Should Marijuana Be Legalized Essay - 1452 Words

QUESTION Do you think marijuana should be legalized? INTRODUCTION Due to the evidence that I have found through researching the topic, I do not believe that marijuana should be legalized. Although there are many reasons why marijuana should not be legalized, I will be focusing upon the adverse effects of cannabis on the brain; including its modulation of drug reward within the brain, its effects on the structure and function of the brain, and its causation of an increased risk of psychiatric problems or substance abuse. THESIS I believe that marijuana should not be legalized because the use of marijuana adversely effects the brain through various avenues by modulating drug reward, altering its structure and function, and increasing the risk of psychiatric problems and substance abuse. ANNOTATION 1 Choi, N. G., DiNitto, D. M., Marti, C. N. (2016). Older-adult marijuana users and ex-users: Comparisons of sociodemographic characteristics and mental and substance use disorders. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 165. doi:http://dx.doi.org.proxy.lib.uwaterloo.ca/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.05.023 In this full length article from the Drug and Alcohol Dependence scholarly journal, Choi, DeNitto and Marti highlight the risk of substance use disorders for past-year marijuana users, and past-year or lifetime mental disorders for both ex-users of marijuana and past-year marijuana users. This article discusses the large sociodemographic difference between people who have never used marijuana,Show MoreRelatedShould Marijuana Be Legalized?849 Words   |  4 Pageswhether marijuana should be legalized. Around 23 states have legalized marijuana for medical and recreational use. In the state of Illinois, medicinal use of marijuana has been passed on April 17, 2013. Since January 2014, patients are able to obtain marijuana with a doctor s recommendation. The new debate is whether marijuana should be legalized for the general public as a recreational drug. Although some believe that marijuana is harmless, and that it has beneficial medicinal uses, marijuana shouldRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1715 Words   |  7 PagesMarijuana in Society Cannabis, formally known as marijuana is a drug obtained from the tops, stems and leaves of the hemp plant cannabis. The drug is one of the most commonly used drugs in the world. Only substances like caffeine, nicotine and alcohol are used more (â€Å"Marijuana† 1). In the U. S. where some use it to feel â€Å"high† or get an escape from reality. The drug is referred to in many ways; weed, grass, pot, and or reefer are some common names used to describe the drug (â€Å"Marijuana† 1). Like mostRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1489 Words   |  6 Pagescannabis plant or marijuana is intended for use of a psychoactive drug or medicine. It is used for recreational or medical uses. In some religions, marijuana is predominantly used for spiritual purposes. Cannabis is indigenous to central and south Asia. Cannabis has been scientifically proven that you can not die from smoking marijuana. Marijuana should be legalized to help people with medical benefits, econo mic benefits, and criminal benefits. In eight states, marijuana was legalized for recreationalRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1245 Words   |  5 PagesMarijuana is a highly debatable topic that is rapidly gaining attention in society today.   Legalizing marijuana can benefit the economy of this nation through the creation of jobs, increased tax revenue, and a decrease in taxpayer money spent on law enforcement.   Ã‚  Many people would outlaw alcohol, cigarettes, fast food, gambling, and tanning beds because of the harmful effects they have on members of a society, but this is the United States of America; the land of the free and we should give peopleRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1010 Words   |  5 PagesThe legalization of marijuana became a heated political subject in the last few years. Twenty-one states in America have legalized medical marijuana. Colorado and Washington are the only states where marijuana can be purchased recreationally. Marijuana is the high THC level part of the cannabis plant, which gives users the â€Å"high† feeling. There is ample evidence that supports the argument that marijuana is beneficial. The government should legalize marijuana recreationally for three main reasonsRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1231 Words   |  5 Pagesshows the positive benefits of marijuana, it remains illegal under federal law. In recent years, numerous states have defied federal law and legalized marijuana for both recreational and medicinal use. Arizona has legalized marijuana for medical use, but it still remains illegal to use recreationally. This is absurd, as the evidence gathered over the last few decades strongly supports the notion that it is safer than alcohol, a widely available substance. Marijuana being listed as a Schedule I drugRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1350 Words   |  6 Pagespolitics in the past decade would have to be the legalization of marijuana. The sale and production of marijuana have been legalized for medicinal uses in over twenty states and has been legalized for recreational uses in seven states. Despite the ongoing support for marijuana, it has yet to be fully legalized in the federal level due to cultural bias against â€Å"pot† smoking and the focus over its negative effects. However, legalizing marijuana has been proven to decrease the rate of incrimination in AmericaRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized? Essay1457 Words   |  6 PagesSHOULD MARIJUANA BE LEGALIZED? Marijuana is a drug that has sparked much controversy over the past decade as to whether or not it should be legalized. People once thought of marijuana as a bad, mind-altering drug which changes a person’s personality which can lead to crime and violence through selling and buying it. In the past, the majority of citizens believed that marijuana is a harmful drug that should be kept off the market and out of the hands of the public. However, a recent study conductedRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1145 Words   |  5 PagesLegalizing Marijuana Marijuana is a drug that has been actively used for centuries. This drug can be traced back to 2737 BC by the Chinese emperor Shen Nung. He spoke about the euphoric effects of Cannabis and even referred to it as the â€Å"Liberator of Sin.† Since early on, marijuana was seen as a medicinal plant that was recommended for medical uses. Marijuana is currently in schedule I, which means that physicians are not allowed to prescribe it in the United States (Hart, Ksir 2013). This drugRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1596 Words   |  7 Pages But what needs to be known before a user can safely and completely make the decision if trying Marijuana is a good idea? Many do not want the drug to be legalized because they claim that Cannabis is a â€Å"gateway drug†, meaning it will cause people to try harder drugs once their body builds up a resistance to Marijuana, because a stronger drug will be needed to reach a high state. This argument is often falsely related to the m edical side of the debate over legalization. It is claimed that this would

Discrimination Against Body Art Free Essays

Discrimination Against People with Body Art Employers should not discriminate against people who have body art. A few reasons why is because people should not judge people on how they look, body art does not affect peoples working abilities, and its a form of art so people should be able to express it. If someone chooses to have some form of body art, people should accept their decision, and not judge on their appearance. We will write a custom essay sample on Discrimination Against Body Art or any similar topic only for you Order Now Just because someone has body mean, does not mean they are not capable of doing the same work as other people. When at an interview, body art can determine weather or not you get the job. The person with body art could have been a better match for the job, but the employer would probably want someone else, that does not have body art. â€Å"The question comes down to ability: body decorations don’t affect the reliability of an employee, so employers who value ability over appearance are starting to overlook body art. Even with that, though, nearly half of the employers surveyed in a National Association of Colleges and Employers study stated that a â€Å"nontraditional appearance† would sway their hiring decisions. † – Phebe A. Dunrand, from the Yahoo! Contributor Network Body art is a form of art, and could also be part of someones religion. People should be able show it without being discriminated against. It might offend someone if another person discriminates against them because it could mean something important to them. These are the reasons why employers should not discriminate against people who have body art How to cite Discrimination Against Body Art, Essay examples

Some Dreamers of the Golden Dream Imagery Essay Example For Students

Some Dreamers of the Golden Dream: Imagery Essay Some Dreamers of the Golden Dream: ImageryIn Some Dreamers of the Golden Dream, the author Didion uses fieryimagery to parallel the San Bernardino Valley to hell. It is a place where thehills blaze up spontaneously, and every voice seems a scream. (p.3) Didionshellish descriptions of the geography reflect the culture of San BernardinoValley. It is where the hot wind blows and the old ways do not seem relevant,where the divorce rate is double the national average. (p.4) In this culture,the importance of the old ways, such as a long-lasting marriage, aredevalued. It is a society where the dream is teaching the dreamers how tolive, (p.17) and where reality doesnt hamper peoples obsessions and greediness. In the essay Some Dreamers of the Golden Dream, the San Bernardino Valleysself-indulgent culture devaluates societys morals and ethics such as religion,law, love, and life. In the San Bernardino Valley, tele-evangelism, Christian gospel spreadthrough television, is prominent. It is the California where it is easy toDial-A-Devotion, but hard to buy a book. (p.4) It is a society where anyonewith money can buy a devotion to God with the dialing of a number. The usage ofreligion as a money-making business defiles the sanctity of societys most sacredand cherished belief. However, money is made so morals and ethics are ignored. Another example of this immorality is Edward Foley, Lucilles Millers attorney. He says, We dont want to give away what we can sell, (p.27) referring toinformation about Lucille Miller and the death of her husband. Edward Foley, aman only looking to benefit himself, shows no respect or regard for the LucilleMiller tragedy. Two people are killed and one person is sent to an institutionfor life; yet, Edward Foley tries to utilize this opportunity to make money forhimself. Another example of a depreciation of societys principles is the scene forLucille Millers murder case trial. College girls camped at the courthouse allnight, with stores of graham crackers and No-Cal. Also, identification diskswere issued to the first forty-three spectators in line. (p.20) The trial isdescribed not as a practice of law but as a sporting event. Just as there arehot dog vendors at a sports game, there are stores of graham crackers and No-Cal at the trial. Also, Didions use of the word spectators suggests that thepeople inside the courtroom are looking upon the trial like a sports game. Didion later refers to the courtroom seats as the spectators section. (p.25) Asporting event is not taken seriously. Therefore, Didions comparison of thetrial to a sports game undermines the seriousness of law and order in the SanBernardino society. She implies that a self-seeking and avaricious cultureresults in chaos. Lucille Miller is a prime example of an individual affected by thenarcissistic culture.. Lucille, a woman motivated by love and greed (p.22)does whatever is necessary to get what she wants. First, she has an affair withArthwell Hayton, a man who might have seemed to have the gift for people andmoney and the good life that Lucilles husband Cork Miller so noticeablylacked.(p.15) Second, she is convicted for murdering her husband which shepresumably did to collect $80,000 in insurance money. Lucille Miller commitsvices such as adultery or murder for her own self-gratification. She has noconcern about the welfare of other people. Her uncharitable acts are the causeof chaos in society. The people of the San Bernardino Valley are in love with material things. .u5b932a5a6422f56bda078b53bef90bd8 , .u5b932a5a6422f56bda078b53bef90bd8 .postImageUrl , .u5b932a5a6422f56bda078b53bef90bd8 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u5b932a5a6422f56bda078b53bef90bd8 , .u5b932a5a6422f56bda078b53bef90bd8:hover , .u5b932a5a6422f56bda078b53bef90bd8:visited , .u5b932a5a6422f56bda078b53bef90bd8:active { border:0!important; } .u5b932a5a6422f56bda078b53bef90bd8 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u5b932a5a6422f56bda078b53bef90bd8 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u5b932a5a6422f56bda078b53bef90bd8:active , .u5b932a5a6422f56bda078b53bef90bd8:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u5b932a5a6422f56bda078b53bef90bd8 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u5b932a5a6422f56bda078b53bef90bd8 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u5b932a5a6422f56bda078b53bef90bd8 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u5b932a5a6422f56bda078b53bef90bd8 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u5b932a5a6422f56bda078b53bef90bd8:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u5b932a5a6422f56bda078b53bef90bd8 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u5b932a5a6422f56bda078b53bef90bd8 .u5b932a5a6422f56bda078b53bef90bd8-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u5b932a5a6422f56bda078b53bef90bd8:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Aeschylus is primarily concerned with the nature o EssayTheir definition of love is the yearning for things not in their possession. The people place a magical faith in the efficacy of the word (p.19) for itgoverns how they act. For example, Lucille Miller says, Ive always kind ofjust lived my life the way I wanted to. Her life is governed by her love forsex and money. However, the self-indulgent culture is not without consequence. Every year it brings a season of suicide and divorce. Everywhere there istalk of unhappiness, (p.15) and trash cans stuffed with the debris of familylife. (p.27) There is no order due to the lack of morality. Yet, life in thevalley blindly goes on for an illusion veil (p.28) hides their eyes fromreality. English

