Measuring Quality of Life Based on Geography

Perhaps the most important aspect of living that we sometimes take for granted is the quality of life that we receive by living and working where we do. For instance, the ability for you to peruse these words through the use of a computer is something that might be censored in some Middle Eastern countries and China. Even our capability to walk safely down a street is something that some countries (and even some cities in the United States) may lack. Identifying areas with the highest quality of life offers an important view of cities and ​countries while providing information for those hoping to relocate. Measuring  Quality of Life By Geography One way of looking at a places quality of life is by the amount of output it produces each year. This is especially handy in the case of a country considering many countries have varying degrees of production, differing resources, and distinctive conflicts and problems within them. The major way of measuring a countrys output per year is by looking at the countrys gross domestic product, or GDP. The GDP is the amount of goods and services produced within a country annually and is typically a good indication of the amount of money flowing in and out of the country. When we divide a countrys total GDP by its total population, we get GDP per capita which reflects what each individual of that country takes home (on average) per year. The idea is that the more money we have the better off we are. Top 5 Countries with the Largest GDPs The following are the top five countries with the largest GDPs in 2010 according to the World Bank: 1) United States: $14,582,400,000,0002) China: $5,878,629,000,0003) Japan: $5,497,813,000,0004) Germany: $3,309,669,000,0005) France: $2,560,002,000,000 Countries with Highest-Ranked GDP Per Capita The five highest-ranked countries in terms of GDP per capita in 2010 according to the World Bank: 1) Monaco: $186,1752) Liechtenstein: $134,3923) Luxembourg: $108,7474) Norway: $84,8805) Switzerland: $67,236 It seems that small developed countries are ranked the highest in terms of per capita income. This is a good indicator to see what the average salary is of a country but can be a bit misleading since these small countries are also some of the richest and, therefore, must be the most well off. Since this indicator can be a bit distorted due to the population size, there exist other factors which further inform quality of life. Human Poverty Index Another metric for looking at how well-off a countrys people are is to take into consideration the Human Poverty Index (HPI) of the country. The HPI for developing countries represents quality of life by formulating the probability of not surviving to age 40, the adult literacy rate, and the average amount of the countrys population who have little to no access to clean drinking water. While the outlook for this metric is seemingly dismal, it does provide important clues as to what countries are better off. There is a second HPI that is used mostly for those countries that are considered developed. The United States, Sweden, and Japan are good examples. The aspects that are formulated for this HPI are the probability of not surviving to age 60, the number of adults lacking functional literacy skills, the percentage of ​the  population with income below the poverty line, and the rate of unemployment lasting longer than 12 months. Other Measures and Indicators of Quality of Life A well-known survey that attracts a lot of international attention is the Mercer Quality of Living Survey. The annual list places New York City with a baseline score of 100 to act as the median for all other cities to compare with. The rankings consider many different aspects from cleanliness and safety to culture and infrastructure. The list is a very valuable resource for ambitious companies looking to set up an office internationally, and also for employers to decide on how much to pay at certain offices. Recently, Mercer began to factor in environmental friendliness into their equation for cities with the highest qualities of life as a means of better qualifying what makes a great city. There exist a few unusual indicators for measuring quality of life as well. For example, the king of Bhutan in the 1970s (Jigme Singye Wangchuck) decided to overhaul the Bhutanese economy by having each member of the country strive for happiness as opposed to money. He felt that GDP was rarely a good indicator of happiness as the indicator fails to take into account environmental and ecological improvements and their effects, yet includes defense expenditures that rarely benefit a countrys happiness. He developed an indicator called Gross National Happiness (GNH), which is somewhat difficult to measure. For instance, while GDP is an easy tally of goods and services sold within a country, GNH doesnt have much for quantitative measures. However, scholars have tried their best to make some sort of quantitative measurement and have found a countrys GNH to be a function of the well-being of a human in economic, environmental, political, social, workplace, physical, and mental terms. These terms, when aggregated and analyzed, can define how happy a nation is. There are also a number of other ways to quantify ones quality of life. A second alternative is the genuine progress indicator (GPI) which is similar to GDP but instead looks to see if a countrys growth has actually made people better off in that nation. For instance, if the financial costs of crimes, environmental degradation, and natural resource losses are higher than the financial gains made through production, then the countrys growth is uneconomic. One statistician who has created a way to analyze trends in data and growth is the Swedish academic Hans Rosling. His creation, Gapminder Foundation, has compiled plenty of useful data for the public to access, and even a visualizer, which allows for a user to look at trends over time. It is a great tool for anyone interested in growth or health statistics.

The Rituals Of Rituals And Rituals - 2269 Words

Rituals are often just thought of as something that religious groups do, but that is not the case. It is true that many religions have certain rituals that they perform, yet it is also true that an individual can have certain daily rituals of their own. Some examples of daily rituals are doing chores, going to school, doing homework, and even making dinner each night. My daily rituals aren’t as advanced as making dinner, even though I do make it every now and then, but I still have a few. Daily rituals play key roles in people’s lives, and really say a lot about someone’s personality. As I have already stated, I have many daily rituals just like everyone else. The most consistent daily ritual that I have is probably asking my two little sisters if they need help with any homework. My little sisters, Alexa and Carrie, are participating in extracurricular activities for the first time as freshmen in high school. This is one reason that I want to help them. Another reason I want to help them is they don’t go to just any high school; they go to iSTEM Early College High School. I notice how much homework they have and I can’t imagine how hard it is for them. I know how hard it was for me when I participated in baseball my freshman year, and track my sophomore and junior year, but I think they have it a bit harder. It seems that only the intelligent people in society are challenged. Advanced students get all of the homework while those in the basic classes are the ones who needShow MoreRelatedIndian Wedding Rituals And Traditional Rituals1895 Words   |  8 Pagesborrowed, something blue†¦Ã¢â‚¬  A wedding is a ceremony of marriage that is celebrated across cultures. It is one of the only rituals that many of the world’s cultures have in common. However, each culture has their own unique traditions when dealing with marriage. Because India is a more religious nation than the United States, they tend to stick to a more traditional regimen of rituals and customs. While most weddings in the United States have developed into more modernized versions of the ancient ceremonyRead MoreEssay Rituals605 Words   |  3 PagesRituals There are rituals that we practice year after year, but forget where they came from. Sometimes we continue to practice these rituals even after we have lost the meaning of why they are practiced. In the story The Lottery by Shirley Jackson, the practice of a yearly ritual changes the lives of all the people who participate. Jacksons story reveals a horrific ritual in which one person is sacrificed by being stoned to death in order to have a better crop season. Jackson uses symbolicRead MoreRituals in Anthropology1617 Words   |  7 PagesTA: Adriana People all over the world have different rituals. A ritual is a repetitive act that symbolizes events that have taken place in the past. 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In Baseball Magic, Gmelch realizes that certain players have rituals that they performRead MoreRituals of the Nacirema1106 Words   |  5 PagesThe rituals of the Nacirema To most of us, hospitals are a place to help you when you’re in need or want to get healthy. But for the Nacirema, it’s quite the opposite. According to the Nacirema ritual article, they call hospitals a latipso, which is hospital spelt backwards without the ‘H’. They discuss and caricature the repulsive viewings on what they think goes on in hospitals (latipso’s), or what they think they do. I will now tell you how in Miner’s perspective, the body is ugly and howRead MoreThe Ritual Of Marriage Essay1419 Words   |  6 PagesMarriage is universal; in fact, all cultures have social or legal contracts that join two or more people in matrimony. The ritual of marriage is religious to some individuals, signifying a divine covenant with another, while to others marriage is a secular contract. This particular ritual has fluctuated between the two throughout generations and cultures. Historically, these matrimonial contracts solidified alliances and were frequently arranged by entire families or even nations. While these matrimonialRead MoreThe Ritual Of The Church927 Words   |  4 Pageswrap my head around why this guy, the priest, was able to forgive me it always seemed unnatural and he never suggested I admit and confess to those I hurt, just say prayer and you will be absolved. And eventually the lack of conviction for these rituals would be challenge my belief in God and I would end up dismissing God and the church as fairy tales and rhetoric that parents told their children to get them to behave. Eventually I would develop a new belief system, with me as the center and theRead MoreThe Importance Of Family Rituals1618 Words   |  7 PagesFamily Rituals helps with all the distances and perplexity that parental figures and children regularly feel in this quick moving society that we have. We often become so occupied with other activities that we often neglect some rituals. For some, rituals make living in this turbulent world less complex and steadier (Faull, 2017). Family rituals can keep the family grounded and help them remember where they came from. They will use this time to speak about different family rituals that have beenRead MoreExamples Of Family Rituals1475 Words   |  6 PagesFamily Rituals Proverbs 22:6 states, â€Å"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it† (King James Bible. 1973). When you train your children, you are passing doing rituals. Rituals that you learned from your parents and your parents learned from their parents. Some people think that they don’t have any family rituals. However, they do not realize that everyday task that you do with your family can be considered a ritual. From eating meals together, watchingRead MoreComparing Mormon Temple Rituals to Wicca Rituals Essay2398 Words   |  10 PagesRituals, Beliefs, Symbols Comparing Mormon with Wicca Contrasting with The Bible Is there one God or are there many gods? Is there God or are there gods and goddesses? What about the afterlife? What lies ahead for those who pass on from this world? Will they go through pearly gates, become a ruler of their own planet, or come back as a spirit guide to those left here on earth? Although the beliefs of the Mormon Church are comparative with other Christian religions, they also share

Spirit free essay sample

Jewel has finally come out with a follow up to her platinum album, Pieces of You. Jewel Kilcher is known for her soothing sounds and intricate harmonies. And in the new album, Spirit, Jewel gives us exactly what we expected. Her hit single, Hands, went to the top of the charts even before the album was released. Many of the songs on Spirit are beautiful love songs that easily relax a person and change their mood from stressed to mellow. In Jewels first album, Pieces of You, she explored her spirituality in songs like Who Will Save Your Soul, and even some controversial issues in songs such as Little Sister. In the new album, Spirit, the songs are mostly, if not all, love songs. Even though the constant theme of love can be tiresome, Jewel maintains her original goal of making quality music. Spirit ends up with a lot of different sounds and melodies that could entrance you for a full hour, or put you to sleep. We will write a custom essay sample on Spirit or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Jewel succeeds in bringing out an album that is different from many recent ones. It is definitely not in-your-face rock music. What it does do is represent folk-based songs that express her feelings about love and spirituality. In order to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, Jewels new album Spirit might be a worthy purchase. But Im sure your teachers wouldnt approve if you listen to this before you do your homework, because these songs will put you in a coma if youre not careful.

