). The group’s activities are managed and coordinated by the council on the account of the partners. This is done with the objective of ensuring that Greenwich remains a sustainable economic and a cultural destination of the international repute. These groups work towards value addition through marketing efforts which are either long-term or short term. They also work towards the promotional projects that are designed to place Greenwich close to the marketing segments. The groups generate econom ies of scale for the individual organizations by means of corporation in marketing strategies. They also work towards the creation of sustainable image and identity of Greenwich as a leisure and business destination. This is only possible through the adoption of strategic approaches in planning. The organizations also take the responsibility of breaking down the funding as per the agreement in the marketing objectives. This naturally depends on the size of the organizations as well as the level of funds availability. These organizations have also developed alliances with other key organizations for strategic contribution and this makes the promotion and management of Greenwich Maritime which includes the Greenwich Town Centre Traders Association and The Greenwich Royal Pack. The plan is locally administered through the World Heritage Site Steering Group and each of the representatives from the delegated group is assigned responsibility. The Greenwich Council administers the budgets on the account of the World Heritage Site subject to any administration voluntary partnership. The Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site Steering Group undertakes the responsibility of managing the plan for the site. This demonstrates the effectiveness of the Public Private Sector partnership that is used in the achievement of sustainable destination promotion and management approach (Elper 2002, p. 63). The strengths of this approach are that there is an extended visitor numbers. It also establishes sustainable destination management systems through the recognized public private partnership that attracts funding. There is also the opportunity that rises through such marketing approach and particularly the effective use of limited financial and human resources that are collected through such approaches. The effect of the world Heritage Site marketing strategy activity is that there is an overall effect of visitor spending and this means more income. The only weakness that rises o ut of this sustainable approach is that the contribution and participation by group members is not compulsory and this can be a potential threat to the development of long term project. The interest of these groups could change thus compromising the very existence of these sustainable visitor management and promotion. The interest of the groups is subject to political influence and controls. The most common political factors that may affect these plans include the laws that regulate the employment, taxation policies, environmental regulations, political stability which cannot be termed as a threat at the moment because the country is not known for political instabilities (Elper 2002, p. 50). There are economic factors, in this case group members contribute depending on their willingness and ability as well as the economic growth, the interests in the market is not stable and this may have great impact on the implementation of long terms goals and objectives. The issue of economic in flation that is being experienced in the European Economic Zone may also affect the tourism industry because many visitors will not be willing to spend on leisure activities. The social factors with the society and the world at large, there issues of health which are highly associated with the movement of the tourists. There is need to enhance the control mechanisms in a way that will effectively manage the high number of tourists without harming the Heritage Site. There is emerging technological development, the group should move towards using technology in advancing the development of good approaches that will facilitate the appropriate approach. The Analysis of Greenwich as Tourist Destination Greenwich as a tourist destination has peer review programs that regulate the implementation of the World Heritage Site Marketing plan. This involves the checking and review programs that advance the standards of delivery through constant improvements. The approach is designed to collect re sources through the Marketing Group. This is achieved through collective bargaining of various supplies such as advertising and designing of well recognized institutions. It ensures that the Greenwich Town is preserved, maintained and promoted in accordance with the principles of sustainable development. The Greenwich Marketing Plan ensures key objective of the heritage site Marketing Plan broadens the appeal to a wide audience of visitors. This is illustrated by the Civic Trust Award of 2004 where it was categorized as the most accessible tourist destination. In addition the coherent approach to the destination analysis has demonstrated that the process in Greenwich is appreciated as a great visitor’s destination. Another factor is that the management has successfully secured funding for the delivery of Greenwich Counsel’s Public Service Agreement. This focuses on the increasing Dockland due to good service delivery to the visitors. It is a strength which makes it app ealing to visitors. There is a limitation of how to handle the challenges that are associated with the high number of visitors and other developing challenges. The issue of service delivery has been well dealt with in the meaning of the hospitality industry making it a popular destination for many. The plan has also managed to balance the needs of the local communities and those of the tourism sector. This is a wise way of striking a balance and it doubles the gains for the visitors who benefit from the members of the community through service delivery like tour guides among others (Barney 2001, p. 143). This is a positive way of ensuring that the visitors appreciate the services. The community hosts the visitors who buy thus sustaining promotions, physical development, and commerce consultation services to the visitors, engagement and the regeneration of the site. This is a fundamental plank in the empowerment of the local communities and it also facilitates the management and deve lopment of tourism at the grassroots level through research, analysis and other forms of engagements. The Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site partnership is appreciated by the office of the Deputy Prime Minister for facilitating the achievement of the beacon council through sustainable tourism. This is regarded as the best tourism Initiative and more so after the foundation of the Best Tourism Initiative in the Visit London Awards 2004 (Elper 2002, p. 96). It makes this planning strategy a strong approach that is appealing to the visitors. The visitors are given value for their money through service delivery. There is less limitation to this approach and this make it more popular to those who seek its services. The awards accredited to the institution are great opportunities because they inspire the visitors with a degree of satisfaction. There are less or no threats in regard to the needs of the visitors. This is a show of satisfaction to aspiring tourists who intent to visit th e heritage site, they are assured of what kind of services to get. The analysis of Greenwich as tourist destination (key features and appeals to visitors) while examined under the PLEST tool of strategic management. The evaluation of the project planning process is that there are political factors that may influence choice of Greenwich as a tourist destination. The laws of the place are well legislated and this encourages the tourist chances of making it their destination of choice (Yeoman 1999, p. 40). Although there are other laws that influence the chances of a tourist making Greenwich their travel destination, the involved parties should mobilize the legislation of laws that encourage the visitation. This may include that adoption of new tax policies that favor people who visit this historical site. The strategic plans should also be compliant with the tax policies, employment laws. The fact that it is a heritage site should be taken seriously through compliance with the relevan t environmental regulations, the available trade restrictions (Barney 2001, p. 127). There is also need to consider the relevant economic factors. This may be established through the assessment of how much the visitors are willing to spend and the specific mode of spending. This will help overcome speculation which is a rather inaccurate way of establishing the visitor’s behaviors and practices. The fact that most of the visited areas could be part of the market that is undergoing recession and this may mean a reduction in the level of visitation, there may need to encourage the visitation during financial crises through offers and waivers that would encourage tourism all year round. Culture should be well addressed to encourage the visitors find a sense of identity whenever they visit Greenwich. This will be an effective way of encouraging tourism. The increase in population is also anticipated and this can be managed through planning for expansions of social structures to e nsure needs of visitors are met. It will also help to manage the population of visitors (Morgan et al. 2004, p. 53). Technology is a big ideal in the implementation of any plans. This means that there is need to exploit the existing innovation for the purpose of effective realization. Social media may be used for the purpose of effectively marketing the destination and getting the needs and expectations of the visitors (Elper 2002, p. 88). Analysis of Key Features Facing the Destination There is a world heritage site that is surrounded by buildings and a landscape setting. The Royal Park creates an architectural symbol of the English artistic, the scientific as well as other institutional endeavor. The most notable is the era of the 17th Century to the 19th Century. The Queen’s house as the first Palladian building in the English empire while the old Royal Naval College, which was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and Hawks Moor and it gives nothing but the English Baroque. Th e landscape and the ensemble of the buildings at Greenwich Town give a potent architecture (Barney 2001, p. 87). The Greenwich Park has also been re-planned with a historical attribute to Andre Le Notre dating back to the 1660s. It surrounds Royal Observatory, a scientific designed building which has served as a research centre for over 250 years. It has also been used for the purpose of time keeping and other forms of taxonomy. This led to the navigational and temporal Greenwich Meridian dating back in the 1884. The Royal Hospital for the seamen was established in the 1696-1869. These institutions create many historical features that are part of the Greenwich. They entail what is regarded as the early modern history of the British Empire which is attributed to British maritime power, scientific development, educational development and the British culture. This gives a historical account to the very existence of the modern day role of these historical institutions (Gibson 2005, p. 3 4; Papatheoderou 2006). The World Heritage site status indicates the significance of the site to the world. The management plan is reported to be reviewed after every five years with the objective of preserving the character of the Greenwich. It promotes cultural and educational resources. This makes it very important for the welfare of the society. The set guidelines help in the conservation and also ensure that the sites maintain its interpretation to the posterity. This has had significant impact on the Greenwich as it was demonstrated with the opening-up of the Old Royal Naval College to the public. The Queen’s house, Greenwich is one of the great features of the Greenwich gives a detailed account of the historical development of the British Empire. The Queen’s house creates a history and thus serves as a learning institution for many who visit it (Flanagan 2002, p. 60). The Alfege Anglican Parish which lies at the centre of the Greenwich is more than one thousand years old and brings the memory of Archbishop Alfege who was the Archbishop of Canterbury. It forms part of the long British history. The Trafalgar Tavern is also a feature that forms part of the Greenwich making it a symbolic figure in the history of the British Empire. The National Maritime Museum gives a detailed history of the British Empire with collection of exploration collections. It gives a detailed history of the rise of the British Empire. The Royal River which creates beautiful scenery is also one of the great features within Greenwich. Any visitor would not resist visiting all this destinations and this informs the need for an effective management policy that would ensure that all stakeholders benefits (Mearns 2011, p. 63). Analysis of Issues Involved in Destination Visitor Experience There is need to understand the behavioral trends of the visitors, consumer experience is an issue of concern in the development of an effective plan. The understanding of the consumerâ₠¬â„¢s behaviors regarding the artistic, entertainment, sporting activities is an important issue for the purpose of information processing. There is need to identify the leisure experience of the visitors for the emotional perspective. This is important for the purpose of understanding the appropriate destination management (Barney 2001, p. 67; Shackley 1998). There is need to change from the rational to the emotional perspective which the visitor use in decision making. This is an effective approach because it evaluates the exact expectations of the visitor. This mode eliminates the traditional assumption which assumes that people come with vague expectations. It helps assemble the actual feelings that are associated with the experience of the visitor. This is an efficient mode of evaluating the level of satisfaction of the visitor and it informs the development of effective strategies that are designed to meet the actual expectations of the visitors. This can be termed as a checkl ist on the discrete of an actual experience of a visitor. This is a move that can be regarded as strength in strategic planning as it eliminates the weaknesses that are attributed with the overall assumption that a visitor is satisfied without actually verifying the same (Gibson 2005, p. 34; Shackley 2003). The plan is effective because it indicates an effective change from assuming the expectations to satisfying the actual interests. It is clear that a consumer will settle on a destination that they are congruent with or one that enhances his or her ideals. It is important to understand that a visitor would naturally settle for one convention beyond the daily hustles. The challenges and pleasures of the visitor should not be physical. This is because experience offer intellectual stimulus for learning and growth (Gibson 2005, p. 79; UNCSD 2001). There is need to have an understanding of the role of the visitor as the active participant. This is because tourist could have experiment al experience that is formed by their motivation. This approach has its limitation, it would be difficult to access all the visitors and establish their true experience. There is also the issue of ideological difference that could be attributed to test and preferences. The test of one visitor could vary with that of another. There is also the issue of cultural experience. There are also other reasons that could be used to verify the validity of such a plan. Technology may be used to evaluate the experience of the visitor through the social media (Barney 2001, p. 46). Recommendation for a Sustainable Approach to Provide a Quality Visitor Experience There is need for positive changes that would facilitate the full realization of the potential of the promotion of a sustainable approach in the provisions of a quality visitor experience. The following areas have been recommended as deserving more enhancements (World Tourism Organization 2007, p. 58). In order to provide quality services to the visitors, there is need for the review of the implementation of the World Heritage Marketing Plan. More efforts should be placed on the quality service delivery. It is recommended that the improvement be realized through constant improvements. It is recommended that more focus be placed on the changing consumer expectations. This would provide quality accommodation and more visitors would appreciate the value and attention they get. This may be realized through encouraging the stakeholders to be more innovative. This can be achieved through working together as the social agents of change that would facilitate effective realization of effective plans for the visitors. The achievement of quality tourism services can only be attained through close engagement of all the stakeholders. It has been observed that the local authority has a critical role in the management of the destinations and have a role in supporting the delivery of services by the partners. The technology is a big ideal in the implementation of any plans. This means that there is need to capitalize on the existing innovation for the purpose of effective realization. The social media may be used for the purpose of effectively marketing the destinations and getting the views on the needs and expectations of the visitors. References Barney, J 2001, Strategic capabilities and knowledge transfer, Arturo Publication, Oxford. Eagles, P et al 2003, Tourism and protected areas: benefits beyond Boundaries, Martin Publication, London. Elper, W 2002, Ecotourism: principles, practices and policies sustainability, Longman, New York. Flanagan, S et al 2002, Tourism destination planning, Tourist Research Centre, Dublin. Gibson, H 2005, Understanding sport tourism experience, Butterworth Heinemann, Oxford. Howie, F 2003, Managing the tourist destination, Thomas Learning, London. Laws, E 1995, Tourist destination planning, Tourist Research Centre, Dublin. Mearns, F 2011, Using sustainable tourism indicators t o measure the stability of community based ecotourism ventures, Pink Trek, Lesotho. Morgan, N et al 2004, Destination Branding: creating the unique destination proposition, Butterworth Heinemann, Oxford. Papatheoderou, A 2006, Managing tourism destination, Edward Edgar, London. Shackley, M 1998, Visitors management: case studies from the World Heritage sites, Oxford Publication, London. Shackley, M 2003, Managing sacred sites: service provision and visitor experience, Thomson Learning, London. UNCSD, 2001, From theory to practice: indicators for sustainable development, UNCSD, New York. World Tourism Organization, 2007, A practical guides to destination management, World Tourism Organization, Madrid. Yeoman, T 1999, Heritage Visitor Attractions: An operations management perspective, Cassel Publication, London.

