Reflection Letter Essay

The purpose of this study is to show institutional structure differences and similarities between Elementary Montessori schools, Secondary Charter schools, and Higher Education Technical schools. To support this research background information will be provided for each educational structure listed. The study will also include targeted population, class sizes, and educational philosophies for each structure. Montessori School Montessori school was established over 100 years ago by Dr. Mary Montessori. The population Montessori schools focused was economically challenged elementary age students who were diagnosed with mental retardation. In the late 90s this particular school structure began to expand to middle and high school with intention to continue to serve their current student population. The availability of federal funding contributed an increasing boost to enrollment in Montessori schools. Montessori schools currently account for over 4,000 schools in the Unites States. Approximately 200-300 of the schools are classified in the public sector while the remainder is comparable to public schools. Settings in which Montessori schools are found include but at not limited to inner city, large magnet school areas, and areas where at-risk preschool students are placed. Lopata wrote that in the child-centered environment emphasis is placed on â€Å"total development† of the child and his or her overall work procedure (Lopata, 2005). According to Lopata the stated goal of Montessori schools was development of strong self-directed young adults who pursue a lifetime love of independent learning (Lopata, 2005). This goal within itself is proven a tremendous difference between this school structure and any of the others. Montessori classroom design was created to accommodate students of multiple ages in one classroom with a need to meet the students were they are emotionally or behaviorally. The average educational institute focuses on academic gains and student achievement. The difference between Montessori schools and other schools is the physical environment. The classroom is not the traditional desks in rows or even the table groups. The desks are arranged in â€Å"raft† so students can promote individual or small groups independently (Lopata, 2005). This option provides students with choices in how he or she wishes to learn. The set up also provides a different attitude when it comes to the classroom. Educational environments were traditional designed to be teacher centered, the teacher is the focal point, but Montessori schools are very supportive of â€Å"student centered† structure. Instructional methodology is the third difference found in Montessori schools. Montessori schools have their own specific curriculum written by Montessori persons. The curriculum does not permit the use of worksheets, grades, textbooks, or punishments or rewards for achieving academic success or failure. Students usually spend 3-4 hours in self-selected individual or small group work and less than an hour in whole group this practice is totally opposite of other educational structures (Lopata, 2005). Educators are trained to conduct a 15-20 minute lesson to introduce the lesson and students move into individual or small work groups. Lopata included some valued points of view in Montessori structure such as: students direct their own learning versus teachers being the authoritarians; student achievement is seen as a comparison versus competition, and human potential versus skill development (Lopata, 2005). Charter Schools In the state of Minnesota the first legislation was passed in 1991. There are approximately 5,000 charter schools in the United States of America, this equals to 2. 4 % of all. There are more than six states with over 200 charter schools. The laws vary greatly from state to state along such dimensions as the year of passage, number of schools allowed number and identity of chartering authorities, eligible charter applicants or sponsors, types of charter schools allowed (Lawton, 2009). Charter schools are public schools that must comply with most of the federal and state regulations that apply to traditional public schools (Lawton, 2009). Charter schools have the privilege to develop their own policies as it relates to discipline, personnel, and attendance, this autonomy awards Charter schools have what is referred to as â€Å"zero tolerance†. Charter schools are choice schools that parents elect to send their children to this educational institute, the educational structures have a discipline plan in place but for major offences students are expelled and are encouraged to return to his or her home school. The demand for parental involvement was created to minimize behavior problems but some cases this does not deter the problem. Charter schools participate in gathering data from â€Å"The National Assessment of Educational Attainment (NAEP). This data along with state mandated competency tests are used to drive the instruction in Charter schools. The success or lack there of is hard to determine due to techniques used to compare reliability of the tests vary from state to state. Charter schools receive the regular per student amount from the state, but to ensure that students have opportunities that may not be available in traditional schools their board seek outside financial support heavily from community partners and other funding sources such as grants and private investors. Lawton wrote, factors that positively impact a charter school whose mission is to address the needs of at-risk populations may very well differ from those that benefit a charter school whose mission includes strong but narrow academic focus (Lawton, 2009). Some districts are seeing a rise in charter schools with over 80% having a academic focus such as: MAHS in Memphis, TN that has a focus on health and science, Memphis Business Academy (both elementary and high) that have a business focus in Memphis, TN, and Mountain Education Center in Blairsville, GA that provide evening schools for students seeking a regular Georgia Diploma but the traditional setting is not accommodating. Each environment has approximately 1:20 student teacher ratio. Technical Schools Artifacts found to support this research combined vocational and technical education in the post secondary structure. The growing need for technical positions Mupinga and Livesay referenced technical and medical field positons as the highest paid fields therefore the need to attend four year colleges will become obsolete. The researcher found this statement interesting because most educational structures both public and private goal is preparation for college. Vocational-Technical schools provide courses related directly to the program of study. Traditional programs will not always provide content specific needed to compete in occupations that they are preparing for. A few occupations found in vocational-technical schools are: auto mechanics, barber/beauticians, shoe repairs, child care, computer repair, and heating and air-conditioning. Proponents of a college preparatory structure for high school students have long sneered at vocational education (Mupinga & Livesay, 2004). The occupations listed above are important to the day to day life for many and four year colleges and universities are missing the mark in preparation for these careers. In the past technical work has been associated with blue-collar work is slowing dissipating in today’s work force. Other occupations such as plumbers and construction workers are always in high demand and these are two of the many programs offered in vocational-technical programs. Mupinga and Livesay pointed out that despite the time spent in vocational-technical school or community colleges the course has been more rigorous and demanding that some traditional post secondary schools. The smaller classroom student-teacher ratio is nothing close to that of a four-year college or university when there can be as many as 200 students in a classroom. Vocational-Technical schools usually focus on three areas: service (barber, and cosmetology; 64%), health and life science (medical/dental assistants, medical office administrative staff; 61%), business and marketing (administrative assistant, bookkeeper; 60%). The programs general are 12 to 24 months with extensive hands-on practical experiences. The programs less than 24 months provide opportunity for the students to become certificated in his or her program of study. The students that complete a two year program can earn an Associate’s degree. Mupinga and Livesay wrote four-year institutes will often offer associate degrees in various fields, but rarely offer these career-oriented certificate programs. Vocational-technical schools have an advantage over traditional post-secondary schools because they provide satellite campuses. The convenience of the satellite campuses provide students opportunity to attend a campus that does not require him or her to travel or live in close proximity of the campus. The partnership that vocational-technical schools are building with local business is increasing to provide a job supply of students that graduate from the programs. Conclusion Education is similar to many other industries such as automobile sales, tooth paste ads, and real estate. Everyone advertise they have the best product and offer the service when in actuality the best is what meet your needs. The three different educational structures offered areas that were strengths to their environment like Montessori schools meeting students were they are while Charter schools traditionally offer smaller classrooms to provide more support to students, Vocational-technical schools provide career oriented opportunities that are not offered in traditional schools. The differences are environment as it relate to Montessori versus Charter schools. Montessori environment is carefree but Charter is more structured with a focus on curriculum. All three structures allowed for individuality with emphases placed on both academic achievement and human development. References Bulkley, K. E. (2011). Charter Schools: Taking a Closer Look. Kappa Delta Pi Record, 47(3), 110-115. Lawton, S. (2009). Effective charter schools and charter school systems. Planning and Changing, 40(1), 35-60. Retrieved from http://search. proquest. com, February 10, 2012. Lopata, C. , Wallace, N. , & Finn, K. (2005). Comparison of academic achievement between montessori and traditional education programs. Journal of Research in Childhood Education, 20(1), 5-13. Retrieved from http://search. proquest. com, February 10, 2012. Mupinga, D. , & Livesay, K. (2004). Consider vocational-technical education for post-secondary education. The Clearing House, 77(6), 261-263. Retrieved from http://search. proquest. com, February 10, 2012.