Critical Decisions for ERP Integration

Question: Discuss about the Critical Decisions for ERP Integration. Answer: Introduction. The most competitive advantage of a business largely depends on its possibility to benefit from innovation activities. Understanding a number of the internal and external factors that affect a business and its management is necessary to decide the innovation strategy that will eventually yield income for the organization. Business is an organization where an exchange of goods and services takes place for money or one another (Trkman, 2010). Business decision making is not just a one-time experiment; it is a continuous process that must be solved in harmony with the organization strategy. Critical organizational issues are usually accompanied by lots of business processes, business structure, and strategy. A critical business issue can be defined as a problem or opportunity which is critical to the general success of an organization. This paper aims at examining some of the critical issues that are related to business and management context, and to gain clarity of the contextual facto rs that affect an organizational business decision making. Organizational behaviors Organizational behaviors define both the supervisory relationships, the structure of a business and workflow within the organization. The behaviors of an employee at work are different from their behaviors in a social setting or at home. There are certain factors that can motivate an employee or contribute to disengagement. These includes; culture, motivation, decision-making and change management (Ajmal, Martel Kokale, 2010). When a new employee enters an organization, their behaviour will be determined by the organizational culture. People tend to fit in the environment around them since they are social beings. If an organizations culture encourages its employees to speak up without fear, then new employees will embrace this as well. While if an organizations culture encourages the shoot the messenger trend, then it is clear that the employees will keep their opinions to themselves. Employees are mostly motivated when they can spot a clear distinction between the efforts that they put and the rewards they receive when they work hard. A salary should not be the only reason for an employee top show up at work (Klibi, Martel Guitoni, 2010). Rewards must be available and should fair and equitable to ensure that the employees of the organization are inspired to work hard. Human beings make business decisions, whether at the organizational or individual levels. The organizations' behaviour greatly informs the peoples decision making process. Businesses with excellent and good communication mechanisms make it easier for staff to make effective choices because well acquainted with the concepts of the business in question. All businesses should respond to dynamic markets, critical requirements and client demands if they must succeed. Businesses and companies can manage change effectively if they understand the organizational behaviour (Klibi, Martel Guitoni, 2010). The need for change in an organization should be openly discussed; employees should be involved and given a chance to participate fully. Business managers should also adapt to the changes. Environmental sources Both internal and external environmental factors influence business. The internal factors includes those factors which exist within the organizations' premises. They affect the different operations that take place in the business. The internal factors include; a value system, mission and objectives, financial factors and internal relationship (Russo Perrini, 2010). A value system is the culture and norms of a given organization; this is the regulatory system or framework of the business. Every employee and managers are required to act within the limits of this framework. The missions and objectives guide an organization's different priorities, policies, and philosophies. Financial factors which come in forms of policies, financial status and capital structures also affects the performance and strategies of the business. Internal relationships refer to the support that the executive management is given by all the stakeholders of the business. Outside factors affecting a business can be further divided into micro and macro environment factors. The microenvironment factors include suppliers, competitors and marketing intermediaries. Suppliers are the people who have the responsibility of supplying the necessary inputs to an organization. The organizations management should keep a close look on the market come up with necessary strategies and policies that will enable them to face the competition they face from other organizations (Malhotra Temponi, 2010). Marketing intermediaries help the organization in promoting, selling as well as distributing business goods and services to customers. This makes marketing intermediaries the only vital link between the business owners and consumers. These macro environment factors include economic, social, political and technological factors. Economic factors that affect business are the economic conditions together with policies that contribute to the economic environment together. An example includes rate, inflation, and impeding trade practices. The social factors are the general society, together with the priorities s well as preferences which include educational background, peoples purchasing power, and consumption patterns (Zikmund, Babin, Carr Griffin, 2013). The political factors are linked to business public affairs management and their impact on the organization. In order to maintain political stability in trade, it is important to maintain political stability. Recent technology helps improve the market attractiveness of a product hence making the commodity attractive to the end consumer. It is, therefore, important that a business keeps pace with the dynamic technologies to survive in the long run. Risk confronting the organization Organizations face all types of risks, some of these risks sometimes causes serious loss of profits others even leading to bankruptcy. Business is likely to face the following types of risks; strategic risks, risk of operation, risk of compliance, risks related to finances and reputational risks. Strategic risks are when the business strategy becomes less effective forcing the company to struggle to achieve its goals (George, McGahan Prabhu, 2012). Strategic risk can be caused by technological changes, a strong new competitor, shifts in the customer demand, cost of raw material spikes, and any other large scale change. Compliance risks involve a business ability to comply with all the required laws and regulations that apply to business. New laws are implemented all the time. Hence there is always a risk that an organization is likely to face more regulations in the near future. When the business expands, they may find the need to comply with new rules that did not exist when the bu siness was started. Operational risk involves an unexpected failure in an organizations day to day operations. This could be a technical failure or could be caused by the employees, management or the processes of the company. Am operational risk could also be caused sometimes by events outside an organizations' control, for example, a power cut, natural disaster, technical problems, etc. Financial risk refers to the finances flowing in and out of the organization, and the possible fact that a sudden financial loss could occur. Financial risk increases when a business engages in debts, especially if some of these debts are short term that is due in the near future (Sarkis, Zhu Lai, 2011). In any business, reputation is everything. If a reputation of a business is damaged, an immediate loss is realized as most customers attracted to organizations with good reputations. Reputational risks come off major lawsuits, embarrassing product recall or negative publicity about an organizations' staff or business i tself. Governance and legal requirement Many legislations affect businesses by providing legal definitions, establishing operational and finance related codes that should be followed by business firms. These legal requirements come in forms of regulatory, labour, tax and reporting legislations. The laws and regulations have a direct impact on how business firms operate within particular business environments. These forms of regulations are formulated and implemented as codes and environmental rules and regulations. Labour laws refers to regulations that look into the manner in which employees are treated in an organization. These includes regulations such as minimum pay, protection of workers, and payment garnishment rules. Tax laws that a business should consider are following the principles of accounting. However, many are viewed as significant notable deviations, such as the schedules regulating depreciations that the government allows (Taricchi, Toneli Cagnazzo, 2010). Finally, the laws and regulations of tax regulate s the manner in which organizations present their financial reports Organizational functions consist of a marketing department, Human Resources departments, and information technology departments. The organizational functions break the companys works into different groups, forcing the individual's group to accomplish their tasks or the whole organization suffers. Businesses can have different ways of dividing responsibilities and duties throughout the company (Doz, 2011). When each department completes their assigned task successfully, then everything runs smoothly. In a case where either an employee or a manager, fails to accomplish their task or delays to do so, there is a risk of not being able to deliver, hence pissing off customers and stakeholders, this will automatically result in the business realizing losses. Positive work and business practice In business, it makes much sense when employees are satisfied with their work as well as workplace conditions. This includes balancing the needs and capacity of the organization to that of the employees. There are certain areas that an organization needs to consider to enable a positive work in the business entity (Al-Debei Avison, 2010). These includes getting the basic conditions right, being a good communicator, having a positive management approach among others. Organizations who fail to set up good business practice may end up not running smoothly. Business owners should practice the art of engaging in meaningful dialogues, showing appreciation where necessary, listening to both customer and employees ideas and trusting team members as well. References Ajmal, M., Helo, P., Kekle, T. (2010). Critical factors for knowledge management in project business.Journal of knowledge management,14(1), 156-168. Al-Debei, M. M., Avison, D. (2010). Developing a unified framework of the business model concept.European Journal of Information Systems,19(3), 359-376. Doz, Y. (2011). Qualitative research for international business.Journal of International Business Studies,42(5), 582-590. George, G., McGahan, A. M., Prabhu, J. (2012). Innovation for inclusive growth: Towards a theoretical framework and a research agenda.Journal of management studies,49(4), 661- 683. Klibi, W., Martel, A., Guitouni, A. (2010). The design of robust value-creating supply chain networks: a critical review.European Journal of Operational Research,203(2), 283-293. Lin, F., Rodrguez-Cohard, J. C., Rueda-Cantuche, J. M. (2011). Factors affecting entrepreneurial intention levels: a role for education.International entrepreneurship and management Journal,7(2), 195-218. Malhotra, R., Temponi, C. (2010). Critical decisions for ERP integration: Small business issues.International Journal of Information Management,30(1), 28-37. Russo, A., Perrini, F. (2010). Investigating stakeholder theory and social capital: CSR in large firms and SMEs.Journal of Business ethics,91(2), 207-221. Sarkis, J., Zhu, Q., Lai, K. H. (2011). An organizational theoretic review of green supply chain management literature.International Journal of Production Economics,130(1), 1-15. Taticchi, P., Tonelli, F., Cagnazzo, L. (2010). Performance measurement and management: a literature review and a research agenda.Measuring business excellence,14(1), 4-18. Trkman, P. (2010). The critical success factors of business process management.International journal of information management,30(2), 125-134. Zikmund, W. G., Babin, B. J., Carr, J. C., Griffin, M. (2013).Business research methods. City, Boston, MA. Cengage Learning.