Friday, November 22, 2019

Write a College Term Paper

Write a College Term Paper Write a College Term Paper Write a College Term Paper Students are often intimidated about writing college-level term papers. By reviewing key prewriting strategies, you will learn how confidently begin writing formal college term paper. This lesson is designed to show how thinking about purpose, audience, and role can shape your writing and make it easier for you narrow down a topic. Being able to generate ideas is also a key skill for writers of term papers as you continue to narrow down your topic. You probably have already heard what a thesis statement is, and by reviewing key strategies for writing the thesis, you will be able to craft your own thesis. Once you have a preliminary thesis, you can begin to outline ideas, which will help you to organize your thoughts and make the writing process much easier. Term paper: Considering Your Writing Context The writing context includes three key factors: The writers purpose The writers audience The writers role Term paper purpose Think about any recent writing that youve done, whether it was writing an term paper for one of your classes or sending an email home to your parents. No matter type of writing youre doing, there is a reason why youre writing. In general, there are four main reasons for writing: To entertain the reader To relate an experience and/or express feelings To inform the reader about something interesting or important To persuade the reader to think or act in a particular way Understanding your purpose before you start writing is an important part of the argumentative term paper writing process: Term paper audience Having a clear idea of who your audience will be is just as important as identifying your purpose. First, you need to have a clear sense of who your reader is, and second, you need to know what the reader is like. Just about every decision you make about your writing will be influenced by your audience. For instance, what type of vocabulary would be appropriate for your audience? Will you need to define certain terms or can you assume your audience already knows the given terminology? Interesting posts: Dissertation Paper PhD Thesis My Dissertation What is a Thesis? Thesis Methodology

Thursday, November 21, 2019

A critical analysis of Roald Dahl Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

