Against the Constitution

Economic Geography of The UK of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Economic Geography of The UK of Great Britain and Northern Ireland England has been more and more dependent on its industry since the 15th century. The United Kingdom was the first country in the world to become highly industrialized, and today fourteen people work in mining, manufacturing and building for every one in agriculture. It is the world`s third largest exporter of manufactured goods. It has a very wide range of industrial manufactures, and is one of the most important workshops of the world.The United Kingdom belongs among the top industrial countries. It is economically connected with the Commonwealth countries and since 1973 - when Britain joined the European Economic Community, popularly known as the Common Market - Britain has also worked very closely with Western Europe. It is also a member of G - 7 (The group of Seven leading industrialized countries).Up to the beginning of the 18th century, Britain`s industry was mainly carried on in the home or in small factories where water-power from rivers was used to drive, for example, looms. Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference. (L-R): R...The process of smelting iron with coal was discovered in England in the 17th century.Then came the industrial revolution with the discovery of steam-power, from coal. Coal and iron ore are both heavy and hard to transport. So industry grew up where they were available - in 25 of the 49 English counties, along the foothills of Highland Britain.Major industries include iron and steel engineering (including motor vehicles and aircraft), textiles, plastics, cotton, chemicals, electronics, wool, shipbuilding and food products.The agricultural system is very well developed but the agriculture provides only half the food it needs. The other half of its food have to be imported.The main products are oats, hay, wheat, barley and sugar beets. Cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry are the most important farm animals in the United Kingdom...

Interactive Interface Technology (DHTML based widgets) Essay

Interactive Interface Technology (DHTML based widgets) - Essay Example Widgets created in DHTML can take the form of various on-screen tools such as event countdowns, clocks, auction tickers, daily weather, stock market tickers and flight arrival tickers (Teague, 2007). There are some web page effects that are normally hard to achieve. DHTML, however, makes it possible for the page author to create a wide variety of effects as he wishes. DHTML based widgets eliminate many kinds of limits for enhanced client functionality (Teague, 2007. This technology makes it possible to perform on any kind of application such as audio playing, on-screen drawing. It also makes access to hardware such as the mouse and keyboards much easier (Singh and Gupta, 2009). One of the main disadvantages of DHTML is its difficulty in developing and debugging (Goodman, 2002). This may be attributed to the fact that there are many different degrees of support that are available among different web browsers. This combined with the fact that there are different screen sizes for different computer models makes it hard and sometimes impossible for the end look to be in tune with a certain browser or screen size (Barron and Barron, 2000). This means that certain DHTML based widgets can only be used or fine tuned on specific combinations of browsers and screen sizes. My evaluation criteria for this technology will be based on efficiency in terms of ease of development and efficiency. The primary use of widgets in interactive interface technology is to enhance personal web experiences for both the developer or web owner and the end user or visitor to a website (Barron and Barron, 2000). The functionality of any technology determines its efficiency. For the Interactive Interface Technology (DHTML based widgets), there is a high level functionality that enables the web author as well as the end use to use multiple applications interactively. Since DHTML does not rely on a single type of technology, I can say that development should not be

Lesuire and tourism operation management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Lesuire and tourism operation management - Essay Example over rates’ impact on guest satisfaction within the hospitality industry (with the focus on hotels), prove the writer’s hypothesis that high turnover is detrimental resulting in negative consequences, and that a culture of high turnover does exist and is accepted in the industry. Another aim was to prove that the hypothesis of acceptance of this culture leads to devastating consequences and that high turnover must be prevented, minimized, and managed. In order to meet the aims of the study, it was necessary to examine the causes and nature of turnover, whether it is considered to be bad or if it is considered to be good and necessary in the operation of companies. Existing arguments were examined as some believe that high turnover is desired in the hospitality industry yet some do not believe it to be a positive thing. Another argument included turnover as a culture for the industry. Interviews from hotels/resorts owners and managers were used to provide which proved the writer’s hypotheses and aims. Turnover is when employees stay only for a short time before moving on or becoming dismissed for one reason or another. (D’Announzio-Green, Maxwell, & Watson 2002, quote Barron and Maxwell, 1993, p. 5). â€Å"Turnover is the result of both quits and layoffs.   Thus, some turnover is a result of jobs in one firm being destroyed and jobs in another firm being created  Ã¢â‚¬â€ and hence due to the reallocation of jobs across the economy in response to changes in product demand.   A majority of job changes, however, are because workers reshuffle across the same set of jobs, and this worker reallocation occurs over and above job reallocation,† as written by Lane (2000). Some hospitality industry sources report that turnover rate is between 100 and 150 percent each year. This causes poor attitude amongst staff and affects the quality of service and care that is given to the customers. (Crabtree, 2005.) It is usually considered to be a bad thing; however,

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

Visualizing and Inferring - Research Paper Example This comparison helps in understanding the dimensions with regard to the magnitude and time in a much better way as the five senses are put to task (Yopp & Yopp, 2001). For instance, the use of close texts where one has to think using the clue and prior personal encounter to arrive at an appropriate word missing in a passage before they can be provided with the opportunity to check against their choice. A teacher reading a comprehension or even a poem while the students listen to important details aids the students to use the self questioning to eliminate what is key from the rest of the text by having to think harder, paying keen attention to what is being read and even asking to be reread for an area they feel they missed out (Burmark, 2002). They try to visualize and relate the text to others, they have read before (Harvey & Goudvis, 2000). They read the text and look for new information learnt and what they intend to know before they create a map of concepts for further investigations. The texts sink into the students’ minds through the aid of illustration. This can be achieved through the use of charts, pictures, discussions, drawings and other visual images. These ease the complicated texts and enable the students to organize the information obtain in an understandable manner (Burmark, 2002). The use of adjectives in a large text accompanied by vivid description brings clarity in the memory of the students as they read through. Discussion of the text creates a unique understanding of the topic as one gets clarification from other students as well as the teacher, concerning the theme of the text and distinguishing it from the plot. The student gets the opportunity to ask questions about unclear concepts or marked during the reading period. Note taking accompanied by real life examples help students draw the picture of what they visualise and can trace a place in the