Current Credit Crisis in the United States Understanding the Trigger Factors

Nearly four years after the collapse of the Lehman Brothers and the subsequent financial downturn that followed, and which most financial commentators blamed on the housing bumble and subprime lending (Mills, 2009), the economic environment of the United States continue to struggle as markets continue to be embraced by fears of new setbacks, defaults and the prospect of experiencing a new double-dip recession (Gibson, 2011).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Current Credit Crisis in the United States: Understanding the Trigger Factors specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This paper purposes to critically evaluate the underlying causes of the current credit crisis sweeping through the United States. Behind the current credit crisis lie many factors, including the free fall of the U.S. stocks, the obstinately high employment rate in the U.S., the politically-oriented scuffle in Washington over the federal debt ceiling, a nd the decision by credit rating firms, particularly Standard Poor’s, to demote the government’s AAA rating after its aftermath (Inman, 2011; Gibson, 2011; Morales Mendes, 2011). Perhaps one of the most overbearing causes of the current credit crisis is the just-ended political scuffle over hiking the U.S. debt ceiling by $2.1 trillion, while reducing future government spending by $2.4 trillion (Gibson, 2011; Rowley Dodge, 2011). Financial analysts observe that although the raised debt ceiling made significant strides in avoiding massive default, it also rattled investors just coming to terms with a shaky U.S. economy, precipitating the current credit crisis (Gibson, 2011). It is true that a political compromise was found before the U.S. Treasury missed interest payments on U.S. debt (Peauler, 2011), but the damage had already been done in terms of low investor confidence, hence low credit flow. The cumulative effect of political indecisiveness witnessed between the Republicans and the Democrats got the investors nervous, a fact that is so well demonstrated by the dipping U.S. stocks as investors attempt to sell them off (Peauler, 2011). This is precisely the second cause that has occasioned the current credit crisis.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More On the 1st of August 2011, one day before the presumed deadline to raise the U.S. debt ceiling or risk missing out on interest payments (Peauler, 2011), the Dow Jones Industrial Average shed off 265.87 points, or 2.2 percent, to 11,866.62, its worst day of trading since June 1, while the SP 500 projected a new closing low for 2011 and turned negative for the year (Gibson, 2011). Such a dip in stocks, according to this author, only serves to precipitate a cloud of uncertainty over the market, thereby contributing to a further loss of confidence among investors and, consequently, triggering t he credit crisis because financial institutions lack the capacity to offer credit to businesses (Peauler, 2011). The decision by credit rating firm Standard Poor to downgrade the government’s AAA rating cannot be said to have augured well with the United States’ continuously shaky economic environment by virtue of the fact that such a decision, by its very nature and scope, is enough to put investors into frenzy of disposing whatever they might have held in U.S. Treasury securities (Peauler, 2011). Once again, available evidence have demonstrated that when investors dispose off U.S. Treasury securities, the cumulative effect is that banks will no longer have the capacity to provide credit to businesses (Levinson, 2009), triggering a spontaneous credit crisis. Lastly, it can be argued that the high level of underemployment and unemployment witnessed in the U.S. is partly to blame for the weak economic outlook in general and the ensuing credit crisis in particular. A re cent Gallup study revealed that 18.5 percent (approximately 1 in every 4) of workers in the U.S. are underemployed, including 9.1 percent unemployed (Morales Mendes, 2011). The high level of underemployment and unemployment translates into lower consumer spending – a fact collaborated by these authors when they argue that Americans’ spending has remained fundamentally dormant since it plummeted dramatically in January 2009. The overall effect of these two variables – unemployment and low consumer spending – is seen in plummeting property prices, low business volumes, and sustained uncertainty in the financial markets as people are not spending and industries are not growing (Yerex, 2011). These factors are adequate to serve as a toxic trigger to a new credit crisis.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Current Credit Crisis in the United States: Understanding the Trigger Factors specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Reference List Gibson, K. (2011). U.S. stocks in worst streak since credit crisis. Market Watch. Web. Inman, P. (2011). Banks are in a capital crunch again. The Guardian. Web. Levinson, M. (2009). Guide to financial markets. New York, NY: Bloomberg Press Mills, D.Q. (2009). The world financial crisis of 2008-2010: What happened, who is to blame, and how to protect your money? Evanston, IL: Northwestern University Press Morales, L., Mendes, E. (2011). Three years after crisis, little sign of economic relief in U.S. Web. Peauler, R. (2011). Another credit crisis looming for business if debt ceiling is not raised. Web. Rowley, J., Dodge, C. (2011). House passes $2.1 trillion U.S. Debt-limit increase; Senate to vote Aug. 2. Web.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Yerex, R.P. (2011). The consumer-driven economy at a crossroads. Business Economics, 46(1), 32-42. Retrieved from MasterFILE Premier Database This essay on Current Credit Crisis in the United States: Understanding the Trigger Factors was written and submitted by user Emmitt B. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Urban Sprawl and Public Health Article Summary

Urban Sprawl and Public Health Article Summary â€Å"Urban Sprawl and Public Health†, a journal article authored by Howard Frumkin in 2001 gives a detailed account of the physical and mental effects of urban expansion. The concept ‘urban sprawl’ refers to rapid development of urban areas against slow development of social amenities (Frumkin, 2001, p.3).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Urban Sprawl and Public Health Article Summary specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The author expounds that some of the distinct features that characterize urban sprawl include; increased economic opportunities, poor regional planning, and overreliance on automotive travel, which has a negative effect on physical health (Frumkin, 2001, p.1). Subsequently, abrupt extension of metropolitan areas leads to the emergence of social homogeneity that is undeniably detrimental to the health of city residents. Frumkin (2001, p.1) highlights that the effects of urban sprawl ha ve been debated for long. However, little attention has been focused on health implications arising from this phenomenon. It is essential to note that, urban lounge affect people’s life both positively and negatively. Against this background, this essay provides a summative analysis of the impacts of urban sprawl on mental and physical health of urban residents. In-depth analysis of literature has shown urban sprawl have adverse physical effects among urban dwellers. From the article, it is evident that people are highly motivated to shift from rural to metropolitan areas, yet some essential natural resources are not available in city centres. For instance, in urban areas there are no trees and other aesthetic facilities such as open ground recreational amenities (Frumkin, 2001, p.3). Moreover, the author emphasizes that physical activities in the densely populated urban centres has become a notable challenge. Lack of recreation activities, which are known to alleviate stress , affects both the physical and mental health of urban dwellers negatively.Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Secondly, research conducted by psychologists indicates that people enjoy automotive commuting, yet it exposes them to mental stress, especially in the eventuality of heavy traffic jam. Moreover, excessive noise originating from traffic and industrial activities deprive urban dwellers a tranquil and calm atmosphere (Frumkin, 2001, p.3). Consequently, due to lack of soothing and restorative atmosphere most people suffer from headaches and other stress-related complications. It is reasonable to illuminate that a shift from suburbs to urban results to social isolation, loneliness and breakup of family ties, and this further leads to mental stress among city dwellers. Besides, Frumkin explicates that urban dwellers are susceptible to illnesses that are associated wit h large crowds. Poor urban zoning and influx of large crowds leads to scarcity of basic amenities. It is definite that when mental health of an individual is threatened, then the physical and emotional state of the body is affected too (Frumkin 2001, p.3). Studies have revealed that excessive commuting results to backaches and self-reported stress. Additionally, cardiovascular ailments have become a common phenomenon due to lack of exercise and stress. Since urban sprawl is characterized by heavy traffic, cases of accidents are rampant especially in situations where traffic safety is neglected (Frumkin, 2001, p.3). Another point of concern is that pollution results to respiratory ailments. Poor urban planning results to scarcity of basic facilities such as water utilized by the public and this can result to an outbreak of waterborne diseases.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Urban Sprawl and Public Health Article Summary specifically for you for only $16.0 5 $11/page Learn More There is a need to hypothesize that social separation especially among married people due to urban employment results to immorality which has adverse effects to one’s health (Frumkin, 2001, p.3). Consequently, sexual immorality in the urban centres increases the risk of sexually transmitted ailments, thus increasing mortality rate. Reference Frumkin, H 2001, ‘Urban Sprawl and Public health’, Public Health Reports, vol, 117, no.1, pp.1-3.

