The Glorious Death of Achilles free essay sample

While Achilles as an epic hero possesses all the characteristics that made him noble including other characteristics that lead to his downfall such as pride and wrath, still these contribute for him to attain a death that is noble and glorious for the sake of comradeship and loyalty, all for Patroclus. An epic is genre in literature that revolves its plot on heroism such as the lives of Achilles, Odysseus, and Beowulf. As a matter of fact, the history of the epic is traceable to the so called â€Å"Heroic Age† as a repository of the wars that has taken place in history. Since the epic is usually set in the heroic age, an epic is known to have given birth to the notion of an epic hero or otherwise known as the tragic hero in literature (Abercrombie 11). The term epic hero, in general, refers to a person with a superior social status, most often a king or a leader. We will write a custom essay sample on The Glorious Death of Achilles or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page His physical attributes are usually tall, handsome, and muscular. More than having the body that resembles that of the God statue in Greece, the epic hero is also expected to be preeminent, athletic and more so, imbued with fighting skills. The skills that are contemplated out of him are not only the physical fitness to fight but also the courage and the determination. Moreover, he is also outstanding intellectually and strategically. In order for the hero to display his true nature and abilities, he has to go to a crisis like a war or a quest in which his response to hi predicaments will all that matters in determining his fate (Toohey 10). There is pattern to the epic hero’s quest in determining his real strength. At first, he had to be at odds with the community. These are for various reasons such as disrespect to the gods and his fellow warriors. This will then be followed by a long wandering to that will allow him to ponder on things and gain an understanding of himself.   After contemplated on what he has done and surmounted numerous feats, he will return to his community and will be wholeheartedly accepted by the citizens. After conquering his weaknesses, the hero will now attain loyalty, patience, empathy, and a proper sense of shame and dignity (Toohey 11). In Homer, the heroic ideal is the â€Å"powerful image of the physically perfect young hero dying for fame and escaping maturation by achieving a good death that ends his physical history in combat (Miller 4).† Another heroic ideal that is evident in the epics of Homer is that the hero death is purposely to defend the state. This is often referred to as the glorious death (Miller 5). In Iliad, death is seen as inescapable and final. Those who incur death through fighting for their motherland achieve glory and outlive finite life (Silk 60). Moreover, the epic hero is not like any other man like us. He is distinct from us. He serves as a paradigm with their ability and courage to risk death. He may be â€Å"mortal and so not actually gods, but whether in-human, sub-human, or seemingly super-human, they are remote from ordinary humanity (Silk 62).† However, despite all these positive traits that an epic hero possesses, he does not remain untarnished. According to Aristotle, the so called â€Å"noble hero† in an epic possesses the hubristic tragic flaw. This tendency is drawn upon the belief of the tragic hero in his self not only by reason of his high status in the society but also his god-like ability and mortality. Because of these hubristic tendencies that he possesses, he is usually destroyed by divine intervention mostly because of his tendencies to anger the gods. These two usually bring the epic hero into his final downfall – death. However, as mentioned earlier, his death would not be a futile endeavor for his death would be celebrated as a noble deed among his country man. Moreover, the predicament of the epic hero brings about catharsis to readers that evoke pity and awe from readers instead of anger or blame (Miller 7). Achilles is among the great Greek warriors, if not the greatest, in Greece’s war against Troy as chronicled by the epic poem The Iliad by Homer. The characteristics of an epic hero as enumerated above sure fit Achilles. In the first place, he is of superior status. He is â€Å"an exceptional hero [with a] suitably special, even alien, background. His mother is a sea-nymph and he was brought up by a centaur Chiron. And during the action these alien connections are evoked by his god-made weapons, his talking horse, his flight with a river (Silk 78).† In terms of physical attribute and fighting skills, there is no doubt that Achilles is one of a kind. In Homer’s description of him while in wrath he said, â€Å"Godlike Achilles, swift of foot, sat by his ships,/ still angry over fair-complexioned Briseis, seized/ from Lyrnessus after heavy fighting./ Achilles had laid waste Lyrnessus and Thebes’s walls, / overthrown the spearman Mynes and Epistrophus, / sons of the Lord Eunus, son of king Selepius (Homer 49).† Moreover, he is known to be fierce in battle. He was endowed by his mother Thesis and invincibility power against attacks. As a matter of fact, he is portrayed by Homer as undefeatable in war. When Achilles decided to not join the war because Agamemnon had done him wrong, the Trojans were much confident in defeating the Greeks which means they consider Achilles as the bearer of the torch of victory. In the words of Homer: â€Å"When Lord Achilles used to go to battle, / the Trojans didn’t dare to venture out/ beyond the Dradanian gates. They feared/ his mighty spear. But now they’re fighting/ well outside the city, by out hollow ships (Homer 117).† However, just like any other epic hero, Achilles’ downfall is due to his hubristic tendencies. He believes too much in himself. He considers himself as immortal not only because the invincibility power that her mother endowed to him but also because of his strength, courage, and fighting ability. He considers himself an important puzzle piece in the army which he really is. When he was rubbed the wrong way by Agamemnon by taking Briseis away from him, he refused to go to war which was a drawback to the Greeks. Because of his pride and his refusal in joining the army into battle, Patroclus decided to wear his armor so as to suck the confidence among the Trojans now that Achilles is back in the field. However, this act of Patroclus leads to the first stage in the downfall of Achilles. The death of Patroclus is the very reason why he waged revenge against Hector which was the commencement of his own death. When Patroclus died, Achilles was so devastated that he â€Å"will slaughter Hector. From that moment on, / [He’ll] make the Trojans steadily fall back, leaving the ships, until Achaeans take/ steep Ilion, with Athena’s grace (Homer 316).† Despite the intervention of the gods including his mother’s foreboding of his destine death id he kills Hector, he remained determined to avenge the death of his friend Patroclus. He is consumed with both grief and wrath that he â€Å"scooped up soot and dust and poured it/ on his head, covering his handsome face with dirt, covering his sweet-smelling tunic with black ash (Homer 396).† Despite his knowledge that he is going to die after hector dies which means that the death of hector implies his own, he was not taken aback. This is not for the reason of pride for he has already fulfilled his first stage of his downfall. This is where anger consumes him. However, we would also see Achilles in the positive side of the spectrum which would render him different among other epic heroes. In Achilles, we see a man that will die not only for himself, or his motherland, but also for a friend. When he was warned by his mother that his death follows that of Hector, he did not hesitate. He did not fear his life for the reason that he is going to risk his life to give honor to Patroclus, his good comrade. Instead of a self-absorbed hero that we see at the beginning of the play, we now see Achilles as someone who will risk his life for someone that is important. Not the kind of sacrifice that he is to do to get Briseis back but the kind of sacrifice that a mother will do for her daughter and a father will do for his son. His death, therefore, is what was discussed above, that of a â€Å"glorious death.† I think this is the reason why Achilles has remained to be one of the most celebrated heroes in the history of epic poetry. He brings about catharsis to readers, a sense of pity and awe which is the final stage of an epic drama. His willingness to sacrifice his life all for the sake of comradeship is the noblest that he has done beyond all the battles that he has won and enemies that he has slain. Despite all his weaknesses his pride and his anger, his act of risking his life for Patroclus, says it all of his being a hero. Works Cited Homer, Johnston, Ian and Crowe, Ian. The Iliad: A New Translation. U.S.A: Richer ResourcesPublications, 2006. Miller, Dean A. The Epic Hero. Maryland: John Hopkins Press, 2000. Toohey, Peter. Reading Epic: An Introduction to the Ancient Narratives. London: Routledge, 1992. Silk, Michael. Homer: The Iliad. A Student Guide. London: Cambridge University Press,  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   2004.