Le Silence De La Mer Analysis

Le Silence De La Mer Analysis Analyse the depiction of Franco-German collaboration in the short story ‘Le Silence de la mer. How effective is it in contesting the imagery and ideals of collaboration? The imagery and ideals (and indeed questions on their authenticity) regarding Franco-German collaboration are perceived and presented through means of a German soldiers transition from ignorance to knowledge. At the beginning of the story Werner von Ebrennac is idealistic, almost delusional, in his perspective on the German occupation. Towards the final ‘episodes of the story, however, an austere sense of darkness and truth pervades as he undergoes a transformation in his outlook which directly results from the revelations he faces in Paris. Vercors is highly effective in illustrating the fundamental flaws in idealising such a notion because by presenting the reader with an optimistic character and one whose naivety is flagrantly exaggerated to the point of being implausible he succeeds in juxtaposing the ideal and the actuality of Franco-German collaboration, thus inviting readers to witness their stark contrast. This question cannot be answered without incorporating an analysis of one of the short storys most significant images. Ubiquitous within it is the concept of a ‘marriage between France and Germany. As von Ebrennac himself says of Briand, ‘â€Å"Il va nous unir, comme mari et femme†. France, as is usual in her traditional guise of ‘Marianne, is the feminised party; the ‘femme of the metaphor, whilst Germany is portrayed as the husband; the ‘mari. Written at a time when women could not, particularly in the context of Nazi and Vichy ideals, expect the same rights as their husband, this pervasive symbol can be interpreted as one which casts France in a role of subjugated female to Germanys dominant male rather than a collaborator on an equal footing with her invader. This device is deployed in more detail on pages 29 and 30, when von Ebrennac tacitly compares France and Germanys relationship and on a lesser scale the unfeasible liaison between himse lf and the narrators niece – to the fairytale ‘The Beauty and the Beast. On a superficial level Vercors is suggesting that the so-called ‘collaboration between the two countries exists solely in the realm of myth and legend; that the ‘polite invasion of the early years of German occupation was a fantastic smokescreen designed to disguise its true tyrannical nature. On a deeper level it becomes clear that von Ebrennacs idealisations conceal an underlying recognition of Nazi values in spite of his seemingly personable demeanour. With the fairytales protagonists evidently serving as symbols of the two countries, the soldier inverts the emotional dynamics of the story by focusing on the torment of the Beast (Germany) rather than the capture of Beauty (France), creating an unusually positive portrayal of the former. Much like Nazi propaganda, the true train of events is glossed over and undermined. Furthermore, there lies a sinister undercurrent beneath the ‘bonheur sublime that this union is supposed to give rise to, namely ‘â€Å"leu rs enfants, qui additionnent et mà ªlent les dons de leurs parents, sont les plus beaux que la terre ait portes.† In this sentence von Ebrennac, whether he realises it or not, is indirectly referring to the Nazi aspiration to create a ‘Herrenvolk, or ‘master race, of Aryan people to improve their breeding stock. Finally, the very act of translating a traditional French story into German (La Belle et la bà ªte becomes Das Tier und die Schà ¶ne) represents far more than a linguistic practicality; it is symbolic of translating French culture, society and politics into German as well. From this we can glean that Franco-German ‘collaboration isnt the ideal which the Nazi propaganda machine, and of course the German soldier in this story, would have us believe. It is by no means a symbiotic relationship, but an invasion in which only one country will prevail; that of the invader. Although the complicity of France in advocating Nazi ideology during the war years has been brought into question in decades since, Vercors French characters are unquestionably resisters. ‘Le Silence de la mer is most easily interpreted as an allegory of passive resistance; the narrator and his nieces refusal to speak to the soldier who lives in their home uninvited is an act of great self-sacrifice and patriotism; an imprisonment of the mind which serves to protect the values of the culture and country they hold so dearly. In the nieces case, her silence and failure to make eye-contact with von Ebrennac is also a complex denial of her blossoming feelings for him. She forfeits what might, in other historic circumstances, have been a happy and suitable union in order to serve the best interests of her country. An analysis of the narrators library reveals how incompatible a ‘marriage France and Nazi Germany would be. For gracing its shelves (as observed on page 28) is a long list of classic authors, mainly French, with two things in common: they all uphold the Republican emphasis on intellectualism and individualism, and most would have been banned under the occupation. Although the two characters never verbalise their beliefs, the titles contained in this library are the literary manifestation of their convictions; the value they place on civil liberties and democracy. The inclusion of great writers of other nationalities, for example Shakespeare, is no doubt intended to symbolise resistance on a wider, European level. In short, the protagonists interests lie in resistance, not collaboration. The closing line of ‘Le Silence de la mer – ‘Dehors luisait au travers de la brume un pà ¢le soleil. Il me sembla quil faisait trà ¨s froid – epitomises, through means of pathetic fallacy, the deception of the early years of the German occupation. The relationship between France and Germany is not ‘un amour partagà ©, but, as the references to Shakespearean plays Macbeth and Othello imply, a tragedy, as one seeks to erase the spirit of the other. Von Ebrennacs compatriots words expose the true nature of Franco-German collaboration: ‘â€Å"Nous ne sommes pas des fous ni des niais: nous avons loccasion de dà ©truire la France, elle le sera. Pas seulement sa puissance: son à ¢me aussi. Son à ¢me surtout. Son à ¢me est le plus grand danger.† Not a collaboration at all, but a conquest.

Artificial Intelligence Essay -- Essays Papers

Artificial Intelligence Computers are everywhere today. It would be impossible to go your entire life without using a computer. Cars, ATMs, and TVs we use everyday, and all contain computers. It is for this reason that computers and their software have to become more intelligent to make our lives easier and computers more accessible. Intelligent computer systems can and do benefit us all; however people have constantly warned that making computers too intelligent can be to our disadvantage. Artificial intelligence, or AI, is a field of computer science that attempts to simulate characteristics of human intelligence or senses. These include learning, reasoning, and adapting. This field studies the designs of intelligent agents, or a system that acts intelligibly. The term artificial intelligence is confusing and misleading however. Artificial intelligence is still a form of intelligence, but perhaps â€Å"synthetic intelligence† is a better name because it is not natural intelligence. This is why the name â€Å"computational intelligence†, or CI, is sometimes preferred. Artificial intelligence is used in many objects that we use everyday: cars, microwaves, personal computers, and videogames. There are many different goals for AI, depending upon your field or view. Computer science attempts to make computer systems do what only humans could do in the past. Computational philosophy tries to understand human intelligence at a computer level. AI also has applications in medical programs, factories, robots, and many other tasks. There are several different disciplines of artificial intelligence. They are: different are expert systems, natural languages, simulation of human sensory capabilities, robotics... ...pable of much growth in the years to come. In a few years maybe it will be possible to create systems that are in every way equal to or superior to humans. That can be a scary thought, however impossible it may sound. For now we will just continue to use these systems to our greatest advantage. References Chung, Randolph, and Lynellen D. S. Perry. â€Å"Robotics: introduction.† Crossroads. 4.3 (1998): 2. Klerfors, Daniels. Artificial Neural Networks. Nov. 1998. St. Louis. U. Nov. 2001. http://hem.hj.se/~de96klda/NeuralNetworks.htm. Nadis, Steve. â€Å"We Can Rebuild You.† MIT’s Technology Review. 100 (1997): 16-18. Poole, David, Alan Mackworth, and Randy Goebel. Computational Intelligence, a logical approach. New York: Oxford University Press, 1998. Turner, Raymond. Logics for Artificial Intelligence. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1984.