Robert Frost Essays (791 words) - The Road Not Taken, Robert Frost

Robert Frost "Do not follow where the path may lead... Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." -Robert Frost Everyone is a traveler, choosing the roads to follow on the map of their continuous journey, life. There is never a straight path that leaves one with but a sole direction in which to head. Regardless of the original message that Robert Frost had intended to convey, his poem, "The Road Not Taken", has left its readers with many different interpretations. It is one's past, present and the attitude with which he looks upon his future that determines the shade of the light that he will see the poem in. In any case however, this poem clearly demonstrates Frost's belief that it is the road that one chooses that makes him the man who he is. "And sorry I could not travel both..." It is always difficult to make a decision because it is impossible not to wonder about the opportunity cost, what will be missed out on. There is a strong sense of regret before the choice is even made and it lies in the knowledge that in one lifetime, it is impossible to travel down every path. In an attempt to make a decision, the traveler "looks down one as far as I could". The road that will be chosen leads to the unknown, as does any choice in life. As much he may strain his eyes to see as far the road stretches, eventually it surpasses his vision and he can never see where it is going to lead. It is the way that he chooses here that sets him off on his journey and decides where he is going. "Then took the other, just as fair, and having perhaps the better claim." What made it have the better claim is that "it was grassy and wanted wear." It was something that was obviously not for everyone because it seemed that the majority of people took the other path therefore he calls it "the road less travelled by". The fact that the traveler took this path over the more popular, secure one indicates the type of personality he has, one that does not want to necessarily follow the crowd but do more of what has never been done, what is new and different. "And both that morning equally lay in leaves no step had trodden black." The leaves had covered the ground and since the time they had fallen no one had yet to pass by on this road. Perhaps Frost does this because each time a person comes to the point where they have to make a choice, it is new to them, somewhere they have never been and they tend to feel as though no one else had ever been there either. "I kept the first for another day!" The desire to travel down both paths is expressed and is not unusual, but "knowing how way leads on to way", the speaker of this poem realizes that the decision is not just a temporary one and he "doubted if I should ever come back." This is his common sense speaking and acknowledging that what he chooses now will affect every other choice he makes afterward. Once you have performed an act or spoken a word that crystalizes who you are, there is no turning back, it cannot be undone. Once again at the end of the poem the regret hangs over the traveler like a heavy cloud about to burst. He realizes that at the end of his life, "somewhere ages and ages hence", he will have regrets about having never gone back and traveling down the roads he did not take. Yet he remains proud of his decision and he recognizes that it was this path that he chose that made him turn out the way and he did and live his life the way in which he lived. "I took the road less trvaeled by and that had made all the difference." To this man, what was most important, what really made the difference, is that he did what he wanted, even if it meant taking the road less traveled. If he hadn't, he wouldn't

The Hudson River And Pcb Pollution Essays - Monsanto, Pollutants

The Hudson River And Pcb Pollution Essays - Monsanto, Pollutants The Hudson River And Pcb Pollution The Hudson River and PCB Pollution The Hudson River is a body of water that stretches for 315 miles from the Adirondack Mountains to the Battery in Manhattan, reaching its deepest point of 216 feet in the Highlands near Constitution Island and West Point and reaches its widest point of 3 miles across at Havestraw. This river is one of the most beautiful and scenic of the Tri-State area. Unfortunately, it happens to be New Yorks most polluted river. The river has been influenced upon since the early 1600s, when Englishman Henry Hudson commanded the Dutch ship Half Moon on an exploration of the river, certain that he had discovered a trade route to China. It soon dawned that this was no Atlantic-to-Pacific passage but an Edenlike place of awesome potential-a river valley teeming with prospect and spirit that was worth fighting for. In the centuries that followed, the fight for the river and its commerce never stopped, and still continues to the present. Then during the Industrial Revolution, with the advent of hulking m anufacturing plants on the riverbanks, everything changed. The river became a sewer, cut off from the people around it by the electrification of the railroads. The 1825 completion of the Erie Canal instantly opened trade to the Midwest by linking Troy to Buffalo and established the Hudson River as the major commerce channel for New York City. Tycoons transformed the landscape in New York and across the country with the railroad, and the Hudson River valley became a hotbed for iron mining, limestone quarrying and clear-cutting. Toward the 19th century, when dynamite blasting was reducing the face of the Palisades to rubble, conservationists became alarmed that something was being lost to progress. In 1900, New York and New Jersey established the Palisades Interstate Park Commission to preserve the cliffs from further quarrying. Although conservation efforts continued into the 20th century, there was no progress to protect the Hudson River and its banks from industrial pollution. Some of the largest factories in the nation started production on the Hudson River, including Anaconda Wire and Cable in Hastings-on-Hudson and GM in the present day Sleepy Hallow, discharging waste into the river. There are numerous known contaminated sites around the U.S. Among the most dangerous of these, and of particular concern to residents of the Hudson Valley, are the forty hot spots in the Hudson River resulting from the dumping and leakage from General Electric plants at Fort Edward and Hudson Falls. From 1947 to 1977, these two plants legally discharged from 500,000 to 1.5 million pounds of PCBs into the Hudson, and unknowingly saturated the bedrock beneath both sites with at least that much again. There are PCBs in Hudson River water, biota, and sediment from Hudson Falls to New York City - 200 miles that comprise the nations largest Superfund site. Pure PCBs are oozing out of the bedrock to this day, constantly recontaminating the river and over 300,000 pounds remain concentrated in bottom sediments of the river today. The spread of PCBs throughout the Hudson River and the food chain, which it supports, has created one of the most extensive hazardous waste problems in the nation. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a group of synthetic oil-like chemicals (therefore insoluble in water) of the organochlorine family. Until their toxic nature was recognized and their use was banned in the 1970s, they were widely used as insulation in electrical equipment, particularly transformers. Reputable chemists have since concluded, it was probably a mistake ever to make or use PCBs. These are serious poisons, which have been shown to cause damage to the reproductive, neurological and immune systems of wildlife and humans and are known to cause cancer. Exposure has also been linked to behavioral damage. Specifically, because PCBs in the body mimic estrogen, women of childbearing age and their infants are particularly susceptible to a variety of development and reproductive disorders. Once in the body, these compounds do one of two things: they block the normal passage of hormones into their receptors, or, mimic the hormone itself and enter the receptor in lieu of the hormo ne. By doing so can irrevocably alter and damage the development of the organism.

Flood and Flash Flood Causes

Flood and Flash Flood Causes Floods and flash floods happen whenever water overflows onto normally dry land. But while the outcome is the same, and the weather events that cause them (slow-moving low-pressure systems, hurricanes, and monsoons) may be the same, all floods are not created equal. The main differences between floods and flash floods are the time it takes their flood conditions to develop, how long they last, and how wide sweeping their impact. Floods: Slow-Rising, but Long-Lasting Like the Great Flood that came after heavy rain poured down on the earth and Noahs ark for forty days and forty nights, the worlds flood events are often longer duration flooding. And as Noahs flood continued for one-hundred and fifty days, likewise todays flood events begin and end gradually and are considered long-term events that typically last days or weeks. Besides impacting transportation, floods often bring health hazards, like mold, and disease brought on by standing water. When weather conditions lead waters to rapidly rise, flash flooding occurs. Flash Floods Develop Within Minutes to Hours As the name suggests, flash floods are rapid flooding events. How rapid? According to the NOAA National Weather Service, flash flood situations develop within six hours (or less)Â  of the start of the causative event. While the majority of flash floods are triggered by heavy rain falling within a short amount of time (like during intense thunderstorms), non-rain-related events can also trigger them such as: A levee or dam failure,Sudden snowmelt or thawing of glaciers, orA sudden release of water by a debris flow or ice jam. Because of their sudden onset, flash floods tend to be thought of as more dangerous than regular floods. Adding to this flash floods are also associated with raging torrents of fast-moving water against which there is little protection (even from a vehicle) from being swept away. Flash flood waters often subside as swiftly as they swell. Once the torrential downpours end, flash flood conditions do too. Another difference between flooding and flash flooding is where each commonly occurs. Flooding can involve widespread flooding of waterways or the accumulation of rainwater on saturated ground and roadways. In contrast, flash flooding more often involves localized flooding of small rivers, streams, creeks, and storm sewers. Is It Possible to Be Under a Flood Alert and a Flash Flood Alert? It may seem redundant to have both an active flood watch or warning and a flash flood watch or warning too, but if this happens you should take both seriously. It means that your area is at risk for both gradual and immediate flooding. An example weather situation where this could happen is if your area had seen prolonged rainfall in days prior and then had a hurricane approach. Your flood risk would be elevated from the longer duration flooding, but also from the heavy tropical moisture associated with the hurricane.