A critical analysis of Roald Dahl - Essay Example However, a sense of the failures of family and the retribution that could be unleashed should magic be real can be found within the pages of his amazing work Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has inspired two films based on the book. These films are somewhat different in their treatment of the story, but the result has touched several generations of film buffs as well as given Dahl a wider audience for his delightful tales. Matilda, James and the Giant Peach, as well as The Fantastic Mr. Fox have all found their way onto film. The stories by Dahl are highly unique and original in such a way as to have a noticeable exceptionality in the way in which they are accepted. Peter Hollindale (2008), relates a story of a British comedy that begins with a man reading a story to two children The story becomes increasingly disturbing until he turns it over and checks the cover. With a sigh of relief, as if understanding, he says â€Å"Oh, it’s by Roald Dahl† (271). This was the power of his extraordinary point of view. Much is forgiven in the way of the dark tales because the writing is such that it makes sense by the end. This is not to say that there isn’t a great deal of criticism over his work. According to Steinberg and Kinchella (2004), the story of Matilda has an aspect of disrespect toward parents within the content that has been an area of concern for some parents in reading it to their children (185). Another aspect of Dahl’s work that creates criticism is in the way that there is a defined separation between children and their parents and that there is a defined right and wrong type of family that suggests that all families should be alike (Alston 2008: 64). This sense of separation is further exacerbated by a sense that adults tend to be less intelligent sometimes than their children, encouraging a point of view that children should trust themselves over the influence of a parental decision. Still, the

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

The Creation of the NAIOS Regional Organization Assignment

The Creation of the NAIOS Regional Organization - Assignment Example NAIOS is governed by five principles organs. The general assembly is the highest organ in the hierarchy. It is comprised of all the eight heads of states and an ex-official whose role is to chair assembly meetings and also acts as the head of the organization (United Nations, 2013). The ex –official is given the title of a secretary general. In this case, he or she is a non-partisan person elected by the eight members of states. The general assembly is in charge of forming commissions and committees that manage the affairs of the organization for instance peace keeping, financial control and planning as well as resource management. Second in the hierarchy is the Security Council. This arm is made up of a centralized defense force that is in charge of security in the whole region (United Nations, 2013). The council provides universal military support to countries with no defensive force such as Aldor. It also protects the region against pirates who plan to invade the harbors an d help in the control of the use of nuclear weapons by Rantania and Zwanen. The third organ is Economic and Social council. The council is made up of cabinet ministers from all the eight countries that are in charge of social and economic prospects in the region. In fourth place is the secretariat. This organ is headed by the secretary General. It acts as the center of activity in the organization (United Nations, 2013). In this case, it is involved in conflict resolution over resources for instance the conflict between Rantania and Aldonia over the Gok Harbor. NAIOS has control over political, financial, project planning and trade issues in the Eastern Africa region. The fifth organ is the international court of justice which is in charge of international prosecution and law control in the region. Its major role is to hear cases of conflict between member states. Regional history has made it hard for the organization to conduct a regional election. This is as a result of the

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Organ Donation Essay Example for Free

Organ Donation Essay Problem Statement: The increase in organ donation results in it being sold as a means of gaining income for many persons in the Jamaican society. It results in the body being viewed as a utilitarian object rather than a metamorphic entity that people can call their own. The ways involved in obtaining organs for usage by medical researchers are inhumane with limited emphasis being placed on the effects the process have on members of the society. Purpose of Study: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the social, economic and ethical issues associated with organ donation and to outline the different methods that could be implemented to regulate the extraction of organs from humans. Research Questions: What are the main economic, social and ethical implications of organ donation in the Jamaican society? Subsidiary Questions What are the different ways in which one may try to obtain organs for sale or scientific studies? What impact does the harvesting of organs have on economical developments in different countries? What are the implications of the uses of organs in the future of health care in Jamaica? Hypothesis: Organs donation accounts for: 1. An increase in the black market 2. exploitation of the human body and 3. leads to the misconception that once a donor gives an organ, the recipient of the organ will survive. Significance: The results obtained from the study will help to enhance information that will educate the public, future researchers and medical professionals about the ways to reduce the economic, social and ethical impacts of organ donation. Literature Review Organ donation is important in improving the quality and the quantity of life of individuals in need of organs in the society. However, the need for increase in organ donation is often affected by ethical, economic and social impacts associated with both the recipients and the donors of the organs. It is with this that an in-depth research was conducted to find out the ways involved in obtaining kidneys for medical usage and the effects the process may have on individuals within the society. Findings showed that once a more structured system is implemented to regulate organ donation, there will be an increase in the number of organs donated and a reduction in the impacts stated above. What is organ donation and what are the different ways in which one may try to obtain organs for sale or scientific studies? Wilkinson (2011) states that organ donation is the removal of tissues and organs with consent from owners or decision makers, such as family members, for the main purpose of transplanting them into other persons. She suggests the many routes in which persons may obtain organ from donors. These include buying it on the black market as it is the cheapest and easier route to go or it may be stolen from the body of deceased persons which poses the risk of exploitation leading to the development of ethical issues. She alludes to the point that the word â€Å"donation† suggests a willing gesture or that permission must be given to facilitate the process of acquiring the organ being transplanted. This is further supported by the fact that humans, before they die, may sign an agreement to have their body donated to medicine and therefore is subjected to organ extraction or even medical researching. Similarly to the views of Wilkinson, Andrews and Nelkins (2001) believes that it is morally incorrect for the body to be exploited by medical professionals and wealthy business men. They support the argument that before medical professionals can begin extracting organs for donation, they should first receive consent from patients and family members of the patients. This is however contradicted by Barnett and Kaserman (2006) who are of the opinion that once the benefit of extracting organs includes saving the life of individuals, it should never have to come down to a consent form to continue the procedure. They are not indicating that consent is not important, however, just by the fact that the patient has signed over all rights of his body to medical professionals to provide treatment and certain important diagnosis; it should not be a problem for organs to be extracted to carry out various studies to improve the quality and quantity of life. As stated by Herring (2002), there may two types of organ donors: living donors and deceased donors (brain dead). In order for the organs of the deceased to be used, there must be enough oxygen in the organ required to last for 18 hours. He is of the opinion that these organs should be acquired by signing of consent forms by family members or by the patient himself before death. When the patient is conscious, he should inform family members his plan to donate organs so as to prevent any disputes after his death. He sees the body as more than an entity that hosts organs. Rather, it is a part of a person’s persona and what makes them who they are. The body should be viewed as a patient one that still has rights and should still be respected. What impact does the harvesting of organs have on economical developments in Jamaica? Firstly, with an increase in the demand for organ donation, there poses strong economical problems amongst various persons involved in the above said situations. Due to its importance, organs are very expensive and may not be accessible by members of the poorer class (Kaserman, 2006). This is problematic as it may result in organs being acquired illegally. It is important to note that for any member of the society (generally that of the poorer class), an organ sale on the black market is much more cost effective than having medical personnel performing the extraction process. Furthermore, this may result in the exploitation of individuals exposed to the black market as professionals for example doctors and medical researchers also purchase kidneys and other organs from the black market, thereby drastically increasing the price of the organs once it reaches in a more formal setting (Wilkinson 2011). This act has created a link between both economic and legal issues as the black market has been deemed illegal in countries such as India, Canada and the United States. Serious consequences may also develop from being an active participant in the black market that could result in jail time or even the payment of fines much greater than that of what the kidneys were sold for. On a more important note, as stated by Taylor (2005), the problems associated with the development of the black market can be alleviated if a more structured system for selling and obtaining organs was implemented. It would help to increase the amount of people willing to donate kidneys and would allow for a cheaper and easily accessible market, making it more economically friendly to members of the poorer class. According to (Brezin 2010) â€Å"†¦if an incentive is given to donors, more organs may be given to the health centers to meet the demand of the organs required.† In other words, each time an individual donates an organ, he or she will be given money for the organ donated. Compensation accounts for hospital visits and follow up examinations, counseling and screen testing to see if the donor is physically and mentally fit, and surgery. However, while there may be an increase in the number of organs donated, it may begin to reduce any profit that might be made by the organizations due to the increase in incentives to compensate the donors. What are the implications of the uses of organs in of health care? According to Taylor (2005), â€Å"there have been numerous deaths due to the failure of organ transplant in patients because of the decrease in organ donation.† In countries such as China and the United States of America, the waiting list for organs is long and approximately 11 individuals die per day from the need of an organ. Even though organizations such as the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network have been put in place with the aim of educating people about the importance for organ donation, there is still a shortage of organs in the health care system. But why is this so? Organ donation may be beneficial for the recipient, but it often brings struggles to the donor. When organ transplant is successful, approximately 3.5 years is added to the life span of the recipient thus enabling him or her to live a normal and fulfilling life with hardly any complications Bainham (2002). This approximation has helped to relax the psycho-social of family members that were once with the struggle of obtaining organs for their loved ones. However, Andrew and Nelkins (2001) argues the fact that in the case of the live donor, the psychological aspect of dealing with surgery, medical visits and complications months after surgery is the contributing factor that may allow for them not participate in organ donation. More importantly, financial struggles associated with donating such as hospital visits, transportation and follow up examination is overwhelming as donors are often expected to take care of the cost of donation as the system is one which is voluntary. In the Jamaican context, Aaron (2009) supports the fact that establishing an organ and tissue bank will help to save lives and also improve on the quality of life. He elaborates on the point that despite its importance, many Jamaicans are still against the establishment of an organ bank due to cultural and religious reasons. Many Jamaicans are discouraged because of the long waiting list and the shortage of organs. Aaron questions the processes which will be implemented in selecting individuals who will be able to acquire organs and believes that acquiring organs should not be based on how much profit may be made, but rather form an altruistic perspective. Similarly, in an article found in the Gleaner (2000) entitled Organ Transplantation, it was discovered that more than 400 patients are awaiting kidney in the country. It also brings across the light that organs are in fact needed in Jamaica. Methodology The study will involve evaluating the social, economic and ethical issues associated with organ donation and outlining the different methods that could be implemented to regulate the extraction of organs from humans. This will be spearheaded by the following research questions: 1. What is organ donation and what are the different ways in which one may try to obtain organs for sale or scientific studies? 2. What impact does the harvesting of organs have on economical developments in Jamaica? 3. What are the implications of the uses of organs in of health care? The targeted population for this study is the Jamaican society due to the many issues that have prevented the steady transplantation of organs needed. Data collection methods will be from both primary and secondary sources. Data will be collected from the works of previous researchers such as published books and Newspaper articles. The main instrument to collect data will be through an interview with 5 medical professionals. The interview questions will be surrounded on the importance of organ donation and will consist of 8 structured questions. These questions will collectively be geared towards answering the research question. The research will take place over a 5 months period in which drafts of the literature review will be handed in, compile interview questions, administer the question and then analyse the data received. The limitation to this study is that not the entire Jamaican population can be studied and therefore only selected hospitals will be focused on.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Environmental Justice: Raising Awareness Essay -- Argumentative Persua