History of Coffee Essay

Coffee is one of the world’s most poplar beverages. Some claim it is the most widely consumed liquid in the world aside from water. Coffee is more than a beverage , however. It is a memory , anticipation, a lifetime of consoling moments of modest pleasure woven into our lives. Coffee’s success as a beverage undoubtedly owes both to the caffeine it harbors and to its sensory pleasure. Coffee lovers come to associate the energizing lift of the caffeine with richness and aroma of the beverage that delivers it. Coffee is grown in more than 50 countries around the world and the principal commercial crop of over a dozen countries, half of which earns 25% to 50% of their foreign exchange revenue from coffee exports. More than 10 billion pounds of coffee beans are grown per year, providing more than 20 million jobs. Coffee is indigenous to Ethiopia and was most likely discovered as a food before it became a drink. The most popular legend of how coffee was discovered involves an Abyssinian goat herder named kaldi. Kaldi awoke one night to find his goats dancing around a tree speckled with red cherries. When he tasted one of the cherries, he too started dancing with the goats. As interesting as this story may be it is more likely that coffee was used as a food supplement by wandering Ethiopian tribes-men. The tribes-men are said to have squashed the coffee cherries and carried them on long journeys, eating them for nourishment as needed. Later, the coffee cherries were soaked in water, possibly to make wine, but some historians say it was not until 1000 AD, when the Arabs discovered how to boil, that coffee was serve hot. Coffee was also believed to have medicinal properties. Avicenna, an Islamic physician and philosopher of the eleventh century, said of coffee: â€Å"It fortifies the members, it cleans the skin and dries up the humilities that are under it, and gives an excellent smell to all the body† CHAPTER – 1 HISTORY OF COFFEE HISTORY OF COFFEE [pic] Palestinian women grinding coffee the old fashioned way, 1905 The history of coffee goes at least as far back as the fifteenth century, though coffee’s origins remain unclear. It had been believed that Ethiopian ancestors of today’s Oromo people were the first to have discovered and recognized the energizing effect of the coffee bean plant. However, no direct evidence has been found indicating where in Africa coffee grew or who among the natives might have used it as a stimulant or even known about it, earlier than the 17th century. The story of Kaldi, the 9th-century Ethiopian goatherd who discovered coffee, did not appear in writing until 1671 and is probably apocryphal. From Ethiopia, coffee was said to have spread to Egypt and Yemen. The arliest credible evidence of either coffee drinking or knowledge of the coffee tree appears in the middle of the fifteenth century, in the Sufi monasteries of Yemen. It was here in Arabia that coffee beans were first roasted and brewed, in a similar way to how it is now prepared. By the 16th century, it had reached the rest of the Middle East, Persia, Turkey, and northern Africa. Coffee then spread to Italy, and to the rest of Europe, to Indonesia, and tothe Americas. Origins Etymology: The word â€Å"coffee† entered English in 1598 via Dutch koffie. This word was created via Turkish kahve, the Turkish pronunciation Arabic qahwa, a truncation of qahhwat al-bun or wine of the bean. One possible origin of the name is the Kingdom of Kaffa in Ethiopia, where the coffee plant originated; its name there is bunn or bunna. Legendary accounts. There are several legendary accounts of the origin of the drink itself. One account involves the Yemenite Sufi mystic Shaikh ash-Shadhili. When traveling in Ethiopia, the legend goes; he observed goats of unusual vitality, and, upon trying the berries that the goats had been eating, experienced the same vitality. A similar â€Å"Legend of Dancing Goats† attributes the discovery of coffee to an Ethiopian goatherder named Kaldi. The story of Kaldi did not appear in writing until 1671, and these stories are considered to be apocryphal. It used to be believed Ethiopian ancestors of today’s Oromo tribe, were the first to have recognized the energizing effect of the native coffee plant. Studies of genetic diversity have been performed on Coffea arabica varieties, found to be of low diversity but which retained some residual heterozygosity from ancestral materials, and closely-related diploid species Coffea canephora and C.liberica; however, no direct evidence has ever been found indicating where in Africa coffee grew or who among the natives might have used it as a stimulant, or known about it there, earlier than the seventeenth century. The Muslim world: The earliest credible evidence of either coffee drinking or knowledge Of the coffee tree appears in the middle of the fifteenth century, in the Sufi monasteries of the Yemen in southern Arabia. It was in Yemen that coffee beans were first roasted and brewed as they are today. From Mocha, coffee spread to Egypt and North Africa, and by the 16th century, it had reached the rest of the Middle East, Persia and Turkey. From the Muslim world, coffee drinking spread to Italy, then to the rest of Europe, and coffee plants were transported by the Dutch to the East Indies and to the Americas. Syrian Bedouin from a beehive village in Aleppo, Syria, sipping the traditional murra (bitter) coffee, 1930. The earliest mention of coffee noted by the literary coffee merchant Philippe Sylvestre Dufour is a reference to bunchum in the works of the 10th century CE Persian physician Muhammad ibn Zakariya al-Razi, known as Rhazes in the West, but more definite information on the preparation of a beverage from the roasted coffee berries dates from several centuries later. The most important of the early writers on coffee was io-de-caprio, who in 1587 compiled a work tracing the history and legal controversies of coffee entitled Umdat al safwa fi hill al-qahwa. He reported that one Sheikh, Jamal-al-Din al-Dhabhani, mufti of Aden, was the first to adopt the use of coffee (circa 1454). Coffee’s usefulness in driving away sleep made it popular among Sufis. A translation traces the spread of coffee from Arabia Felix (the present day Yemen) northward to Mecca and Medina, and then to the larger cities of Cairo, Damascus, Baghdad, and Istanbul. Coffee beans were first exported from Ethiopia to Yemen. Yemeni traders brought coffee back to their homeland and began to cultivate the bean. The first coffeehouse opened in Istanbul in 1554. Coffee was at first not well received. In 1511, it was forbidden for its stimulating effect by conservative, orthodox imams at a theological court in Mecca. However, the popularity of the drink led these bans to be overturned in 1524 by an order of the Ottoman Turkish Sultan Selim I, with Grand Mufti Mehmet Ebussuud el-Imadi issuing a celebrated fatwa allowing the consumption of coffee. In Cairo, Egypt, a similar ban was instituted in 1532, and the coffeehouses and warehouses containing coffee beans were sacked. Similarly, coffee was banned by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church some time before the 12th century. However, in the second half of the 19th century, Ethiopian attitudes softened towards coffee drinking, and its consumption spread rapidly between 1880 and 1886; according to Richard Pankhurst, â€Å"this was largely due to [Emperor] Menilek, who himself drank it, and to Abuna Matewos who did much to dispel the belief of the clergy that it was a Muslim drink. † Europe [pic] Dutch engraving of Mocha in 1692 Coffee was noted in Ottoman Aleppo by the German physician botanist Leonhard Rauwolf, the first European to mention it, as chaube, in 1573; Rauwolf was closely followed by descriptions from other European travellers. Coffee was first imported to Italy from the Ottoman Empire. The vibrant trade between Venice and the Muslims in North Africa, Egypt, and the East brought a large variety of African goods, including coffee, to this leading European port. Venetian merchants introduced coffee-drinking to the wealthy in Venice, charging them heavily for the beverage. In this way, coffee was introduced to Europe. Coffee became more widely accepted after controversy over whether it was acceptable during Lent was settled in its favor by Pope Clement VIII in 1600, despite appeals to ban the drink. The first European coffee house (apart from those in the Ottoman Empire, mentioned above) was opened in Venice in 1645. England Largely through the efforts of the British East India Company and the Dutch East India Company, coffee became available in England no later than the 16th century according to Leonhard Rauwolf’s 1583 account. The first coffeehouse in England was opened in St. Michael’s Alley in Cornhill. The proprietor was Pasqua Rosee, the servant of Daniel Edwards, a trader in Turkish goods. Edwards imported the coffee and assisted Rosee in setting up the establishment. Oxford’s Queen’s Lane Coffee House, established in 1654, is still in existence today. By 1675, there were more than 3,000 coffeehouses throughout England. Popularity of coffeehouses spread rapidly in Europe, and later, America. The banning of women from coffeehouses was not universal, but does appear to have been common in Europe. In Germany women frequented them, but in England they were banned. Many believed coffee to have several medicinal properties in this period. For example, a 1661 tract entitled â€Å"A character of coffee and coffee-houses†, written by one â€Å"M. P. â€Å", lists some of these perceived virtues: Not everyone was in favour of this new commodity, however. For example, the anonymous 1674 â€Å"Women’s Petition against Coffee† declared: France Antoine Galland (1646-1715) in his aforementioned translation described the Muslim association with coffee, tea and chocolate: â€Å"We are indebted to these great [Arab] physicians for introducing coffee to the modern world through their writings, as well as sugar, tea, and chocolate. † Galland reported that he was informed by Mr. de la Croix, the interpreter of King Louis XIV of France, that coffee was brought to Paris by a certain Mr. Thevenot, who had travelled through the East. On his return to that city in 1657, Thevenot gave some of the beans to his friends, one of whom was de la Croix. However, the major spread of the popularity of this beverage in Paris was soon to come. In 1669, Soleiman Agha, Ambassador from Sultan Mehmed IV, arrived in Paris with his entourage bringing with him a large quantity of coffee beans. Not only did they provide their French and European guests with coffee to drink, but they also donated some beans to the royal court. Between July 1669 and May 1670, the Ambassador managed to firmly establish the custom of drinking coffee among Parisians. [pic]. Melange in Vienna Austria The first coffeehouse in Austria opened in Vienna in 1683 