From Now on Forget about Where Can I Find Research Papers Troubles

From Now on Forget about Where Can I Find Research Papers Troubles From Now on Forget about Where Can I Find Research Papers Troubles College research papers can be extremely challenging to write, but any student can confirm that it is easier to write a paper when you have an example. Here are five fabulous resources for finding sample research papers. 1. The Internet You really can find anything on the Internet these days, including thousands of research papers on an endless variety of topics. No matter what topic you were assigned to, you are almost guaranteed to find a sample essay on the Internet. Although the variety of papers on the Internet is a major benefit, anyone can upload an essay, so there is often no way to be sure that the essay you are viewing is from a credible source. You should be careful not to use a poorly written sample as a model for your own research paper. Some pieces on the Internet cost money, and not all of these are of such a high quality they claim to be, so be attentive. If you use your best judgement, the Internet is a great place for anyone who asks him/herself, â€Å"Where can I find research papers?† 2. Libraries Libraries are filled with books that may offer examples of excellent research papers, which you can use to help shape your own paper. Libraries provide you with far more credible resources than the Internet, so using the library is the way to ensure that you are only using the best and the most qualitative papers to guide you. However, searching for sample papers in a library may be much more challenging endeavor than finding research papers on the Internet. If you are willing to meet the deadline and effort for the most credible examples, then the library is the right place for you. 3. Friends or Siblings If your friends or siblings have previously taken the classes you are enrolled in, they may have written about the same topic in the past. Even if they haven’t written papers on the same topic, you may still be able to view a research paper graded by your professor, which will give you an idea of what your professor looks for in research papers and how to structure your own essay the right way. Of course, you’ll have to make sure that your sibling or friend did well in the class, before using his/her research paper as your example. Although you may use the paper as an example, be sure that you do not copy it outright. Plagiarism is taken very seriously at the colleges and universities, so use the paper as a guide for creating your own original piece. 4. Professor If you ask your professor, he/she may have examples of research papers from previous students stored in her office. This is one of the best ways to ensure you get a great example- if your professor, who is grading your research paper, recommended the example, then you know it is a good one to use as a guide for your own writing. The paper will also likely have the professor’s mark and comments written on it, which can give you valuable insight into what the most important point you should cover in your own work is. 5. Classmates You may be able to compare essays with your fellow classmates. Perhaps you can get together with your classmates to brainstorm research paper topics, and later meet to read one another’s essays and offer feedback. It can be very helpful to listen to the ideas of others in your class for inspiration, get feedback on your own ideas, and receive a second opinion from students who are taking the same class. However, some college students fear sharing ideas or writing with others not to be copied. If you find a group of students you can trust who are willing to share ideas, it will be a great opportunity to get more inspiration. Next time you are writing a research paper, but you don’t have a sample to guide you, try using one of the resources we have suggested. You will come up with some strong, qualitative examples to help you produce an excellent research paper of your own.

Perception and Conflict Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Perception and Conflict - Essay Example that sets the different vectors of power in a modulated manner that they are primarily applied to support the differences of each individual living within the human communities around the world. Making use of conflict as an agent of equalizing the differences, business organizations are sure to gain strength from the said idealism. As mentioned earlier, competition among organizational members is one particular form of conflict. However, instead of seeing it as a major source of conflict of differences in the organization, it could be used as the key matter that could motivate people in achieving higher than what the others is able to achieve. In this track, the conflict of competition is already viewed as something that is healthy for the organizations’ sake. However on the part of Reno and Frank, the conflict growing between them involves more than just competition. It involves the wrong perception towards the need to communicate to each other and the difference of their belief towards the need to work with the problem that they are facing. Yes, in this regard, dealing with the situation usually involves more than just making amends between the two different ongoing opinions between two different individuals or groups at that, who are thriving within a certain single organization. The conflicts between people and how each undeniable misunderstanding occurs are based in a process of conversing, interpreting and wrong response. To understand further, here are some of the communication problems that occur which usually turns into different levels of relationship conflicts: This is the way by which a person intends to manipulate the thinking of the other person through questioning the attitudes of the other. Not only that, the situation usually aggravates the questioning of the attitude of the other towards the other person. Robert Bolton comments on the matter saying: â€Å"Many of us feel we need to be critical, or other people will never improve we make a

Americas History of Immigration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Americas History of Immigration - Essay Example To begin with, the most notable point in the American Immigration history lies in the creation of its colonial era. The American experience was perceived as a colony where there would be freedom as well as a feeling of mutual bonding. (Parrillo, 2002) This was first demonstrated by the Puritans who built the first English colony at Jamestown, Virginia, in the year 1607. These efforts were replicated by various communities throughout the two century old immigration experience of the United States. Therefore, the turning point was the creation of a model which was to be followed by the variety of people arriving at the American shores, so as create an essentially American way of life. (Gjerde, 1998. Pp 288 to 290 ) Another turning point came in the form of the framing of the US Constitution in the nineteenth century. This helped the diverse American population gain an insight into what was typically American. The Constitution laid special emphasis on freedom, which led to the definition of various unique groups and their ways of living. The Constitution provided the necessary impetus that forced the people to unite on the common grounds of secularism and freedom. Also, with a new focus on new age terms like welfare state and public policy, there was a mass paradigm shift towards understanding the plight of the various communities and creating a platform upon which they may voice their issues and thus gain new insights into public life. (Parrillo, 2002) The election of Andrew Jackson in 1828, as the first "outsider" to be elected as the President, paved the way for the creation of an America that could expand its frontiers through the sheer power of diversity presented by the people thronging it. (Palmer, 2005) This trend was further fuelled through the modifications rendered to public policy to cater to the needs of minorities who were fast taking to America as their homeland. There was a new brand of administrative policy activism during this period, which triggered federal immigration policies to be restructured along dynamic innovative lines. Further, nationhood and social order were described during this period in terms of the ethnicities and their diverse needs. The coming of the Irish to the American shores during the 1800s ushered an age of renewed political agenda aimed at the so called "outsiders". The Irish settled around New England, poised for a greater role in the political affairs of the nation. This brought about a new breed of causal politicians who showed America what culture and refinement feel like. Having followed directly after the abolishment of slavery and the migration of the Southern Blacks towards the Northern industrial states, the migration of the Irish served to better understand and define freedom in terms of the ethnic diversity thronging the American shores. (Parrillo, 2002) Further, the progressive movement was closely followed by the First World War, where the traveling American was brought face to face with social issues on the home front. There was an acknowledgement of the fact that the social dictates of the land had grown to disproportionate dimensions in the face of multi cultural interactions. This led to the need for government action during the 1900s in a bid to demonstrate the ideal American family. While many Asian communities were averse to these trends, the second generation immigrants were more forgiving.