The Role of Media in Our Lives

Topic: The Role of Media in Our Lives INTRODUCTION Thesis Statement: There are some roles of media such as, as information provider, as an entertainment, as a tool for communication, and help to doing business. BODY 1st Supporting Paragraph Topic Sentence: Media was became one of the biggest warehouses of information in the world. 2nd Supporting Paragraph Topic Sentence: All of types of media have a function to entertain people. 3rd Supporting Paragraph Topic Sentence: Another role of media for our lives is help people in doing business. CONCLUSION Restating main pointsThe Role of Media in Our Lives What will be happen if people in the world lost their television, radio, phone, magazines, and computer? Are they still can do their works as usually? Of course, they cannot do it because some of the things which needed for helping to do their works are lost. Those things are the example of media. â€Å"In all communication, the most important part is you. † 1 In all to receives so me information, the most important thing is media. There are several roles of media in our lives, that is as information provider, as an entertainment, and as the tool of doing business.Throughout decades, media have became one of the most powerful weapons in the world. As time passed, more and more varieties of media were shown, like television, magazines, and internet. From reporting the news to persuading us to buy certain products, media became the only connection between people and the world. 1 Media was became one of the biggest warehouse of information in the world. Almost the information that people need already provided in the media and additionally the information is come from many sources in various countries. It is helped many people to know about what is going on during the day by giving the news.Mass media and Electronic media are the kinds of media that provide information for people such as information about education, politic, economic, environment, sport, and even job vacancy; The example of mass media are newspaper and magazines; The example of electronic media are television, radio, and internet. Yes,media plays a significant role in our society. It has helped many people during the terrorist attack and 24 hours busy giving news . 2 All of the types of media have a function to entertain people. When people in the bad mood, they can read magazines, watching television, listening the radio, and researching internet.Newspaper and magazines can entertain people trough the articles about fashion, jokes, and story about something unfamiliar with the color full pages. Television can entertain people with many kinds of films, programs, education. Radio, hand phone, and computer can entertain people with listening the music. Internet can entertain people by allows the people to research all kinds of material or information on their computer, playing game, and can find new friends ; By log in to yahoo messenger, facebook, twitter, and so on people fi nd new friend in all over the world.Another role of media for our lives is help people in doing business. Media makes people especially businessman easy in advertising and selling goods or services. It makes the company saving more time to do something important related to their business than presented their product door to door. Many people and company use television, internet, newspaper, magazine, and radio, to advertise their product. Not only for advertise and selling, people also can buy the product online by using the internet. Nowadays, media are very important and popular . For the simple fact that is become part of our daily routine.Every morning the family guy reads the newspapers to acquire inform without any type of criticisms. People spend hours and hours watching Television to acquire entertain the same case with the Internet. People used Television as main type of media to advertise it goods. Actually media has several roles such as to provide information, to entertai n, to help people in doing business. BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. De VITO, Joseph A (2005) Fifth Edition : Essential of Human Communication Pearson Education, Inc 2005 2. http://www. 123helpme. com/preview. asp? id=155955 3. http://www. shvoong. com/social-sciences/1776136-influence-media-life/