Health & Healing in Cross Cultural Perspective Essay - 2

Health & Healing in Cross Cultural Perspective - Essay Example The fact remains that the origin of the Non-Western Healing System is not really known. It is the origin of the individual practices of the Non-Western Healing System that are known and this would be established in this section. Acupuncture has its root in China; Ayurvedic medicine can be traced to India, Kampo medicine originated from Japan, homeopathy can be traced to a German physician, Samuel Hahnemann, osteopathy, naturopathy and chiropractic can be traced to the United States of America. Other forms of Non-Western Healing System have been traced to the cradle of civilization, Egypt. Thus, Non-Western Healing System does not have a direct root or origin . The Non-Western Healing System treats and/or heal diseases that Western Healing System has not recorded real success in taking care of. The Non-Western Healing System have proven to be the best remedy for treating certain types of cancer, treatment of osteoarthritis, infertility, stimulation of the immune and nervous system, re pair of the bones, digitalis, hypertension, heart failure and chronic back pain. The aforementioned illnesses or diseases are not the only type of ailments that the Non-Western Healing System treat and/or heal as they take care of a wide range of illnesses that have not even been mentioned. This shows the extent at which the Non-Western Healing System have helped to improve the quality of health care to citizens of the world and no wonder it has gained a wide acceptance by most people that were initially used to the Western Healing System (Winkelman). The practitioners of the Non-Western Healing System are people that have made ground-breaking research in order to come out with an extensive method of treatment that has benefited and is still benefitting the whole world (Chen 39). Some of the practitioners of the Non-Western Healing System were born into it, as the practice of this system of healing is in their bloodline. Practitioners of this healing system in countries like China a re actually born into it. There are some practitioners of the system that actually achieve the position through some specific experience. There are even cases that some practitioners have been reported to have received divine wisdom from a divine power that changed their lives forever and gave them the necessary skills to contribute their quota to the Non-Western Healing Systems. It was not until recently that people have been made to receive identical training with Doctors of Medicine and this is actually because of licensing. People have been made to receive formal training in the fields of osteopathy, chiropractic, Thus, Non-Western Healing System has been expanded in such a way that the practitioners achieve their position through research and education. Acupuncture, which seemed to be the most systematically researched and recorded Non-Western Healing practice also has some of its practitioners receiving some sort of formal training (Winkelman). Based on my study of the Non-Wes tern Healing System, there are some issues that needs to be understood by biomedical doctors if they are also treating the same patients in US hospitals. Two of these issues shall be addressed in this paragraph. One of these issues is that,

Financial data analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Financial data analysis - Essay Example Likewise tools to predict the stock price of the companies, there are certain tools which specifically used to predict the price of a region or a city (Carcello J et al., 2010). The prices pertain to the Wheat Kansas is comparatively higher than that of the Wheat No. 2 Soft Red in almost all the time period. Lots of fluctuation has been found among the prices of both of the prices of the wheat. The average price of Wheat 2, Soft Red is $ 630.48 while the average price of Hard Kansas is $ 860.054. The average price movement for Soft Red Wheat is -0.10744% while the average movement of Hard Kansas is -0.07618. Standard Deviation which is one of the most important things from the aspect of finance and statistics is also applied on the same. From the analysis, it is found that the deviation from the mean for Red Wheat is 4.51%, while it is 3.45% for Hard Kansas. It means that the price of Hard Kansas is comparatively less risky than that of Red Wheat in total. Every organisation runs for the sake of economic profit and to do the same, different actions and strategies would certainly take into consideration. Organisations are of different kinds and there would be different strategies would be applied for enhancing the revenue of the companies (Borodovsky & Gogarten, 2010). Economic downturns and external pressures are always difficult for the companies as a whole because it relates to both short and long term economic prosperity of the companies as a whole. From last few years, the stance of organisations and its productivity are quite blurred merely because of the economic crisis and high external pressure were on a higher side at that time. Finance is a big field, in which there are number of things present and everything has its own importance and significance. There are certain things that come under the ambit of finance and among them; the name of forecasting is one of

Mind Is Not a Vessel to Be Filled, but a Fire to Be Kindled Essay Example for Free

Mind Is Not a Vessel to Be Filled, but a Fire to Be Kindled Essay â€Å"Education† may be an ordinary word to most people, but very few actually understand the deep meaning beneath it. In this dynamic world, we need to be equipped with the necessary skills and hard work to survive. Understanding the education system is integral to allow students to understand the purpose of studying, the purpose of going to school everyday. Is education in Singapore really â€Å"holistic†? Are there flaws? What is education? By definition, it would be something along the line of â€Å" transferring knowledge†. I beg to differ. In my opinion, education consists of more than just knowledge. From Kindergarden to University, students are put through the daily routine of waking up early in the morning, going to a place where teachers teach â€Å"the same old stuff†. By that, I am referring to knowledge. Knowledge is power, you might say. Indeed, being knowledgeable helps you stand out among the rest during the tests and examinations. But is that all about education ? Acing the tests and getting a degree? I’m afraid no. Years after years, Singapore universities and institutions are well-known on the global front for being able to produce students with top grades. These results just keep getting better and better. Foreigners come to Singapore for education. Most people might therefore think education in Singapore is perfect. I also acknowledge that these are true, but only to a certain extent. On the other spectrum ( which is usually not shown), there are students who are not performing as well as their peers, students who are doing well but facing a lot of unnecessary stress. This is prevalent as well. The obsessive reliance of tuition to produce grades, online forums to discuss ways to â€Å"headstart my child in education†. I find no meaning in these. This is passive learning. Similarly, there are exceptional cases which bring out the ugly truth about education in Singapore. Students faking degrees to earn scholarships, jobs , graduates saying vulgarities during graduation ceremony to ‘rejoice’ over the achievements, even local scholar prosecuted overseas for doing unethical things such as watching child pornography. If education in Singapore is so perfect, why would such disgraceful incidents occur? Let us look at some possible reasons. Memorizing dictionaries, memorizing textbooks, doing thousands of assessment books, attending endless tuitions and supplementary classes†¦ These are some things most pupils in Singapore are going through. They have my sympathy. Everything I have described until now is about passive learning, which revolves around results and lacking in true meaning of education. Now, let us zoom into another aspect. Imagine this : a child who does his work consistently, revises on daily basis, reads newspapers everyday. Everything without being told. Seems like a utopian child? No. It is possible. The only thing he has compared to other students is the passion. The burning passion inside him to learn, to absorb knowledge. This drive pushes him to do everything on his own. There is no tuition, no supplementary classes, reasonable number of assessment books. Yet, this child is scoring ‘A’s for his subjects. In Singapore schools, Ministry of Education is encouraging a whole new approach towards â€Å"holistic† education. Co-curricular activities, Community Involvement Program, Civics Morals Education†¦ these are programmes put in place after much effortful planning of the education ministries. There are even more recent policies such as not revealing top students for national examinations such as Primary School Leaving Examinations. I respect them for that. However, there are rooms for improvement. CCA, short for co-curricular activities, is a word that is often hung in the pupils’ mouth. Whether they say it out of pride in a good way or bad way, I do not know. This brings me to the point of CCA mismatch. Students who feel they are â€Å"not good enough† for a CCA only after a few years in that CCA, students who feel indignant as they feel they could have gotten into â€Å"better CCA†. What are the consequences of this? Students not attending CCAs regularly, students complaining about how ‘ sien ‘ ( boring and uninteresting) their CCA is. This leads to stereotyping about CCAs and split between different CCAs, especially Sports vs Non-Sports. While you might say it is good that CCAs are bonded together as a team, the purpose of bonding is wrong. They are making fun of other people and things they do. In the long run, this will not work. Another thing is when pupils do not attend CCAs, the school has no choice but to use deterrence methods such as demerit points. To tackle this whole situation, there is Direct- School- Admission put in place to reduce scenarios like this however the success is limited. After talking about limitations of the current education system put in place, I have some suggestions. What I will say is also something simple : passion. Again, a simple word yet deep meaning behind it. If a student is an active learner, problems such as late/no submission of work, lack of focus during lessons, loss of notes, game/social networking addiction etc will all be eliminated at once. Students will not complain ‘ Life is Tough’ or ‘ There is too much work yet too little time’ etc. Teachers no longer have to chase after the students for work, give students boring supplementary classes. Teachers no longer have to scold students, which deviates their focus on teaching that will result in drop in productivity. This will lead to more supplementary/remedial classes which make students get tired of learning. Ultimately, they lose passion in learning. This evil cycle of mad chase, forced homework, drilled practice will keep on going until the students change their attitude. If the students take charge of their own learning, they will automatically focus during lessons and give constructive feedback that can engage the whole class in a positive manner. This will accelerate learning so much that the teachers will be more willing to teach and even plan fun activities for pupils to play and learn at the same time. At the same time, the students will strive to do their best in everything including daily worksheet, assignments. Ultimately, success ( which is good grades people chase after) will follow them. Therefore, I strongly feel that passion is much more important than knowledge. To put this passion in them, I think teachers, parents and students themselves all play a crucial role to ‘kindle the fire’ within them. They can help create encouraging environment to allow pupils to share their opinions on certain topics and letting them think ‘out of the box’. They can reduce things such elitism stereotyping to encourage the pupils to exchange feedback healthily and letting them learn from one another. Occasionally, having useful motivation courses in schools by professionals also might help. Once this fire is lit, the action will follow. Students will start finding joy in learning and unknowingly, they will get good grades without even getting stressed or tired.

Scotland at the time of Robert Burns :: essays research papers

Burns was born just before George III came to the throne in 1760. America declared her independence when Burns was 17 and the Paris mob sacked the Bastille to start the French Revolution in 1789, when the poet was 30. Revolutionary ideas were in the air during the life of Burns and he was affected by this trend. Scotland and England had only finally joined through the Union of the Parliaments in1707 and there was still a resentment against the loss of independence which has continued to the present day. The years after the Union had not been quiet ones and rebellions had taken place in 1715 and 1745 ending in the disaster at the Battle of Culloden in 1746 which effectively destroyed the Jacobites and the clan system is in the Highlands, But by the second half of the eighteenth century things had begun slowly to change for the better in Scotland. Agriculture, industry and trade began to expand in the first stages of the Industrial Revolution which was to transform Scotland over the next hundred years. Around the time of Burns birth the average Scot lived in the country and worked the land. This average person would travel no more than 20 miles from their own birthplace in the course of their lifetime. When Burns wrote about the land described experiences that were real for the vast majority of the Scottish People who still struggled to make a living from it. At the time, from around 1740 onwards, Edinburgh became famous throughout Europe as a centre for philosophy, medicine, science and publishing during what came to be known as the "Scottish Enlightenment". Burns may have been born into a humble family but he wasn’t uneducated. He was well read in literature and politics, knew something of foreign languages and the classics and had a keen ear for music.