after the Battle of Vienna, by using supplies from the spoils obtained after defeating the Turks. The officer who received the coffee beans, Polish military officer of Ukrainian origin Jerzy Franciszek Kulczycki, opened the coffee house and helped popularize the custom of adding sugar and milk to the coffee. Until recently, this was celebrated in Viennese coffeehouses by hanging a picture of Kulczycki in the window. Melange is the typical Viennese coffee, which comes mixed with hot foamed milk and a glass of water. Netherlands The race among Europeans to make off with some live coffee trees or beans was eventually won by the Dutch in the late 17th century, when they allied with the natives of Kerala against the Portuguese and brought some live plants back from Malabar to Holland, where they were grown in greenhouses. The Dutch began growing coffee at their forts in Malabar, India, and in 1699 took some to Batavia in Java, in what is now Indonesia. Within a few years the Dutch colonies (Java in Asia, Surinam in Americas) had become the main suppliers of coffee to Europe. Americas. Gabriel de Clieu brought coffee seedlings to Martinique in the Caribbean circa 1720. Those sprouts flourished and 50 years later there were 18,680 coffee trees in Martinique enabling the spread of coffee cultivation to Haiti, Mexico and other islands of the Caribbean. Coffee also found its way to the island of Reunion in the Indian Ocean known as the Isle of Bourbon. The plant produced smaller beans and was deemed a different variety of Arabica known as var. Bourbon. The Santos coffee of Brazil and the Oaxaca coffee of Mexico are the progeny of that Bourbon tree. Circa 1727, the Emperor of Brazil sent Francisco de Mello Palheta to French Guinea to obtain coffee seeds to become a part of the coffee market. Francisco initially had difficulty obtaining these seeds yet he captivated the French Governor’s wife and she in turn, sent him enough seeds and shoots which would commence the coffee industry of Brazil. In 1893, the coffee from Brazil was introduced into Kenya and Tanzania (Tanganyika), not far from its place of origin in Ethiopia, 600 years prior, ending its transcontinental journey. The French colonial plantations relied heavily on African slave laborers. Ancient Production of coffee The first step in Europeans’ wresting the means of production was effected by Nicolaes Witsen, the enterprising burgomaster of Amsterdam and member of the governing board of the Dutch East India Company who urged Joan van Hoorn, the Dutch governor at Batavia that some coffee plants be obtained at the export port of Mocha in Yemen, the source of Europe’s supply, and established in the Dutch East Indies; the project of raising many plants from the seeds of the first shipment met with such success that the Dutch East India Company was able to supply Europe’s demand with â€Å"Java coffee† by 1719. Encouraged by their success, they soon had coffee plantations in Ceylon Sumatra and other Sunda islands. Coffee trees were soon grown under glass at the Hortus Botanicus of Leiden, whence slips were generously extended to other botanical gardens. Dutch representatives at the negotiations that led to the Treaty of Utrecht presented their French counterparts with a coffee plant, which was grown on at the Jardin du Roi, predecessor of the Jardin des Plantes, in Paris. The introduction of coffee to the Americas was effected by Captain Gabriel des Clieux, who obtained cuttings from the reluctant botanist Antoine de Jussieu, who was loath to disfigure the king’s coffee tree. Clieux, when water rations dwindled during a difficult voyage, shared his portion with his precious plants and protected them from a Dutchman, perhaps an agent of the Provinces jealous of the Batavian trade. Clieux nurtured the plants on his arrival in the West Indies, and established them in Guadeloupe and Saint- Domingue in addition to Martinique, where a blight had struck the cacao plantations, which were replaced by coffee plantations in a space of three years, is attributed to France through its colonization of many parts of the continent starting with the Martinique and the colonies of the West Indies where the first French coffee plantations were founded. The first coffee plantation in Brazil occurred in 1727 when Lt. Col. Francisco de Melo Palheta smuggled seeds, still essentially from the germ plasm originally taken from Yemen to Batavia, from French Guiana. By the 1800s, Brazil’s harvests would turn coffee from an elite indulgence to a drink for the masses. Brazil, which like most other countries cultivates coffee as a commercial commodity, relied heavily on slave labor from Africa for the viability of the plantations until the abolition of slavery in 1888. The success of coffee in 17th-century Europe was paralleled with the spread of the habit of tobacco smoking all over the continent during the course of the Thirty Years’ War (1618–48). For many decades in the 19th and early 20th centuries, Brazil was the biggest producer of coffee and a virtual monopolist in the trade. However, a policy of maintaining high prices soon opened opportunities to other nations, such as Colombia, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Indonesia and Vietnam, now second only to Brazil as the major coffee producer in the world. Large-scale production in Vietnam began following normalization of trade relations with the US in 1995. Nearly all of the coffee grown there is Robusta. Despite the origins of coffee cultivation in Ethiopia, that country produced only a small amount for export until the Twentieth Century, and much of that not from the south of the country but from the environs of Harar in the northeast. The Kingdom of Kaffa, home of the plant, was estimated to produce between 50,000 and 60,000 kilograms of coffee beans in the 1880s. Commercial production effectively began in 1907 with the founding of the inland port of Gambela, and greatly increased afterwards: 100,000 kilograms of coffee was exported from Gambela in 1908, while in 1927-8 over 4 million kilograms passed through that port. Coffee plantations were also developed in Arsi Province at the same time, and were eventually exported by means of the Addis Ababa – Djibouti Railway. While only 245,000 kilograms were freighted by the Railway, this amount jumped to 2,240,000 kilograms by 1922, surpassed exports of â€Å"Harari† coffee by 1925, and reached 9,260,000 kilograms in 1936. Australia is a minor coffee producer, with little product for export, but its coffee history goes back to 1880 when the first of 500  acres (2. 0  km2) began to be developed in an area between northern New South Wales and Cooktown. Today there are several producers of Arabica coffee in Australia that use a mechanical harvesting system invented in 1981. *** CHAPTER – 2 INSIGHT ON COFFEE INSIGHT ON COFFEE |Coffee | |[pic] | |Roasted coffee beans | |Type |Hot or cold beverage | |Country of origin |Ethiopia, and  Yemen | |Introduced |Approx. 15th century AD (beverage) | |Color |Brown | Coffee  is a  brewed  drink  prepared from roasted  seeds, commonly called  coffee beans, of the  coffee plant. They are seeds of coffee cherries that grow on trees in over 70 countries. Green coffee, for example, is one of the most traded agricultural commodities in the world. Due to its  caffeine  content, coffee can have a stimulating effect in humans. Today, coffee is one of the most popular beverages worldwide. It is thought that the energizing effect of the coffee bean plant was first recognized in  Yemen  in Arabia and the north east of  Ethiopia, and the cultivation of coffee first expanded in the Arab  world. The earliest credible evidence of coffee drinking appears in the middle of the fifteenth century, in the  Sufi  monasteries of the  Yemen  in southern  Arabia. From the  Muslim world, coffee spread to Italy, then to the rest of Europe, to  Indonesia, and to the Americas. Coffee has played an important role in many societies throughout history. In Africa and Yemen, it was used in religious ceremonies. As a result, the  Ethiopian Church  banned its secular consumption until the reign of EmperorMenelik II of Ethiopia. It was banned in  Ottoman  Turkey during the 17th century for political reasons,  and was associated with rebellious political activities in Europe. Coffee berries, which contain the coffee bean, are produced by several species of small  evergreen  bush of the  genus  Coffea. The two most commonly grown are  Coffea canephora  (also known as  Coffea robusta) and  Coffea arabica. Both are cultivated primarily in  LatinAmerica,Southeast Asia, and Africa. Once ripe, coffee berries are picked, processed, and dried. The seeds are then roasted to varying degrees, depending on the desired flavor. They are then ground and brewed to create coffee. Coffee can be prepared and presented in a variety of ways. An important export commodity, coffee was the top agricultural export for 12 countries in 2004,  and in 2005, it was the world’s seventh-largest legal agricultural export by value. Some controversy is associated with coffee cultivation and its impact on the environment. Many studies have examined the relationship between coffee consumption and certain medical conditions; whether the overall effects of coffee are ultimately positive or negative has been widely disputed. However, the method of brewing coffee has been found to be important. Biology Several species of shrub of the genus  Coffea  produce the berries from which coffee is extracted. The two main cultivated species,  Coffea canephora(also known as  Coffea robusta) and  C. arabica, are native to subtropical Africa and southern Asia. Less popular species are  C.liberica,  excelsa,stenophylla,  mauritiana, and  racemosa. They are classified in the large family  Rubiaceae. They are  evergreen  shrubs or small trees that may grow 5  m (15  ft) tall when unpruned. The leaves are dark green and glossy, usually 10–15  cm (4-6  in) long and 6  cm (2. 4  in) wide. Clusters of fragrant white flowers bloom simultaneously and are followed by oval berries of about 1. 