Impact Of Technology On Healthcare Health And Social Care Essay

Medical information engineering is frequently thought of in the modern context of computing machines, but the careful aggregation and analysis of information related to observation of patient status, effectivity of different interventions, and design of new interventions dates back to the clip of Hippocrates ( ca. 460 BC – ca. 370 Be ) ( Washburn & A ; Hornberger, 2008 ) . Hippocrates took punctilious notes that enabled him to do legion discoveries both in the apprehension of the workings of the human organic structure and in the moralss and attack to thought that are indispensable to modern medical pattern and probe ( Olguin, Gloor & A ; Pentland, 2009 ) . Relatively small invention took topographic point in furthering, the pattern of medical specialty from the clip of Hippocrates until the early twentieth century, with developments such as the variola vaccinum in 1901. During the twentieth century, the growing of medical engineering has increased continuously, with inventions such as penicillin, X-ray, PET/MRI scanning, computing machines, robotic surgery, radiation therapy, chemo-therapy, and many other signifiers of engineering and interventions ( Garson, 2008 ; Munnelly & A ; Clarke, 2007 ) . While the usage of medical hardware and information engineering has been indispensable to healthcare for 1000s of old ages, these same tools can make hard jobs ( Appari & A ; Johnson, 2010 ; Ziefle & A ; Rocker, 2010 ) . For illustration, the over-use of antibiotics has caused a new signifier of pathogen normally called super-bugs, such as methicillin-resistant staphylococci aureus ( MRSA ) and other antibiotic opposition strains that are highly hard and expensive to handle. Healthcare installations ( edifices ) can besides be considered to be a signifier of engineering. As with other signifiers of engineering, physical installations involve a common interaction between users of the engineering and the engineering Anderson & A ; Wittwer, 2011 ) . In healthcare contexts, the physical installations are frequently closely interrelated with the staff and other engineering that the edifice contains ( Munnelly & A ; Clarke, 2007 ) . Often, engineering is integrated into the edifice itself. As with other signifiers of engineering in health care, organisations spend important amounts of money on their installations. If these financess are non spent sagely, they contribute to the lifting cost of health care and can impact the fiscal or operational viability of the organisation ( Aziz et al. 2006 ; Washburn & A ; Hornberger, 2008 ) . Among the innovators of Healthcare Technology, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration ( NASA ) has been one of the most supportive. Concerned with the health of the spacemans during infinite missions, NASA scientists developed technological devices for the measuring and transmittal of physiological and medical informations between infinite and Earth Stationss in the sixtiess ( Lankton & A ; Wilson, 2007 ) . This attempt was subsequently applied in the 1970s to back up medical services to the rural Papago Native American Reservation in Arizona utilizing a manned nomadic medical unit linked to local infirmaries. The first full service Healthcare Technology operation appeared in 1968 between Logan Airport Health station and the Massachusetts General Hospital ( MGH ) of Harvard Medical School ( Garson, 2008 ; Munnelly & A ; Clarke, 2007 ) . The service included 10 remote sites linked through the New Hampshire-Vermont Medical Interactive Television Network with a cardinal hub s tationed at Dartmouth. The service supported medical instruction and forte medical services including psychopathology, malignant neoplastic disease, and dermatology ( Pai & A ; Huang, 2011 ) . Another important Healthcare Technology event occurred in the 1990s when NASA launched the first big graduated table international Healthcare Technology undertaking, Spacebridge. Spacebridge presently supplies a assortment of medical specializer audiences and medical educational chances to the Eastern European part ( Sneha & A ; Varshney, 2007 ; Varshney, 2009 ) . Modern Healthcare Technology in the last century evolved from basic telephone audiences as experimental undertakings. Propelled by emerging engineerings and the information expressway, Healthcare Technology has resurfaced with new content and significance. Healthcare Technology experiments that are presently used in pilot signifier will turn out to be everyday in the hereafter. Impact of Technology on Healthcare The intent of this subdivision is to reexamine the literature on the impacts of engineering in health care. Evidence on the impact of engineering in health care is assorted. Literature on engineering impacts in health care have looked at both concluding result steps, such as productiveness or end product or mortality, every bit good as intermediate public presentation steps such as mistake rates, rhythm times, use, and complications ( Pai & A ; Huang, 2011 ) . A revenant subject among surveies on engineering and health care is the function of clip slowdowns ; the empirical grounds by and large supports the impression that engineering investings require a significant clip period for users to larn how to utilize the engineering ( Ziefle & A ; Rocker, 2010 ) . Surveies pulling from engineering literature base, consistent with the literature on engineering investing, appeared more likely to include complementary investing factors such as concern procedure reengineering ( BPR ) and preparation ( Varshney, 2009 ) . These surveies find positive impacts to engineering and frequently included ( Varshney, 2009 ) . Surveies based in the medical literature painted a more assorted position of results engineering investing ( Bardram, 2008 ; Coronato & A ; Pietro, 2010 ) . These surveies by and large did non include complementary investings and by and large took a â€Å" tool position † of engineering investings. The surveies based in the medical literature used a more nuanced pick of results ; consistent with the thought that health care is a alone context, including outcome steps such as mistake rate, differential mortality, use rates, and complication rates ( Sneha & A ; Varshney, 2007 ; Varshney, 2009 ) . What is losing from this literature is a survey that takes into history the alone nature of engineering investing, every bit good as the alone context of health care. Theory and grounds about the impacts of engineering investing suggest that engineering: a ) is a all-purpose engineering which frequently requires complementary investings to give positive returns, B ) lowers search costs, which lower the discrepancy of results, degree Celsius ) installations the accretion of â€Å" memory capital † over clip, vitamin D ) lowers monitoring costs, vitamin E ) speeds information diffusion, and degree Fahrenheit ) exhibits web effects ( Ziefle & A ; Rocker, 2010 ) . While many of the possible impact of engineering would look to ensue in positive returns in health care, findings on the impact of engineering in health care to day of the month are mixed. Most surveies on the impacts of engineering in health care have either: a ) used a rich apprehension of engineering investings focuse d upon the impact of engineering on traditional result steps such as profitableness or response clip, or B ) used a simplified position of engineering investing with a rich understand of the peculiar phenomena which arise out of the alone context of health care ( Coronato & A ; Pietro, 2010 ) . What is needed in this literature is a survey which takes into history the peculiar impacts of engineering investings on phenomena which are alone to healthcare, such as intervention incompatibility. Research Conceptual Framework and Theoretical Background Present research examines the factors that influence patient Healthcare Technology acceptance pulling support from the following theory. Theory of Reasoned Action The Theory of Reasoned Action asserts that beliefs influence attitudes. Attitudes, in bend, act upon the purposes that guide behavior, and credence of engineering is so demonstrated through behavior. TRA is well-tested and has been proven valid in foretelling and explicating behaviors in general human behavior. The construct of Theory of Reasoned Action was founded on Fishbein and Ajzen ‘s societal psychological science research. TRA suggested that important dealingss exist between beliefs, attitudes, purposes, and behaviors ( Aziz et al. 2006 ; Washburn & A ; Hornberger, 2008 ) . Harmonizing to TRA, most societal behaviors are non automatic actions ; alternatively, they are under volitional controls. TRA asserts that people consider the deductions of their action based on the information available to them before they decide to execute behavior ( Aziz et al. 2006 ; Washburn & A ; Hornberger, 2008 ) . Since behavior is a consequence of cognitive logical thinking, behavior is predictable. Theory of Reasoned Action is built on three concepts: attitude ( AT ) , subjective norm ( SN ) , and behavioral purpose ( BI ) . TRA has been examined and tested through legion research surveies. In TRA, attitude reflects personal behavioral beliefs and subjective norm refers to societal influences. TRA suggests that behavior purpose is a map of two determiners, a individual ‘s attitude and the subjective norm. A individual ‘s behavioral purpose, in bend, is the immediate determiner of the existent action ( Aziz et al. 2006 ; Washburn & A ; Hornberger, 2008 ) . Based on the pictural presentation of TRA by Ajzen and Fishbein, TRA may be expressed as: BI = AT + SN and existent behavior = BI. A individual holds different beliefs from past experience about objects, actions, and events. Beliefs service as the immediate deciding factors of a individual ‘s attitude ( Aziz et al. 2006 ; Washburn & A ; Hornberger, 2008 ) . Positive belief means stronger strong belief and credence toward the behavior in inquiry. With positive beliefs, a individual tends to garner positive attitudinal purpose to behaviour, which in bend leads to more possible realisation of the behavior. Attitude is a individual ‘s rating of the entity in inquiry ( Lankton & A ; Wilson, 2007 ) . Attitude arises as a map of beliefs. Beliefs may alter due to clip and fortunes or be replaced by new beliefs ; these alterations in bend affect a individual ‘s attitude. Social scientists have long established that attitude is a critical behavioral temperament ( Lankton & A ; Wilson, 2007 ) . However, a individual ‘s favorable or unfavorable perceptual experience to behaviour in consideration entirely does non ever produce the behavioral result. To accurately predict attitude, an extra variable must be taken into history of the attitude-behaviour relationship. This extra variable in TRA is the subjective norm ( Aziz et al. 2006 ; Washburn & A ; Hornberger, 2008 ) . Subjective norm refers to a individual ‘s sensed outlooks from relevant persons or groups on whether or non to execute the behavior in inquiry ( Varshney, 2009 ) . Subjective norm is a map of normative beliefs, the ensuing influence of the societal environment. Social force per unit area can coerce an person to execute or avoid behavior in consideration regardless of the individual ‘s bing purpose. Since it has the potency of overruling a individual ‘s ain purpose, subjective norm is an independent concept to attitude in the TRA theoretical account. Concept of Pervasive Healthcare Technology Many Pervasive Healthcare Technology devices have undergone experimental tests in infirmaries every bit good as in patients ‘ places. Infrared engineering, gesture detectors ( infra-red sensing or acoustical sensing ) , picture cameras, and so on, that usage radio, Internet, ISDN, and telephone lines have been installed in health care installations ( Snyder, 2007 ) . Traditional non-invasive Pervasive Healthcare Technology frequently requires patient battle with devices at a set clip and location. For at hazard instances, such as post-stroke and postoperative wound-related complications where a close un-obstructive proctor is important in the recovery procedure, periodic monitoring may non catch episodic marks at the critical clip ( Washburn & A ; Hornberger, 2008 ) . Recent development of permeant monitoring systems focuses on automated and un-obstructive Pervasive Healthcare Technology without the limitations of clip and topographic point. Pervasive health care requires wireless engineerings and the duplicate substructure capablenesss. Permeant services are supported through radio LANs, cellular GSM/3G webs, satellite-based systems, and so forth ( Varshney, 2007 ) . Pervasive health care applications include â€Å" permeant wellness monitoring, intelligent exigency direction system, permeant health care informations entree, and omnipresent Mobile Healthcare Technology † ( Varshney, 2007 ) . Research on permeant Healthcare Technology started in the early 2000s utilizing the so budding permeant calculating engineerings. The end was to use omnipresent communicating engineerings to better patient liberty and health care mobility through uninterrupted monitoring. In instances such as myocardial ischaemia and station abdominal operations, uninterrupted physiological informations for timely sensing of impairment can alter the full attention result. Extended from Varshney ‘s definition for permeant health care ( 2007 ) , present research defines permeant Healthcare Technology as a Pervasive Healthcare Technology for anyone, anytime, and anyplace without location, clip, and other restraints. Earlier permeant Healthcare Technology experimented with video-telephony installings ( Thuemmler et al. 2009 ) . These devices provide unrecorded picture synergistic communicating through field old POTS for its broad handiness and comparatively low costs ( Lankton & A ; Wilson, 2007 ) . Using video-telephony, the healthcare professional can reexamine the therapies and supply support in real-time. More significantly, these devices alleviate the spread of distance, leting attention suppliers to supervise the patient ‘s emotional and mental provinces and non merely physiological information ( Olguin, Gloor & A ; Pentland, 2009 ) . Other types of permeant Healthcare Technology are enabled by portable topical detectors that integrate wireless engineering with clinical devices. Tele-devices such as tele-ECG and ring-sensors are worn by the patients for Pervasive Healthcare Technology. Data, such as ECG, pulsation rate, respiration rate, and O impregnation degrees, is collected and forwarded to the health care suppliers automatically ( Tu, Zhou, & A ; Piramuthu, 2009 ; Varshney, 2007 ) . This continuously monitored informations can supply of import clinical penetration for timely and accurate diagnosing. Advanced permeant devices for automatically roll uping multiple clinical parametric quantities have shown success in a organic structure detector web system ( Nachman et al. 2010 ) . This Pervasive Healthcare Technology system equipped with multiple detectors is able to roll up, procedure, and wirelessly convey the received informations via a secured nexus to a laptop for farther diagnosing. Pervasive Healthcare Technology devices that do non necessitate patients to have on the tele-devices besides have been developed in the past old ages. For illustration, mattresses, lavatories, kitchen contraptions, and vesture embedded with proctors can feel sleep form, organic structure weight, organic structure temperature, pulse rate, and so forth ( Bardram, 2008 ; Coronato & A ; Pietro, 2010 ) . Further experiments on advanced tele-sensing systems utilize the Doppler radio detection and ranging technique to garner scattered critical marks from throughout the organic structure ( Ziefle & A ; Rocker, 2010 ) . These systems can garner multiple clinical parametric quantities and are able to run autonomously without upseting the lives of the patients. Pervasive Healthcare Technology is built on widely deployed radio webs and advanced calculating engineerings. Pervasive Healthcare Technology solutions have focused chiefly on at hazard disease direction Anderson & A ; Wittwer, 2011 ) . However, a turning market in a broad scope of the healthcare field is ready to impel the development and ingestion of permeant Healthcare Technology. This pattern has had