Music Is a Form of Media Essay

Thesis sentence: music is a form of media that can influence and define your life. Listening to music can be a good way to feel better about yourself and those around you. Music, as media, has a huge effect on how a person behaves. The type of music a person listen to can either relax them or put them on edge. The difference is how the music is accepted. Music also has a powerful way of bringing back memories and emotions, such as a song played at a wedding that shows love and passion. Sometimes music will remind you of hard times and bad memories of a break up from a spouse or sufficient other or maybe the death of a love one. Most people do not know the impact music has on one’s life. Music can be used to charm humans and animals alike. The studies has shown that humans and animals can be influenced by the sound and pattern found in music. An example is the King cobra being charmed by a snake charmer using music to put him into a trance. Upon hearing the music the cobra goes into a trance tamed as can be. In summary it is not hard to see how much influence music has. As a form of media, music has the ability to influence an individual as well as those around him. We all share a common connection through music both humans and animals alike are bound to the power and influence of music.

Fight Club- Rebellion in Society Essay

In the novel Fight Club, Chuck Palahniuk uses the Fight Club, Project Mayhem, and its members to illustrate their need to rebel against the aspects of society they deem flawed. One of the main characters, Tyler Durden, acts as the protagonist and the antagonist in many different ways. Tyler, along with the narrator of the book start up a fight club so that they could let their frustrations at their lives and society out in a fist fight. The main thing about this is that its not about the fighting to them, its about the release and the freedom. It allows them to rebel against what society regards as normal and perfect. Most guys are at fight club because of something theyre too scared to fight. After a few fights, youre afraid a lot less (54). The men are at fight club because of something in their life thats not going the way they feel it should, or rather how society says it should. Fight club lets them realize that its ok because life isnt all that great anyhow. Tyler preaches that they will all die one day so they might as well accept that, because once they can accept their fate, they would be free to do anything. Until they could do that, they were useless to him because Tyler needed people who hit rock bottom. Palahniuk emphasizes that society has grown increasingly materialistic and that all people do are work at jobs they hate to buy things they dont need. Project Mayhem was started in the novel to be the buffer, a sort of socio-terrorist movement to rebel against society and bring it down to how they feel it should be. Tylers philosophy was that if everyone went back to zero and had to start all over, then things would be better. Attempting to give people what they thought were better lives were their acts of rebellion against society. Works Cited Fight Club, Chuck Palahniuk

How to Provide Needed Planning and Research for Dissertation

How to Provide Needed Planning and Research for Dissertation How to Provide Needed Planning and Research for Dissertation A dissertation is an academic task where a student is required to come up with a topic, plan and execute a project based on that topic and explain what he/she did and the findings. The most important stages to consider when preparing a dissertation include choosing a topic, coming up with research questions, planning the research for dissertation efficiently, being organized and using specified methods while conducting the study and finally reporting the research. Let us take a more in-depth look at these stages. Choosing a Topic In most cases, a minority of the students can clearly come up with research questions that enable them to address their research topic effectively. Majority of the students usually arrive here with several ideas in their mind but with no specific research question. With deadlines approaching fast, these students start panicking and becoming anxious. To ensure this does not happen, first, a student should talk to his or her friends, teachers or parents concerning the topic choice. Comments and feedback will serve as a guide but you need to make the final decision. Also, study other written materials in your field of study. Skim through other research papers in your library to find the most capturing topic. Additionally, focus on what interests you and be critical. Find out what you are skeptical about that needs to be studied further. A research study can either extend a previous study, explore an area that was not appropriately researched. Coming up with Research Questions Once your choice of topic has been accepted, start turning your topic into something meaningful. It is crucial to come up with a research problem at the beginning of your project. Doing this will keep your project on the right track. Revise your research problems as you get more information about your topic. Your research problem(s) should be focused regarding the subject, aspect and period of time. Research problems can be converted into questions to make your focus clearer. Planning Your Research Effectively A student should prepare a research proposal before preparing the project. A research proposal is a detailed document with around 2500 words describing your project and how you are going to undertake it. A proposal will help you think through your project. Next, you should create a research plan. It is wise to calculate how many days you have till the date of submission and then to draw a chart that shows what you will individually do on those days. It is essential to be realistic when planning. Being Organized and Strategic Each student is given a supervisor to help in providing ideas. Since academics are busy people, it is essential to arrange meetings with them early enough and have a subject to discuss on. Always be punctual. No one likes to be kept waiting. Undertake a literature review to gain more insight on your topic. It mainly involves reviewing materials that have been published (softcopy and hardcopy). Collect your data and record it accurately. Reporting the Research At this stage, you should start writing your research. It is important to have enough time to write and revise your project. Always communicate with your supervisor as you progress. Most researches start with an objective question. Reflect on the topics and the theories you have covered in your syllabus. Start searching for any relevant information that reflects on your chosen subject. You will notice that as you focus on your topic and read more articles, your perspective on the research will start evolving. Therefore, you should change your research content as new information comes to light. Start creating plans and milestones to be achieved for you to complete your paper on time. Schedule meetings with your supervisor and ensure that you attend all of them. You should understand your institutions’ guidelines on collecting information and compiling it. The following is a general outline of a research paper: Chapter One involves the purpose of the study and its significance. Chapter Two is the literature review. It involves compiling information related to your topic using both softcopy and hardcopy. Chapter Three involves describing your research methodology. In Chapter Four, you list and describe your conclusions in detail. Section five involves discussing your findings and areas of future research. After completing your study, submit it on time to the chair of your institution so that you can defend it before a panel and revise your corrections after that.

Biography of Actress Marilyn Monroe

Biography of Actress Marilyn Monroe Known for:  celebrity and actress, sex symbol, blonde bombshell Dates:  June 1, 1926 -  August 5, 1962Occupation:  movie actressAlso known as:  Norma Jeane Baker, Norma Jean Baker, Norma Jean Mortenson, Norma Jean MortensenReligion:  Convert to Judaism Early Life Marilyn Monroe, whose name was Norma Jean Baker in childhood, was born to Gladys Mortenson, a film technician, whose husband, Edward Mortenson, deserted the family. Norma Jeans natural father may have actually been another studio employee, C. Stanley Gifford. Gladys mental illness surfaced shortly after her daughters birth, and she was institutionalized much of Norma Jeans growing years. Norma Jean was placed in a series of twelve foster homes, and once in an orphanage. She attended Van Nuys High School in Los Angeles, California. At sixteen, Norma Jean escaped the foster system by marrying 20-year-old James Dougherty. A year later, in 1943, he joined the U.S. Merchant Marine. Norma Jean took a job in an airline plant, part of the World War II factory effort, and worked first as a parachute inspector, then as a paint sprayer. When the government came through to take promotional photographs of the women working in the plant, the brunette Norma Jean learned that she photographed well, took a modeling course, and began working part-time as a photographers model. Success as a photographers model led her to her dream of becoming an actress. In 1946, she divorced Dougherty and bleached her hair to become a blond. She signed a one-year, $125/month contract with Twentieth Century-Fox on August 26, 1946. Ben Lyon, casting director, suggested that she take the name Marilyn, and she added her grandmothers last name, Monroe. Marilyn Monroe as an Actress Marilyn Monroe played one bit part that year, all of which ended up on the cutting room floor. The next year, she signed another one-year contract, this time with Columbia. The results werent any better. In 1950, Marilyn Monroe posed for full-length nude shots, which the photographer Tom Kelley sold for a calendar. That same year, she appeared in a bit part in The Asphalt Jungle, and though her name wasnt even mentioned in the credits, her appearance generated a huge amount of fan mail. Her reputation as a blond bombshell had begun to be established. So Twentieth Century-Fox signed Marilyn Monroe to a new contract - this time, for seven years. She appeared in All About Eve. In 1953, she had her first starring role, in Niagara. In Gentlemen Prefer Blondes she sang and, for the first time, she had her own dressing room. In January 1954, Marilyn Monroe married the famous baseball player, Joe DiMaggio. The marriage was short-lived; they divorced in October. Seven Year Itch For the 1955 movie The Seven Year Itch, Marilyn Monroe appeared in the famous photographic stunt, in a white halter dress, with her skirt blown up by a draft from a sidewalk grate, leaning down to catch her dress so that her cleavage showed. The photograph was used to advertise the film and has become one of the iconic images of Marilyn Monroe. After filming The Seven Year Itch, in which she plays a prototypical dumb blond, Marilyn Monroe decided to work more seriously on her acting skills, to the skepticism of many critics. She broke her movie contract and moved to New York to study at the Actors Studio with Lee Strasberg for a year. Success ... and Problems In 1955, she founded her own company with Milton Greene, Marilyn Monroe Productions, and signed a new contract with Twentieth Century-Fox. She made the 1956 movie Bus Stop, which wowed the critics, but shed begun to lose herself to self-doubt, depression, drugs, and alcohol. Marilyn Monroe, whose mother and maternal grandparents had all struggled with mental illness and institutionalization, began taking sleeping pills for her insomnia. She regularly consulted psychiatrists. She drank heavily, and began a habit of arriving late to work, and sometimes not being able to work at all. Marriage to Arthur Miller She married Arthur Miller, the playwright, shortly after Bus Stop was released, and for the marriage converted to Judaism. She lived quietly for two years with her new husband. During that time, Miller was fighting his conviction for contempt-of-Congress for refusing to answer two questions before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). The marriage, and several miscarriages added to her self-doubt and depression, and to her use of drugs and alcohol. Marilyn Monroes next movie, The Prince and the Showgirl, brought mixed reviews. That was followed by Lets Make Love and an unhappy romantic liaison with co-star Yves Montand. The Misfits was written for Marilyn Monroe by her husband, Arthur Miller. She performed well in the final product, though, during its filming, she was often under the influence of alcohol and pills, and she was notoriously late to the set. Marilyn was affected by the death, two months after the film was completed, of her co-star, Clark Gable. In early 1961, Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller divorced. During this period, she was also bothered by many rumors of affairs, including with the President, John F. Kennedy, and his brother, Robert F. Kennedy. Last Months Filming her next project, ironically titled Somethings Got to Give, Marilyns lateness and addictions led to her dismissal after a month. She was briefly committed to a mental hospital. She was approved to return to the film, but never resumed filming. Two months later, in her home in Los Angeles, Marilyn Monroe was found by her housekeeper, dead, with an empty bottle of sleeping pills next to her body. The coroner found the death was caused by an overdose of barbiturates and pronounced it a possible suicide. No evidence of foul play was presented to the coroner. Marilyn Monroes funeral was planned by Joe DiMaggio; Lee Strasberg delivered the eulogy. Marilyn Monroes Parents Mother: Gladys Monroe Baker (also called Gladys Pearl Baker or Gladys Monroe Mortenson)Father: Edward Mortenson or C. Stanley Gifford Marilyn Monroes  Husbands James Dougherty (married June 19, 1942; divorced September 13, 1946)Joe DiMaggio (married January 14, 1954; divorced October 27, 1954)Arthur Miller (married June 29, 1956; divorced January 24, 1961) Education Van Nuys High School3-month modeling coursedramatic coach, Natasha LylessActors Lab, Los AngelesActors Studio, New York