Environmental Justice: Raising Awareness The Discovery of Environmental Racism The majority of the U.S. population is not aware of the problem of "environmental justice." Most people would not even know what the term means if they heard it. In this paper I will write about the discovery of "environmental racism" in the early 1980s and report what is known about it today. I will then argue that making the general public aware of the problem is a crucial step towards environmental justice. The discovery of environmental racism can be traced to the plan of a new PCB (polychlorinated biphenyls) landfill in a predominantly black community in Warren County, North Carolina, in 1982. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) gives the following "background information" on PCBs (1): PCBs have significant ecological and human health effects including carcinogenicity (i.e., probable human cancer causing or promoting agent), neurotoxicity, reproductive and developmental toxicity, immune system suppression, liver damage, skin irritation and endocrine disruption. These toxic effects have been observed from both acute and chronic exposures to PCB mixtures with varying chlorine content. PCBs do not breakdown readily in the environment and are taken into the food chain by microorganisms. PCBs are then biologically accumulated and concentrated at levels much higher than found in the surrounding environment thus posing a greater risk of injury to human health and the environment than might be imagined. The already poor and disadvantaged community considers the addition of a toxic waste dump unacceptable; residents oppose the landfill by organizing protests that "some have termed the largest civil-rights demonstration since the 1960s... ...ental Justice Advisory Council (1998). Homepage. http://es.epa.gov/oeca/oej/nejac/ (31 Oct. 1998). 11. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (1998). Homepage. http://www.niehs.nih.gov/ (31 Oct. 1998). 12. Office of Minority Health (1998). Office of Minority Health Resource Center. http://www.omhrc.gov/ (31 Oct. 1998). 13. National Law Journal (1992). Unequal Protection: The Racial Divide in Environmental Law. As quoted by: Bullard, R. D. (1993). Residential apartheid in Urban America. Earth Island Journal 8, 35-36. Retrieved October 31, 1998 from the World Wide Web: http://insite.palni.edu/ 14. Environmental Justice Resource Center (1998). Homepage. http://www.ejrc.cau.edu/ (31 Oct. 1998). 15. Markowitz, G. & Rosner, D. (1998). Pollute the poor. Nation 267, 8-9. Retrieved October 31,1998 from the World Wide Web: http://insite.palni.edu/

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Home Deferring Dreams in a Raisin in the Sun