FIIN 501 MoD 1 SLP Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

FIIN 501 MoD 1 SLP - Essay Example Its future performance will depend upon the possibility of oil discovery and potential reserves in the proven oil fields. Some of the important financials of the company are tabulated as per the following. Annual year ended data all numbers in thousands Financials Dec 31, 2012 Dec 31, 2011 Dec 31, 2010 Sales/Revenue Nil Nil Nil Net Income (282,999) (133,637) (136,476) Total Assets 4,011,459 2,527,944 1,746,443 Total Liabilities 1,322,241 449,030 27,409 Owner’s equity 2,689,218 2,078,914 1,719,034 Change in Cash 1,133,269 (10,174) (790,380) Source: http://finance.yahoo.com/q/is?s=CIE+Income+Statement&annual http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bs?s=CIE+Balance+Sheet&annual The reason for choosing the company is to show that the company's shares can trade in the stock market even when the company has neither made any sales nor any profit so far. The company continues to make operating expenses necessary for oil exploration activiities for last several years. This also shows that investors continue to demand shares of Cobalt because they are quite optimistic on its oil finds and once, the company is successful in oil discovery; its stock price may flare up exponentially. Initial Public Offering Going public is a significant decision for any company. The advantage is that it opens up a new avenue for the company to garner funds for its expansion requirements. The process is certainly time-consuming and the company needs to be cautious in meeting several statutory requirements. While going ahead for a public issue, the important thing is to be noted that as per the US securities laws, it is incumbent upon issuer to disclose all material information accurately and completely so that investor can make an appropriate decision. Misstatement or any omission of a fact can lead to a huge liability to the issuer, underwriters, board of directors and controlling persons. IPO in the US market necessitates that the company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer has taken due care in establishing the effective internal control over financing reporting to the general public. The company who is planning to go public needs to take a series of steps that can be described as per the following (Going Public in the US, 2008). The Company Board Resolution First of all, Cobalt's board needs to pass a resolution giving their consent to make an Initial Public offering by the company (A Guide to going public, 2013). Independent Auditors The company needs to appoint independent auditors as approved by the SEC. The company and its auditors need to prepare all financial statements as per the US GAAP or IFRS (A Guide to going public, 2013). SEC Registration The company needs to complete registration with the SEC and take approval for an IPO by submitting all relevant information in the prescribed format (A Guide to going public, 2013). Appointment of Counselor This is required so that counselor begins preparing prospectus related to the IPO offering. Subseque ntly, the company needs to prepare presentation material for the "Road Show" for institutional investors (A Guide to going public, 2013). Appointment of Underwriters In order to take the company public, Cobalt needs to appoint underwriters or the investment banks as they will

Proposal Design Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Proposal Design - Essay Example The instances of the observed conduct disorder (if any) will be recorded. Contrary to the requirements of the ordinary scientific studies, this type of research doesn’t require any control group. For this reason, most of the experimental designs will hardly fit in this study. The most appropriate experimental design for this kind of study would be direct observation, since the symptoms of the conduct disorders are observable (Kenneth & Bruce, 2014). The observation method supports the use of between-subjects research design. In this research, the target population is composed of the patients who underwent conduct disorder treatment, either through the group or home therapy methods. Due to the nature of the target population, each member should be given an equal opportunity of forming the sample group. This is because the treatments that each of the members underwent were similar. In this research therefore, the sampling technique will be simple random sampling. This technique will give each of the members equal chances of being selected to form the sample group. The sample size will be made up of 30 participants, in an equal number, across the two treatment methods. 15 participants will be randomly selected to as representatives, depending on the method of conduct disorder they were subjected to. The nature of this study is comparative in nature (Thorndike & E. L. 1913). For this reason, as opposed to the ordinary scientific researches, this study would not require splitting the sample group into control and experimental groups (Lacort & M. O, 2014).  . The study compares the effectiveness of the home and group treatments for the treatment of conduct disorders. For this reason, in this study, the observations will be made on the persons treated under each category of treatment. The effectiveness of each treatment option will be determined by considering the number of