Literature evaluation of a journal article Assignment - 3

Literature evaluation of a journal article - Assignment Example The criteria were assessed by rating procedures. In the following step, the relative significance of the criteria was established by the AHP. The suitability of land is simply established using the additive weighting procedure. The landfill suitability was classified into four main areas (Nadali 99). The rest of the area was concluded to be inappropriate for landfill. The results of the research demonstrated that it is a supplementary and necessary stride to establish the best candidate were chosen from the lands that have the best suitability. The paper was comprehensively researched by using data collected from the ground. From the research findings it is clear that the high population growth has resulted increased demand for landfills (Nadali 99). The study employed the AHP and ArcGIS and this increases the validity of the results. The authors found that the most significant criteria in this region were surface water and sensitive ecosystems. The paper concluded that dumping is one of the major issues facing municipalities in Iran. The conclusions of the study state that is tough to find land that is suitable for landfills (Nadali 104). In order to take regulations and all factors into consideration we employ AHP and GIS to deal with this complex issue. I agree with the conclusions and the paper contributes positively to my knowledge in landfills. The major limitations of the study is the limited data, comprehensive inspections are needed to involve members of the public in the landfill selection procedure and to study unavailable inadequate digital information including ground water. Nadali Alavi, Gholamreza Goudarzi, Ali Akbar Babaei, Nemat Jaafarzadeh and Mohsen Hosseinzadeh. Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Site Selection with Geographic Information Systems and analytical hierarchy process: A case study in Mahshahr County, Iran. Waste Management Resources.