In Lorraine Hansberry’s play, â€Å"A Raisin in the Sun,† she does a great job of intertwining Langston Hughes’ poem â€Å"Montage of a Dream Deferred,† to incorporate her underlying theme of dreams. In his poem, Hughes asks â€Å"What happens to a dream deferred? † and then goes on to list the different things that might happen to a person if his dreams are put â€Å"on hold. † His overall point is that whatever happens to a postponed dream is never positive. Meanwhile, the question Hansberry poses in her play is, â€Å"What happens to a person whose dreams grow more and more passionate — while his hopes of ever achieving those dreams grow dimmer each day? Dreams get put on hold for many different reasons but in the case of the Youngers, it was their home environment that ensured that none of them would be able to accomplish their ultimate dreams. Lena, Walter, Ruth, and Beneatha Younger were a poor African American family that share d a small one-bedroom apartment in the south side of Chicago. Each person had vastly different goals and dreams. Being the head of the household, Lena dreamed the dreams of her children and would do whatever it took to make those dreams come true.Walter, Lena's oldest son, set his dream on starting his own business with a liquor store. He had the basic â€Å"American Dream† of starting from the bottom before ultimately working your way to the top with his entrepreneurial spirit. Beneatha, on the other hand, wanted to become a doctor when she got out of college and Ruth, Walter's wife, wanted to be wealthy. While trying to reach these dreams, each member of the the Younger family had their own dreams postponed and put on hold at some point or another for various reasons.Lena was a widow in her early sixties who devoted her life to her children after her husband's death. Retired from working for the Holiday's family, she was waiting for her husband's insurance money to arrive. With the ten thousand dollar check in her hand, Lena decided to buy a three thousand dollar house in Clybourne Park and she was also going to put some of the money in the bank for Beneatha's medical school. She realized this money was a one-way ticket for her family to get out of their environment and improve their lives and believed buying a house in a different neighborhood was the best way to do this.However, Walter was upset when he heard his mother had spent the insurance money on the house and thought it wasn't fair that Beneatha got some of it for her medical school while he got nothing for his liquor store business. Lena, who always wanted her son to be happy, trustingly gave the rest of the insurance money to Walter. However, he then gave the money to Bobo and Willy, two of his friends with questionable character, to help him get his liquor license. Unsurprisingly, Willy betrayed Walter, taking off with the money and causing his dream to crumble to pieces.Walter was deceive d by his friend Willy but the reality is his dream was never going to happen anyway, and the rest of the family knew this. Living where they lived, the environmental pressures were extremely high. There were five people living in a tiny, run-down, roach-infested one-bedroom apartment, with two families sharing a bathroom. Everyone was looking for a way to improve their lives and Walter wanted to be the one to do it with his liquor store. â€Å"Sometimes it’s like I can see the future stretched out in front of me – just plain as day. The future, Mama.Hanging over there at the edge of my days. Just waiting for me – a big, looming blank space – full of nothing. Just waiting for me† (980). Walter knew there was no future ahead of him if he continued on his life path and he knew he needed to get out. Living in this type of environment, your dreams will always be put on hold until you can finally get out. Ruth, Walter's wife, was pregnant at the time her husband was trying to start up his liquor store and she realized her dream of being wealthy and having a fine family was simply just that – a dream.To her, it was a consolation that her husband had come back to reality after his goals fell through. The problem Walter faced and the reason he was so unsuccessful was that his main goal was not to escape their environment, but merely to improve it. Due to where they lived, the family was destined to fail unless they made a move to get away from it. A lot of the family realized this but Walter didn’t. As Kristin Mathews says in her article â€Å"The Politics of â€Å"Home† in Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun, â€Å"Walter’s failing is his acceptance of the capitalist economic system that necessarily excludes him from ascendancy† (par. ). She says that Walter doesn’t wish to change the system but merely change his position in it and until the very end of the play, he is willing to â€Å"surrender his will to this system and exchange his dignity for whatever ‘life’ it might offer him and his family† (7). Unlike Walter, Beneatha, on the other hand, knew that she wanted to escape the system altogether. This is why she was extremely upset when she found out Walter didn't put anything in the bank for her medical school because she knew that was her way out.She gave up hope and her dream of becoming a doctor seemed to fade away with Walter’s liquor store business. Fortunately, her friend Asagai came over and took her out of her environment. By marrying him and moving to Nigeria to practice her medical career, she found her new ticket out of the environment and system that was setting her up for failure. Lena was also well aware of the difficulties of living where they did. She knew moving away was the best decision for the family which is why she bought the house in Clybourne Park with some of the insurance money she received.However, pr ior to the family moving, Mr. Lindner, a representative from Clybourne Park, offered to pay the Youngers to not go into his neighborhood. Lindner, along with the rest of the community, didn’t want a black family living in their neighborhood. Taking the money would have been immoral in the family's eyes, and prioritizes money over human dignity. They understand that moving is the best choice for the family but once again, Walter did not. He was willing to push all his ethical beliefs to the side to take the money and improve his life within his system before ultimately changing his mind.Even though the road ahead will be difficult, they know that they have made an honorable choice and have finally gotten out of the environment that has been holding them back this whole time. They didn’t just improve their lives within the system, they got out of it. Lorraine Hansberry had successfully described the four main characters in the story as human beings with desires, dreams, aspirations, conflict, foibles, and strength. It was â€Å"A Raisin in the Sun† that expressed those dreams and desires and how they ended up as â€Å"dreams deferred. Once the family was finally able to leave their home environment in the south side of Chicago, their dreams began to form into more of a reality. A major underlying theme of the book is to not give up on your dreams and do whatever it takes to accomplish those dreams as soon as possible. It is very rare that putting your dreams on hold turn out in a positive way so you need to seize the moment at all times and push aside anything that holds you back. The Youngers realized that what was holding them back was the system of their home environment and they got away from it as soon as they could and they were happier for it.Works Cited Hansberry, Lorraine. â€Å"A Raisin in the Sun. † The Norton Introduction to Literature. By Alison Booth and Kelly J. Mays. New York: W. W. Norton &, 2011. 950-1021. Print. Hu ghes, Langston. â€Å"What Happens to a Dream Deferred? † The Norton Introduction to Literature. By Alison Booth and Kelly J. Mays. New York: W. W. Norton &, 2011. 950. Print. Kristin L. Matthews. â€Å"The Politics of â€Å"Home† in Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun. † Modern Drama 51. 4 (2008): 556-578. Project MUSE. Web. 14 Mar. 2013. .

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Drug Addiction Disease or Choice? Essay