Banksy in 'Exit ThroughThe Gift Shop 'Film Essay

Banksy in 'Exit ThroughThe Gift Shop 'Film - Essay Example Maybe Thierry became a bit arrogant when his hero Banksy suggests to him to focus on his own art and leave the film for him to finish. I think Banksy said that to gain control over the documentary as he wanted to make it into a real film, and not just a picture collage like Thierry’s effort Life Remote Control was. But Banksy didn’t foresee that Thierry would get crazy with his own ambitions and organised a massive exhibition with work he didn’t produce himself, but making a lot of money with it nevertheless. It’s ironic how this fateful event gave the documentary itself a new direction, or story to tell. But documentaries are about real life and life is unpredictable. This means a documentary can turn out differently than the filmmaker initially imagined it to be. I think this is what happened to Banksy. He seemed to be annoyed of Thierry making money, and pretending to be an artist, which is understandable, especially as Banksy is a great and innovative artist himself, who worked hard for his success and therefore deserves it. However, he also shows sympathy for Thierry (by explaining that his compulsive filming relates to him losing his mother as a child). I believe that Banksy didn’t mean to ‘destroy’ Thierry’s reputation, but to show that our society accepts art too easily as art, without questioning the artist and his real motivation. By doing this, Banksy also introduced a new style to documentary filmmaking-the object becoming directly involved in the filmmaking process. It will be interesting to see if other artists (including musicians, actors, filmmakers etc) who are subjects of documentary films will take a more active part in the filmmaking processes in the future. Banksy's Exit Through The Gift Shop – The Director's Role in a Participatory Documentary Film Exit Through The Gift Shop is a story full of irony and role reversals between amateur documentary filmmaker Thierry Guetta and accl aimed street artist Banksy who during the filmmaking process discloses Guetta to be an obsessive copycat artist. The film's narrative starts with portraying street artists and Banksy at work. The focus shifts onto Thierry's mission to become a successful artist himself when Banksy consciously initiates a role reversal from being the subject of the documentary to becoming its director. Film theorist Bill Nichols explores the influence documentary films can have: â€Å"Documentaries of social representation†¦are intended to have an impact on the historical world itself and to do so must persuade or convince us that one point of view or approach is preferable to others† (3). Banksy's move to take the camera from Thierry and turn it on him is therefore clever and calculated. By taking control over the filmmaking process, Banksy could fulfil his own agendas regarding the messages he wanted to convey to an audience. To achieve this, Banksy successfully combined several documen tary filmmaking techniques as defined by film theorist Bill Nichols (33): the ‘participatory mode’ (director being part of the action), the ‘expository mode’ (using so-called 'voice-of-God' narration) and the ‘reflexive mode’ (revealing and reflecting on documentary film-making practises that are usually hidden from an audience).1 I identified Banksy's four main agendas / messages he aimed to convey

Case Analysis Leo Burnett Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Case Analysis Leo Burnett - Essay Example Leo Burnett merged its operations with a similar company in the advertising business in 2001 (O’Neil). However, LB did retain its name. Janet Carmichael was virtual team leader who headed the operation of the company. Gaining trust as a team leader requires developing precise plans and objectives, which would define the nature of relationship that should exist between the virtual groups. It is evident that geographical differences separated the groups. However, the team leader did not develop precise objective, which could enforce trust among the teams. The case projects lack of trust among teams, which led to their poor performance. Success of any project depends on its implementation plan. Carmichael did not develop implementation plan that would define the kind of role each team would play. Coordination is an important aspect that the virtual teams did not embrace. Communication office is a pillar in any successful company. LB London and its sister company in Toronto had a communication lapse, which is responsible for the woes that the company faced. Team leaders should ensure that they develop mechanisms which would enhance communication and timely information delivery. It is apparent that telephone calls and emails are not enough for business to realize its success. Team leader must be able to meet the virtual teams, share their problems and success, and finally project the way in which the team should operate. Virtual teams must be able to see defined protocols, which handle the problems that they may be having. Meetings are very important, especially when a company has various teams working in different locations. Meetings help the leader to identify any lapse that his or her team is facing. This would create trust between the team and its leader. The case illustrates ineffective communication between virtual teams and its consequences to the company. It is apparent that team leader should device effective ways which would give reflective

Family In Later Life Research Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Family In Later Life Research Paper - Essay Example Widowhood in the later life leaves the surviving spouse to undergo a normal process from grief to acceptance; the challenges associated with widowhood are likely to open new opportunities for increasing and maintaining social relationships. Widows/Widowers and the Efforts of Overcoming Grief Widows are generally associated with â€Å"isolation, loss and vulnerability† (Walker, 1993, p. 34), especially the post feminism era. With the women almost completely dependent on men, widowhood seems to be the worst thing that can happen to a woman, especially in the presence of young children. However, the changing views of women’s roles in the contemporary society made widowhood less burdensome for the surviving spouse, but contemporary views do not spare widows in the process to acceptance. The first challenge for a widow is coping with grief, where older people are seen to cope better than their younger counterparts (Bryant, 2003). According to Balkwell (1981), there seems to have a reaction pattern following a spouse’s death where initially, surviving partners undergo â€Å"shock or bewilderment...and may refuse to believe that the spouse is dead† (p. 120). ... Bureau of Census (1993) indicated that 80% of women between the ages 65 and 75 are already widowed compared to 39% of widowers in the same age bracket (as cited in Bryant, 2003). The issue of sex or gender related to acceptance of death seems to receive contradictory comments from psychologist through the years. Kail and Cavanaugh (2008) stated that men generally have problems with social relationships after the death of the spouse. Moreover, they were seen to be â€Å"more vulnerable† than women because (1) they are the ones who would initiate dating, â€Å"which is awkward after being married;† (2) retirement and the loss of contact from workmates; (3) there are less widowers in whom they can relate to; and (4) they lack familiarity with the things women do such as house hold chores (Balkwell, 1989, p. 120). On the other hand, women are perceived to be more efficient in coping with widowhood, but it depends on the kind of coping mechanism she uses. Lopata (1973) label ed three types of widows: the modern woman, the lower class urbanite, and the social isolate (as cited in Chambers, 2005). Each of the three types possesses unique qualities in which Lopata (1973) based their names. The modern woman would have to be the most familiar, where the widow is generally passive but is â€Å"willing to re-engage.† Such characteristic is also evident for women who belong to the lower class urbanite only that they generally seek emotional counsel to family and friends, and not from outside peers such as at work. These qualities are the opposite to what â€Å"social isolates† have. As the term suggests, women belonging to this category do not engage with socialization and basically are withdrawn even to people whom they have closer connections (Chambers, 2005, pp. 27-28). In contrast