Leadership Approach Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Leadership Approach - Essay Example Different approaches tackle different ways of scrutinizing leaders in different organizations. However, they have a common feature which is the determination of effective leadership. The leadership study approaches have been in existence since the early 90’s. The approaches have evolved to more efficient and appropriate approaches. The leadership study approaches include the trait approach, behavior approach, power influence approach, situational approach and the integrative approach. All the approaches have three key variables; characteristics of the leader, characteristics of the followers and the characteristics of the situation. This paper will focus on behavior approach of studying leadership (Yuki, 2010). It will give an insight in the characteristics of this leadership study approach. Additionally, the paper will include an insight on its strengths and weaknesses and an example of its application in studying leadership. Behavioral approach of studying leadership was est ablished in the early 1950’s after the trait approach failed to provide researchers with the required results to evaluate leaders (Yuki, 2010). The behavior approach pays close attention to managers and leaders in organizations. It evaluates some personal attributes and skills at a closer perspective. The approach is divided into two categories of scrutiny. The first category focuses on the research on the manager’s job description, how they spend their time, their daily pattern of activities, their responsibilities and the functions of their managerial jobs. In this category some researches also focus on how managers deal with constraints and demands and how they resolve conflicts in their line of duty. In this category data collection is mainly done through observation, job description questionnaires, diaries and anecdotes from retrieved from interviews (Griffin, 2011). The mangers effectiveness in this subcategory is their ability to solve role conflicts cope with d emands, deal with constraints and recognize opportunities. The other subcategory in behavior study approach entails the identifying of effective and appropriate leadership behavior. In this subcategory research methodology is mainly done by a survey of the research field and using an appropriate questionnaire. The questionnaire is an inclusion of behavior description questions. Since the establishment of this approach researchers have been able to identify the correlation between a manager’s behavior and effective leadership (Yuki, 2010). This leadership approach has several weaknesses and strengths when it comes to application and results. According to Yuki (2010) the strengths of this approach revolve around the personal knowledge of a leader. This approach enables researchers to know a manager more when not and when in their job description. The personal attributes of a manager are very important in analyzing their effectiveness. By its method of data collection a managerà ¢â‚¬â„¢s skills and effectiveness is able to be scrutinized in a personal basis. The evaluation of a manager’s ability to solve conflicts is also a unique feature in this leadership study approach (Griffin, 2011). Additionally, this approach provides a perspective on the correlation between the personal attributes of a manager and their effectiveness in their job description. This approach mostly questionnaires as a tool of data collection. This

Business Process and Systems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Business Process and Systems - Essay Example In operation management, the management of the entire process relating to the production and marketing of the products or services are involved. The distribution management consists of the organising and control of the basic functions of product distribution in the market. In the old system adopted by the company, each crop is decided by the tenant and the business receives rent and a percentage of the profit. Certified organic products would help to gain the market with greater profit. Expansion of the business requires greater access to the market through considerable changes in the organisation structure. It is better to modify the production operation by giving clear cut planning relating to each of the organic farm products that has to be produced by each of the tenant. It will be more effective in production as the targeted quantity of each of the product type can be ensured. Inventory management: Too much inventory and lack of enough demand will generate great financial loss to the business. Maximising cash flows should be the aim of the business. To gain this, the inventory management system should be strengthened by shortening the forecasting time and analysis of the sales and demand data. Improved communication process is another essential factor for the efficient distribution process. Best practises of inventory management, with advanced technology tools, are helpful for improving the inventory management. Online distribution management system can be applied for improving the efficiency. It will facilitate the integration of factors such as customers, stocks, distribution and services in cost effective manner. Distribution chain starting from the vendors to the customers’ electronic distribution system can be applied. Supply chain management is greatly related to the co-ordination of different functions in the business such as procurement of materials from the farmers, co-ordination between different players in the

Leadership and Action Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Leadership and Action - Article Example Leaders may play many roles and therefore are required to perform diverse actions to fulfill the requirements for the development of the organization. It is manifested that actions performed by the leader depends on the functions that leader is performing at that particular time (Krench, 1962). The following actions are performed by the leader: Purveyor of rewards and punishment: Leader is the one who can act as an encouragement for his subordinates by rewarding them and also encourage them to do the best and up to desired expectations by punishing them. Punishment is also an encouragement and brings the best within the individual. Father figure: A leader is required to act as a focused and have positive emotional feelings for the fellows for the identification of the problem and also for transference. It is desired for the transparency and to build trust among the fellows towards their leader. 1. Chemers, M. M. (2002). Cognitive, social, and emotional intelligence of transformational leadership: Efficacy and Effectiveness. In R. E. Riggio, S. E. Murphy, F. J. Pirozzolo (Eds.), Multiple Intelligences and Leadership.

Frankenstein | Feminist Interpretation

Frankenstein | Feminist Interpretation In most 18th century stories, men portray to be the more dominate figure in the story or family. Women in the stories tend to be less important than the males. In Mary Shelleys Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheus, women are mention that much and even if they are, they end up being killed or dying. Feminist interpreters tend to think Shelley has patriarchal man-centered views regarding gender roles. The idea of inactive women in a patriarchal society tremendously impacts the scheme of the novel. This is a complicated topic because most of her women characters are quiet, content women who, at first, share little similarities with self-confident women. Women did not have many rights as men and they could not stand up for themselves. If a woman were to do so they would be label as impertinent and unthankful. Shelleys approach on women is more complex than what we know it. She reveals to us that women are ambiguous and conflicting people, without a vast amount of control. Shelley reve als the injustice discreetly all through the book. All through the novel, Mary Shelley suggests that women are victims in a patriarchal world. In Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheus, Caroline Beaufort Frankenstein, Justine Moritz, and Elizabeth Lavenza are examples victims of a patriarchal world, dominated by men Caroline Beaufort Frankenstein, Victors mother is a victim in a patriarchal world. After her fathers death, Caroline is taken in by, and later marries, Alphonse Frankenstein. She ends up marrying Alphonse, a friend of her father. Alphonse later became her protector, he came like a protecting spirit to the poor girl, who committed herself to his care; and after the interment of his friend he conducted her to Geneva and placed her under the protection of a relation. Two years after this event Caroline became his wife (18). Alphonse is the dominate figure over Caroline, he is her protector. This shows women, like Caroline are not capable of taking care of themselves. In chapter 1, Shelley portrayal of Alphonses care for Caroline sounds as if she is in charge, Everything was made to yield to her wishes and her convenience (19). This short description shows that Caroline is cherished by Alphonse, making her more dominate. Shelley tells how Alphonse, strove to shelter her, as a fair exotic is sheltered by the gardener, from every rougher wind and to surround her with all that could tend to excite pleasurable emotion in her soft and benevolent mind (19). Shelley seems to portray women as a delicate person they needs to be care for by a man. Women, like Caroline appears to being incapable of taking care of themselves. This implies that women are victims in a patriarchal society, dominated by men. Justine Moritz lives with the Frankenstein family as their servant after her mother pass away. She is a victim in a patriarchal world, dominated by men. After William is murdered, the creature puts an image of Caroline, Williams mother, that William was carrying in Justines pocket and she is blame of murder. She later confesses wrongly to the crime out of trepidation of going to Hell. Victor did not believe that she has murder William saying, Justine Moritz! Poor, poor girl, is she the accused? But it is wrongfully; everyone knows that; no one believes it surely, Ernest? (62). Even after this she is still guilty of the murder and is executed. This reveals that Justine is a victim because even though she did not actually murder William, she was found guilty. The murdered was actually a male, the creature, yet Justine was punished. She is wrongfully executed for an action of a man. Justine is an innocent girl; she would rather face the consequences of a murder conviction than be excomm unicated by the church. Justine, a pure innocent soul, has no one defend her in trial. Yet, when Victor, a men, accused of killing Henry Clerval, has many people to defend him, a much more corrupt soul. For this reason Justine is put to death, therefore she is also a victim of a male dominate world. Elizabeth Lavenza is an example of women being victims in a male dominated world. Elizabeth is an orphan taken in by Victors parents. She is passive, waiting for Victors return. She is a victim is a mans whole because all she does majority of the time in the novel is wait for him to return. After receiving the news that Victor has fallen deeply ill she immediately writes him a letter, My dear Friend, It gave me the greatest please to receive a letter from my uncleà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦my poor cousin, how much you must have suffered! I expect to see you looking even more ill than when you quitted Genevaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦My uncle will send me news of your health, and if I see but one smile on your lips when we meet, occasioned by this or any other excretion of mine, I shall need no other happiness (165-166). Elizabeth seems obsess with Victor, Shelleys portrayal of her seems to be as if she is in need of Victor, as if she would die without him. Elizabeth models the Victorian angel in the house. Victor describes her as a being heaven-sent. bearing a celestial stamp in all her features, fairer than pictured cherub (20). Victors description of Elizabeth makes us think that she is an angel. Victor is very fond of her, this show that Victor treasures her greatly, hence her being dominate over Victor for a moment. Victors action is the cause of Elizabeths death, because of the promise Victor broke to the creature he vows to take revenge on Victor. The creature ends up murdering Elizabeth on her honeymoon night with Victor. Even though at times Elizabeth appears to be dominating over Victor, he still surpasses and controls her, thus Elizabeth being a victim of a patriarchal world. Throughout the story Shelley suggests that women are victims in a patriarchal world, dominated by men. Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheus is an embodiment of Shelleys concern for feminine position and importance in the 18th century patriarchal society. Shelleys approach on women tells us that women are ambiguous and contradictory, lacking power. Shelley reveals the inequality inconspicuously all through the story. Throughout the novel, Mary Shelley suggests that women are victims in a patriarchal world. Caroline Beaufort Frankenstein, Justine Moritz, and Elizabeth Lavenza are victims of a patriarchal world, dominated by men. Men are the reasons why these women were punished. The novel exemplifies the unfairness of women in the 18th century and in the novel.