Importance Of Stretching Before Exercise Physical Education Essay

Importance Of Stretching Before Exercise Physical Education Essay Stretching before participation in athletic activities is typical practice for all levels of sports, competitive or recreational. Athletes, coaches, trainers, physiotherapists, and physicians recommend stretching in an effort to both prevent injury and enhance performance. Several papers have been published which has produced a significant body of evidence that stretching may not be the way to improve performance and decrease risk of injury. Recent research demonstrates that stretching prior to physical activity decreases performance. However, these stretching bouts are not representative of athletes during warm up procedures, as they are usually time consuming. The aim of the this study is to examine whether the duration of acute static stretching is responsible for losses in sprint times compared to increased/decreased flexibility.   Research has shown the reduction of peak flow force when using static stretching but research has also shown the reduction of injury and the improve ment of flexibility in the long term which also assists in sprinting performance. Research in this area has sometimes been vague involving the time of the static stretched used. Bandy (1997) used 57 subjects from the age of 21 to 37 years old, 40 of these being male and 17 female with all participants having limited hamstring flexibility. These participants were randomly assigned to four groups. Three groups stretched 5 days per week for 15, 30, and 60 seconds, Group four served as a control group, and did not stretch. The test was ran over a six week period. The results showed that holding a stretch for 30 seconds was optimal as it had a greater effect on range of motion than the 15 seconds and control group and the same effect as the 60 seconds. Bandy (1997) concluded that because there was little difference between no stretching and 15 seconds coaches and athletes must raise the question of the effectivness of static stretching for periods less than 30 seconds. Although this study supports its hypothesis it is very specific to the hamstring and lower body. Muscle such as the gasrtocnemuis may show different results due to the higher percentage of fast twi tch muscle fibres which performs larger, more powerful movements REF. The study did not show the acute effects of static stretching so we cannot assume these results would or would not enhance range of motion/flexibility gains prior to any sporting events. Also this study is excessively narrow in subject focus and as all participants had limited amount of range of flexibility within the hamstring, with a higher majority of subjects being men. Therefore this makes the results only valid to this population. Due to the length of the study and the uncontrolled environment I would have to question the suitability of the research design and the effectiveness of the data collection. The subjects were only tested once after the six week period, therefore subjects were subjected to outside environmental factors during the six weeks which may have affected results. Testing and monitoring constantly throughout the six weeks would improve the reliability of this study. A more controlled study was done by Shirer (2005). This study focused on muscle performance rather than flexibility. He conducted a study using males from a university population who were pre and post tested for isometric force and surface electromyography activity. (Shirer 2005 pg 22) tests were performed on only lower limb muscles, range of motion in seated hip flexion, prone hip extension, ankle planter and dorsi flexion, no-counter movement jump height, and ground contact time. Male participants were tested 30, 60, 90, and one120 seconds after static stretching. The group partake in an 18 minute static stretch routine for the lower body (hamstrings, quadriceps, and planter flexors). 45 seconds was the protocol stretch time used for each muscle group and was repeated four times with a 15 second break in-between. Shirier (2005) found differences in the acute (just before exercise) and regular stretching (over a period of time). Results stated that there was no significant benefit o f acute stretching on isometric force production, isokinetic torque, or jumping height. In addition, (Shirer 2005 pg 25) concluded by saying that regular stretching after exercise may improve strength, jump height, and running speed. As a result these findings imply that acute stretching before exercise had no positive effects on strength and power while regular stretching after training or competition improved strength and speed. Results did not relate to the acute effects of static stretching but only the acute effects of isometric force. Again this study provides significant evidence for the effects of stretching on performance, however the time frame used for the stretches in this study was 45 seconds and 30 seconds has been proven in the previous study to be the optimal time. This extended period of time could therefore affect the force production and therefore the results. A similar study by Fowles (2000) that supports Shirer (2005) body of evidence showed the effect of stretching on muscular strength over time. (Fowles 2000 pg 1179) Subjects performed 13 stretches of the plantar flexors, holding each stretch for 135 seconds during a time frame of 33 minutes. Maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) was assessed 6 times during the ensuing 60 minutes. Fowles (2000) concluded that an intense extended stretch (of the plantar flexors) reduces MVIC for up to 1 hour after stretching. Although this evidence supports that of Shirier (2005) it is not relevant to sports performance as proven by Bandy (1997) the time for both holding the stretch and time spent on stretching is too long and therefore is not specific to sports performance and is not relevant. A more sport specific study was done by (Sayers AL 2008) who performed a study using 20 female football players to determine which phase of the 30 meter sprint (acceleration and or maximum velocity) was affected by performance static stretching. Participants were assigned at random to either a stretch or no stretch condition on two non-consecutive days. The athletes in the no-stretch condition completed a standard warm-up protocol and then performed three 30-m sprints, with a 2-minute rest interval between. The athletes in the stretch condition performed the standard warm-up protocol, completed a stretching routine of the lower limbs which included calf, quadriceps, and hamstrings and then without delay performed three 30-m sprints, also with a 2-minute rest between each sprint. The groups would then reverse the next day, and indistinguishable procedures were followed. A considerable statistical difference in acceleration maximal-velocity sprint time, and overall sprint time between the stretch and no-stretch conditions was seen. (Sayers AL 2008 pg 1420) concluded by stating that static stretching before sprinting resulted in slower times in all three performance variables. Although this study proves that static stretching diminishes spitting performance it does not state the time held with the stretches. Again this study is gender specific and as studies has proven significant differences between male and females relating in flexibility and spots performance we cannot assume these results are relevant for both genders. Favero (2009) took this further by relating flexibility to performance investigating the effect of stretching on sprint performance and baseline flexibility. 10 trained male subjects (age 22 to 23 yrs) were randomly designated to Rest and Stretch conditions. (Favero 2009 pg 52) A low intensity 5 min running warm-up procedure was followed by either 12 min of inactivity (Rest) or lower-limb stretches. No statistically significant difference in measures of sprint performance between conditions were seen, however there was a significant correlation between baseline sit-and-reach scores and mean change in mean velocity between conditions. There was an preference for stretching to a harmful affect on sprint performance in subjects with moderately high baseline flexibility. (Favero 2009 pg 54) concluded by saying an acute bout of stretching does not exert a significant effect on sprint performance under prescribed conditions. This research therefore disputes previous studies which state tha t stretching effects sprinting performance. Unlike the previous studies Favero (2009) compared the difference in flexibility compared to the sprinting performance, therefore making the results specific, reliable and valid. Unfortunately there is a lack of evidence and current data to support this conclusion. Kistler (2008) conducted a similar study to see what would happen to these performance effects at longer distances such as those seen in competition.(Kistler 2008 pg. 2281) This study investigated the effects of passive static stretching vs no stretching on the 60- and 100-m sprint performance of college track athletes after a dynamic warm-up. Results discovered a considerable slowing in performance with static stretching in the second 20 (20-40) m of the sprint trials. Following the first 40 m, static stretching exhibited no added affect on performance in a 100-m sprint. However, even tho there was no further time loss, athletes never retrieved back the time that was initially lost in the first section of the trials. Therefore, in strict terms of sporting performance, it is probable that including static stretching will have a diminishing affect of sprinting performance up to 100 meters. (Kistler 2008 pg. 2283) went on to say that the study found no additional inhibition during the final 60 m of a 100-m dash, therefore it is possible that performance in even longer events could actually benefit from static stretching. This study supports that of previous literature and supplies solid evidence to propose that static stretching has an effect on sprinting performance at short distances; however many athletes use stretching as a method of injury prevention and increase range in motion, and this study does not provide any information about the effectiveness of static stretching in this regard. Summary All but 1 study found that an acute bout of stretching diminished performance tests of sprinting, or jumping performance Even though most studies used a randomised cross-over design some studies used a pre-post design. Results were in general constant across designs. Static stretching was used in most of the studies, even tho there are many other appropriate methods used to stretch. Affects were however was observed with other forms of stretching as well. The review showed body of evidence suggesting that these affects were consistent across different types of stretching for isometric force, isokinetic torque, and jump height. Even though different types of stretching in running produced incompatible results, the main methodological difference was the duration of stretch, which was inconsistent and had no explanation for the use of the time used. As a result it was found that longer stretch produced worse results. In relation there was limited research on acute effects after stretching in relation to range of motion and flexibility. A huge variable to consider was the subject population as most studies found similar results across age, gender and level of athletic ability. This may suggests the results are due to fundamental physiological adaptations that occur in the muscle, a hypothesis that is supported by the critical science evidence on stretch-induced muscle damage and stretch-induced hypertrophy (Morgan 1999). Possible improvements in performance may be at the expense of an increased risk of injury. Therefore the advantages and disadvantages of stretching need to be considered for individual athletes, together with but not partial to competition level, competition timing (e.g., early or late in the season). Although different forms of performance were tested in these studies, including isokinetic, isometric force, jump height, jump velocity, acceleration, and sprint speed, these do not account for all aspects of performance. In addition, stretching may be a method of relaxation for athletes, and may possi bly affect performance. If this were a method to improve performance, then stretching should be compared with other methods of relaxation for quantifiable effectiveness. In summary, the literature suggest that for athletes who take part in sports that require power, strength, and explosive movements need to consider that static stretching before activity may cause a short-term decline in sprinting performance. Conversely, frequent stretching will advance the results for all activities. This is comparable to the fact that stretching directly prior to exercise does not diminish the possibility of injury, nevertheless regular stretching may reduce the risk of injury. Therefore, athletes should stretch after exercise, or at a time not associated to exercise. Further research is necessary to ascertain both the degree of pre-stretching necessary to cause a damaging effect, and the time-course between the preservation of the increased range of motion and the prolongation of the capacity to generate maximal power. Methodology The focus of this study was to test the length of time taken with a stretch and compare this to the performance of both sprinting and flexibility. 30 male participants were recruited from Cheddar Football club. Subjects were required to read and complete a health questionnaire and sign an informed consent document. The appropriate institutional ethics committee approved the study. The participants were not informed of the results until the study was completed. A convenience sample was used as a high volume of participants were readily available and allowed basic data and trends to be obtained without the complications of using a randomised sample. All participants regular play football and are subjected to sprinting. This makes my sample specific and relative to athletic performance where as an ideal sample results may differ due to gender, age, and athletic ability differences. A secondary observer was used to record the results and help time the pre stretches. This ensured subject were monitored, and therefore helped ensure the test procedure was followed correctly. The 30 males partaked in both a pre sit and reach flexibilit y test and a 40 meter sprint. Participants were subjected to a 5 min protocol warm up prior to the pre test comprising of jogging 400 m, forward skips 2 x 60 m, side steps 4 x 20 m, backwards skips 2 x 60 m. Participants only had 1 attempt at each of the pre test. To minimise variation in climatic conditions, all sprints were performed on an indoor track using running trainers. The sprints were initiated from a standard stationary split stance with the dominant foot to the front and foot behind the starting line, with no rocking movements and were timed with (Omoron electronic timing gates). Timing gates were used to ensure the most accurate readings as the difference in times will be minimal, therefore this will ensure there is no room for human error, therefore making the results more reliable. The time would start as soon as the participant travels through the first beam and then would stop when the participant travels through the beam 40 meters from the starting line. To control for error, the laser beam was positioned so the height above the ground approximated the height of the runners waist. The sit and reach test was then performed 2 minutes after the 40 meter sprint. A modified sit and reach test was used to control for the variable lengths of peoples arms and legs, which is a limitation of the standard test. The equipment was set up that, the zero mark is adjusted for each individual, based on their sitting reach level. This ensured that the result would be a positive number which is necessary for a statistical analysis. An (Acuflex) modified flexibility sit and reach test box was used to record the test. Procedure Three different stretch protocols were used, with each protocol being performed on a different day. Group 1 would hold the stretch for 30 seconds, group 2 for 15 seconds and group 3 would stretch for 5 seconds. All groups were given the same protocol warm up as the pre test. The stretching activities were ones that the athletes normally used in their daily warm-up rituals. All groups then stretch their hamstrings, quadriceps, and gastrconemuis for their given times. For each activity, the range of motion was increased until the person acknowledged a stretch-induced discomfort similar to that normally felt during their daily stretching activities. At this point, the stretch was maintained for their given times. The first stretch was a hamstring stretch. The subjects laid down in a supine position on the floor with a leg extended. The opposing leg was flexed at the patella at 90 degrees and hip 45 degrees, with the sole of the foot planted tightly on the floor. From this pose, the extended leg was raised to an upright position. The second was a quadriceps stretch. The participant adopted a vertical position, standing on one leg with the other leg flexed with the heel pulled close to the glutes with the help of the hand. The last stretch was the glastocnemius. The participant adopted a split stance shoulder width apart with the front leg slightly bent. The body weight is transferred forward whilst keeping the heel of the back foot on the ground. All stretches were performed in the order mentioned above, in accordance of a 30 second rest interval dividing each different stretch. Once this sequence of stretches was finished, the leg was rested for a further 30 seconds and then the sequence was repeated until all muscles were equally stretched 3 times. One full cycle of stretches on one leg was performed before changing legs. Following the stretching regime, the athletes were told to relax for 3 minutes before beginning the 40 meter sprints. The modified sit and reach test followed the 40 meter sprint. The test involved sitting on the floor with legs stretched out straight ahead. Footwear was removed. The soles of the feet were placed flat against the box. Both knees were locked and pressed to the floor with the palms facing downwards, and the hands on top of each other or side by side, the subject then reached forward along the measuring line as far as possible. The hands had to remain at the same level, not one reaching further forward than the other. The subject then reaches out and holds that position for two seconds while the distance is recorded.  Groups repeated the test 1week later changing the time of the stretch. 1 week wash out time was given to ensure significant time to recover. This was again repeated the following week with the groups changing the times once again. I have used repeated measure as it ensured the experiment was more efficient and helped keep the variability low. This therefore helped to ke ep the validity of the results higher, while still allowing for smaller than usual subject groups. It also allowed the experiments to be completed more quickly, as only a few groups need to be used to complete the entire experiment. It is important to make sure the experiment is completed quickly as changes in participants may occur due to practice effects. The two pre- and two post-sprint times were averaged. Data was analysed using qualitative measures. The reliability of the 40 meter times for each stretch condition was calculated using an intraclass correlation coefficient on pre test measures. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures was used to compare the times for each stretch condition. I have used this method of testing as it will reduce the likelihood of a false positive (type 1 error). For this reason using the ANOVA will help me compare three means. In addition to the above analysis on the average 40 m sprint times, a post-hoc analysis was done on the best time for each trial. I have used these methods of testing as they have been used in many of the reviewed literature. Therefore I know these methods are applicable and will therefore allow me to easily compare my results to previous literature. To prove my hypothesis, I have used a common alpha value of 0.05 (5%). Parametric (anova) or non Parametric