Access to Higher Education Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Access to Higher Education - Article Example In other words, the report underscores the important role played by the private sector in attainment of the Australian’s government to improve access to higher education. The government has set targets to drastically increase the number individuals with at least bachelor level credentials. For example, the government aims to increase the number of adults with a university degree to 40 percent by the year 2025. This calls for an increase from 32 percent in 2009 to 40 percent in 2015 (Access Economics, 2010:6). Under previous targets, the attainment rate was expected to be 34 percent. The report points out that skilled migration is expected to give rise to over 240, 000 graduates and this mounts pressure on the government to train more graduates (Access Economics). The Australian government invests heavily in bachelor education. For instance, the government spent $ 8 407 095 000 towards bachelor level education in 2009 (Access Economics, 2010:7). However, this funding is directed towards public universities. Private universities on the other hand do not receive constant funding from the government and largely rely on fee revenue (Access Economics, 2010: 3).... e it plays to help the government achieve the set targets with regards to increase the number of individuals with higher education qualifications to match the labour market requirements. Birrell, B. & Edwards, D. (2009) The Bradley review and access to higher education in Australia, viewed 28 Jul 2013 from . The Bradley Review has recommended expansion of domestic level training universities in a move to increase competence in the job market. This report is an important milestone in the higher education arena. It recommends for a considerable increase in the number of adult students pursuing higher education from 29 percent to 40 percent by the year 2020 (Birrell and Edwards, 2009:7). It can be noted that domestic higher education was overlooked at the end of the 20th century had negative effects on the young generation. The recent times have presented numerous job opportunities requiring minimum university qualifications. Conversely, the growth of domestic undergraduate course compl etion has been minimal. The review asserts that demand for Vocational Education Training (VET) has decreased considerably owing to the changing trend in the economy where employers tend to favour those with higher education qualifications. In order for the government to achieve the 40 percent target enrolment rate in 2020, participate rate and demographic factors must be taken into account (Birrell and Edwards, 2009:4). If there is an increase in population, there will be a corresponding increase in the university enrolment rate. The participation rate is dependent on the number of young people who are attending universities. Recent censuses have revealed that the rate of young people attending college was

Reading response paper 2 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Reading response paper 2 - Assignment Example It never mattered if a piece of work was ornamental or representational, but the significance was the quality of aliveness. The quality that appears from artistic value does not necessarily depend on subject matter or motif. The first attempt to come up with realistic scenes in a pictorial form is found during the period of warring states (The Great Painters of China 3). The scenes are found in relieve and intaglio on bronze, which represent the figures of warriors, hunters, boats men, and musicians. Figure 6 is a clay title from Szechwam that shows less imposing objects. These objects are a clear representation of birds’ hunters at the lake at the upper side while the lower side is a representation of people harvesting in the field. The lake is symbolized by flowering lotus and big fish instead of being represented. On the other hand, the sky is full of wild ducks in flight and there is no appearance of a distant shoreline (The Great Painters of China 5). The harvesters are seen standing on a tilted position and this is evident through simple device thinning rows of the plants on them. In addition, while most of the figures are seen on an imaginary ground near the lower edge, one of the men is seen at the deeper space. Originally, it is evident that painting was concentrated on ornamental design. However, during the early parts of Han dynasty, there was a change by representation of reality in pictorial form from various sources. The most important thing was creating expressive conversation. The scene showed in figure 13 represents the story of a grandson Yuan Ku who in a period of starvation saved his grandfather from dying in the wilderness. In addition, he saved his father from the guilt of parricide. At the left side of the picture, the grand father is seen squatting abandoned under a cedar tree by the stream. Yuan Ku picks an empty stretcher to go and fetch his grandfather, but his father yells at him saying that the

Creating a Business Opportunity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Creating a Business Opportunity - Essay Example PVC market has been growing at a high rate in India because of its significant demand from the industry. The capacity of PVC growth has been gradually increasing by 10 percent compared to the world average production of 4 percent. The global PVC production and the consumption pattern has been growing and been compared with the world average. As per the statistical data of Chemical Marketing Associates Inc. (CMAI) the PVC demand had been 2.08 million tones and the capacity production was estimated around 34.8 million tons. The global demand of PVC production rose from 1.63 million tons to 3.1 million per tones. The demand for PVC production has been mainly for the manufacturing, glazing of the windowpanes and the doors. PVC chemical is required for the thermal production and its durability purposes (Butow & Taylor, 2009).Business Opportunity FeasibilityThe manufacturing of windowpanes is required to exhibit durability of the windowpanes and doors. The popularity of the windowpanes has been growing at increase rate in the metropolitan areas. Consumption pattern of PVC chemical has almost doubled three to four times. Demand of PVC products has been increasing at a rate of 10 percent compared to the world statistics of 4 percent. The consumption pattern of PVC chemical has been increasing with a substantial capacity. Additionally, 30 to 250 kt reflects demand and supply of PVC chemical. Heavy investment in manufacturing chemicals in industries is a main factor, which drives PVC production.