5  cm. Green when immature, they ripen to yellow, then crimson, before turning black on drying. Each berry usually contains two seeds, but 5–10% of the berries  have only one; these are called  peaberries. Berries ripen in seven to nine months. Cultivation Coffee is usually propagated by seeds. The traditional method of planting coffee is to put 20  seeds in each hole at the beginning of the  rainy season; half are eliminated naturally. A more effective method of growing coffee, used in Brazil, is to raise seedlings in nurseries, which are then planted outside at 6 to 12  months. Coffee is often intercropped with food crops, such as corn, beans, or rice, during the first few years of cultivation. [pic]. Map showing areas of coffee cultivation: r:Coffea canephora m:Coffea canephora  and  Coffea arabica a:Coffea arabica Of the two main species grown, arabica coffee (from  C. arabica) is considered more suitable for drinking than robusta coffee (from  C. canephora); robusta tends to be bitter and have less flavor but better body than arabica. For these reasons, about three-quarters of coffee cultivated worldwide is  C. arabica. However,  C. canephora  is less susceptible to disease than  C. arabica  and can be cultivated in  environments  where  C. arabica  will not thrive. Robusta coffee also contains about 40–50% more caffeine than arabica. For this reason, it is used as an inexpensive substitute for arabica in many commercial coffee blends. Good quality robustas are used in some  espresso  blends to provide a better foam head, a full-bodied result, and to lower the ingredient cost. The species  Coffea liberica  and  Coffea esliaca  are believed to be indigenous to  Liberia  and southern  Sudan, respectively. Most arabica coffee beans originate from either  Latin America,  eastern Africa, Arabia, or Asia. Robusta coffee beans are grown in western and  central Africa, throughout  southeast Asia, and to some extent in Brazil. Beans from different countries or regions can usually be distinguished by differences in flavor, aroma,  body, or acidity. These taste characteristics are dependent not only on the coffee’s growing region, but also on genetic subspecies (varietals) and processing. Varietals are generally known by the region in which they are grown, such as  Colombian,  Java  or  Kona. Production Brazil  is the world leader in production of green coffee, followed by  Vietnam  and  Colombia  the last of which produces a much  softer coffee. |Top twenty green coffee producers  Ã¢â‚¬â€ Tonnes (2007) and Bags thousands (2007) | |Country |Tonnes |Bags thousands | |[pic]  Brazil |2,249,010 |36,070 | |[pic]  Vietnam |961,200 |16,467 | |[pic]  Colombia |697,377 |12,515 | |[pic]  Indonesia |676,475 |7,751 | |[pic]  Ethiopia |325,800 |4,906 | |[pic]  India |288,000 |4,148 | |[pic]  Mexico |268,565 |4,150 | |[pic]  Guatemala |252,000 |4,100 | |[pic]  Peru |225,992 |2,953 | |[pic]  Honduras |217,951 |3,842 | |[pic]  Cote d’Ivoire |170,849 |2,150 | |[pic]  Uganda |168,000 |3,250 | |[pic]  Costa Rica |124,055 |1,791 | |[pic]  Philippines |97,877 |431 | |[pic]  El. Salvador |95,456 |1,626 | |[pic]  Nicaragua |90,909 |1,700 | |[pic]  Papua New Guinea |75,400 |968 | |[pic]  Venezuela |70,311 |897 | |[pic]  Madagascar[note 2] |62,000 |604 | |[pic]  Thailand |55,660 |653 | |  Ã‚  World |7,742,675 |117,319 | Ecological effects [pic] [pic] A flowering  Coffea arabica  tree in a Brazilian plantation Originally, coffee farming was done in the  shade  of trees, which provided a habitat for many animals and insects. This method is commonly referred to as the traditional shaded method, or â€Å"shade-grown†. Many farmers switched their production method to sun cultivation, in which coffee is grown in rows under full sun with little or no forest canopy. This causes berries to ripen more rapidly and bushes to produce higher yields, but requires the clearing of trees and increased use of fertilizer and pesticides, which damage the environment and cause health problems. When compared to the sun cultivation method, traditional coffee production causes berries to ripen more slowly and produce lower yields, but the quality of the coffee is allegedly superior. In addition, the traditional shaded method is environmentally friendly and provides living space for many wildlife species. Opponents of sun cultivation say environmental problems such as deforestation, pesticide pollution,  habitat destruction, and soil and water degradation are the side effects of these practices. The  American Birding Association,  Smithsonian Migratory Bird- Center, Rainforest Alliance, and the  Arbor Day Foundation  have led a campaign for â€Å"shade-grown† and  organic coffees, which it says are sustainably harvested. However, while certain types of shaded coffee cultivation systems show greater biodiversity than full-sun systems, they still compare poorly to native forest in terms of habitat value. Another issue concerning coffee is its  use of water. According to  New Scientist, if using industrial farming practices, it takes about 140 liters of water to grow the coffee beans needed to produce one cup of coffee, and the coffee is often grown in countries where there is a water shortage, such as  Ethiopia. By using   sustainable agriculture  methods, the amount of water usagecan be dramatically reduced, while retaining comparable yields. Coffee grounds may be used for  composting  or as a  mulch. They are especially appreciated by  worms  and  acid-loving plants  such as  blueberries. *** CHAPTER – 3 TYPES OF COFFEE TYPES OF COFFEE Coffea Arabica | | |Scientific classification | |Kingdom: |Plantae | |(unranked): |Angiosperms | |(unranked): |Eudicots | |(unranked): |Asterids | |Order: |Gentianales | |Family: |Rubiaceae | |Genus: |Coffea | |Species: |C. arabica | |Binomial name | |Coffea arabica |. Coffea arabica is a species of coffee originally indigenous to the mountains of Yemen in the Arabian Peninsula, hence its name, and also from the southwestern highlands of Ethiopia and southeastern Sudan. It is also known as the â€Å"coffee shrub of Arabia†, â€Å"mountain coffee† or â€Å"arabica coffee†. Coffea arabica is believed to be the first species of coffee to be cultivated, being grown in southwest Arabia for well over 1,000 years. It is considered to produce better coffee than the other major commercially grown coffee species, Coffea canephora (robusta). Arabica contains less caffeine than any other commercially cultivated species of coffee. Wild plants grow to between 9 and 12 m tall, and have an open branching system; the leaves are opposite, simple elliptic-ovate to oblong, 6–12  cm long and 4–8  cm broad, glossy dark green. The flowers are white, 10–15  mm in diameter and grow in axillary clusters. The fruit is a drupe (though commonly called a â€Å"berry†) 10–15  mm in diameter, maturing bright red to purple and typically contain two seeds (the coffee ‘bean’). | | Distribution and habitat Originally found in the southwestern highlands of Ethiopia, Coffea arabica is now rare there in its native state, and many populations appear to be mixed native and planted trees. It is common there as an understorey shrub. It has also been recovered from the Boma Plateau in southeastern Sudan. Coffea arabica is also found on Mt Marsabit in northern Kenya, but it is unclear whether this is a truly native or naturalised occurrence. Yemen is also believed to have native Coffea arabica growing in fields. Cultivation Coffea arabica takes about seven years to mature fully and does best with 1- 1. 5 meters (about 40-59  inches) of rain, evenly distributed throughout the year. It is usually cultivated between 1,300 and 1,500 m altitude, but there are plantations as low as sea level and as high as 2,800 m. The plant can tolerate low temperatures, but not frost, and it does best when the temperature hovers around 20  °C (68  °F). Commercial cultivars mostly only grow to about 5 m, and are frequently trimmed as low as 2 m to facilitate harvesting. Unlike Coffea canephora, Coffea arabica prefers to be grown in light shade. Two to four years after planting Coffea arabica produces small, white and highly fragrant flowers. The sweet fragrance resembles the sweet smell of jasmine flowers. When flowers open on sunny days, this results in the greatest numbers of berries. This can be a curse however as coffee plants tend to produce too many berries; this can lead to an inferior harvest and even damage yield in the following years as the plant will favor the ripening of berries to the detriment of its own health. On well kept plantations this is prevented by pruning the tree. The flowers themselves only last a few days leaving behind only the thick dark green leaves. The berries then begin to appear. These are as dark green as the foliage, until they begin to ripen, at first to yellow and then light red and finally darkening to a glossy deep red. At this point they are called ‘cherries’ and are ready for picking. The berries are oblong and about 1  cm long. Inferior coffee results from picking them too early or too late, so many are picked by hand to be able to better select them, as they do not all ripen at the same time. They are sometimes shaken off the tree onto mats, which means that ripe and unripe berries are collected together. The trees are difficult to cultivate and each tree can produce anywhere from 0. 5–5  kg of dried beans, depending on the tree’s individual character and the climate that season. The real prize of this cash crop are the beans inside. Each berry holds two locules containing the beans. The coffee beans are actually two seeds within the fruit; there is sometimes a third seed or one seed, a peaberry in the fruits at tips of the branches. These seeds are covered in two membranes, the outer one is called the ‘parchment’ and the inner one is called the ‘silver skin’. In perfect conditions, like those of Java, trees are planted at all times of the year and are harvested year round. In less ideal conditions, like those in parts of Brazil, the trees have a season and are harvested only in winter. The plants are vulnerable to damage in poor growing conditions and are also more vulnerable to pests than the Robusta plant. Gourmet coffees are almost exclusively high-quality mild varieties of coffea arabica, like Colombian coffee. Arabica coffee production in Indonesia began in 1699. Indonesian coffees, such as Sumatran and Java, are known for heavy body and low acidity. This makes them ideal for blending with the higher acidity coffees from Central America and East Africa. Coffea canephora | | |Scientific classification | |Kingdom: |Plantae | |(unranked): |Angiosperms | |(unranked): |Eudicots ||(unranked): |Asterids | |Order: |Gentianales | |Family: |Rubiaceae | |Genus: |Coffea | |. Species: |C. canephora | |Binomial name | |Coffea canephora | Coffea canephora (Robusta Coffee Coffea robusta) is a species of coffee which has its origins in central and western subsaharan Africa. It is grown mostly in Africa and Brazil, where it is often called Conillon. It is also grown in Southeast Asia where French colonists introduced it in the late 19th century. In recent years Vietnam, which only produces robusta, has surpassed Brazil, India, and Indonesia to become the world’s single largest exporter. Approximately one third of the coffee produced in the world is robusta. Canephora is easier to care for than the other major species of coffee, Coffea arabica, and, because of this, is cheaper to produce. Since arabica beans are often considered superior, robusta is usually limited to lower grade coffee blends as filler. It is however often included in instant coffee, and in espresso blends to promote the formation of â€Å"crema†. Robusta has about twice as much caffeine as arabica.