Robert Bells 10 Ordeals of a Takeover :: Essays Papers

Robert Bells 10 Ordeals of a Takeover Companies often face the possibility of being taken over. During the take over many events within the each of the companies will arise. Some examples would be, employees would fear the loss of their job because the other company might not have any use for your position; rumors will start spreading about the merger or takeover that may have been started by individuals who â€Å"leaked† the news; many other events will also arise. In the book Surviving the 10 ordeals of a takeover by Robert Bell, looks at ways that an individual can cope with the takeover of your company or if your company takes over another company. Robert Bell breaks down the 10 major ordeals that a person might face. The First Ordeal: The Niagara of Rumors, is something that almost everyone will face and that is once the word on an impending takeover gets out, the cascade of rumors is â€Å"the major thing that happens† inside executive offices. All rumors are started by operations on Wall Street. The rumors are started because fear and greed become visible. The fear that one might lose their job or the greed that there might be an opportunity lurking out somewhere. There are many ways we can deal with rumors and a few suggestions are (1) Don’t trust anyone or anything for face value; (2) Listen to the existing grapevine and cultivate contacts from cleaning people to former executives from your company; (3) Always ask people on the outside of your company whether they’ve heard anything contrary to what you have been told inside the company; (3) Be very suspicious of official pronouncements, no matter how reliable they’ve been in the past; (4) Always look for anoth er position. Rather than spending too much time â€Å"rumoring,’ use the time to get your resume together an build contacts on the outside. The Second Ordeal: Who are these guys? While rumors are roaring in your ear, you may now be desperate to know one thing and that is who are these people who are taking over? Everyone will have that curiosity. The reasons people will wonder about the new people is because it will affect them in some way in the future. There are many things a person can do to find out about what