The advertising world Essay Example for Free

The advertising world Essay The youths are highly influenced when they hit their transitional period from adolescence to the teenage years. They are dealing with the changes in their bodies and minds. Businesses are cashing in on the ability to target these children with their products; companies have focused advertising their products to young girls. The advertising world is also using younger models to sell their products. They are using the youth to sell anything from candy to underwear for their companies. The federal government should ban advertisers from allowing young girls to model as grown women. Advertising companies has used women to model as early back as the 1890’s The ideal of a beautiful woman has changed over the decades. Women and young girls look at magazines, movies, and movie stars and they desire to look like them. This may not be a problem for some women, but it has become a problem for the young girls today. The advertising world should be limited to how the youths are used in advertising. The writer remembers a story, which was overseas, a young model about ten years old was hired to model underwear, and she had on so much make up that it made her look like she was in her twenties, and she was wearing underwear that was for a grown woman. Neither the make-up nor the underwear was appropriate for this young girl to wear and/or to be advertising for other young girls to want to purchase. Young girls should not be exploited in this manner. A lot of young girls have a negative body image of themselves. When they desire to be something or somebody, they are not can or will cause the girls to develop eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia or binge eating. The young girls want to be beautiful and thin because of the ideal body image that the advertising world is demonstrating in their ads, this how they are supposed to look to be accepted within a glamorous world. The perception of a better life is you are beautiful and thin. Most people are aware of anorexia, and bulimia is eating disorders were a person eats food, and then they use laxatives or force themselves to vomit to become and stay thin. The person who has anorexia or bulimia sees themselves as fat, and they may be very thin. Most people, such as the writer have not heard of binge eating as an eating disorder. Our nation is concerned as being obese. The writer has not heard of binge eating being explained as a cause for some people may be overweight. On the House of Thin website, it talked about binge eating and suggested there is help for these people through a support group. Another eason why advertisers should not use young girls to model as grown women, they put all this make-up on a young girl and have them pose as if they are grown women. There are predators out in the world, and young girls are their targets. The writer believes young girls should look like young girls (youthful and innocent appearance) and should not look like grown women, there may be less of this problem. There are numerous website that is exploiting young girls in various ways. The writer was in disbelief while doing my research. The police are also online looking for these predators of the children. Advertising is big business, and our nation operates on a Capitalism system. The writer likes, the statement from our textbook, â€Å"Citizens are entitled to protection from harmful actions by others (Lunsford 2010). Using young girls to advertise merchandise like they are grown women is a harmful action. Body image and the media has become big business at the expense of the youth. The children are not happy with themselves, and parents are allowing this to happen. When is enough, enough? Stop exploiting our children for the price of a dollar. Adults have the responsibility to ensure children keep their innocence, and children don’t become an adult before their time. Children must be talked to about themselves, and children should be encouraged to increase their self- esteem. A positive and nurturing environment is what children need to help fight the advertising world. The writer knows that advertising to the young is not going to change overnight, just like the problem didn’t start overnight. Parents do have a voice and can make a change within our households. Parents also need to be aware of what their child is doing. Growing up back in the 60-70’s children was always watched by somebody, whether it was a teacher, parent, family member or just the neighbor. Somebody was involved with the children; parents need to become more involved. Today, adults lead a very busy life, demands on the job, making sure to work hard and not make mistakes for fear of losing a job. The time invested in the children will make difference. The influence of the television, magazines, movie stars or their peers on the youth we will have more and more youth with eating disorders and vulnerable to predators. The United States economic system is a Capitalistic and people will say that the advertiser has the right to make money. People can argue that the parents are responsible for managing their children spending habits. Base on a survey in 1994; found that 40% of 9 years old have been on a diet (Derenne, and Beresin). Parents should limit the amount of time children are exposed to various forms of media. Monitoring the children and talking about what the children are seeing is another method to use with media. Parents are not responsible, and the federal government needs to look out for the well-being of the youth. Every society has a way of torturing its, women, whether by binding their feet or by sticking them into whalebone corsets. The American culture has come up with its designer jeans (Derenne, and Beresin). Nothing else can say it better than this statement.