Drug addiction, disease or choice, the National Institution of Drugs Association (NIDA) has determined Drug Addiction a chronic, relapsing brain disease while opposing views debate Drug Addiction as solely a choice controlled voluntarily? Drug addiction is now recognized as a chronic relapsing brain disease expressed in the form of compulsive behaviors. Hence, the estimated economic cost contributed to disease foundations is $181Billion a year? Could this be a loophole for obtaining funds and doesn’t this kind of money seem high to be contributed to a voluntarily poor decision? Weather you believe addiction to be a disease or a choice is to be seen. Many well respected professors and scientist claim addiction is a scapegoat behavior that has been incorrectly identified as a physical or mental illness, an addict is only a victim of bad science and misguided policy. NIDA has made ground-breaking discoveries about the brain and has revolutionized our understanding of drug abuse a nd drug addiction. Later to be defined is what the significant difference between abuse and addiction, which can ultimately change ones point of view. The following is a combination of research by medical institutions and well respected professional in the fields of science, along with two very interviews, with an ex drug addict turned counselor for a methadone treatment facility, an individual in active addiction, and a recovering addict. The experience, strength, and hopes of these professionals and the personal trauma had by each of these addicts is part of a message that should be heard by anyone ever touched by the disease of addiction in any way shape or form. Drug Addiction is a growing problem today and has caught the attention of many professionals these professionals have opposing views of the cause, some will say Drug addiction is a disease while others will claim it is a voluntary choice of poor decisions making. NIDA has determined that addiction is a disease. The big controversy is said to be in the difference of terminology. Before one can make the assessment weather addiction is a  disease or choice they must first understand the difference between addiction and abuse. What are the differences Between a Drug Abuser, and a Drug Addict? Many people assume that addiction is simply an overuse of drugs, and that the addict is just a drug user who chooses to use too much. But research has shown that addiction, unlike casual drug use, is no longer a matter of free choice. â€Å"Functionally you’ve moved into a different state, a state of compulsive drug use,† says Alan Leshner, Ph.D., director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Drug use really isn’t a choice of morality. By interview with a counselor at a drug rehabilitation center â€Å"Drug addiction is a mental disorder with a physical allergy.† When an addict doesn’t use they become ill physically, muscles tighten, sweats and stomach pains, vomiting and many other flu like symptoms surface. Then the voice in the brain begins to talk to them and it is a vicious cycle of emotional stress. The abuser can use at parties and on special occasions. He or she ma y like to use when they chose, but if they do not use drugs they do not have a mental relapse or physical discomforts. When an addict puts down the drug they are not cured, they are only sober. For this reason many addicts must undergo either a 12 step program or have the support of a drug counselor. An abuser can stop using at any given time and never pick up again. The National Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Medicine, the American Psychiatric Association, and the American Medical Association all define this state of driven, compulsive use as the essence of addiction. Someone who abuses drugs may suffer negative consequences from using, as the addict does, but generally can and does stop when these consequences become too severe. The addict may be unable to stop, even after negative consequences, without medical and/or behavioral help. Says Steven Hyman, M.D., director of the National Institute of Mental Health, â€Å"An alcoholic taking a drink looks like anyone else engaged in that behavior, but what’s happening in his or her head is different.† He or she is in the grip of a powerful compulsion that may lead to a binge. (Firshein, Janet) Some have characterized addiction as a behavioral choice and can be controlled voluntarily. There is an interview with Gene M Heyman a professor at Harvard University, as the conversation around his ideas of addiction being  a voluntary decision and why anyone would want to volunteer to be an addict. Gene Hymens findings are and what they mean. The author argues what has been said about addiction in so many studies, â€Å"drug addiction is a Disease† this means it is not a choice. Heyman states it is simply an act of voluntary choice. While he does not pretend to be a policy expert, he does believe that treatment should consist of non-drug activities to lower the value of the â€Å"drug.† (Akst, Daniel) Heyman states, â€Å"In a most impressive display of brain technology, scientists have used scanning technologies to observe metabolic activity of the brain in action. In a typical demonstration, addicts are shown drug related videos that depict people handling crack pipes and needles. Brain scans capture the viewer’s reaction to these provocative ima ges and represent it as glowing Technicolor splotches of color that represent activation in drug sensitized brain regions. (Videos of neutral contact depict no such activity.)† Heyman goes on to make his claim that this proves that addiction is not a brain state it is a behavior. (Leshner) It’s not strange or unlikely that as soon as a person hears the word’s addiction, they are interpreted immediately as a negative and a stigma is automatically attached to the individual with the addiction. In the article called â€Å"Drug Addiction: A Brain disease?† I have found that there are studies that define â€Å"drug addiction, â€Å"as a compulsion to take drugs. There are many biological factors that are indications of â€Å"drug addiction† being a form of a mental disease do to the lack of control one has in their behavior. â€Å"Drug addiction† affects even the neurotransmitters that one uses to learn or for memory. The studies go on and on and do to the behavioral components there are some scientists and other professionals who seem hesitant to call â€Å"drug addiction† a brain disease. (Pietas’, Nicole) Some say it is a disease some say it’s a choice. None the less, he disease of addiction has become such the problem in the United States of America it is considered the most costly and damaging DISEASE by the National Institute of Drug Abuse. This kind of money being delegated for these drug addicts and alcoholics is alarming. If not a disease than what is it? The evidence and research has been done. The brain behaves differently in an addict. When one ingests drugs one of the changes is the rise in available levels of certain  neurotransmitters associated with feelings of pleasure. Key among these is dopamine; a naturally occurring neuro-transmitter that some scientists now think is implicated in most of the basic human experiences of pleasure. The pleasure of a kiss, a bowl of favorite ice cream, and a compliment may all be related to a rise in dopamine levels in the normal person’s brain. Drugs of abuse also boost dopamine levels. When a person takes a hit of crack cocaine or a drag on a cigarette the drug causes a spike in dopamine levels in the brain, and a rush of euphoria, or pleasure. While it’s not the only chemical involved in drug abuse, experts have come to believe that dopamine is the crucial one. The damage is truly done over time as neurotransmitters are not replaced pain and suffering becomes more real when drugs are not present. The cycle of addiction is so cruelly painful. How can one assume or argue that this is a choice? We would be claiming that 600,000 people currently addicted to heroin today are just gluttons for punishment. Is there a cure for this disease? Unfortunately, no cure up to date, but recovery is possible with persistence, guidance and reinforcement as learned in an interview with Charlotte Doe, an ex addict turned CDAC Certified Counselor of Drug and Alcohol addiction, at Spectrum Health, a methadone rehabilitation center. The question is how bad does one want recovery? When asked, what was her most challenging responsibility; her response was being able to know when someone wasn’t ready and knowing that any day could be their last. She explained how there is no one rule in how to counsel an addict it’s not found in a text book, and no two addicts are the same. Her best gift to offer is being able to identify with the addict from experience. Charlotte also believes strongly in that meetings and step work are incredibly important. Putting the drug down is only the beginning of a long road ahead. The experience strength and hope from a recovering addict and a drug treatment counselor is how this addict is giving back to society. The sad part is that some haven’t truly hit â€Å"rock bottom† and until they do, they will not be ready. Hence, the addict relapsing, this is a term of when an addict puts down the drugs for a period of time to endure recovery and has a setback. There is an active addict which we will call, John Doe, who I had the pleasure of speaking with who shared with me the pain and suffering he goes through. He has attempted recovery numerous times, but  just can’t seem to find a way to stay clean. He knows that when he is in recovery, for example inpatient, he can stay clean. The problem is once subjected to â€Å"life on lifes terms† its back to square one. He also admits that until his enablers, those who make his using possible, stop being providers than he will continue using. Again, hearing those words straight from the mouth of an addict one can agree that until an addict Hits â€Å"rock bottom† there may not be a chance for recovery. Charlotte said it best, an enabler is cheating the addict of his/her â€Å"Rock Bottom†. Tough love is the key in a situation like Johns. His enablers might need to take a step back and let John go through his process. Being addicted can’t be a very pleasurable habit. It’s costly, you have to answer to the drugs regularly, no vacation without them, no chance of separation from the substance while sick and suffering. You are no longer your own boss, the drugs are. Unfortunately for the addict people continue to think it’s primarily a moral and poor Choice caused by being a degenerate and having lack of willpower. As learned in the research addiction is a disease that Causes addicts to have no regard for consequences and to abandoned everyone and everything with no control. Addiction is a disease that causes changes in the brain, which then drive certain behaviors, taking the drug compulsively, but addicts can learn to change the behavior. We wouldn’t blame a person with a heart disease for having a heart attack. But we would guide them into better habits; a healthy diet, exercise, and making sure they are complying with medication. The same with an addict, we can blame them for being sick, but we should encourage and make them responsible for their recovery. The disease itself cannot be cured but can be treated. It’s been said that the public has little sympathy for addicts, but â€Å"whether you like the person or not, you’ve got to deal with their problem as an illness.† Given the views of the professionals and personally affected individuals has your opinion of addiction been altered? Akst, Daniel The 1eBoston Glob, August 9, 2009Akst Daniel www.Boston.com/ bostonglobe/ idea /articles/2009/08/09 Campbell, William G. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, Nov2003, Vol. 48 Issue 10, p669- 674, 6p, 1 Chart; (AN 11539480) Falk,Daniel; Hsiao-Ye Yi; Susanne Hiller-Sturmhà ¶fel. Alcohol Research & Health, 2008, Vol. 31 Issue 2, p100-110, 11p, 4 Feske,Ulrike; Tarter, Ralph; Kirisci, Levent; Pilkonis, Paul. American Journal on Addictions, Mar2006, Vol. 15 Issue 2, p131-137, 7p, 1 Firshein, Janet, PBS Online Leshner Science 3 October 1997: 45 DOI:10.1126/science.278.5335.45, www.scienceAAAS.org the Addiction Is a Brain Disease, and It Matters Miriam-Webster, I. (2002). Merriam-Webster’s Third New International Dictionary Unabridged. Retrieved www.mwu.eb.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/mwu Pietas, Nicole. Drug Addiction: A Brain Disease? Serendip Biology 1/17/08

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Quipu - South Americas Undeciphered Writing System