urbanization in third world countries Essay -- essays research papers

Urbanization and its effect on third world living conditions Urbanization is the spreading of cities into less populated agricultural areas. Most people would not think that this is necessarily a problem. They would say that it is good that the â€Å"developing countries† were becoming more developed. With urbanization comes factories and more jobs, so the people can make more money and be happier. Right? The problem is that these people must sacrifice their traditional lifestyles, for this new â€Å"Urbanism†(the way of life, attitudes, values, and patterns of behavior fostered by urban settings Knox 234). A lot of these people don’t choose this lifestyle- they are forced into it. Because there is a growing demand for natural resources in the core countries, the semi periphery and periphery countries (where many of the resources are) get exploited. The â€Å"civilized† world enters the other countries, buys land from the government and then forces the people who are on that land off of it. These people then move to the cities because they have nowhere else to go. Once they get to the city they are lucky to find a job. Sometimes these jobs pay as little as 80 American dollars a year and can barely support a family. As a result many turn to crime or prostitution to make ends meet. Our worst poverty is generally better than the average people in these third world cities.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The people in these cities lack not only those things that are necessary to sustain life- such as food, clean water and adequate sewage. But they also lack those things that we consider to be essential to life such as electricity, running water, and education, forget any of the things that we just have to enjoy, like cars clothes candy drugs television and entertainment. Eventually large slums develop around or inside of the cities, in these slums; large groups of poor and uneducated people end up living together in poverty. The World Bank met in 1999 to address these problems; in their report they write â€Å" Hundreds of millions of urban poor in the developing and transitional world have few options but to live in squalid, unsafe environments where they face multiple threats to their health and security. Slums and squatter settlements lack the most basic infrastructure and services. Their populations are marginalized and largely disenfranchised. They are expos ed to disease, c... ...ople off of it. If people were not forced off the land, into the city, the cities would grow at a natural rate. When Urbanization occurs at a natural rate (the United States) Poverty is present but not as magnified.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Truth is that these problems cannot be fixed by anyone. If there are people that have a lot then there are going to be people who have a little. These rules are written in the very laws of nature. The governing powers (companies, world bank, tri-lateral commission) think that if they can just raise these people up to a little bit higher living standards than they will be o.k. But the more you give people, the more they want, it’s just human nature.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Bibliography 1.World Bank Group. â€Å"cities alliance for cities without slums, action plan for moving and upgrading slums†. Annual meeting.1999 No authors were given 2. United nations human settlements program. â€Å" urbanization, facts and figures† New York, 6-8 of june 2001 3. another united nations human settlement report, no author no date

Japanese Dining Etiquette

Japanese Dining Etiquette Remembering your correct manners is very important in Japan, especially concerning the area of dining etiquettes. This applies especially to foreigners, who should try to remember at least the most basic rules†¦ In Japanese meals, it is customary to say ‘itadakimasu’ (‘I gratefully receive’) before your meal, and ‘gochisama deshita’ (‘thank you for the meal’) after you have finished. These traditional phrases are to show your appreciation for the meal, especially when someone cooks for you.The best way to start your meal is with a sip of soup. Then you should eat a little bit of each dish, in a ‘rotation’, until you finish all the dishes at about the same time. Do NOT complete one dish of food before moving onto the next. Remember that if you are eating from communal dishes, it is considered an important etiquette to pick up the food using the opposite end of your chopsticks, or serving ch opsticks if any are provided. Do not start drinking until everyone at the table is served, and do not pour any drinks for yourself.This should only be done by others, and naturally, it is also your responsibility to periodically check your friends’ cups and fill them up if they are empty, too. NEVER stick chopsticks into rice standing up, as this is how rice is offered to the dead. If you haven’t already heard, it is perfectly acceptable to slurp your noodles in Japan, as people say it tastes better, and it also shows you are enjoying your meal. Remember that it is considered very rude to burp, blow your nose at the table, and talk about unappetizing topics.Lastly, remember to finish every little grain of rice in your bowl or plate, as rice is considered very precious. Also this shows the chef you appreciate his/her food very much. It is also considered polite to return all plates and dishes back to their original positions, and to place chopsticks back in their paper slips or holders. Bibliography http://www. japan-guide. com/e/e2005. html http://www. suite101. com/content/eating-japanese-dos-and-donts-a31496 http://www. japanesefood101. com/index. php/category/dining-etiquette/

History of Hong Kong Report essays

History of Hong Kong Report essays "Tourism and the Hong Kong economy" is basically describing the relations between the tourism and economy in Hong Kong. There are many different resources can cause the influence on economy by tourism, such as, the export of services, industries, and policy etc. The present monograph introduces the issues, the source markets which how they affect the tourism. Also analysis of the economic impact of tourism and addresses the strategic importance of aviation industry and the airport capacity problem. Furthermore, the studies of the hotel industry are another key industry in the tourism sector. Also, the retail sector, and the building of new tourist attractions and the policy are all had been mentioned from the book. As the book state, a significant proportion of visitors to Hong Kong are business travelers, not tourists. Of course, Hong Kong has managed to attract visitors who come purely for pleasure. Exports provide a powerful stimulus for growth. Domestic demand is much less powerful in this regard. Basically, exports represent a direct injection of purchasing power into the economy. Without incomes earned from export, purchasing power has to come from within the economy. Also, the source markets can be affcting the tourism. The present institutional constraints on the inflow of China tourists, which is a complex issue. The consequence of direct air links between Taiwan and the People's Republic of China, which some people find worrisome, is expected to be slight for obvious reasons. The benefits of the convention business and the marketing concept of the integrated Pearl River Delta, which vastly expands the scope of tourist attractions to visitors' markets and the growing con vention business are two new aspects of the tourism industry that deserve mention. Hong Kong has always been well known for its openness to work drade. It has also captured a large share of the global revenue that international travel gen...

Covey essays

Covey essays The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People Dr. Stephen R. Covey published a book that was all the rage a few years ago. His book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People outline seven traits found in all effective people. In order to see these habits one must undergo a paradigm shift, which is seeing through the eyes of others. A perfect example of a paradigm shift is the story of a subway ride. Covey told the lecture group to Picture yourself on a quiet subway ride home. Everyone is quiet there are several people sleeping while others are reading. At the next stop a man gets on with some children. The children are very disruptive throwing things running into people, just kids behaving rottenly. You turn and say to the man your children are being disruptive maybe you could do something to control them. Then the man turns and says we just came from the hospital their mother just died and I guess they dont know how to handle it, neither do I. and right away you feel bad for the man. Most people would want to know what they could do to help. In order to improve on the seven habits one must undergo a paradigm shift. When you first look at the title you might ask what is meant by effective? Well Covey defines by using the P/PC balance. The PC in this fraction stands for production capability of something that one desires while P stands for what is actually produced. In order for one to be effective one must be very mature, and develop. People develop from dependence, to independence, and finally to interdependence. Also one can ask what exactly is a habit? A habit is a principle that is internalized where attitude, knowledge, and skill overlap. Covey said that all the literature dealt with character ethics or personality ethics separately. Coveys theory deals with both types of ethics at the same time. He uses the iceberg analogy to describe the relation between c...

Writing exercises Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Writing exercises - Essay Example is the gripping, intense, and engrossing analysis of diverse group of jurors who are uncomfortably assembled together to deliberate after hearing some facts from an apparently open-and-shut murder trial. They leave to a jury room for civic duty and pass a just verdict for indigent minority defendant whose life is at crossroad. The jury of the twelve angry men, delegated the power to take an uneducated, teenaged and tenement-dwelling boy to electric chair for murdering his dad with a switchblade knife, literally locked themselves in a small, enclosed rectangular room on a boiling hot summer day and made a unanimous decision. The compelling, provocative film reveals the deep-seated, perceptual biases and weaknesses, personal prejudices, indifference, anger, cultural differences, personalities, unreliable judgments, ignorance and fears of the twelve men, which threaten to skew their decision-making abilities hence causing them to ignore real issues of the case, and make unjust actions. The jury room was characterized with heated discussions, the frequent re-assessment and changing of opinions, the formation of alliances, votes and certainties, and the re-consideration of personal experiences, outbursts and insults. Nonetheless, one brave rebellious juror was not part of the plot to cause miscarriage of justice at the commencement of the deliberations due to his reasonable doubt. Determinedly and persuasively, he urged the other eleven men to slowly rethink and review the wobbly case (and eyewitness testimony) concerning the endangered defendant. He further chastises the system for granting the unfortunate offender an incompetent court-appointed defense lawyer who â€Å"felt bitter about being appointed† - a case with â€Å"no glory, no money or much chance of winning† - and who inefficiently cross-examined the witnesses. The claims of juror No.8 was an example of ethical virtue. This film clearly shows the eleven jurors did not ethically deliberate and they could not

Risk Assessment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Risk Assessment - Essay Example In the first given case study of Colleen M. who is fifteen year old girl and determined juvenile by the court. When a teen is considered as juvenile or delinquent, his/ her future is put on stake and society also does not accept them. Colleen M. is not any criminal or gang member neither she has crime history prior but her minor quarrel with her neighbor took an ugly turn. In an argument with her neighbor, she threw a bucket of pesticide on her which caused major injuries to her and she immediately died on the spot. Though the accident took place in the negligence of Colleen yet it is sufficient to devastating her future. On the contrary, in the case of Xander who is a seventeen year old African American male is a documented gang member. He was convicted as juvenile when he was thirteen for drug possession, purse snatching and breaking and entering. Till date he has faced three police custodies one of which is for possession of a concealed weapon, to which he has pled guilty. When bo th the case studies are compared, the first difference which is noticed is that Xander had a criminal background but Colleen hadn’t had such background. ... On the contrary, Xander is in contact with his mother and had cordial relations with her, though he does not have any contact with his father. In spite of having love and support of his mother, Xander is a documented member of a gang and have been involved in criminal offences since the age of 13 whereas there are no criminal charges against Colleen before this particular case. Along with this, comparison of these two individuals also indicates that both of them are not good at academics. In fact, Xander is a high school dropout whereas no information provided about Colleen. Therefore, there is room for information about Colleen’s academics background however her actions imply that she is not a regular student in school. Furthermore, their present case status demonstrate that they are involved in great risk as precious years of their young life are stuck into the police case which hinders their personality to grow. It is the time for them when they can polish their skills and become a responsible citizen as well as a family member but their unwarranted actions are slowly spoiling their life. The level of risk in their life is on high level. In the teen age they are accused of crimes like involuntary manslaughter and possession of weapons which is a clear indication of their troubled mental state. Colleen used to live with her aunt but many times she ran away from her home. Again, it shows that she is not happy with her and something immensely disturbing her. Court also doubts that she is a drug addict and but she refused this by saying that while traveling with three homeless men, they unknowingly stumbled upon a field of poppies and that before they knew it; the intoxicating aroma caused her