This is a Strategic Management subject. The assessment is Strategic Assignment

This is a Strategic Management subject. The assessment is Strategic Audit. The Assignnment brief, example and marking guide will - Assignment Example In addition the business level strategies and the entry strategy that Thales will be adopting in China is also explained. Thales’ Business Thales Group is a French business group engaged in defense, aerospace, transportation and security markets. A small portion of Thales’ investments also go into its electrical systems building unit. Thales Group is present in more than 50 countries of the world having workforce of around 70,000 employees. Thales’ business’ size can be gauged by the fact that the company makes billion of Euros in revenues and is considered 475th largest business group amongst Fortune500 and is the 11th largest defense contractor (Thales Group, 2011). Competitive Landscape of Railway Transportation Industry in France Major railway transport operators in France are: Thalys Lyria Eurostar Societe Nationale des Chemins de fer Francais Resear Ferre de France (State Owned) Environmental Scan of Railway Transportation Industry in China To carry out the scanning of an external environment in China’s railway transportation industry, Porter’s Five Forces Model will be used. This model assists in scanning the external environment for: Identifying rivalry within the industry. ... In this paper, Porter’s Five Forces model will be used to examine the external environment of China’s Railway Transportation Industry. Threat of New Entrants In China’s railway transportation industry, the threat of new entrant is low due to the high entry barriers. Usually it requires a mammoth amount of money to acquire license and enter into a railway transportation business (Wan & Liu, 2006). Not everyone can start a railway transportation business because it is a capital extensive decision which includes capital investments in fixed assets like machinery, railway tracks, platforms, engines, rail-cars, and land and auto-mechanic shops. Although, there is still need for railway tracks and transportation services in China due to its huge geography and increased travelers’ pressure, but the acquisition of license and cost of starting this business in the country is still very expensive. Moreover, the railway transport industry largely operates on economie s of scale where the average cost of taking passengers from one station to another decreases as the incoming number of passengers increase (Today Online, 2013). Threat from Substitutes China is amongst those nations of the world who believes on working hard and saving money for the future. The saving trend compels people in China to spend less on luxuries. But in recent 4 to 5 years, it has been noticed that this trend is on shift and Chinese people are looking for quicker travelling options. But still, the traditional Chinese still believes on travelling with cheaper and less time consuming travelling means (Wan & Liu, 2006). Due to the rapid development and financial strength of the Chinese families, they tend to buy cars.

Steve Jobs Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Steve Jobs - Term Paper Example Background - experience, past and present - impact on the current organization Born in the year 1955, Steve Jobs was in Homestead school, in California. He often visited companies like Hewlett-Packard, after his lectures. Jobs first assignment was at Atari, as a technician where he created a circuit board for a game. Finally Wayne, Wozniak and Jobs founded Apple computers and used to sell it in the garage of Jobs’ parents in the year 1971. As a company Apple started its existence in 1976 with much of funding from investors. (Steve Jobs Leadership Case Study) Apple was expanded over the years until it became huge. It was Jobs who observed the commercial potentials from mouse driven GUI belonging to Xerox PARC and this inspired the creation of Apple Lisa. Based on this a year later, Macintosh was invented in 1984. Due to some incidents of dispute Jobs retired from Apple in 1985, and in that year only formed NeXT Inc. (Steve Jobs Leadership Case Study). NeXT Inc was later was abs orbed by Apple in 1996 bringing back Jobs. It was in 1997, when he once again became the CEO of Apple. Under Jobs’ supervision, the invention of i-Pod, i- Mac, i-Tunes, and subsequently i-Pad ensued. Fighting with cancer since 2003 he finally resigned from his duties as a CEO in August 2011. Finally he was elected as a chairman in Apple (Lomas). Jobs never limited himself to Apple or NeXT only. He bought Pixar, and merged with Disney, produced innumerable computer animated pictures such as â€Å"Toy Story†, â€Å"A Bug’s Life† and others (Steve Jobs Resigns as CEO of Apple) Six leadership characteristics Jobs exhibited Few traits of quality leadership that Steve jobs possessed are enumerated and analyzed below- â€Å"Look-ahead† mindset He set precise goals and had a clear and concise vision of the future. He ensured that the vision got inculcated in the minds of everyone throughout the organization. Effective leaders like him have always envisione d exactly what they want and how they are going to achieve their goals in order to get what they want. (Lomas) Jobs always focused on what Apple should do next in the future. He always invited employee’s suggestions about the future actions. His each and every week started with having a three or four hour discussion regarding the scenario they would foresee in the world in the coming days. In a statement he commented, "We are inventing the future... Come down here and make a dent in the universe" (Jobs). His unfathomable and unparalleled obsession with brightening the future with technological advancements paved the way for Apple to be the first name uttered amongst many, when it comes to everyday gadgets, be it mobiles or digital music players or PCs or even OSs. (Hyatt) Persistence - Steve Jobs epitomizes the virtue persistence and it was most exemplified through his exit from Apple. He refused to give up, and in fact, went on to start NeXT computers which would eventually be acquired by Apple Computers Inc. It would have been obvious for a common person to give up at this point and regret the loss. As a leader, one has to be prepared to encounter and conquer hindrance. It is all the more important to show this character, especially if one would like to form a

What are the ways in which the Early Years Foundation Stage supports Essay

What are the ways in which the Early Years Foundation Stage supports practitioners in thier planning for young children's learning - Essay Example Many theorists have presented their own views on children. Behaviorists led by the prominent B.F. Skinner, John B. Watson, Edward Thondike, etc., see children as organisms that learn by reinforcement. The Maturationists, led by Jean-Jacques Rosseau, Maria Montessori, Friedrich Froebel, etc. see the child as like a seed that contains all the elements to produce a fruit if given the proper amounts of nutrients from the soil and water along with sunshine and an ideal climate (Brewer, 2001). The Constructivists, founded on the works of Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky, believe that children are not passive recipients of knowledge, rather, they actively work at organizing their experience into constructing their own learning. In many ways, children have proven that they indeed are capable of many things originally unexpected of them. Constructivists are consistent in their belief that children’s capabilities in terms of learning can even match that of adult’s. Because of their clarity of thinking, unobstructed by pressures put on by society, they may even surpass the learning abilities of adults. â€Å"Children are seen as active and competent in their own learning, fully participatory in co-constructing their learning through social interactions, as opposed to this somehow being shaped by more knowledgeable others.† (Mitchell & Wild, 2004, p. 734) In an effort to meet children’s developmental needs, the education of teachers is now putting emphasis on child-centered approaches. The growing awareness that children are indeed capable of becoming contributing members of society has prompted the UK government to consult children themselves, of things that matter to them most in order to be the basis of proposals for change. These key outcomes—being healthy, staying safe, enjoying and achieving, making a positive contribution and economic well-being are detailed in the Every Child Matters report