Quipu - South Americas Undeciphered Writing System Quipu is the Spanish form of the Inca (Quechua language) word khipu (also spelled quipo), a unique form of ancient communication and information storage used by the Inca Empire, their competition and their predecessors in South America. Scholars believe that quipus record information in the same way as a cuneiform tablet or a painted symbol on papyrus do. But rather than using painted or impressed symbols to convey a message, the ideas in quipus are expressed by colors and knot patterns, cord twist directions and directionality, in cotton and wool threads. The first western report of quipus was from the Spanish conquistadors including Francisco Pizarro and the clerics who attended him. According to Spanish records, quipus were kept and maintained by specialists (called quipucamayocs or khipukamayuq), and shamans who trained for years to master the intricacies of the multi-layered codes. This was not a technology shared by everyone in the Inca community. According to 16th-century historians such as Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, quipus  were carried throughout the empire by relay riders, called chasquis, who brought the coded information along the Inca road system, keeping the Inca rulers up to date with the news around their far-flung empire. The Spanish destroyed thousands of quipus in the 16th century. An estimated 600 remain today, stored in museums, found in recent excavations, or preserved in local Andean communities. Quipu Meaning Although the process of deciphering the quipu system is still just beginning, scholars surmise (at least) that information is stored in cord color, cord length, knot type, knot location, and cord twist direction. Quipu cords are often plaited in combined colors like a barber pole; cords sometimes have single threads of distinctively dyed cotton or wool woven in. Cords are connected mostly from a single horizontal strand, but on some elaborate examples, multiple subsidiary cords lead off from the horizontal base in vertical or oblique directions. What information is stored in a quipu? Based on historical reports, they were certainly used for administrative tracking of tributes and records of the production levels of farmers and artisans throughout the Inca empire. Some quipu may have represented maps of the pilgrimage road network known as the ceque system and/or they may have been mnemonic devices to help oral historians remember ancient legends or the genealogical relationships so important to Inca society. American anthropologist Frank Salomon has noted that the physicality of quipus seems to suggest that the medium was exceptionally strong in encoding discrete categories, hierarchy, numbers, and grouping. Whether quipus have narratives embedded in them as well, the likelihood that well ever be able to translate story-telling quipus is very small. Evidence for the Quipu Use Archaeological evidence indicates that quipus have been in use in South America at least since ~AD 770, and they continue to be used by Andean pastoralists today. The following is a brief description of evidence supporting quipu use throughout Andean history. Caral-Supe culture (possible, ca 2500 BC). The oldest possible quipu comes from the Caral-Supe civilization, a preceramic (Archaic) culture in South America made up of at least 18 villages and enormous pyramidal architecture. In 2005, researchers reported a collection of strings twisted around small sticks from a context dated to approximately 4,000-4,500 years ago. Further information has not been published to date, and the interpretation of this as a quipu is somewhat controversial.Middle Horizon Wari (AD 600-1000). The strongest evidence for the  pre-Inca use of quipu record keeping is from the Middle Horizon Wari (or Huari) empire, an early urban and perhaps state level Andean society centered at the capital city of Huari, Peru. The competing and contemporary Tiwanaku state also had a cord device called a chino, but little information is available about its technology or characteristics to date.Late Horizon Inca (1450-1532). The best-known and largest number of surviving quipus are dated to the Inca period (1450-Spanish conquest in 1532). These are known both from the archaeological record and from historical reports- hundreds are in museums around the world, with data on 450 of them residing in the Khipu Database Project at Harvard University. Quipu Usage After the Spanish Arrival At first, the Spanish encouraged the use of quipu for various colonial enterprises, from recording the amount of collected tribute to keeping track of sins in the confessional. The converted Inca peasant was supposed to bring a quipu to the priest to confess his sins and read those sins during that confession. That stopped when the priests realized that most of the people couldnt actually use a quipu in that manner: the converts had to return to the quipu specialists to obtain a quipu and a list of sins that corresponded to the knots. After that, the Spanish worked to suppress the use of the quipu. After the suppression, much Inca information was stored in written versions of the Quechua and Spanish  languages, but quipu use continued in local, intracommunity records. The historian  Garcilaso de la Vega based his reports of the downfall of the last Inca king Atahualpa on both quipu and Spanish sources. It might have been at the same time that quipu technology began to spread outside of the quipucamayocs and Inca rulers: some Andean herders today still use quipu to keep track of their llama and alpaca herds. Salomon also found that in some provinces, local governments use historical quipu as patrimonial symbols of their past, although they do not claim competence in reading them. Administrative Uses: Santa River Valley Census Archaeologists Michael Medrano and Gary Urton compared six quipus said to have been recovered from a burial in the Santa River Valley of coastal Peru, to data from a Spanish colonial administrative census conducted in 1670. Medrano and Urton found striking pattern similarities between the quipu and census, leading them to argue that they hold some of the same data. The Spanish census reported information about the Recuay Indians who lived in several settlements near what is today the town of San Pedro de Corongo. The census was split into administrative units (pachacas) which usually coincided with Incan clan group or ayllu. The census lists 132 people by name, each of whom paid taxes to the colonial government. At the end of the census, a statement said the tribute assessment was to be read out to the natives and entered into a quipu. The six quipus were in the collection of the Peruvian-Italian quipu scholar Carlos Radicati de Primeglio at the time of his death in 1990. Together the six quipus contain a total of 133 six-cord color-coded groups. Medrano and Urton suggest that each cord group represents a person on the census, containing information about each individual. What the Quipu Say The Santa River cord groups are patterned, by color banding, knot direction, and ply: and Medrano and Urton believe that it is possible that the name, moiety affiliation, ayllu, and amount of tax owed or paid by an individual taxpayer could well be stored among those different cord characteristics. They believe they have so far identified the way the moiety is coded into the cord group, as well as the amount of tribute paid or owed by each individual. Not every individual paid the same tribute. And they have identified possible ways that proper names might have been recorded as well. The implications of the research are that Medrano and Urban have identified evidence supporting the contention that quipu store a great deal of information about the rural Inca societies, including not just the amount of tribute paid, but family connections, social status, and language. Inca Quipu Characteristics Quipus made during the Inca Empire are decorated in at least 52 different colors, either as a single solid color, twisted into two-color barber poles, or as an unpatterned mottled group of colors. They have three kinds of knots, a single/overhand knot, a long knot of multiple twists of the overhand style, and an elaborate figure-of-eight knot. The knots are tied in tiered clusters, which have been identified as recording the numbers of objects in a base-10 system. German archaeologist Max Uhle interviewed a shepherd in 1894, who told him that the figure-of-eight knots on his quipu stood for 100 animals, the long knots were 10s and single overhand knots represented a single animal. Inca quipus were made from strings of spun and plied threads of cotton or camelid (alpaca and llama) wool fibers. They were typically arranged in only one organized form: primary cord and pendant. The surviving single primary cords are of widely variable length but are typically about a half centimeter (about two-tenths of an inch) in diameter. The number of pendant cords varies between two and 1,500: the average in the Harvard database is 84. In about 25 percent of the quipus, the pendant cords have subsidiary pendant cords. One sample from Chile contained six levels. Some quipus were recently found in an Inca-period archaeological site  right next to plant remains of chili peppers, black beans, and peanuts (Urton and Chu 2015). Examining the quipus, Urton and Chu think they have discovered a recurring pattern of a number- 15- that may represent the amount of tax due to the empire on each of these foodstuffs. This is the first time that archaeology has been able to explicitly connect quipus to accounting practices. Wari Quipu Characteristics American archaeologist Gary Urton (2014) collected data on 17 quipus which date to the Wari period, several of which have been radiocarbon-dated. The oldest so far is dated to cal AD 777-981, from a collection stored in the American Museum of Natural History. Wari quipus are made of cords of white cotton, which were then wrapped with elaborately dyed threads made from the wool of camelids (alpaca and llama). Knot styles found incorporated in the cords are simple overhand knots, and they are predominantly plied in a Z-twist  fashion. The Wari quipus are organized in two main formats: primary cord and pendant, and loop and branch. The primary cord of a quipu is a long horizontal cord, from which hangs a number of thinner cords. Some of those descending cords also have pendants, called subsidiary cords. The loop and branch type has an elliptical loop for a primary cord; pendant cords descend from it in series of loops and branches. Researcher Urton believes that the main organizational counting system may have been base 5 (that of the Inca quipus has been determined to be base 10) or the Wari may not have used such a representation. Sources Hyland, Sabine. Ply, Markedness, and Redundancy: New Evidence for How Andean Quipus Encoded Information. American Anthropologist 116.3 (2014): 643-48. Print.Kenney, Amanda. Encoding Authority: Navigating the Uses of Khipu in Colonial Peru. Traversea 3 (2013). Print.Medrano, Manuel, and Gary Urton. Toward the Decipherment of a Set of Mid-Colonial Khipus from the Santa Valley, Coastal Peru. Ethnohistory 65.1 (2018): 1-23. Print.Pilgaonkar, Sneha. The Khipu-Based Numeration System. ArcXiv arXiv:1405.6093 (2014). Print.Saez-Rodrà ­guez, Alberto. An Ethnomathematics Exercise for Analyzing a Khipu Sample from Pachacamac (Perà º). Revista Latinoamericana de Ethnomatemtica 5.1 (2012): 62-88. Print.Salomon, Frank. The Twisting Paths of Recall: Khipu (Andean Cord Notation) as Artifact. Writing as Material Practice: Substance, Surface and Medium. Eds. Piquette, Kathryn E. and Ruth D. Whitehouse. London: Ubiquity Press, 2013. 15-44. Print.Tun, Molly, and Miguel Angel Diaz Sotelo. Recovering An dean Historical Memory and Mathematics. Revista Latinoamericana de Etnomatemtica 8.1 (2015): 67-86. Print. Urton, Gary. From Middle Horizon Cord-Keeping to the Rise of Inka Khipus in the Central Andes. Antiquity 88.339 (2014): 205-21. Print.Urton, Gary, and Alejandro Chu. Accounting in the Kings Storehouse: The Inkawasi Khipu Archive. Latin American Antiquity 26.4 (2015): 512-29. Print.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