Choose an artist (painter, sculptor, or architect) from the Research Paper

Choose an artist (painter, sculptor, or architect) from the Renaissance Era to - Research Paper Example The era witnessed a complete new pattern of color scheme, theme, motif and formation that the European history of art has never witnessed before. Renaissance art became a distinct school of art and with its deviation from its predecessors and evolved almost as a new genre of art form. Renaissance as a concept evoked the â€Å"rebirth† of the ancient tradition and with this perception; this genre of art took classical antiquity as the foundation of its art form. However, the artists associated with the school transformed the tradition by incorporating modern techniques pertaining to science which was witnessed as the recent developments during the period in the northern half of the Europe. This was manifested by the use of contemporary scientific knowledge and techniques. Gradually Renaissance art amalgamated with Renaissance Humanist Philosophy and as a coherent and integrated form spread throughout the continent of Europe. This newer concept influenced not only the artists an d the sculptors but also greatly moved their patrons who started taking great interest in the new form of painting. With the explicit use of newer techniques and developed artistic sensibilities, the Renaissance art stands as a milestone in the trajectory of the history of art as the Europe witnessed a transition from the mediaeval period to an early modern age (Hartt, 1970). Leonardo da Vinci: The Great Renaissance Painter Leonardo da Vinci, a multi-faceted archetypal Renaissance man was a genius. He was at the same time, a painter, sculptor, artist, scientist, botanist, architect, musician, writer, engineer, inventor, mathematician, anatomist, geologist and cartographer. His â€Å"unquenchable curiosity† launched him to a paradigm of genius (Gardner, 1970, pp. 450-456).   He was well known for his feverish inventive bent of mind and imagination. Born in the year 1452, Vinci illuminated the world and served the society with all his expertise from myriad domains till the ye ar 1519. Leonardo da Vinci is considered to be the greatest painter and perhaps the most widely and diversely talented personality of all times (IEEE, n.d.). Helen Gardner, the famous art historian visions about the great man in the following words, â€Å"the scope and depth of his interests were without precedent and "his mind and personality seem to us superhuman, the man himself mysterious and remote" (Gardner, 1970, pp. 450-456).   But Marco Rosci contends that the vision of Leonardo should not be considered as something mysterious, rather it is essentially logical in the eyes of Rosci and he believed that the empirical methods which Leonardo employed were unusual in his contemporary era (Rosci, 1977, p. 8). Leonardo da Vinci is primarily known for his path-breaking Renaissance paintings. Leonardo is well-known for his supreme masterpieces which despite of his diversified expertise has captivated his name and fame even after four hundred years of his survival. Leonardoâ€℠¢s paintings as a product from the school of Renaissance painting is always appreciated and discussed at a great length by the patron, connoisseurs and critics of art. The explicit use of light and his detailed knowledge of anatomy which he used extensively in his paintings reached the masterpieces at a different dimension. His knowledge of botany and geology also becomes evident through his paintings and his interest on physiognomy well reflected through the minute lines and curves his paintings bear. The greatest

A Preview Of The Twentieth Century Essay Example for Free

A Preview Of The Twentieth Century Essay History tells us so much that the essence of humanity would be of a void nature without it. We can safely say that history is the collective experience of humanity itself. Thus, a distortion made upon history is irreverence to our collective experience. If one distorts history, he/she changes humanity’s life story. There is a need to preserve history as it happened. From history we learn lessons and avoid doing things that lead us to our own destruction. Take for example the two world wars that happened, if a third world war happens, then we, humanity, did not learn and care at all about our own history. History distortions commonly happen in the ideological and political arena. These distortions kill human lives. Conflicts that happen in the Europe and the Middle East as well as in America are caused by differences on the way people view religion and faith. Infamous of these are bombings caused by Muslim fundamentalists. Hence, history should be taught as it happened. History should be taught with clarity and vividness. People are intelligent enough to discern between the good and bad events that happened. Respect given for each other’s perspective and ideology should be encouraged to avoid conflicts. An integration of history arriving at the closest description of events as they happen should be done taking into consideration the differences in the religious and political beliefs of different races. Research should be done in order to correct the mistakes made on writing history. Yet, the most important of these is respect. If people cannot agree on a particular issue of history, then their only option is to respect its other’s views. There is no other alternative, they must respect each other. History is what we are. If we distort our perception of history, we change our very lives’ meaning.

Free Great Gatsby Essays: Sensational, Blatant, Ugly and Pointless :: Great Gatsby Essays

The Many Flaws of The Great Gatsby There are a few, very rare, moments where Fitzgerald allows some insights in the characters of his novel, The Great Gatsby. These occasions should be marked red. Most of the time, the story annoys the reader with imaginary pictures of the Golden 20’s, which really were never that golden, or images of our hero, Gatsby. All the wonderful things that critics see in the story: the novel of manners, love, American Dream, and romance have been interpreted into the story long after the fact. There are some slight hints towards these topics, but they are not really developed by Fitzgerald (e.g. the love between J. Gatz and Daisy Fay). The missing relationship between Gatsby and Daisy is but one of the flaws of the novel. Fitzgerald shows a lack of care in developing Gatsby as a person of the "New Money", dreaming all the day, having and being tasteless in everything he has and is, in addition to being a criminal (though there ´s no real evidence for that), and developing Daisy as a character, coming from a well-known family "Old Money" and being not guilty ("white", to use Fitzgerald ´s riduculas color symbolism). It was just impossible for a mediocre writer like Fitzgerald was, to develop a relationship between such different persons (though they have one thing in common: their lack of taste). The Great Gatsby is an absurd story. One cannot consider this â€Å"masterpiece† as a love story - the only love is one by a shy daydreamer, admiring a lady from the upperclass and doing every possible stupid thing to get her, but who, after not having succeeded, becomes a "tragic hero". Just blindly applying ancient and worn storylines doesn’t make a good book. One cannot consider it as a plain record of lifestyle in the 20 ´s because it simply is not. To suppose that it is a symbol for the American Dream (which isn ´t dreamt by Americans only) it is just ridiculous. These things are not definable by some characters written on a virgin white (color symbolism !!!) sheet of paper. The same goes for those who consider The Great Gatsby as a romantic novel: Ripping off people who buy alcohol, accumulating that dark (color symbolism !!!) money and then filling a pool with it, just to impress a teen love is not very romantic in the opinion of most people.