Environmental Law in New Zealand

Environmental Law in New Zealand Introduction New Zealand is in an enviable position as it has been able to learn from the mistakes of other nations, however this does not mean disasterous environmental issues cannot arise here. Fortunately New Zealand has well established environmental laws with several legislative statutes and governmental authorities. Following international trends and heightened awareness of environmental issues throughout the years the legislation has become increasingly integrated.Arising from international research and public concern new statutes have also been created the most significant of which is the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA). Contributing Factors and Benefits Before the RMA, New Zealand environmental law and its administration was similar to that of many other countries, consisting of an assortment of uncoordinated and overlapping statutes, regulations and practices. The Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Act 1941 was the first of such legisla tive statutes centred on use of the land and resources.Social change in the 1960's spurred awareness of environmental issues in New Zealand with events such as the Save Manapouri Campaign (1959-1972) opposing the development of the hydro-electric scheme planned for Lake Manapouri. During this period several statutes were created, the Nature Conservation Council Act 1962 and the Environment Council in 1970 acknowledging that economic interests can often override environmental concerns.The Save Manapori Campaign culminated in 1972 with a change of government, the newly elected Labour Government set about fulfilling it's election promise of environmental reform creating the Commision for the Environment. The agency later became the Office of the Parliamentary Commisioner for the Environment after the creation of the Environment Act 1986 establishing the Ministry for the Environment. The Department of Conservation, the Ministry of Conservation and Fish and Game were formed shortly after with the implementation of the Conservation Act 1987.In January 1988, Deputy Prime Minister Geoffrey announced a comprehensive review of the many environment and resource acts in place, as well as the procedures for assessing environmental effects. This Resource Mangagement Law Review (RMLR) was established to address concerns by environmentalists and Maori who both believed the public lacked access to information and the government had too much power.Along with inadequate protection of resources and little attention to Maori and environmental values in economic decisions. The review was managed by the Ministry for the Environment encompassing Maori ideas of stewardship and sustainability it focused on existing New Zealand resource law and public reaction to deficiencies within those laws. The RMLR was drafted and the subsequent Resource Management Bill was put before parliament but not passed into law before the 1990 general election.The victorious National Party decided to contin ue the process of resource management reform. Minister for the Environment Simon Upton reviewed the bill and to the surprise of many made it greener, changing the bill from its original objective of balancing economics and environment to constraining economical objectives to suit the environment, embracing the approach of sustainable management.Upton addressed parliament on his re-written RMA stating that its purpose was not one of contolling and planning economic activity but one of sustaining, rectifying and mitigating the effects on the use of natural resources. The bill was passed in 1991 and has become the preeminant legislation concerning the management of the environment in New Zealand replacing 69 Acts and 19 regulations, it describes sustainable management as: (1) The purpose of this Act is to promote the sustainable management of natural and physical resources. 2) In this Act, sustainable management means managing the use, development, and protection of natural and physica l resources in a way, or at a rate, which enables people and communities to provide for their social, economic, and cultural well-being and for their health and safety while— (a) sustaining the potential of natural and physical resources (excluding minerals) to meet the reasonably foreseeable needs of future generations; and (b) safeguarding the life-supporting capacity of air, water, soil, and ecosystems; and (c) avoiding, remedying, or mitigating any adverse effects of activities on the environment. Ministry for the Environment, 2011). 2011 has also seen a further addition to the RMA and environmental law in New Zealand with the implementation of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA). The EPA will perform tasks once performed by the Ministry for the Environment, the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Environmental Risk Management Authority. International Influences The 1970's was a time of increased international conce rn for the environment, this spawned the first United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in 1972.Representatives from 113 countries met for the first time to discuss the state of the global environment. The conference culminated with the signing of a declaration containing 26 principles concerning the environment and development, an action plan with 109 recommendations, and a resolution (Baylis ; Smith, 2005). This action is widely seen as the beginning of modern political and public awareness of global environmental issues, paving the way for further international collaborations such as the Kyoto Protocol of which New Zealand is a signatory and the World Commission on Environment and Development .The Brundtland Commision previously known as the World Commission on Environment and Development is perhaps the biggest international influence on the creation of the RMA, convened by the United Nations in 1983 the commision focused on the degredation of the environment and natura l resources and the resulting consequences. In 1987 the commision released a report on the matter, titled Our Common Future the report centres on the concept of sustainable development and the political changes required to achieve it.New Zealand's response to the report was that of agreeance, a report consisting of a step-by-step response to 12 areas of concern highlighted by the Commission was submitted to the United Nations General Assembly (McChesney, 1991). The Newly formed Ministry for the Environment was tasked with following up the Brundtland Report which it did by means of RMLR resulting in the RMA in 1991. Role of the RMA in New Zealand The RMA is built on the idea of sustainable resource management, it encourages communities and individuals to become involved in planning for the future environment.The RMA provides the guidelines for how the environment should be managed especially how the environmental effects of our activities should be managed. In accordance with the RMA , regional and district councils are to monitor activities, and respond to complaints about those activities that the public believe are negatively affecting the environment. It is important to realise that the RMA is largely effects based, if the applicant can prove that the effects of the development on the environment are unproblematic, then they may be allowed to continue.The RMA however has not absolved the Conservation Act 1987 and the Environment Act 1986, the authorities created by these Acts such as Fish and Game and the Department of Conservation also play an active part in supporting or appealing resource consents. Any proposed plans to use or develop natural resources that are not permitted by the rules of the RMA require the authorisation of a resource consent from the local council.Five different consents types exist, defined by the RMA as: (a) a consent to do something that otherwise would contravene section 9 or section 13 (in this Act called a land use consent): (b) a consent to do something that otherwise would contravene section 11 (in this Act called a subdivision consent): (c) a consent to do something in a coastal marine area that otherwise would contravene any of sections 12, 14, 15, 15A, and 15B (in this Act called a coastal permit): (d) a consent to do something (other than in a coastal marine area) that otherwise would contravene section 14 (in this Act called a water permit): (e) a consent to do something (other than in a coastal marine area) that otherwise would contravene section 15 (in this Act called a discharge permit). (Ministry for the Environment, 2011). An application must be submitted to the local council containing a description of the planned activity along with an assessment of the effects on the environment. If the activity is not prohibited by the local and regional plan the resource consent will be processed and the application may be publicly notified (not all are publicly notified) whereby anyone can make a submissi on on the application.Organisations such as the Department of Conservation, Fish and Game and Forest and Bird have become key proponents of the submission process, opposing consents that harm flora and fauna. After receipt of all information required from the applicant and subsequent public submissions and public hearings the decision is made. Anyone who has made a submission and is dissatisfied with the outcome can appeal to the Environment Court. The resource consent process (Ministry for the Environment, 2009) The Environment Court previously know as the Planning Tribunal came to fruition in 1996 after ammendments to the RMA (Environment Court, 2007), among other things the court arbitrates RMA appeals.The court hears appeals on resource consent decisions, however it does not review the decision made by local authorities instead it hears any evidence it requires and makes its own decision overriding or upholding the original decision. The court does not belong to the regular New Zealand judicial hierarchy (District, Supreme, High Court) although it carries the powers of a District Court allowing it to enforce the RMA and conduct criminal or civil proceedings. Conclusion Environmental Law in New Zealand has been significantly overhauled throughout the years from barely existent to now having three key pieces of legislation enabling conservation and sustainable management.The RMA is a hugely important perhaps revolutionary piece of legislation, largely focused on the issue of sustainable management, a relatively new concept at the time. Unlike previous legislative statutes the RMA ambitiously incorporates management of the land, air, sea and fresh water into a single piece of legislation. It has effectively decentralised the governments power on the use of natural resources. Local and district authorities now make the decisions themselves following the principle that the decisions should be made closest to the resources affected.References Baylis, J. , & Smit h, S. (2005). The Globalization of World Politics (3rd ed). Oxford University Press, p. 454-455. Environment Court of New Zealand (2007). Environment Court. Retrieved from http://www. justice. govt. nz/courts/environment-court McChesney , I (1991). The Brundtland Report and sustainable development in New Zealand . Centre for Resource Management Lincoln University and University of Canterbury , p. 22. Ministry for the Environment (2009). An Everyday Guide to the Resource Management Act Series 2. 1: Applying for a Resource Consent. Retrieved from http://www. mfe. govt. nz/publications/rma/everyday/consent-apply/ Ministry for the Environment (2011). New Zealand Legislation: Acts. Retrieved from http://www. legislation. govt. nz/act/public/1991/0069/latest/DLM230265. html