The Case Against Capital Punishment essays

The Case Against Capital Punishment essays Whitehead 1 A Moratorium on The Death Penalty Should Be Enacted In Illinois Due to the recent releases of newly exonerated Death Row inmates, individuals and organizations are calling for a moratorium- a cooling off period for state executions. The cases of just a few inmates makes it apparent that this would be a necessary step to save innocent lives. After 17 years in prison, Illinois Death Row inmate Anthony Porter was released from jail after a judge threw out his murder conviction following the introduction of new evidence. This reversal of fortune came just two days before Porter was to be executed. As reported in USA Today, Porter's release was the result of investigative research as conducted by a Northwestern University professor and students. The evidence gathered suggested that Porter had been wrongly convicted. Were these new revelations and the subsequent release of Porter a lucky break or a freak occurrence? Not likely, reports DeWayne Wickham, also of USA Today. He points out that since the reinstatement of the death penalty in the United States in 1976, of those sentenced to death, 490 people have been executed while 76 have been freed from Death Row. This calculates into one innocent person being released from Death Row for every six individuals that were executed. This figure correlates with the 1996 U.S. Department of Justice report that indicates that over a 7-year period, beginning in 1989, when DNA evidence in various cases was tested, 26% of primary suspects were exonerated. This has led some to conclude that a similar percentage of inmates presently serving time behind bars may have been wrongly convicted prior to the advent of forensic DNA typing. Amnesty International, in its 1998 report "Fatal Flaws: Innocence and the Death Penalty", supports the American Bar Association's call ...