Federalism and Separation of Power

Democracy as a system of political administration has been termed over years as a product of several institutions working together to ensure the sustainability of an exclusive political system. Democratic institutions in a state are saddled with the responsibility of sustaining a nation’s democratic process such institutions like legislature, judiciary and the executive are the major institutions that guarantee efficiency in a democratic system. ( Ologbenla 1996) Basically, the legislative arm is the major institution that guarantees such because it represents the generality of the people’s interest.The doctrines of separation of power and checks and balances are two major tenets of democracy. Both doctrines provide basic principles that should be upheld in any democratic state. The adherence to these democratic tenets depends largely on the level of political adherence that follows the basic rules and regulations that guides the conduct of both the ruler and the ruled in an exclusive political community. Such rules and regulation are codified in a document known as constitution. A constitution is a legal framework that spells out the composition, function, and jurisdiction of government officials. Almond et al. 1966) It is a body of fundamental rules guiding the affairs of state. It states the relationship between the governors and the governed. Separation of powers is a doctrine propounded by Baron de' Montesquieu which stipulates that in order to avoid arbitrary use of power, power should be decentralised and shared among the organs of government such that no organ becomes too powerful. (Neumann 1949) The principle of checks and balances states that an organ of government should act as a watchdog on the other organs of government so as to curb their excesses.In a democratic system all governmental powers are derived from the constitution, it also spells out the functions and relationship of major governmental institutions such as the executive, judiciary and the legislature such that no organ of government can interfere in the affairs of the other. The constitution makes each arm of government to be an independent and coordinate unit, independent in terms of its sphere of influence and coordinate in its inter-governmental relationship with other arms of government.With cognisance to the American democratic structure, the constitution provides for separation of powers by stipulating the functions of the various arms of government and also the jurisdiction of the different tiers of government, whereby the executive cannot meddle in the affairs of the legislature and vice-versa. The primary function of the legislature is the making of laws ;( Easton 1961) it would be a total negation of the principle of separation of power if such function is being exercised by the executive.Although, the executive can propose a bill after much deliberation by the legislature can be passed into law but the power to make laws lie in within th e jurisdiction of the legislature. But in recent times the principle had been challenged due to the overwhelming power and personality of the executive. For example, President George Bush after the Sept 11 attack on the world trade centre proposed a bill to the congress to invade Iraq. Before the house could pass the bill he had sent troops to wage war in Iraq.This was contrary to the constitutional provisions which states that before United State would engage in a war it must be ratified by the congress in a joint session. Checks and balances on the other is to serve as a balance between the various organs of government in such a way that an arm of government serve as the watchdog over the other arms of government. (Neumann 1949) This function is majorly that of the judiciary this is the done through judicial reviews which help scrutinize both activities of the executive and the legislature.For this function to be performed to the optimum level there is the need for an independent judiciary that is free from executive manipulation. A bill is a proposed law that is not yet law until it is passed by the law making body in the country and received the executive or presidential assent. (Easton 1961) There are several stages that are involved in the passing of a bill before it becomes law. The first stage of the bill is the first introduction of the bill to the house. The introduction of bill could either be a private member bill or it originates from the lower house depending on the type of legislative chamber in operation.In a two chamber legislative house, bills originate from the lower house and are deliberated on in a joint session. This stage marks the first reading of the bill to the house. The second reading marks a stage where the bill is fully deliberated upon by lawmakers and it represents a crucial stage in the passing of such bill into law, because this stage determines whether such bill would become law. After the bill had successfully passed through the second reading then a committee would be constituted to critically examine and analyse the bill, give recommendations and possible impact of the bill if passed into law.This stage represents the committee stage. After constituting the committee, the next stage is the report stage where the committee presents their report to the house on the bill. After the committee stage the bill is presented to the lawmakers for adoption. It should be noted that at this stage the bill can still be rejected if the lawmakers refuse to adopt the bill by voting against it. But if the bill was accepted by the lawmakers then it can now proceed to the third stage which requires the president’s assent.If the bill passed by the legislature was not assented to by the executive, the legislature can constitutionally veto such bill into law after a period of 14 days. Federalism is a political system in which governmental powers are shared among the different tiers and organs of government such that each tier and organ is coordinate, independent, and exclusive in its own sphere of authority. (Leslie 1954) With reference to the debate on whether state power had been reduced or increased in a federal structure, cognisance would be given to emerging democracies mostly in third world countries where democratic structures are still growing.In Nigeria, state powers are gradually reduced as the constitution vested much power in the exclusive legislative list which only allows the federal government to legislate. (Ologbenla 1996) Matters such as currency, defence, health, mining, state creation, local government creation, boundary adjustment, leaving the state with little area to exercise its sphere of control. Unlike other federal structures like the United State of America where states have the autonomy on state police, the Nigerian federal structure did not provide for such provisions even at the agitation of states to have their autonomy on the issue.In 2003, the Lagos state gover nment embarked on the creation of local government which was later regarded as unconstitutional and led to a legal matter between the state and the federal government. (Tadese 2012) The judgement was later passed in favour of the federal citing that states do not have the constitutional right to create such establishment. In the American federal structure allows for state power to be shared between the central, state, and municipal governments in such a way that each state has its own constitution where it derives it powers from.Although when such laws clashes with national constitution the latter prevails. Federalism has been the major factor sustaining the democratic values as it has it functionality in both the principle of separation of powers and checks and balances which is maintained through the efficacy of institutions that guarantees a smooth democratic process.References Almond Gabriel, Gabber Powell. (1966). Comparative Politics: A developmental approach; Little Brown ; C o, Boston. Print. Easton David. (1961). A framework of political analysis, Yale University Press, New Haven. Print. Leslie Lipson. (1954). The Great Issues of Politics (5th edition) Prentice-Hall, New Jersey. Print. Neuman Franz. (1949). Introduction to Montesquieu’s Spirit of Laws. Translated by Thomas Nugent: Halfner publishers, Chicago. Print. Ologbenla Derin. (1996). Introduction to political science, Olucity Press Limited, Lagos. Print. Tadese. Oyeniyi. A battle of legal supremacy; Lagos State faces FG on creation of local government. Vanguard Newspaper. Web 30 September 2012.

Examine the techniques Iago employs to achieve his aims in the play Othello

In traditional Shakespearean tragedies the protagonist is destroyed through their own fatal flaw. The play Othello is different because there is a villain which is unusual for a Shakespearean tragedy. In the play Macbeth, the tragic events occur because of Macbeths own fatal flaw of ambition. However in the play Othello; Iago, one of the main characters manipulates Othello's fatal flaw of jealously which leads to the tragic ending of the play. He says how he is using Othello by â€Å"following him I follow but myself†; he is pretending to be loyal to Othello but is really doing it for his own benefit. Iago plans revenge on Othello when he gives Cassio the job of lieutenant instead of to him; he describes himself as â€Å"worth no worse a place† and is showing that he thinks highly of himself. Even after he manages to get Cassio dismissed and replaces him as lieutenant, he still continues to carry out his plan of destruction. This reveals that the reason of Iagos plans are merely just for fun. Iago deceives everyone even Roderigo who supports him, not knowing everything about Iago's plans, he even questions why he â€Å"ever made a fool my purse† which shows he is only using Roderigo for his own benefit. No-one in the play seems to know what Iago is really like. He manipulates everyone in the play to gain their trust although he only uses them. Cassio praises Iago by saying that he had sung â€Å"an excellent song†, this is because he doesn't know that it was actually because of Iago that he was dismissed from the job of lieutenant. Iago is seen as a manipulative and evil character, he betrays Othello by telling Brabantio that Desdemona is married to Othello; â€Å"you're robbed†¦ an old black ram is tupping your white ewe†, he uses crude, sexual imagery to make their marriage seem worse than it is to make Brabantio angry because his daughter got married without his consent. He constantly makes racist comments about Othello; by referring to him as â€Å"thick-lips† and tries to make him seem like a bad character, because in Shakespearean times it was seen as wrong for a white woman to marry a black man. Iago tries to convince himself that Othello has had an affair with is wife; â€Å"I hate the Moor, And it is thought abroad that ‘twixt my sheets He's done my office. † Iago is jealous even though he is not completely sure that Othello has had an affair with his wife. He treats Emilia badly he tells her to â€Å"be not acknown on't† he makes her do what he wants and tell her to pretend she does not know anything about Desdemona's handkerchief. He also makes general bad comments about women; â€Å"she give you so much of her lips as of her tongue† he is saying that Emilia talks too much, something which she shouldn't do. Iago has a general dislike for women and stabs Emilia when she realises what he has done he also causes Othello to hit Desdemona in public and makes him call her a â€Å"whore† to her face. To make Othello jealous he makes out that Desdemona is having an affair but he only hints, â€Å"Lie – † this makes Othello jump to conclusions and finish off the sentences himself; â€Å"Lie with her? Lie on her? † Iago does not try to correct him â€Å"With her, on her, what you will† he just agrees with what Othello is saying. Sometimes when talking to Othello he says something and immediately takes it back to get Othello curious. Othello gave Desdemona a handkerchief which had been passed through his family, Iago tells Emilia to steal it for him and plants it in Cassio's bedchamber. He tries to wind up Othello by discretely reminding Othello that Desdemona did not have the handkerchief anymore: â€Å"But if I give my wife a handkerchief†, he is tormenting him with the thought that Desdemona is not acting truly loyal to Othello, like Emilia would to Iago. Shakespeare uses asides and soliloquies throughout the play as a dramatic technique. While talking to Othello, Iago says â€Å"O, you are well turned now! But I'll set down the pegs that make this music, As honest as I am† it reminds us of Iago's evil nature, and shows how he is planning Othello's destruction. Soliloquies are similar to asides in what they do in the play. They remind us of what Iago is planning and also show us what he thinks about what he has achieved so far.

Marijuana1 essays

Marijuana1 essays Drugs are a major influential force in our country today. The problem has gotten so out of hand that many options are being considered to control it or even solve it. Ending the drug war seems to be a bit impossible. The war on drugs seems to be accomplishing a lot but this is not true. Different options need to be considered. Legalization is an option that hasn't gotten a chance but should be given one. Although many people feel that legalizing marijuana would increase the amount of use, marijuana should be legalized because it will reduce the great amounts of money spent on enforcement and it will increase our country's revenue. There are also many benefits that can be uncovered to help people if legalization of marijuana is given a chance. Legalizing marijuana would increase our economy's revenue. During Prohibition alcohol use was still sold and used, but people were doing it illegally. The 21st amendment repealed prohibition and alcohol taxes were increased. The same thing should happen with drugs. Marijuana should be taxed heavily to increase our revenue. Marijuana and other drugs would be made by the same people who make aspirin so the quality would be assured, containing no poisons or adulterants. Sterile hypodermic needles will be readily available at corner drug stores. These could be taxed heavily because the users will be assured of "clean drugs." Making drugs legal will reduce the great amounts of money spent on enforcement every year. Drug dealers and users are one step ahead on the enforcement process. If one drug lord is caught, another one will show up somewhere else. We cannot win. "In 1987, 10 billion dollars were spent alone just on enforcing drug laws. Drugs accounted for about 40 percent of all felony indictments in the New York City courts in 1989. This figure is quadruple what it was in 1985. . Forty percent of the people in federal prison are drug law violators" (Long...