Events Surrounding The Resignation Of Margaret Thatcher Sociology Essay

Events Surrounding The Resignation Of Margaret Thatcher Sociology Essay Margaret Thatchers legacy towers over modern day British Politics and History. She earned her place in the history books as the longest serving PM of the 20th century with three back to back election wins under her belt and since, emerging politicians have been said to have been creations of the Thatcher era with both William Hague and Tony Blaire being hailed as sons of Thatcherism by journalist Andrew Rawnsley. 1.1.2 Aims This report investigates and concludes as to how the Iron Ladies resignation and downfall was reported in the UK and Welsh newspapers, and pays particular attention and focus as to how this shaped the nations views at the time and now, looking back retrospectively. This report researches as to why Margaret Thatcher was a Marmite politician who evoked such strong responses, in both past and present throughout society and also looks into how the events of the past and media reaction has shaped her legacy left in Britain today. 1.1.3 Method Through both primary and secondary research, this report acts as a historical study into the events surrounding the resignation of Margaret Thatcher and the public response to it by examining how her resignation was reported in the Newspapers and other media resources at the time. 1.1.4 Results Conclusions Conclusions have also been obtained through oral interviews with people who were alive at the time and remember the events to obtain first hand public opinion and to analyse the impact of the transition from Thatcher to the Blaire era on people at the time. In addition to this I collected and collated public opinion about the popularity of Margaret Thatcher throughout her time as Prime Minister resulting in a conclusion as to what her legacy is in Britain today. 2. Introduction 2.1.1 Background and Context for the Study Many people remember where they were and what they were doing when they heard that Margaret Thatcher had stepped down as Prime Minister and what their reaction and feeling toward the news was. Margaret Thatcher always sparks a diverse, sometimes controversial opinion whether it is an expression of fondness or one of extreme aversion which is why her legacy is highly disputed. Media interest on the 10th anniversary of her demise from power was high, so much so that many newspapers ran opinion polls and features allowing people to comment about their reaction to her fall from power and resignation, and such polls were concrete evidence as to Mrs Thatchers ability to continue to evoke strong opinions even a decade after she had ceased to be Prime Minister. These polls are examined later on in the report and help to draw a conclusion of the legacy that she has left on Britain today. This report analyses the Origins of Thatchers departure from number 10 and gauges public opinion on what has now become widely known as the Thatcher era and as a result of it Thatcherism. 2.2.1 Outline of aims and methodology This study explores and discuss the reasons that led to the seismic political moment when Margaret Thatchers resigned as Prime Minister on 22nd November, 1990. This historical report looks into both the medias and public opinion, which has been examined through interviews and media archive footage, both at the time and reflective articles and discussions that have been recorded to date. 2.3.1 Primary research undertaken I have conducted the research through both primary and secondary resources including interviews with people who were alive and remember the resignation first hand, newspaper articles, podcasts, opinion polls and internet sites. Through formulating central questions relating to key topics I have conducted oral interviews with people who were both alive and have strong memories and opinions regarding Thatchers demise. I conducted the interviews this way and asked specific questions to enable me to systematically collate opinions of living peoples testimony about their own experiences. 3.1.1 Literature Review When studying the events of November 1990, it is clear that there is no one origin to the fall of Thatcher from power. In Kevin Jeffries book, Finest and darkest Hours, he says that For the Historian, the events of November 1990 present something of a mystery. A PM with a strong parliamentary majority and in good health, enjoying the considerable advantages of patronage and access to the media, was virtually impregnable. (Jeffries, Atlantic Books, 2002) To her supporters, she was a ground-breaking Prime Minister who positively re-shaped Britains economy and tamed the trade unions. In alliance with US presidents Reagan and Bush, she helped bring about the end of the Cold War. But her 11-year stint in office was also a time tainted by social unrest, industrial trouble and rising unemployment and her critics claim British society is still feeling the effect of her divisive economic policies and the culture of greed and selfishness they allegedly promoted. Existing accounts have noted that there was no single, overriding cause of Thatchers downfall and that various factors played their part in Novembers events. 3.1.1 Key Themes Seeing as there is no one clear reason to her downfall and resignation, there are several key themes and topics which must be addressed when discussing Margaret Thatcher. I have investigated these within both historical and narrative fictional texts in which I have then cross referenced with my own research to enable me to come up with a balanced and well supported conclusion. Below, I have highlighted key themes that are explored in recognized academic discussion of the resignation of Margaret Thatcher by leading authors and commentators of the field. 3.1.2 Divisions over Europe Iconic of the Thatcher years, was the ever running saga as to whether Britain should join the Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM). Mrs Thatcher relentlessly rejected any steps toward stronger political links which she believed would lead to an identikit European personality, and weaken nationality and tradition of member states. *** Therefore it is fair to say that Europe, ultimately, played a part in ending the Thatcher premiership. 3.1.3 Poll Tax Margaret Thatcher had always been a long standing critic of the British Taxation system which is proven in her memoirs, where shy says that she always disliked rates intensely (Jefferys, Atlantic Books, 2002). The conservative government, under Thatcher then bought in the community charge to replace the long standing tax system that dated back nearly 100 years -Rates which resulted in every adult paying a flat rate charge. The introduction of the Community Charge was met with great unrest and discontent for Thatcherism and opposition groups formed. One Journalist, quoted in the Economist dubbed the system as a A fatheaded, boneheaded, dunderheaded, blunderheaded, muttonheaded, knuckleheaded, chuckleheaded, puddingheaded, jobernowled wash- out of a cock-up. (The Economist, 3 Dec 1994) which could be seen as a representation of the peoples views at the time of its introduction due to the March and Riot of 1990 in opposition to the new system. The riot was a fatal blow for not only the poll tax but also the Margaret Thatcher and before the new year, Thatcher had stepped down as Britains Prime Minister. 3.1.4 Thatcherite Economics Thatchers market-led policies saw the sale of 20 state-owned companies including British Telecom. She did haul the country out of the economic doldrums where the UK was known as the sick man of Europe but at what cost? Her deregulation of the banking industry ultimately led to this current recession via the credit crunch Monetarism came to be used to describe what people thought of as Thatcherism. In simple terms, it is the recognition of the importance of money and money supply in an economy. The belief in free markets and individual wealth creation undermined the fabric of society encouraging selfishness and an increase in inequality. Thatcherite beliefs include a support for a form of trickle down economics the idea if the rich get richer everyone benefits. 3.1.5 Trade Unions Strikes were a regular occurrence and crippled the country. The three-day week was introduced under Edward Heath. And Callaghans Labour government in 1978 oversaw the strikes of the Winter of Discontent. On election, Thatcher used the situation as an excuse to crush the unions. She simply refused to listen to the workers representatives. Her economic policies helped weaken the unions. Methodology The reason in which I conducted research through The methodology section should provide a rationale for the method of research employed and for choice of sources used, together with an explanation of any tools (e.g. questionnaires; SPSS) involved and the respective criteria of evaluation applied to these. Samples of such tools (in blank form or with consolidated data) will probably need to be included in an appendix. It is not necessary to include a narrative description of the research process, although case studies (e.g. observation sessions) need to be well documented. Results As predicted, my results show the expected diversity of opinion. The results and conclusions sections should describe, explain and discuss what the research undertaken has revealed and why it is significant. This is best achieved by comparison with the ideas of opinion leaders previously presented. These ideas will be variously supported, illustrated, qualified and challenged by what you have discovered. Discussion/Conclusions With public opinion turning decisively against her, she was forced to resign from office in November 1990 after a struggle for leadership within the Conservative Party Many United Kingdom citizens remember where they were and what they were doing when they heard that Margaret Thatcher had resigned and what their reaction was. She brings out strong responses in people. Some people credit her with rescuing the British economy from the stagnation of the 1970s and admire her committed radicalism on social issues; others see her as authoritarian, egotistical and responsible for the dismantling of the Welfare State. Britain was widely seen as the sick man of Europe in the 1970s, and some argued that it would be the first developed nation to return to the status of a developing country. In the 1990s, Britain emerged with a comparatively healthy economy, at least by previous standards. A clear illustration of the divisions of opinion over Thatchers leadership can be found in recent television polls: Thatcher appears at Number 16 in the 2002 List of 100 Greatest Britons (sponsored by the BBC and voted for by the public), she also appears at Number 3 in the 2003 List of 100 Worst Britons (sponsored by Channel Four and also voted for by the public), narrowly missing out on the top spot, which went to Tony Blair. Recommendations It might be appropriate to end with recommendations, suggesting how the present study could be extended or repeated in a different format, or how related fields might be explored from a similar standpoint. This section, though, cannot be used to excuse failings in the study which should have been avoided. Transcripts or summaries of interviews, copies of original documents, tables of statistics, maps, etc. should be included in separate appendices at the end. The reader can be referred to these in the text, which may also include extracts from the same (e.g. an exchange from an interview) Bibliography References Evans, EJ (2004). Thatcher and Thatcherism (Making of the Contemporary World) . London: Routledge Holmes, M (1989). Thatcherism: Scope and Limits: Palgrave Macmillan. 1-182 Jefferys, K (2002). Finest and Darkest Hours: The Decisive Events in British Politics, from Churchill to Blair. London: Atlantic Books. p233-258 Marwick, A (2003). British Society Since 1945: The Penguin Social History of Britain : Penguin Morgan, K (2002). Britain since 1945: The Peoples Peace. UK: Oxford University Press. BBC.. 1990: Thatcher quits as prime minister. Available: http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/november/22/newsid_2549000/2549189.stm. Last accessed 21 April 2010. BBC. 1990: Tearful farewell from Iron Lady. Available: http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/november/28/newsid_2527000/2527953.stm. Last accessed 21 April 2010. Essential Margaret Thatcher. Available: http://www.margaretthatcher.org/essential/default.asp. Last accessed 16 April 2010 BBC News. (1990). BBC News: Thatcher resigns as Prime Minister. Available: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTDS23DY670. Last accessed 18 March 2010.

The Word Processor :: Technology Writing Essays

The Word Processor The purpose of this assignment is to explore the many ways in which â€Å"cyberculture† has changed the way we think of writing and writers. It stems from a unit that is focused on the many ways that writing technology as well as reading technology has been altered with the addition of cyberculture to our previously basic ways of life concerning reading and composition. Using readings from Tribble and Trubek’s Writing Material, several articles were used to investigate this topic. Another issue of importance before I begin is the term â€Å"cyberculture† itself. For issues concerning this assignment, I refer to cyberculture as being things such as internet phenomenon’s such as the World Wide Web, Blogs, newsgroups, e-mail, chat rooms, and instant messaging. Cyberculture is indeed changing the way we think of writers, the act of writing and the act of reading. This change is easily apparent when considering the adjustments made in our habits of reading and writing. Along with these adjustments come the benefits that result. The reader should also keep in mind that while these new habits are growing and expanding, some old habits are still present and hard to replace. When describing the many adjustments made in our habits of reading and writing, the example of the word processor helps bring this point to a clearer understanding. Reading online texts found in the form of word processors is one of the most popular habits that we gain from cyberculture. The differences between reading text found onscreen compared to reading a physical text from paper gives many examples of some of the adjustments we currently make in our habits of reading. The fact that this form of reading is becoming more popular is mentioned by James Sosnoski in his essay Hyper-Readers and Their Reading Engines. â€Å"Reading electronic texts on screens is likely to be the predominant mode of reading in the very near future† (Sosnoski 400). He also adds that this habit will eventually â€Å"dominate our practices† (Sosnoski 400). With the word processor, people everywhere are able to make formal documents, letters, tables, etc. quickly and easily. In most cases, it is true that the speed of typing could also be faster than the speed of writing by hand which saves time for those who want to produce material in a shorter amount of time than writing by hand.