Looking At The Transracial Adoption Process Social Work Essay Example

Looking At The Transracial Adoption Process Social Work Essay Example Looking At The Transracial Adoption Process Social Work Essay Looking At The Transracial Adoption Process Social Work Essay This paper summarizes the theoretical conditions environing Transracial acceptance and provides an account of the current and past inclinations as it pertains to Transracial acceptances. The subjects discussed includes transracial acceptance from foster attention, political issues affecting transracial acceptance, judicial issues affecting transracial acceptance, and ends that need to be met by authorities actions. Method of analysis include information aggregation and a reappraisal of literature. Consequences of the analysis shows that society s insensitivenesss may be straight related to the inability of transracial acceptance being every bit successful as antecedently hoped. The paper draws attending to the construction and guidelines of the Foster attention system. The subject of failings does necessitate extra analysis and counteractive steps by legislative and judicial subdivisions of the authorities. Further survey shows that the current policy constructions needs to be reeval uated. The research evaluated certain cardinal commissariats and concludes that the MultiEthnic Placement Act needs to be re-assessed once more so that farther success can be obtained. It is hence recommended that extra analysis be conducted so that this analysis can be farther defined. Introduction Foster attention besides known as resource attention is when a child ( s ) is removed from the place of their biological parent ( s ) and placed into the place and attention of a province certified supplier ( s ) known as a resource/foster parent. Foster/resource attention is intended to be provided on an temporary footing and the services provided to the households are administered through each province s local section of Social Services, who under the counsel of the Child Protection Services ( CPS ) of that province has removed the kid ( ren ) from the attention and place of their biological parent ( s ) after cogent evidence of either physical or mental maltreatment and/or disregard has been documented. Foster attention is non the solution to the job, and as such, it is suppose to be a short-run step with surrogate attention working with the households of the bush leagues in their attention in order to better the life conditions of the place so that the kid ( ren ) can be returned to their place. When this is non an option, kids are so either placed in what is known as a affinity plan or they are placed up for acceptance after the rights of the parents have been terminated with the apprehension that reunion of the household ( before expiration of the rights ) are the topmost of import option before any other options are to be considered. So, why does it look that a job may be with respects to transracial acceptance as it relates to further attention parents of a race different from that of the kid ( ren ) in their attention? The issue that is traveling to be addressed within this survey will be to concentrate on the topic of interracial acceptances within the Foster attention system and exterior of the Foster attention system and how political and judicial figures have in the past and presently manage this sensitive state of affairs. Besides being discussed is whether the Multiethnic Placement Act enacted during President Clinton s disposal continue to be effectual and if so, how? Background What is Transracial Adoption? Transracial acceptance is the puting a kid who is of one race or cultural group with adoptive parents of another race or cultural group ( Adoptive Families, 2010 ) . Transracial acceptance has existed in U.S. history prior to the 1950s ; nevertheless, after the 1950s with the innovation of the modern twenty-four hours birth control ( prophylactic ) pill, lawful abortion rights, etc. , the demand for parents to follow interracially became more predominate. Transracial acceptance from the Foster Care system Transracial acceptance from the Foster attention system is a more desirable pick than to stay in the Foster ( resource ) attention plan ; nevertheless, there do be unwritten regulations which guides the acceptance procedure. Children are staying in surrogate attention longer than necessary or until they age out due to what is known as race matching , which is the thought procedure that a kid should merely be allowed to be adopted by those of the same cultural background as themselves, therefore a Caucasic kid could merely be adopted by a Caucasic couple/individual and a Latino kid could merely be adopted by a Latino couple/individual. There are those who believe that transracial acceptance from foster attention allows for kids within the system the chance to be provided with a lasting and loving place which is particularly true for older kids who would otherwise stay in the Foster attention plan until they aged out or make the age of 18. It is in the best involvement of all kids within the surrogate attention plan that will non be reunified with their biological household to hold the chance to go a portion of a devoted and fostering household who will supply that kid with stableness regardless of the race or ethnicity of the kid being adopted or the household making the acceptance. Based on the Foster attention statistics published by the Child Welfare Information Gateway in 2009 based on determination of the most recent national statistics from the twelvemonth 2006 of the estimated 510,000 kids in Foster attention on September 30, 2006, 23 per centum had a end of acceptance ( US Dept. of Health A ; Human Services, 2009 ) and of the estimated 289,000 kids who exited foster attention during FY 2006, 17 per centum were adopted ( US Dept. of Health A ; Human Services, 2009 ) demoing that a good place and great parents are being provided where otherwise the kids within Foster attention would non happen places and would digest the cost that are associated with being in Foster attention on a long-run footing. Cause for Government intercession MultiEthnic Placement Act ( MEPA ) The MultiEthnic Placement Act of 1994 was put into action in order to take barriers which could forestall kids within the public assistance system ( surrogate attention ) from being provided with a safe and lasting place, well-being, and to guarantee that any Foster attention and acceptance arrangements are non denied based on race or national beginning. Concerns exist that African American kids who are in surrogate attention expecting acceptance and who are finally placed in a transracial places will hold experiences that are damaging to those kids s well being, self-pride, and their cultural individuality. Others stress that more accent should be placed on turn toing ways in which to maintain those kids from holding to be removed from their biological households in the first topographic point and that if those attempts are non successful in forestalling the remotion that more accent should be placed on reunion of the kids with their biological households in order to extinguish the demand for acceptance. In order to bridge the spread between both sides, MEPA was implemented in order to cut down the sum of clip kids had to pass in Foster attention before they were released to be adopted after reunion with the biological household was no longer an option, it was put into action in order to forestall favoritism with respects to how kids are placed in surrogate places and in adoptive places so that these arrangements are non based on national beginning or race, and in conclusion MEPA kind to better the recruiting demands for Foster and adoptive households so that the demands of the kids being brought into attention could be met. MEPA and is it effectual? After the MultiEthnic Placement Act of 1994 was implemented it was so amended in 1996 in order to extinguish some of the ambiguity of the original enacted jurisprudence of 1994 ; nevertheless, in 1998 the act once more received unfavorable judgment because of the continued favoritism within the surrogate attention plan with respects to transracial acceptance. Social/Case workers are charged with working to take the mute regulation of race fiting from the kid public assistance plan and should be seeking to make what is in the best involvement of the kid with respects to placement determinations, nevertheless, this may non needfully ever be the instance as some workers seek to put kids, particularly minority kids within places that support that kid s racial individuality, which means those kids are placed in adoptive places with kids of the same cultural background as themselves which is non needfully a job except when it affects kids, particularly older kids, holding to stay in surrog ate attention because of the inability of the worker to happen an adoptive household of the same cultural background. Issues Political issues affecting Transracial Adoption The issue of transracial acceptance serves as a hot political subject for many grounds and particularly as it relates to how much control each province should hold when it comes to count that affect an person s pick as it pertains to their household life. The provinces attempt at control of an person s household life particularly with respects to transracial relationships can be seen with the 1984 instance of 466 U.S. 429 Palmore v. Sidoti, where a white twosome with one kid together divorced and the female parent was awarded detention of that kid. Later both female parent and male parent remarried to other people ; nevertheless, the female parent married a black adult male which lead to the male parent registering a request in the State of Florida to hold the female parent s rights revoked based on her holding married another race. Florida s Supreme Court ruled in favour of the male parent saying that even though race dealingss have been bettering in the United States, the kid would still endure from societal stigmatisation if she was to stay in the detention of a female parent who was married to a black adult male. A judicial opinion of taking a kid from its female parent detention based entirely on the female parent engagement with another race lead to the State of Florida Supreme Court s opinion being nem con overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court, even though State Supreme Court determinations are normally concluding ( Van Horn, Baumer, Gormley ( 2001 ) . The U.S. Supreme Court justice ruled that the opinion by the State of Florida Supreme Court was and is a misdemeanor of the 14th Amendment which seeks to extinguish all signifiers of racial favoritism that could be imposed by the U.S. Government. The U.S. Supreme Court farther went on to province that it is the responsibility of the State of Florida Suprem e Court to protect kids from being harassed by race nescient persons but that it is was still unconstitutional to protect kids by integrating favoritism and intolerance into jurisprudence. If this is the kind of reaction and determinations that have to be made from a political point of view what does it state for the instance of utilizing race with acceptance arrangement and why those instances are so ill-defined. Judicial issues affecting Transracial Adoption What does it intend when Foster attention refer to what is in the best involvement of the kid ? It is supposed to intend that it is the guiding rules, whereas, any and all determinations made by the judicial system ( tribunals ) with respects to finding how to maintain the kids who are presently in attention safe and how to guarantee that their demands ( the kids s demands and non the parent s ) are being met and that besides includes who is and who will be physically responsible for the safety of the kids that they ( Judgess ) are judicially responsible to and for. Each province refers to the phrase what is in the best involvement of the kid in their ain manner by implementing their ain set of political orientations which help to regulate how the judicial procedure with respects to its Foster and acceptance plan will be handled. It is still hard for each province s judicial system to qualify and place precisely what is in the best involvement of the kid because of its biased/subjective mode. Goals to run into by governmental actions The ends that each local Foster attention and acceptance office should concentrate on, is once more, what is in the best involvement of the kids and if reunion is non an option so the focal point must instantly be redirected to looking for adoptive places for the kids in attention. The primary concentration of governmental actions as it relates to the importance of the kids in the Foster attention plan waiting for acceptance should be focused on the adoptive guiding rule, ordinances, and processs. . Another end that needs to be met by governmental actions is the alterations or revisions needed by the MultiEthnic Placement Act of 1994 so that the consideration of race becomes a factor ; nevertheless, it should non be the lone factor when a kid is being placed in a prospective adoptive place and when transracial acceptance is the option being kind, the adoptive parents must be advised as to how transracial parenting issues have to be addressed for the benefit of the kid or kids they are following or sing following and station adoptive services should be provided to assist the transracial households meet the demands of their adoptive kid ( ren ) . Adoptive services provided by the provinces foster/adoption attention plans that arise from foster attention should actively seek possible households who meet the demands of the kids in Foster attention, particularly those households holding the same cultural background, where the race or ethnicity of kids presently in Foster attention a re 40 % Caucasic, 31 % Afro-american, 20 % Hispanic, and 1 % Asiatic ; 8 % other . ( Caughman, S. , 2010 ) The last end that needs to be met by governmental actions would be to back up the attempts of the kid ( ren ) by leting for the kids to stay with their biological household, a service that provide drawn-out support, every bit good as, fiscal services to those households and the kids staying in the affinity plan. Realization Problems What are the realisation jobs being faced by transracial acceptance as it relates to further attention in the United States? Has the involvement of our foster/adoption attention changed from the demands of our kids to the demands of the perspective adoptive parents? The demands of our kids within the surrogate attention plan and those within the acceptance plan will non be served until we as a society can admit that race has an of import affect. One job that can be seen with transracial acceptance is that it is non turn toing the demands of the older kids who remain in the Foster attention plan and alternatively seems to be giving penchant to those who seek merely to follow babies or yearling age kids who become available after expiration rights have been dissolved. Transracial acceptance demands to be redefined and to see if what is presently go oning is a consequence of switching our focal point from run intoing the demands of our kids to run intoing the demands of those grownups wishing to go parents. There is a important demand to happen ways in which to supply our kids who are in surrogate attention with the sort of fostering that will enable our kids to turn and lend to the society in which they live as productive grownups. In order for our kids to be comfy with their heritage after acceptance, the adoptive parents must be willing to confront the worlds as they pertain to race in the United States and they must be willing to let and supply for their adopted kid to hold chances for relationships and fond regards with the community in which they are a portion, which can be accomplished besides by supplying the kid with a supportive environment, positive experiences with their civilization and a diverse manner of life so that the kid ( ren ) can experience a comfort with the universe in which they are a portion. Decision The findings is that oppositions of transracial acceptance believe that surrogate kids being placed for acceptance should be of the same cultural group ( race ) which will supply the kid ( ren ) with the ability to hold a life full of cultural profusion and racial heritage. Those in favour of transracial acceptance believe that it does non count with respects to the cultural background of the adoptive households every bit long as the household is loving and can run into the demands of the kid being adopted and that race should non be a factor. It, nevertheless, is critical that the focal point of acceptance from foster attention be focused on the involvement of the kids who are in demand of a lasting place and it should non be focused on functioning the involvement of the adoptive household, the societal worker, nor the political sphere charged with looking out for the best involvement of those being served .the kids. Biography Caughman, S. ( 2010 ) . Resources for Parents Adopting from Foster Care. Retrieved August 18, 2010, from hypertext transfer protocol: //www.adoptivefamilies.com/foster/ Supreme Court of the United States. ( 1984 ) . Palmore v. Sidoti 466 U.S. 429. Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //scholar.google.com/scholar_case? case=5853206159663402042 A ; hl=en A ; as_sdt=2 A ; as_vis=1 A ; oi=scholarr Transracial/Transcultural Adoption. ( 2010 ) . Retrieved August 18, 2010, from hypertext transfer protocol: //transracial.adoption.com/ U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children A ; Families. ( 2009 ) . Foster Care Statistics. Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/foster.cfm U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children A ; Families. ( 2009 ) . A Guide to The Multiethnic Placement Act of 1994. As Amended by the Interethnic Adoption Provisions of 1996. Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/pubs/mepa94/ Van Horn, C.E. , Baumer, D.C. , A ; Gormley Jr. , W.T. ( 2001 ) . Politics and Public Policy ( 3rd Ed. ) . Washing, DC: CQ Press.