Laugh in Spanish With the Verbs Reír and Reírse

Laugh in Spanish With the Verbs Reà ­r and Reà ­rse Is there a difference in meaning between reà ­r and reà ­rse? Dictionaries give the same definition for both. The two verbs, which mean to laugh, mean basically the same thing. Although you will find some regional variations, reà ­rse is the more common of the two. Thus, while reà ­ would be understood to mean I laughed, it would be more common to say me reà ­. Reà ­r by itself can sometimes sound poetic or old-fashioned. When Reà ­r or Reà ­rse Is Required There are at least two cases where one form is required: More commonly, when followed by de, the reflexive form reà ­rse usually means to make fun of or to laugh at: Me reà ­a de mi hermano, pero ahora somos amigos. (I used to make fun of my brother, but now were friends.)14. 3/19. Expanded, fixed error, added takeawaysSe reirn de su falta de sofisticacià ³n computarizada. (They will laugh at your lack of computer sophistication.)Me quiero reà ­r de mà ­ mismo. (I want to laugh at myself.) If you are talking about  what makes a person laugh, the reflexive form isnt used. Hacer is typically used as the verb for to make: Me hace reà ­r cuando estoy triste. (She makes me laugh when Im sad.)Austin Powers no me hizo reà ­r ms de una vez. (Austin powers didnt make me laugh more than once.)Ayer me hiciste daà ±o y hoy me vas a hacer reà ­r. (Yesterday you hurt me and today youre going to make me laugh.) Theres no logical reason why reà ­rse de is used to mean to laugh at rather than reà ­rse a or even reà ­rse en. Thats just the way it is. This is one of those cases where you should learn the preposition along with the verb. Conjugation of Reà ­r and Reà ­rse Reà ­r is one of the very few -ir verbs with an accent on the final syllable. It is conjugated irregularly, but only in terms of writing, not pronunciation. An written accent is needed in many forms to prevent the e of the stem and and à ­ of the ending from forming a diphthong. And example of the written irregularity can be seen in the indicative present forms with the irregular forms shown in boldface): yo rà ­o, tà º rà ­es, usted/à ©l/ella rà ­e, nosotros/as reà ­mos, vosotros/as reà ­s, ustedes/ellos/ellas rà ­en. Words Related to Reà ­r Among the Spanish words related to or derived from reà ­r: la risa - laugh (noun), laughterrisible - laughablerisià ³n - mockery, ridicule (noun)la risita - chuckle (noun)el riso - chuckle (noun; word used in limited areas)la risotada - guffawsonreà ­r - to smilesonriente - smiling (adjective)la sonrisa - smile (noun) Among the few English words etymologically related to reà ­r are derision and risible. All these words come from the Latin  ridÄ“re, which meant to laugh. Phrases Using Reà ­r or Reà ­rse Here are four common expressions that use these verbs, most often reà ­rse. Translations other than those given here can be used: reà ­rse a carcajadas - to laugh ones head off, to laugh ones tail off, to roar with laughter, etc. (A carcajada is a loud laugh or a guffaw.) - Nos reà ­amos a carcajadas de las cosas que decà ­a el cà ³mico. (We roared with laughter at the things the comic said.) A more colloquial way of saying the same thing is reà ­r a mandà ­bula batiente, literally to laugh with a flapping jaw.reà ­rse entre dientes - to chuckle (literally, to laugh between the teeth) - La tenista rià ³ entre dientes y sacudià ³ la cabeza. (The tennis player chuckled and shook her head.)reà ­rse hasta el llanto - to laugh until crying - Muchos dà ­as nos reà ­amos hasta el llanto. (Many days we would laugh to the point of crying.)reà ­rse para adentro - to laugh on the inside - Me rà ­o para adentro cuando recuerdo lo que escribià ³. (I laugh on the inside when I remember what she wrote.) Key Takeaways Both reà ­r and its reflexive form, reà ­rse, mean to laugh, and they are often interchangeable with little to no change in meaning.The reflexive form reà ­rse is used in the phrase reà ­rse de, meaning to laugh at, while the simple form reà ­r is used in the phrase hacer reà ­r, meaning to cause to laugh.Reà ­r and reà ­rse are conjugated regularly in terms of pronunciation, but a written accent is often needed to maintain that pronunciation.

Biography of Brian Cox, Physicist

Biography of Brian Cox, Physicist Physics has had a number of figures who have not only advanced scientists understanding of the universe but also pushed forward a greater understanding of complex scientific questions among the general population. Think of Albert Einstein, Richard Feynman, and Stephen Hawking, all of whom stood out from among the crowd of stereotypical physicists to present physics to the world in their distinctive styles and found an audience of non-scientists for whom their presentations strongly resonated. Though not yet as accomplished as these iconic physicists, British particle physicist Brian Cox certainly fits the profile of the celebrity scientist. He rose to prominence first as a member of British rock bands in the early 1990s before ultimately transitioning to work as an experimental physicist, exploring the cutting edge of particle physics. Though well-respected among physicists, it is his work as an advocate for science communication and education in which he really stands out from the crowd. He is a popular figure in British (and worldwide) media discussing matters of scientific importance, not only in the realm of physics but also more broadly on subjects of public policy and embracing secular principles of rationality. General Information Birthdate: March 3, 1968 Nationality: English Spouse: Gia Milinovich Music Career Brian Cox was a member of the rock band Dare in 1989 until the band split up in 1992. In 1993, he joined the UK rock band D:Ream, which had a number of hits, including the number one Things Can Only Get Better, which went on to be used as a political election anthem in England. D:Ream disbanded in 1997, at which point Cox (who had been studying physics all along and earned his Ph.D.) went on to practicing physics full time. Physics Work Brian Cox received his doctorate in physics from the University of Manchester, completing his thesis in 1998. In 2005, he was awarded a Royal Society University Research Fellowship. He splits his time between work at the University of Manchester and at the CERN facility in Geneva, Switzerland, home of the Large Hadron Collider. Coxs work is on both the ATLAS experiment  and the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment. Popularizing Science Brian Cox has not only performed extensive research, but has also worked hard to help popularize science to lay audiences, especially through repeated appearances on the BBC programs such as The Big Bang Machine. In 2014, Brian Cox hosted a BBC Two 5-part television miniseries,  The Human Universe, which explored humanitys place in the universe by exploring the history of our growth as a species and also tackling existential questions such as Why are we here? and What is our future? He also released a book, called  The Human Universe  (co-authored with Andrew Cohen), in 2014. Two of his speeches are available as TED lectures, where he explains the physics being performed (or not being performed) at the Large Hadron Collider. He has co-authored the following books with fellow British physicist Jeff Forshaw: Why Does Emc2 (And Why Do We Care?) (2009)The Quantum Universe (And Why Anything That Can Happen, Does) (2011) He is also a co-host of the popular BBC radio program Infinite Monkey Cage, which is released worldwide as a podcast. In this program, Brian Cox joins with British actor Robin Ince and other guests of renown (and sometimes scientific expertise) to discuss subjects of scientific interest with a comedic twist. Awards and Recognition International Fellow of The Explorers Club, 2002Lord Kelvin prize from the British Association (for his work popularizing science), 2006Institute of Physics Kelvin Prize, 2010Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), 2010Institute of Physics Presidents medal, 2012Royal Societys Michael Faraday Prize, 2012 In addition to the above awards, Brian Cox has been recognized with a variety of honorary degrees.

Compare curanderismo, espiritualismo, with Afro-Caribbean Santeria, Essay

Compare curanderismo, espiritualismo, with Afro-Caribbean Santeria, Pentecostalism - Essay Example Moreover, there are several objects that are used by the practitioners. They include the holy water, crucifixes, lemons, eggs, candles, saints, incense, candles, spices, eggs, limes, and oils. Evidently, curanderismo originated from the Mexican culture following its colonization by Mexico. It derives its meaning from the word curar which is Spanish for ‘to heal.’ Incidentally, curanderismo is a combination of the indigenous Latin American folk medicine and Catholicism. Presently, curanderismo is practiced in a number of Latin American countries and also in the United States. To this end, it has retained its popularity among certain Mexican-American people as an alternative mode of medicine. Its popularity is largely due to the belief that it offers spiritual alleviation from ailments that are beyond conventional medicine. Espiritualismo involves the practice of spiritualism. Evidently its practice is based on the belief that the spirit world can offer intervention within the human world. To this end, it is practised by a majority of Caribbean’s and also by some citizens from Latin America. However, it is different from Santeria since there are rituals c haracterized by animal sacrifices. Espiritualismo is further regarded as a philosophical movement that is based on reverence to God and the soul, the spiritual and moral principles, and the immortality of being. Moreover, espiritualismo believes in reincarnation, survival ideals of the soul, and the relation between the disembodied and embodied. The general principles of espiritualismo include the belief in God, his helpers and angels; spiritual adoration and worship; the original root of religion and other manifestations of religion; and the divine reverence of the Great Spirit known as ‘God.’ Moreover, mineral, plants, oils, prayers, trees, candles, flowers, and music equally play a pertinent role in the belief of espiritualismo. Evidently, the doctrines of espiritualismo espouse that when a person is born, he or she is a constituent of two bodies. The first body is the physical and visible entity which is earthly and temporary. The second body is the spiritual entity which is eternal and invisible. Furthermore, after death the physical body ceases to exist but the spiritual body continues in an eternal existence under the control of God. On the other hand, Santeria is a combination of religious beliefs and traditions that constitutes a similar African traditional religion. Evidently, its origin can be traced back to Brazil and Cuba. It is characterized by a combination of the worship elements of Catholicism and the traditional Yoruba faith. The Santeria religion is based on creating relationships between the human beings and mortal spirits which are powerful and known as the Orishas. Evidently, the Orisha is a reflection of the god also known as Olodumare. In this regard, the adherents of Santeria believed that the spirits provided them with the gift of life when they performed satisfactory rituals. This consequently enabled them to be blessed with the destiny bestowed upon them before their birth. Interestingly, the Santeria religion exhibits a relation with the Roman Catholic church through the association between Orishas and the Catholic Saints. For example, Our Lady of Charity was known as Ochun in the Santeria religion. She is the Yoruba goddess in charge of the river. The goddess was equally associated with love, sweets, water, love and yellow. Saint Lazarus was the alternate version of Babalu-Aye in Santeria religion.