Tale of Two Cites: Drowning Motif

English 12u Essay Rough Draft Justina Van Maren Splashing, gasping for breath. Sinking, darkness, and then; death. Death by drowning is, in the beginning, a conscious, agonizing end. The realization of an imminent death is the first step that strikes fear into the heart of the victim. Shore is too far away, the person is too tired, and if rescue is not near, death is inescapable. Contrary to popular understanding, a drowning person is not easy to spot. People picture a drowning victim screaming or calling for help, but in actuality all his/her efforts are used to breathe, making calls for help impossible.Drowning is not the death most people envision it. It is a silent killer. Creeping up slowly, it takes its victims by surprise, and often before five minutes have passed, death has them in its cold, cruel clutches. This silent action is paralleled in Charles Dickens novel, A Tale of Two Cities. Dickens speaks of a woodman, personified as fate, and a farmer, who is used to picture dea th, working silently but purposefully towards the French Revolution, getting ready wood for scaffolds, guillotines and tumbrels. As well as portraying the silent nature of drowning, Dickens also uses this motif to bring out another aspect of the revolution.In A Tale of Two Cities, Dickens uses the motif of drowning to portray the stages of the revolutionaries’ attitudes towards their condition. â€Å"The first step towards getting helped is realizing that you have a problem. † (Anonymous) This well known quote clearly illustrates the first step of drowning. A man cannot save himself if he does not realize that he is in danger. When drowning becomes reality to its victims, their whole vision changes, and panic sets in. In A Tale of Two Cities, the peasant’s vision changed as they realized that if they did not act right away, they would die as victims of a tyrannical system.If this fact in itself did not move the peasants into action, it was the fact that not only them, but their children and their children’s children would perish, smothered under the iron fist of the aristocracy. Their vision became visions of desperate people, as drowning people. This outlook was in many ways created and helped along by Monsieur and Madame Defarge. They showed the shrunken, wasted Doctor Manette to the Jacques, in order to change the way they looked at things and strike fear of their condition into their hearts. Dickens also uses the motif of drowning very strongly in the personal lives of his characters.A quote found on page 255 reads, â€Å"All this was seen in a moment, as the vision of a drowning man. † This quote refers us back to the Manette’s, where Jarvis Lorry reveals the terrible grindstone scene to the horrified Doctor. Doctor Manette’s vision changed at that moment as well, realising that death, though not for himself, was sure for Lucie’s husband if immediate action was not taken. When a drowning person obtai ns the vision that he or she is dying, panic takes control over both mind and body. From panic stems desperation and a desperate man is someone who will do anything to change his situation.A drowning man no longer thinks about right and wrong, about what morals he practices, or what values he ought to follow. One thought consumes his mind, and that is to save himself. The means used to achieve deliverance does not matter, nor does the suffering person stop to consider if he is harming another in saving himself. In the novel, this is illustrated by the conflict between Miss Pross and Madame Defarge; â€Å". . . Miss Pross . . . held her round the waist, and clung to her with more than the hold of a drowning woman,† (Dickens 357).This situation clearly reminds the reader of the desperate circumstances in which the peasants found themselves. Just as Miss Pross’ hold on Madame Defarge was a matter of life or death, so the actions of revolutionaries were determining their e nd; a better future for all peasants, or a continuation of oppression from the ancien regime. In the above quote Dickens also speaks about the hold of a drowning person. A rescuer must always be careful when swimming up to such a person, because in panic, the victim may grab hold of him/her so tightly that both perish.In the same way, the revolutionaries harmed others while trying to save themselves. In the senseless slaughter of those guilty and innocent alike, the revolutionaries drowned themselves along with their victims in a pool of immorality and revenge. For, even though they bettered their physical condition and brightened the future for their children, their conscience was passed over and ignored. Like a drowning man who before the actual act of death becomes unconscious, so the consciences of the revolutionaries were pushed away until they were silenced, no longer able to warn against the upcoming spiritual death. Death is the final outcome.If a person has drowned, death h as come to claim this person and there is no longer any chance of being rescued. In A Tale of Two Cities, Dickens speaks of the gaoler of Charles Darnay, his description being, â€Å". . . this gaoler was so unwholesomely bloated, both in face and person, as to look like a man who had been drowned and filled with water,† (Dickens 249). This man seems to point to all the revolutionaries, not in the physical description, but in a spiritual sense. The consciences of the revolutionaries have been drowned, silenced forever, and the people themselves have been filled with thoughts only of bloodthirsty revenge.The picture of a drowned man is not a pleasant one. The death is most often an agonizingly conscious one, causing the expression to be one twisted in agony, the horrified expression of one without hope of survival. The lack of oxygen causes the skin to turn a sickly blue, and the water soaks into the pores and causes the persons face to be swollen and bloated. Ultimately, the person’s appearance is so altered that it is usually difficult, if not impossible to identify the person from the way they looked before.Similarly, the revolutionaries were not a pretty picture in the way that they cared nothing for their fellow man and executed any who seemed to oppose them callously, without proof or proper trial. Proof of this callousness can be found in the example of the little seamstress towards the end of the novel, a representation of thousands of innocent victims sent to the guillotine. We read of how the women knitting below the scaffold counted the severed heads calmly, not in the least disturbed at the horrific amount of bloodshed occurring right before their eyes.The wood-sawyer is another prime example of the uncaring attitude of the peasants when he talks flippantly to Lucie of the guillotine; â€Å". . . Loo, loo, loo! And off her head comes! Now a child. Tickle, tickle; Pickle, pickle! And off its head comes. All the family! † (Dickens , 341). We are horrified as we read of the Jacques gleefully talking about the way they enjoy seeing a woman with blonde hair and blue eyes being guillotined, and we are even more appalled when they speak with eager anticipation at the thought of seeing Lucie’s pretty child put to death.Throughout all these examples we can see that Dickens has brought the motif of drowning to a close and the final outcome, death of the revolutionary’s morality, has been achieved. At the end of the novel, A Tale of Two Cites, the motif of drowning has come full circle. We read of how the peasant’s desperate situation causes their vision to be that of drowning people as they realize that death is imminent. Dickens moves on to portray the panic that causes morality to be ignored in the frantic attempt to preserve one’s own life.Dickens shows that drowning people will do anything to save themselves, even drown their rescuer if they feel it will improve their own condition. In the same way the revolutionaries brutally disposed of any that seemingly hindered their desperate attempt to break their chains of oppression. The plot lines of the characters also vividly portray the way in which the consciences of certain characters are silenced, and the way in which no other thought than revenge is allowed into the minds of the revolutionaries. And then finally, death, the end of all morality.The guiding principles of mankind were destroyed as the revolutionaries thirst for bloodshed did not abate, but instead grew more intense, as each day they longed for more heads to be added to the ever growing number. The motif of drowning is used very powerfully by Charles Dickens, and is employed in a way that effectively portrays the desperate position of the revolutionaries. The way in which Dickens uses this motif clearly parallels the changing attitudes of the revolutionaries, giving us a better understanding of them.