Impact of Cuban Trade Embargo

The Impact of the Cuban Trade Embargo By: Natalie Bell 2/25/09 [pic] International Business Law BLAW 4320 [pic] Cuba, the largest island nation in the Caribbean just ninety miles off the coast of Florida, experienced many difficult struggles through its extensive history. It was the last major Spanish colony to gain independence, following a lengthy struggle that was begun in 1868. It was in 1898 when the U. S. intervened during the Spanish-American War that it finally overthrew Spanish rule. The Treaty of Paris established Cuban independence, which was granted in 1902 after a three-year transition period. The United States and Cuba concluded a Treaty of Relations in 1934, which, among other things, continued the 1903 agreements that leased the Guantanamo Bay naval base to the United States (CIA World Factbook). In the time before 1959, the United States had maintained strong ties with Cuba. Many Americans had many various business investments there, and the country was a special place for tourists from around the world. Since the fall of the U. S. -supported dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista in 1959, it was Fidel Castro who has mainly led Cuba throughout the years. It was in Febuary 19, 2008 when Fidel Castro finally ceded power to his brother Raul Castro. Since the majority of Cubans were born after the 1959 revolution, most of the Cuban people have known no other leader. President Fidel Castro outlasted no fewer than nine American presidents since he took power in 1959 (Castro:Profile). Relations between the United States and Cuba deteriorated rapidly as Fidel Castro and the Cuban regime moved toward the acceptance of the one-party communist system. Cuba seized the assets of American citizens and U. S. irms including farms, factories, hotels, bank accounts, and real estate without compensation. It was finally on April 16, 1961 when Fidel Castro declared Cuba a socialist state. Cuba's Communist revolution, with Soviet support, was brought to other countries throughout Latin America and Africa during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Castro maintained close relations with the Soviet Union and worked jointly with the goals of Soviet communism by fund ing and provoking violent rebellious activities, as well as using military intervention in other countries, until the fall of the U. S. S. R. in 1991 (Castro: Profile). In response, the United States imposed an embargo on Cuba in October 1960, and, broke diplomatic relations on January 3, 1961. This began the over forty-year period of tension between the U. S. and Cuba, beginning with President Kennedy’s failed Bay of Pigs invasion in 1963 and the Cuban Missile Crises (CIA World Factbook). Since 1961, Cuba portrayed many difficulties as the result of the U. S. embargo and the embargo had a great effect on both nations. It was in 1963 that the United States passed the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, under the authority of the Trading with the Enemy Act. The Act was enacted in 1917 to restrict trade with countries that are hostile to the United States. The law gives the President the power to oversee or restrict any or all trade between the U. S. and its enemies in times of war. The purpose of the law was to isolate Cuba economically and politically. It banned all trade and financial transactions between Cuba and the U. S. , and froze all U. S. held assets of the Cuban government and of private Cuban citizens. It also prohibited almost all travel to Cuba by researchers, student groups, journalists, athletes, and those traveling to see immediate family members (Schaffer 268). After the fall of the Soviet Union in the early 1990’s, the U. S. Congress wanted to pressure Cuba for democratic change. First in 1992, the U. S. Congress approved the Cuban Democracy Act, restricting Americans from vis iting the island, banning family remittances, and prohibiting foreign subsidiaries of U. S. ompanies from doing business with Cuba. Following a few years later, on March 12, 1996, President Bill Clinton signed the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act, also called the Helms-Burton Act. After this law was signed, it further toughened the Cuban sanctions. It imposed penalties on foreign companies doing business in Cuba, it permitted U. S. citizens to file lawsuits against foreign investors who made use of the American-owned property that was seized after 1959 by the Cuban government, and it denied an entry visa into the U. S. to such foreign investors. It was a very controversial because this included many Mexican, Canadian, and European businessmen who did business in Cuba (268). The passage of the Helm-Burton Act caused a worldwide protest, primarily in Mexico, Canada, and the European Union, who argued that the Helm-Burton Act violated international law. A protest was filed with the World Trade Organization by the European Union, but was suspended when the Clinton Administration reassured that the law for visa restrictions under Title III of the Helm-Burton Act would not be enforced against citizens in third world countries. The Act calls for the trade sanctions between the U. S. and Cuba to end as soon as Cuba agrees to have a democratically elected government, abide by human rights conventions, opens its prisons to international inspection, returns Cuban citizenship to Cuban exiles living in the U. S. , and makes progress in returning expropriated property to its rightful owners (268). Today, there are many laws, rules, and regulations that derived from the U. S. sanctions against Cuba. Presently, most commercial imports from Cuba are illegal by law but remain listed under the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 (TSRA). Under the Act, the sale of certain items, including medicine and medical supplies, and agricultural commodities have been approved for export by specific regulations. According to the Act, â€Å"The Department of the Treasury is responsible in issuing licenses that are used to export these goods on a case-by-case scenario and authorizing Cuban travel-related transactions that are only relating to marketing, sales negotiation, accompanied delivery, and servicing of exports and re-exports that also must appear in line with the licensing policy of the Department of Commerce† (U. S. Treasury Department). The only sectors in which U. S. citizens may sell and service products to Cuba include agricultural commodities, medicine, and medical devices. The Treasury Department will is also be able to consider requests for specific licenses for humanitarian travel, educational exchanges (that are at least 10 weeks in length), and religious activities by individuals or groups that are associated with a religious organization. However, any U. S. citizen or corporation that is subject to U. S. law and engages in any travel-related transaction in Cuba violates the regulations. The Act specifically states that, â€Å"The Cuban Assets Control Regulations affects all U. S. citizens and permanent residents wherever they are located, all people and organizations physically in the United States, and all branches and subsidiaries of U. S. organizations throughout the world† (U. S. Treasury Department). If the regulations are not followed, then it may result in both civil penalties and criminal prosecution upon return to the United States (U. S. Treasury Department). Today, traveling to Cuba also has many rules and laws that make traveling to the Cuba very complex. In 2004, President Bush’s Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba placed a further reduction on the restrictions on family visits to Cuba. Visits by Cuban Americans to family in Cuba are permitted only once every 3 years instead of once every year. No humanitarian exceptions are given if there is any of a family illness or crisis going on in Cuba. Visits are restricted to two weeks and strictly limited to immediate family as defined by the U. S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which eliminates the right to visit cousins, aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, or more distant relatives (LAWG). Only if a traveler receives a license, then a valid passport will be required for entry into Cuba. The Cuban government requires that travelers obtain their visas before they arrive to the country. If there are attempts to enter or exit Cuba illegally, or there is in any kind of aid in helping Cuban nationals or others escape Cuba then punishment is served by stiff jail terms. Entering Cuban territory, territorial waters or airspace, which include being within 12 miles of the Cuban coast, without any prior permission from the Cuban government may result in arrest or other enforcement actions by Cuban authorities. According to the U. S. Department of State, most immigration violators are subject to prison terms that range from four years for illegal entry or exit to as many as 30 years for certain cases of assisting Cuban migrants to attempt to leave Cuba illegally (U. S. Department of State). Family remittances or money sent to Cuba also have specific rules and regulations that must be followed by the people residing under U. S. law. According to the U. S. Department of State, â€Å"U. S. ersons aged 18 or older may send money to members of the remitter’s immediate family in Cuba of up to $300 per household in any consecutive three-month period, regardless of the number of members of the remitter’s immediate family residing in that household. † The law also states that no member of the household can be a prohibited official of the Government of Cuba or a prohibited member of the Cuban Communist Party (U. S. Department of State). Other laws that are also a part of the on g oing U. S. embargo with the Cuban government involves the use of money in Cuba that U. S. travelers are limited to spend during their stay in Cuba. U. S. people traveling to Cuba to visit their family or traveling for other purposes can spend no more than $50 per day on non-transportation-related expense in Cuba, and up to an additional $50 per trip to pay for transportation-related expenses in Cuba. However, professionals such as journalists, photographers, or any other kind of licensed travelers may spend additional money for their professions that are directly related to what they need in order to fulfill their work (U. S. Department of State). It is also interesting to know that U. S. citizens and permanent resident aliens are not allowed from using their credit cards, personal checks, or travelers’ checks that are drawn from U. S. banks in Cuba. U. S. credit card companies do not accept any kind of vouchers from Cuba, and, at the same time, Cuban shops, hotels and other places of business do not accept any types of U. S. credit cards (U. S. Department of State). Today, the U. S. Cuban embargo has become one of the most controversial issues upon many countries throughout the world. There have been many advocating for a change of the current policies towards Cuba for some time now. The sanction has continuously been condemned and voted against by almost all nations throughout the world. For the 16th consecutive year, the U. N. General Assembly recommended that the U. S. ended the embargo. In 2006, a total of 183 member nations of the U. N called on the U. S. to end the sanctions with Cuba (Sierra). In 2007, the 192-member General Assembly passed the measure by 184 votes to four, with one abstention (U. S. Urged). According to Remy Herrera, â€Å"The normative content of this embargo and its rules, which the U. S. intends to inflict on the international community with its unilateral sanctions is a violation of the spirit and letter of the United Nations Charter and of the Organization of American States, and of the very fundamentals of international law† (Herrera). This excessive extension of the territorial jurisdiction of the U. S. , Herrera adds, â€Å"Is contrary to the principle of national sovereignty and to that of non-intervention in the internal choices of a foreign state, s recognized in the jurisprudence of the International Court of Justice† (Herrera). According to Richard Schaffer, even the Vatican protested Helms-Burton, claiming that it increased economic suffering of the Cuban People. Many trade groups have also argued against the law because they believed that economic engagement actually would promote freedom in totalitarian countries. The U. S. firms that are h oping to engage in the business activities in Cuba also seek an ending to the U. S. trade sanctions (Schaffer 269). According to U. S. Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, many feel that the lifting of the travel restrictions to Cuba, family remittances, and trade exchange are necessary and are some of the most important issues in the policy changing process that the U. S. needs to undergo in order to have better relations with Cuba (Pelosi). Ironically, surveys of the American public opinion show that the vast majority of Americans favor ending sanctions as well, and recognizing the government of Cuba (Schaffer 269). According to a recent poll from USA Today that took place between February 21- 24, 2008, 61% of 2,021 adults nationwide favored re-establishing U. S. diplomatic relations with Cuba, 29% opposed, and 10% of the people were unsure (PollingReport). Over Forty-five years of communism have left the island nation an economic ruin and the U. S. embargo had many diverse effects on Cuba. According to a BusinessWeek article by Geri Smith, â€Å"The Cuban government has always referred to the embargo as a ‘blockade,’ a word that has a more sinister tone than ‘embargo’† (Smith). Cuba went through many difficulties as the result of the U. S. embargo since 1961 and suffered much more since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The country faced a severe economic downturn, which really caused the Cubans' living standards to significantly fall. The disappearance of Soviet aid following the collapse of the USSR forced the government to introduce tight rationing of energy, food, and consumer goods, as well as the withdrawal of the former Soviet annual subsidies that were worth $4 billion to $6 billion (Country Profile: Cuba). Since then, it has taken action with limited reforms in order to increase enterprise efficiency and improve some of their economic problems which included their serious shortages of food and goods. Due to the economic problems and domestic inefficiencies that Cuba faced during the 1990’s, President Castro allowed a few steps towards a more market-oriented system. In 1993, the U. S. dollar was accepted by Cuba and allowed to circulate throughout the nation. Because of their lack of basic necessities and few consumer goods, Cuba’s economy persisted with the help of Canadian, European and Latin American investments. Essentially for Cuba, the nation also developed closer relations with China and Venezuela. China invested in Cuba’s nickel industry and provided Cuba support in the form of trade credit, technology, and investment capital while Venezuela provided supply to cheap fuel (Smith). Since late 2000, Venezuela has been supplying about 100,000 barrels per day of petroleum products. Cuba has been paying for this oil with the services of Cuban personnel in Venezuela, including 20,000 medical professionals (CIA WorldFactbook). After market factors improved, in 2004 the U. S. dollar transactions in Cuba were banned and a 10% tax was imposed on the dollar-peso conversions. According to the CIA World Factbook, Cuban exports total $3. 31 billion and their major exports include Sugar, nickel, tobacco, fish, medical products, citrus, and coffee partners. The countries that Cuba mainly exports to include the Netherlands (21. 8%), Canada (21. 6%), China (18. 7%), Spain (5. 9%) (CIA WorldFactbook). On the other hand, Cuban imports have totaled $10. 86 billion and consist mainly of petro leum, food, machinery and equipment, and chemicals. The countries that Cuba mainly imports from include Venezuela (26. 6%), China (15. 6%), Spain (9. 8%), Germany (6. 4%), Canada (5. 6%), Italy (4. 4%,) the U. S. (4. 3%), and Brazil (4. %) (CIA WorldFactobook) Today, Cuba has two currencies in circulation, which include the Cuban peso (CUP) and the convertible peso (CUC). The Cuban peso (CUP) is specifically for the Cubans, while the convertible peso (CUC) is strictly for tourists and foreign businessmen. According to a BBC News article by Michael Voss, â€Å"The average Cuban salary of 400 pesos a month is worth about $16, yet almost everything available in the shops has to be paid for in the convertible pesos (CUC's)† (Voss). â€Å"Why has the economy moved to convertible pesos when workers are paid in the national currency? † declared one of the students in the article. You need to work for two days just to buy a toothbrush† (Voss). The problem with the dual c urrency is one of the biggest challenges that negatively influences the Cuban economy. Cuba faces many hardships because of the economic problems throughout the country. Many of the effects have caused an increase in prostitution, corruption, black marketeering and desperate efforts to escape in search of a better life (Country Profile: Cuba). Many Cubans had enough with the hardships and risk their lives to escape from the country. Thousands have tried to escape through the sea in a waterborne exodus to Florida, but many have drowned. Castro: Profile) According to the BBC News article, Castro: Profile of the Great Survivor, â€Å"Even his own daughter Alina Fernandez prefers a life of exile as a dissident in Miami to rule under her ‘despotic’ father† (Castro: Profile). According to the CIA World Fact Book, illicit migration to the U. S. , using homemade rafts, alien smugglers, or air flights, is still a continuing problem. The U. S. Coast Guard seized 2,864 peop le trying to cross the Straits of Florida in the year 2006 (CIA WorldFactbook). Cuba has also been fraudulent with the UN's top human rights forum, over specific rights abuses. The UN has insisted that Cuba allows for freedom of expression and to release imprisoned protesters who have protested against the government (Country Profile: Cuba). The U. S. has caused Cuba many economic damages because of the U. S. embargo. According to U. S. congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, â€Å"The over-45-year US economic, commercial and financial blockade of Cuba has translated into over 89 billion dollar losses for the U. S. † (Pelosi). According to the article, The Effects of the U. S. Embargo Against Cuba, the direct economic losses for Cuba by the U. S. embargo would exceed 70 billion dollars. The damages were estimated by calculating amounts of Cuba’s potential earnings and unnecessary losses since the institution of the U. S. embargo in 1961. The embargo negatively affected all of the sectors in Cuba, which also directly imposed on the major driving forces of the Cuban economy, which included tourism, foreign direct investments (FDI) and currency transfers (Herrera). Cuba became very limited in having access to technologies and various resources because of the obstacles that were forced by the Unites States. According to a Business Week article, â€Å"Trade and investment open up economies to new ideas. Cell phones, the Internet, and other high-tech communication technologies are detrimental to closed-minded bureaucracies† (Farrel). Since December, 2001, when food and agricultural products were allowed to be exported to Cuba, over $2 billion dollars worth of goods were earned by U. S. firms and shippers (LAWG). According to the article, The Travel Industry’s Push to Unlock Cuba, loosening the restrictions could boost the U. S. economy in the long term by as much as $1. 6 billion annually and create as many as 23,000 new jobs (Unlock Cuba). In this way, Cuba has the potential for economic growth if the U. S. nds or even loosens their trade sanctions. This can also further ease the hardships and economic issues of poverty in Cuba. Relations between the United States and Cuba are hoping to improve in the future, especially because Fidel Castro retired his control over Cuba. Many hope that Cuba will be open for business and that there may be signs of new beginnings of chang e on the economic front under Raul Castro (Smith). Some, however, are more skeptical of the idea. According to a recent poll from USA Today that took place between February 21- 24 of 2008, only 37% of 2,021 people felt that the situation for people in Cuba would get better. A majority of 51% felt that the situation for people in Cuba would stay the same, 6% felt that it would get worse, and 6% felt they were unsure (PollingReport). Fortunately, Raul Castro has introduced a series of reforms since taking over as president from his brother Fidel in February and has already taken steps on improving certain services for the Cuban public. The new leader started focusing on some of the most-mentioned problems, such as spotty public transportation and the low wages paid by the government to private farmers (Smith). According to the article, Cuban Leaders Plan More Reforms, these reforms have also included the removal of some restrictions on the purchase of electrical goods such as mobile phones, microwave ovens and DVD players. According to the article, Cubans have been reported to take out 7,400 new mobile phone contracts in the 10 days since the restrictions were eased. The country has also lifted a ban on its people staying in hotels previously reserved for foreigners (Cuban Leaders). It will be interesting to see if more market-oriented steps will take place with the Raul Castro’s new regime. Another major issue that will be crucial for many U. S. businesses as soon as the embargo ends in the future is the growing interest in the tourism sector of Cuba. According to an article by Sucharita Mulpuru, Americans represent only a small part of the nearly 1. 2 million visitors who come to Cuba every year, mainly from Canada, Spain, France, Germany, and Britain (Mulpuru). Tourism continues to inspire high hopes among many investors. In the article, Enzo Alberto, the Canadian-Italian CEO of ICC, a major investor in the island's Internet infrastructure states, â€Å"I believe that Cuba could be to America like Hong Kong is to Asia,† (Mulpuru). Many countries pour nearly $2 billion into the economy, outstripping revenues from sugar and other core crops such as tobacco (Mulpuru). According to the article, A Warmer Climate for Trade with Cuba, the industry argues that the island nation is a potential source of needed revenues that would be able to boost both the travel business and the U. S. economy while opening to tourism and foreign investment in Cuba. As a result, this will also boost the economy as well as the currency reserves of Cuba. Unfortunately, all of this potential to help both economies and many people in both nations will not end until the U. S. rade embargo ends and the Cuban government loosens its stranglehold on the economy. It will be interesting to see how the U. S. embargo will be affected by the policies of the future elected president of the U. S. Of the three leading Presidential candidates, only Democratic contender Senator Barack Obama has stated that he would be willing to sit down and talk with Rau l Castro's government, as long as human rights are on the agenda. On the other hand, Senator Hillary Clinton stated said she would not do so until Cuba started to implement economic and political reforms, while Senator John McCain has kept President George W. Bush’s policy and states that â€Å"talks are off† until Cuba begins a â€Å"transition to a free and open society† and releases all political prisoners (Smith). According to the Associated Press, the presidential candidates are expected to lightly discuss the question of lifting the embargo during their campaign. According to their article, Five-decade U. S. Trade Embargo with Cuba Expected to Outlast Fidel Castro, there is a great deal of sensitivity on the issue, especially in states with high populations of Cuban immigrants such as Florida (Associated Press). The entrepreneurs of the U. S. ave seen their foreign competitors take advantage of opportunities in Cuba. U. S. businesspersons can only hope that the trade and travel restrictions will be lifted eventually, so that they can tap the potential markets in Cuba especially in the tourism and agricultural sectors. This is very unlikely to happen soon because of the ongoing disputes between many in regards to the Cuban embargo. The impact of the Cuban embargo caused many diverse effects for both nations, but with new policies and politicians that are developing for the future, this story can be the end of an old era. Works Cited ACN Cuban News Agency. 2007, May 2). â€Å"Nancy Pelosi Says U. S. Blockade of Cuba Should be Lifted. † Retrieved April 24, 2008, from http://www. cubanews. ain. cu/2008/0425nancypelosi. htm Alomso, Cynthia C. â€Å"The Travel Industry's Push to Unlock Cuba. † BusinessWeek. 27 August 2003 Associated Press. Five-decade U. S. Trade Embargo with Cuba Expected to Outlast Fidel Castro. 20 February 2008. Retrieved on April 24, 2008 from http://www1. whdh. com/news/articles/national/BO73631 BBC News. (2008, February 19). â€Å"Castro: Profile of the Great Survivor†. Retrieved April 24, 2008 from http://news. bbc. co. k/2/hi/americas/244974. stm BBC News. (2008, April 12). â€Å"Cuban Leaders Plan More Reforms†. Retrieved April 24, 2008, from http://news. bbc. co. uk/2/hi/americas/7343883. stm BBC News. (2008, February 26). â€Å"Country Profile: Cuba†. Retrieved April 24, 2008 from http://news. bbc. co. uk/2/hi/americas/country_profiles/1203299. stm BBC News. (2008, April 24). â€Å"Cubans Snapping Up Mobile Phones†. Retrieved April 24, 2008, from http://news. bbc. co. uk/2/hi/business/7364791. stm BBC News. (2007, October 30). â€Å"U. S. Urged to End Cuba Embargo†. Retrieved April 24, 2008, from http://www. bbc. co. k/caribbean/news/story/2007/10/071030_cubaun. shtml CIA World Factbook. Cuba. (nd). Retrieved on April 22, 2008 from https://www. cia. gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cu. html Farrell, Christopher. â€Å"The Case Against Embargoes† BusinessWeek. 25 April 2005 Herrera, Remy. The Effects of the U. S. ‘Embargo’ Against Cuba. 7 October 2003. Retrieved on April 22, 2008 from http://www. alternatives. ca/article876. html Latin America Working Group (LAWG ). Top Ten Reasons For Changing U. S. Policy Toward Cuba. (nd) Retrieved on April 22, 2008 from http://www. lawg. org/docs/new_member_packet. df Magnusson, Paul. â€Å"A Warmer Climate For Trade in Cuba. † BusinessWeek. 16 June 2000 Mulpuru, Sucharita. â€Å"In Cuba, History’s Joy—and Curse. † BusinessWeek. 3 Feb 2003. Pew Hispanic Center. Cubans in the Unite States: A Profile. 25 August 2006. Retrieved from http://pewhispanic. org/files/factsheets/23. pdf Polling Report. Cuba. Retrieved on April 22, 2008 from http://www. pollingreport. com/cuba. htm Plummer, Robert. â€Å"How Cubans Heal Their Economic Ills† BBC News. 3 January 2007. Schaffer R. , Earle B. , & Agusti F. (2005). International Business Law and Its Environment. Ohio: Thomson-Southwestern West. (6e). Sierra, J. A. Economic Embargo Timeline. (nd). Retrieved on April 22, 2008 from http://www. historyofcuba. com/history/funfacts/embargo. htm Smith, Geri. â€Å"Cuba Under the Other Castro? † BusinessWeek. 24 February 2008 Smith, Geri. â€Å"When Will Cuba Be Open for Business? † BusinessWeek. 29 February 2008 U. S. Department of the State. (http://www. state. gov). Retrieved on April 22, 2008. U. S. Department of the Treasury. â€Å"Cuba: What You Need To Know About The U. S. Embargo†. Retrieved April 22, 2008 from http://www. treas. gov/ofac Voss, Michael. â€Å"Stepping Into Big Brother's Shoes? † BBC News. 24 February 2008