The Meaning and Origin of the Last Name Ramirez

The Meaning and Origin of the Last Name Ramirez Ramirez is a patronymic name meaning son of Ramon or son of Ramiro, a given name meaning wise protector,  from the Germanic elements ragin, meaning counsel and mari, meri,  meaning fame. The name is said to have originated with the   Visigoths, a Germanic goth tribe that settled in the Iberian Peninsula (present-day Spain and Portugal) during the 5th century. Ramirez is the 42nd most popular surname in the United States, the 10th most common surname in Mexico and the 28th most common surname in Spain. Surname Origin:  Spanish, Portuguese Alternate Surname Spellings:  RAMIRES, REINMER, REMER, REIJMERS, REYMERS, REMIREZ Famous People With the Last Name Ramirez Sancho Ramà ­rez  - King of Aragon (1063–1094) and King of Navarre (1076–1094)ngel de Saavedra y Ramà ­rez de Baquedano  - Spanish poet and politicianAramis Ramà ­rez - Dominican former MLB professional baseball playerJosà © Ramà ­rez - founder of  Ramà ­rez GuitarsManny Ramirez  - Dominican American former MLB professional baseball playerLuis Ramà ­rez de Lucena - 16th-century Spanish chess grandmaster Where Do People With the Ramirez Surname Live? The surname distribution data at  Forebears  ranks Ramirez as the 140th most common surname in the world, identifying it as most prevalent in Mexico and with the highest density in Costa Rica. The Ramirez surname is the 7th most common last name found in Colombia, 8th in Costa Rica, 9th in Mexico and Guatemala, and 10th in Paraguay. The Ramires spelling is much less common, ranking 10,317th in the world, and is most prevalent in Portugal and Brazil. Within Europe, Ramirez is most frequently found in Spain, according to  WorldNames PublicProfiler, especially in the Canary Islands and the southern provinces of  Cdiz,  Mlaga,  Jaà ©n, and Sevilla in the Andalucia region. Genealogy Resources for the Surname Ramirez 100 Most Common U.S. Surnames Their MeaningsSmith, Johnson, Williams, Jones, Brown... Are you one of the millions of Americans sporting one of these top 100 common last names from the 2000 census? 100 Most Common Spanish SurnamesHave you ever wondered about your Spanish last name and how it came to be? This article describes common Spanish naming patterns and explores the meaning and origins of 100 common Spanish surnames. How to Research Hispanic HeritageLearn how to get started researching  your Hispanic ancestors, including the basics of family tree research and country-specific organizations, genealogical records, and resources for Spain, Latin America, Mexico, Brazil, the Caribbean and other Spanish speaking countries. Ramirez Family Crest - Its Not What You ThinkContrary to what you may hear, there is no such thing as a Ramirez family crest or coat of arms for the Ramirez surname.  Coats of arms are granted to individuals, not families, and may rightfully be used only by the uninterrupted male-line descendants of the person to whom the coat of arms was originally granted.   Ramirez Family Genealogy ForumSearch this popular genealogy forum for the Ramirez surname to find others who might be researching your ancestors, or post your own Ramirez query. FamilySearch - RAMIREZ GenealogyAccess over 5.8 million free historical records and lineage-linked family trees posted for the Ramirez surname and its variations on this free genealogy website hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. RAMIREZ Surname Family Mailing ListsThis free mailing list for researchers of the Ramirez surname and its variations includes subscription details and a searchable archive of past messages. DistantCousin.com - RAMIREZ Genealogy Family HistoryExplore free databases and genealogy links for the last name Ramirez. The Ramirez Genealogy and Family Tree PageBrowse family trees and links to genealogical and historical records for individuals with the last name Ramirez from the website of Genealogy Today. Sources Cottle, Basil.  Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore, MD: Penguin Books, 1967. Dorward, David.  Scottish Surnames. Collins Celtic (Pocket edition), 1998. Fucilla, Joseph.  Our Italian Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 2003. Hanks, Patrick and Flavia Hodges.  A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1989. Hanks, Patrick.  Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press, 2003. Reaney, P.H.  A Dictionary of English Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1997. Smith, Elsdon C.  American Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997.

Saturday, November 2, 2019

The Darlie Routler murder case Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Darlie Routler murder case - Research Paper Example The death of her sons happened on the night of June 6, 1996. However, several loopholes are evident in the case history that might help Darlie in getting justice. These include murder weapon not traceable, crime scene being tempered badly before securing the place, motive could not be established, among others. However, police investigators argued that Darlie had self-inflicted stab wounds, while she wanted to get rid of her sons, as they did not like her lifestyle. Darlie had a new hope, as Texas Court of Criminal Appeals gave a ruling in June, 2008 for conducting new DNA tests, which could prove her claim of an intruder responsible for the double murder. The new DNA technology may throw fresh light on the evidences that relate to analysis of bloodstains on her nightshirt and socks of the boys. Introduction The case of Darlie Routier is intriguing in many ways, as investigators and prosecutors have not paid heed to the defense pleas for tracing of the missing murder weapon, which is supposed to be knife from the kitchen of Darlie. Although she was convicted for killing her two sons, based on the financial problems her family was facing, Darlie has petitioned before the Texas Criminal Court for retesting of blood samples using the latest DNA technology. The petition of appeals has requested the court to test the bloodstains from tube sock found in the alley, which was not tested earlier. Similarly, investigators had not tested other possible evidence earlier. These included bloodstains on the nightshirt worn by Darlie, blood swabs present on the butcher’s knife in the kitchen of Darlie. While prosecutors had assumed it to be the murder weapon, the testing was not done on this evidence earlier. In addition, there are many loopholes in this case, which may need further investigation, as the court has agreed for DNA retesting. (Direct appeal, 2008) Further to the above, The Texas Criminal Court has laid down, in its order of 13 April 2012, the exact procedu re to be followed for conducting the new DNA tests at the Department of Public Safety Laboratory in Austin, Texas.(Order, 2012) Case Summery and Overview In the absence of any established motive and eyewitness, the case remains a mystery. This is further complicated by the fact that Darlie has continuously denied the charge. However, the fifteen-second â€Å"Silly String† tape, as recorded by a local news station could not establish her innocence. Media had accused Darlie of using sex toys, taking drugs and child abuse. Nevertheless, no evidence could be established to prove these charges. While State prosecutors found it easier to present such arguments to the jury, family and friends describe Darlie as a compassionate female, who cares for her family and others. (The Darlie Routier Case, nd) Prosecution may not be right The police investigation has been doubtful. While only 400 out of total 1000 photos taken from the crime scene were allowed for examination by the defense, the remaining 600 photos had evidence of trampled blood and tempered blood stained items like blankets. There are blood fingerprints of the alleged intruder at the exit along with blood prints on boots that did not belong to any police person. In addition, a sock having a boy’s blood print was found 75 yards away from the home of Darlie. The answer to the question of sock reaching