Culture and organization learning

Culture and organization learning The article Culture and organizational learning by Cook and Yanow explores the issue of organizational learning and the types of learning that they undergo as well as answers an intriguing question on if organizations learn.Advertising We will write a custom article sample on Culture and organization learning specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The writer’s argument from the cultural viewpoint is that an important characteristic of human beings is their potential to act or capacity to operate in teams or groups. Groups of individuals, who share a common practice or experience, are considered to be of the same culture. A culture is constructed on the basis of inter subjective meanings where constituents get across in their joint practice through actions, language, and objects (Cook Yanow 2005, p. 368). The meaning-holding language, acts, and objects are cultural relics through which the combined knowledge possessed by an organizat ion is utilized, expressed, and transmitted. Organizations are persistently engaged in actions that uphold or transform their cultural identity. These activities create organizational learning since organizations, which are viewed as cultures, undergo learning via activities that involve cultural relics. Learning involves organizational attainment, preservation, or changing the capabilities of undertaking initiatives that should be fully understood (Cook Yanow 2005, p. 370). There are four key points raised in the article regarding organizational learning and culture. One of the points states that there is a possibility that an organization may have numerous cultures, none of which may be dominant or among its numerous cultures, there may be one dominant over the others. Another significant point is that cultural comprehension of organizational learning is an important way of creating appropriate channels of exploring new ideas. The third point states that in most cases, organizati ons acquire new members who provide a great learning opportunity for the organization.Advertising Looking for article on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More According to the article, error detection and correction are important subjects in organizational learning because a company can learn by detecting its own faults so it is easy for it to seek fir appropriate remedies (Cook Yanow 2005, p. 378). In my opinion, there are a number of questions that the article raises. The issues are if organizations learn given the fact that they are made up of many people who have different goals and opinions, and if different cultures can promote organization learning as people come from different cultural backgrounds. Thus, if the organizational culture contradicts the values of its members cultures, it becomes difficult for them to adopt it. That is why the next questions are if the fear of change affects group learning since this process involves changes in the way people perceive each other and their surrounding, and if detecting errors and correcting them assist in organizational learning aimed at bringing innovations. Moreover, the knowledge gained is not only through learning some facts about the things that go wrong, but also considering the positive changes that are essential for organization growth. Organizational learning is important for managers when implementing organizational change because by adopting strategies that enhance acquisition of new knowledge, it would be easier to develop and adopt strategies that bring changes without much resistance from other members. In order to achieve a meaningful change, organization culture should be dynamic so as to accommodate other cultural inputs and promote cultures that assist the company in achieving its goals. Since an organization involves people and groups, it can learn if its members agree to work as a group and chart out a comm on course in developing and adopting change strategies (Cook Yanow 2005, p. 370-378).Advertising We will write a custom article sample on Culture and organization learning specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Reference Cook, SDN Yanow, D 1993, Culture and organizational learning, Journal of Management Inquiry, vol. 2, no. 4, pp. 373-390.

Final Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Final - Research Paper Example Social media plays several functions. In previous generations, before the advent of social media, people relied on traditional news outlets such as television, radio, and newspapers. Fast forward, and nowadays people log into their social media accounts to see current trends (Ahn 1436). For that reason, social media is a source of information, available on a handheld gadget. In addition, several people have started their businesses online, and thus, it is a form of startup and a means of employment for both ordinary and techno savvy individuals (William 11). Finally, social media allows people to show their emotions transparently and reveal their whereabouts in a general manner that alerts their friends. There are several benefits of participating in various social media. Firstly, social media keeps people up-to-date and informed about current events (Pernisco 12). Although it may sometimes be unreliable in terms of content, it is the fastest source of information in the modern world. Secondly, social media promotes social justice. The ability to express opinions online reaches several people and concerned parties. For that reason, a mass of people can pass a point across, create social awareness, and in consequence, enhance social justice. Thirdly, and most importantly, interconnectedness through social media promotes tolerance of other cultures and races. Social media enables people from different regions to interact like friends. There are several drawbacks of participating in various social media. The loss of face-to-face interaction is one of the detrimental effects of social media in my life. I am unable to communicate and relate with friends as I used to during my childhood years. Illiteracy is another detrimental effect (Pernisco 8). The use of slang and shortened abbreviations has lessened the level of literacy of most people in the society. Overall,

The food crisis of 2008 had been threatening for a few years, mostly Essay - 1

The food crisis of 2008 had been threatening for a few years, mostly affecting the poor. A variety of causes but mostly man-made - Essay Example In this essay, the writer attempts to explicate that among variegated causes of food crisis are population explosion, mismatch of developmental priorities, environmental degradation and climate change. Population explosion The world has reached a population of 6.85 billion in the mid-year of 2010 and is estimated to reach 7 billion by the end of 2011 (Rosenberg, 2011). This increasing statistics of population could reach a peak that challenges the limited resources of the world. This situation is further compounded with massive influx of people from the rural communities, with whom nations relied for agricultural production, into the urban community in search for jobs that can immediately transform labor to money. Most of whom unfortunately dwell in ghettos and less conductive urban communities, except for those who were lucky to land in corporate jobs or in entrepreneurial initiatives. This rise of global population and anent urbanization trend, if uncontrolled, has serious implicat ion to food insecurity, mortality rate or severe malnourishment of children. It will generally affect the quality of life, delivery of social services, cause resource conflicts and increase of criminal rates and social malaise (Rosenberg, 2011). Thus, governments especially in developing countries have been advocating for reproductive health matters to limit populations in consideration to limited resources and services to be accorded to people. This is evidenced as crises are more felt in urban areas where people are vulnerable to volatile markets. On the other hand, rural communities are also confronted with difficulties in feeding their families with low income from farm produce against costly farm inputs and inflation (Lean, 2008) of prime commodities e.g. rice, sugar, oil and including skyrocketing prices of tuition fees in educational institutions, transportation and livestock’s food. Housing is incredibly a problem and albeit construction of villages, these homes are a ffordable only for those who have achieved a certain level of affluence to purchase properties. Indeed, increase of population means scaling up of utilization and maximization of resources, hence the wanton use of rainforests and wildlife. The inability to balance human needs and protection of environment presents detrimental condition—a world’s peril and damaging conflict of resource. Mismatch of Developmental Needs Recent developments made people grow grain to make fuel. Others raise crocodiles to fashion expensive bags. The worst side of this is that some countries are producing massive pineapples, mangoes, vegetation, rice and got best fishes only to be exported to rich countries while farmers, fishers and laborer were paid barely an amount for subsistence. In some developing countries, hug trees are cut to meet the construction needs of foreign nations while those who are leaving in logged sites content themselves with indigenous materials to live. People live in such irony. In United States, while there is recognition of decreasing wheat production as food in the last decades, whilst grain and oilseeds were also diverted for biofuel  production (US Department of State, 2009). Such impacted to the prices of wheat and rice just as how the use of palm oil for biofuel is affecting soybeans and vegetable oils’s pricing. This is further influenced by monopolistic capitals which dictate prices in the market and exacerbated the effects of inflation rates. There is therefore an urgent need to evaluate development programs