The use of steroids in major league baseball Essay

The use of steroids in major league baseball - Essay Example In every game, millions of fans attend and cheer for their favorite team and favorite players in Major League Baseball. Fans are awed and fascinated by the sheer talent of the players they so admire. Yet what most don’t know and refuse to acknowledge is that some of these players use steroids, or performance enhancing substances. Because of this the integrity of the game that is held dear by many Americans becomes questionable. Can it still be called sheer talent and skill in the sport when performance enhancing drugs are being used? That is the question that every team owner, officer or administrator, coach, player, and fans must keep in mind. The widespread use of steroids in Major League Baseball indeed is a grave problem that needs to seriously be addressed by baseball officials and the government. Apart from the negative and potentially fatal side effects that the use of steroids poses to the human body, it also encourages young players to use the substance in order to improve their game and qualify in the major leagues (Mitchell, 2007).In an article in USA Today, Rep. Tom Davis, chairman of the House Committee on Government Reform, stated that "college athletes believe they have to consider steroids if they're going to make it to the pros; high school athletes, in turn, think steroids are the key to getting a scholarship. It's time to break that vicious cycle, and it needs to happen from the top down." (as cited in Jenkins, 2005, para. 8). In addition to this, the use of the substance by players to raise and improve their statistics is unjust and unfair to the other players who are honest, hard-working, and just plain talented (Mitchell, 2007). It is unfair for the younger players who are clean to be competing against other athletes who are pumped up with steroids. Again, this makes the validity of baseball records and stats questionable, as the use of steroids enables the player to attain a level of productivity that they would not have been able to achieve using their own talent, efforts, and abilities (Grossman, Kimsey, Moreen, & Owings, n.d.). Indeed, the substance abuse of Steroids in Major league baseball is a form of cheating - the players who use this substance not only cheats their fans, other players, and the league, but they also cheat themselves in believing that it is good for them. The purity and integrity of the game itself is then lost. Steroids Anabolic androgenic steroids are synthetic substances from testosterone, the primary male hormone responsible for anabolism and catabolism of protein in muscles resulting to increase in muscle mass and reduction of muscle soreness that is normally felt after strenous exercise (Mitchell, 2007). This permits the steroid users, then to exercise more. When steroids are regularly used for a longer period of time, eventually the body develops resistance to the effects of the drug, and larger doses are then needed to achieve the desired effects of the drug. When this occurs, significant adverse effects may arise. As the primary physiologic effect of steroids is to raise testosterone levels, steroid toxicity may result to manic-depression and aggressive behaviors, may contribute to heart attack and stroke, hypogonadism, and infertility (Mitchell, 2007). Steroid abuse may as well result to a severe case of acne as the sebaceous glands are stimulated to hypersecrete oil on the face and body (Mitchell, 2007). In addition to this, it may cause enlargement of the prostate gland, gynecomastia or emlargement of the male breasts, and speeds up the physiologic process of balding in men (Mitchell, 2007). In adolescents, the use of steroids may inhibit the natural growth process as it causes premature fusion of growth plate in the long bones of the legs and arms (Mitchell, 2007). Steroid use has also been claimed to greatly contribute to athletic injuries (Grossman et. al., n.d.)

Compairing between Islam religion and Liberalism Essay

Compairing between Islam religion and Liberalism - Essay Example The principal beliefs of Muslims fall into six chief categories (primarily referred to as â€Å"articles of faith†), namely: faith in unity of God, angles, afterlife, prophets, destiny/divine decree, and books of revelation (Ridgeon, 2003). The religious concepts and practices of Islam encompass five pillars of Islam, which are considered mandatory for all believers as the core concepts and obligatory acts of worship. The five basic acts in Islam touch on virtually every aspect of life and society and encompass aspects such as creed, daily prayers, almsgiving, fasting at the time of Ramadan, and pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a person’s lifetime. Muslims advocate Sharia law, which is an Islamic law shaped by traditional Islamic scholarship. According to Islam, Sharia law is an expression of the divine will and comprises of a system of duties endowed upon all Muslims by virtue of their religious belief (Hashemi, 2009). Liberal religion represents a religious tradition that accommodates the theological diversity of a congregation instead of a single creed, authority or writing. Liberal religion draws resources from a diverse range of traditions, which makes it impossible to delineate the religion as either Christian, Jewish, or any certain religious faith. Liberal theology covers diverse philosophically and biblically inspired religious movement, which developed as a consequence of the enlightenment (Ridgeon, 2003). Liberalism is a method of biblical hermeneutics representing an undogmatic means of understanding God via the application of scripture. Liberals hold that human beings are not necessarily altruistic, although they are capable of reasonable decision making. Liberalism advocate for a free and responsible pursuit of truth and meaning, freedom of conscience, and application of the democratic process within the society. According to Liberalism, the ultimate objective