Explication Of Jacques Derridas Signature Event Context English Language Essay

Explication Of Jacques Derridas Signature Event Context English Language Essay Derridas essay Signature Event Context was first delivered in the form of a spoken conference paper in Montreal in 1971 on the theme of Communication, and published initially as an essay as part of the conference Proceedings. The context of Derridas essay is relevant in relation to the theme of the paper itself. In its initial form, a spoken essay preformed or produced in the French language, the essay (now in its written English form), discusses the importance and differences of context in both the written language and in speech.  [1]   The essay was then published in 1988 in Graffs collection Limited Inc., which highlighted the differences between Anglo-American and European-Continental towards the theoretical debate on literary analysis.  [2]  The historical context of the essay is relevant to the themes of original meaning and context which are discussed within the essay. Derrida discusses the distinction between the nature of truth and language, and he presents arguments on the privileging of spoken words, which is deemed as being closer to the speaker and thereby the intended meaning; whereas written words are given a secondary status and the meaning is derived by the understanding of the listener. Derrida examines the meaning of context, and then the significance of context in relation to other factors surrounding a text, such as events, discourses and signature. He argues that these issues all factor into the meaning of the text as it is produced by the writer or speaker, and then understood by the listener or reader. Derrida begins the essay in a discussion on the nature and definition of Communication, when Derrida states: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦one must first of all ask oneself whether or not the word or signifier communication communicates a determinate content, an identifiable meaning, or a describable value. (Derrida 1). The word or signifier communication occurs twice, in the marked form communication, and again as the verb form communicates. For the reader the use of the word in this way signifies a question which must be explored in the text of the essay. For Derrida this is a rhetorical question. As readers and as a writer approaching the text, if the word communication had a definite or indisputable meaning, there would be no need for a discussion or essay on the subject. This is typical of Derridas stylistic approach in the rhetorical questioning which occurs throughout the text of the essay. The essay is then structured into three sections discussing the factors mentioned in the title Signature Event Context, and Derrida uses examples from other theorists in order to present his arguments for each element. In the first section on Writing and Communication Derrida looks at the arguments of Condillacs essay  [3]  because it : à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦contains an explicit reflection on the origin and function of the written textà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦which organizes itself here within a philosophical discourse that, in this case and throughout philosophy, presupposes the simplicity of the origin, the continuity of all derivation, of all production, of all analysis, and the homogeneity of all dimensions [orders]. (Derrida 4) In using Condillac Derrida is presenting the philosophical ideas on theories of writing from a classical theoretical perspective, whereby writing is taken as presenting the original ideas of the writer and all contributing factors to the writing such as origin, production, derivation and analysis and essentially equal in nature and quality. There is thus no hierarchical system to the elements which form writing, and all contributing factors producing a text, are equal in their importance and relevance to the formation and understanding of the text. Derrida suggests that Condillacs ideas on writing mean that: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the birth and progress of writing will follow in a line that is direct, simple, and continuousà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦writing will never have the slightest effect on either the structure or the contents of the meaning (the ideas) that it is supposed to transmit [vehicular]. (Derrida 4) Here Derrida presents Condillacs analysis, whereby if writing is taken as a higher medium of communication than spoken language, the origin and progression of the writing remains an absolute which is uncomplicated and incorruptible; this therefore means that the written form is also constant in its meaning, and for the understanding of the reader. Derrida takes issue with the notion of an absolute meaning of the written later in his essay, and instead suggests that the only absolute in writing is the idea of absence. For Condillac, all writing denotes an absence. There is firstly the: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦absence of the addressee. One writes in order to communicate something to those who are absent. The absence of the receiver [destinateur], from the mark that he abandons, and which cuts itself off from him and continues to produce effects independently of his presence and of the present actuality of his intentions [vouloir-dire]à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (Derrida 5) The act of writing denotes an absence of the writer (absent at the time of reading), and the absence of the reader (absent at the time of the writing), which means that the writing exists independently of both reader and writer and is yet paradoxically linked to a presence. The writer is present in the writing at the time of reading because his/her intentions are made in the words that are written; the reader is present at the time of writing because the writer is intending to communicate an idea in his/her writing through the act of writing. The act of writing therefore implies the absence of both reader and writer. The writing is an independent entity which stands on its own merits after it is abandoned by the writer, yet still causes an effect on the reader; this effect is also autonomous from the actual intentions of the writer, as the understanding and interpretation depend on the reader. This brings Derrida to the second absolute in writing, which is the absence of a definitive meaning. As Derrida states: Representation regularly supplants [supplà ©e] presenceà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦as a continuous and homogenous reparation and modification of presence in the representation. (Derrida 5) The presence of the writer is therefore denoted in the manner in which the text is received by the reader, whose understanding and interpretation of the text are founded not in the ideas which the writer is trying to communicate, but rather in a more practical system of understanding signs. The systematic rules of writing are based on the understanding of the written word; this is founded in language systems, which according to Derrida are only understandable because of their familiarity. Although signs give a representation of the idea which itself represented the object perceived (Derrida 6), it is only the familiarity which makes them understandable. Derrida states: My communication must be repeatable iterable in the absolute absence of the receiverà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦writing that is not structurally readable iterable beyond the death of the addressee would not be writing. (Derrida 7) The signs (words) must therefore be repeatable and repeated in different circumstances in order to be perceived and understand as to what they are signifying; and more importantly for Derrida what they are denoting or connoting. If the purpose of writing is to convey or communicate the writers ideas, the nature of language and words are a representation of something which is repeatable, no matter who the reader (or writer). Whereby writing is initially a means of communication, the actual physical marks and the meaning must have iterability, citability or citationality. All writing can be copied, or must be copyable in order to be classified as writing; therefore it must be open to both iteration and reiteration. For Derrida signs or writing, are essentially infinite in their iterability, in any capacity whether epistemic, grammatical or semiological; thus lies the distinction between written and oral communication (Derrida 9). Derrida also states that in the classical concept of writing, writing simultaneously carries with it a force that breaks with its context (Derrida 9). Derrida goes on to present an analysis of spoken language/signs from Husserl.  [4]  Again the iterability of spoken language is essential to the understanding of what is signified, denoted and understood by the listener, because language operates within a à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦system of rules of universal grammar, not from a linguistic point of view but from a logical and epistemological one. (Derrida 12). This means one must be able to make certain other cultural, social and epistemological references which are understood, and thereby enable an understanding of words or spoken language. Derrida once again opens up his discussion of writing into a wider analysis of language, communication and cultural relevance. For Derrida the significance lies in that understanding is thereby taken à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦in a context determined by a will to know (Derrida 12). The understanding of language and words, whether spoken or written lie in the wider context in which they are read or heard, rather a specific literal context of semantic meaning. This leads to the second section of the essay where Derrida discusses the notion of truth in language, through an examination of the event. Derridas analysis centres on criticism of Austins  [5]  ideas of communication in speech: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦speech acts only as acts of communicationà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.Communicating a force through the impetus [impulsion] of a mark à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the performative does not have its referent à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦outside of itself or any event, before and in front of itself. (Derrida 13) Derrida suggests here that John Austins ordinary language philosophy is in fact determined and restrictive, working only within a framework of definitively absolute unordinary exclusion; as Austin suggests that the performative nature of language takes precedent in communication. Austin analyses all utterances as performative, yet excludes performative speech acts which are quoted, which Derrida finds essentially problematic. This approach is limiting and restrictive, by focussing primarily on analysing the perlocution and illocution, Austin is forced to: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦free the analysis of the performative from the authority of the truth value, from the true/false opposition (Derrida 13). If language or words take on a performative dimension, this means that the utterances of the words will be placed within a situation (or context) which is independent of either the true essential meaning, or any false interpretation, of the intended meaning. The problem for Derrida is that the meaning of the words are essentially subordinated to the actual utterance or event of the speech, and/or the context within which they are uttered; which in turn produces an event in the meaning as it is understood by the listener. Derridas criticism of Austin also raises questions as to the totalising element of context whereby there is emphasis on the: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦conscious presence of the intention of the speaking subject in the totality of his speech act (Derrida 14) In the event of the speech act the presence of the speaker places an importance and foregrounding to the intention of the speaker; if the intention of the speaker is prominent in the speech act, then it must follow that the understanding of the receiver/listener becomes secondary. This leads to the inevitability that à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦performative communication becomes once more the communication of an intentional meaningà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (Derrida 14) This poses a wider philosophical problem for Derrida in the context of literary or language discourse, as Austin also discusses the criterion of what actually constitutes a successful or failed speech act with elements of correctness and completeness (Derrida 15). This again is restrictive and finite, and goes against Derridas general philosophical openness and approach to literary theory. For Derrida there is an inherent possibility in the success of the event which lays in the possibilities of for example the infelicities in the event, and may not in fact be distinguishable from a successful event. For Derrida the failure of the event, whether deliberate or accidental, serves a greater purpose. Derrida suggests that the presence or potential of failure is what in fact constitutes the event as an ideal. The scope for error and the negative impact on the event, whilst it may destroy the idealistic approach to the event, in fact serves the paradoxical purpose of making the event ideal; by in its very nature in introducing an element of danger to the event. A perfect or ideal event would therefore have an element of danger, which is avoided. Although Austin cites theatrical events, recitations of poetry or literature as examples of felicitous speech events, as Derrida points out there is still scope for mistakes or errors in the utterances. Derrida ends the section on Event by taking an opposing view to Austin, in the similar vein to his opposition to Condillacs views and refers to the itability of the sign in general. Derrida states that speech utterances, or events have an itability. Austins view of the relative purity of performatives (Derrida 18) must be taken not: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦in opposition to citationality or iterability, but in opposition to other kinds of iteration within a general iterability which constitutes a violation of the allegedly rigorous purity of every event of discourse or every speech act. (Derrida 18) Derridas view on the event of the speech act is that there is a background to the iterability or possible repetition of an utterance, which means that each utterance or speech act must be taken in the context in which it is said. This has an inevitable effect on the operation or understanding of the words which are spoken and what they signify. Contrary to Austins view that emphasise understanding of the thing and the notion (Derrida 18), Derrida stresses that we must also consider that the: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦motivations, indestructible necessity and systematic effects would be subject to analysisà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (Derrida 18) Here the importance of context is fore grounded in relation to the event and is subject to the same metaphysical origins (Derrida 18) which Austin appropriates to the event. Derrida concludes by suggesting that in order to understand context, the conscious intentions of the speaker (and receiver) must be definite. However consciousness is not a definite and is open to discussion and discourse. Therefore although utterances may be specific, the specificity is not exclusive to having an opposite or contrary effect on the listener and thus the event is open to further metaphysical debate. In the final section of the essay Derrida focuses on Signature' as an indicator and measure of the presence of the writer or author. The signature denotes the writer as the source of the text, or the speaker of an utterance, and they hold the form of regulation for the sign or words which are spoken or written. Derrida illustrates that the possibility and inevitability of repetition and iterability is essential to the signature; as with earlier discussions on the nature of signs and language. By its very nature the signature is iterable, as it must be, and is always repeated in order to be recognisable as a signature specific to the author. As Derrida points out although a signature is singular to the author, yet again paradoxically, there is an inevitable plurality to its production; in that it is repeated time and again as a sign of the presence of the writer. Derrida refers back to earlier arguments stating that: By definition, a written signature implies the actual or empirical nonpresence of the signer. (Derrida 20) The signature thereby signifies the absence of the writer, while at the same time denoting the presence of the signer in the past, and can be taken as a substitute for their physical presence; it also implies the presence of the reader in the future or present. Derrida also rather playfully adds his own signature to the end of the essay, as a performative example of an event. As readers we are made aware that Derrida must have at some point made the signature to the paper, however the printed copy of the signature in front of us is not the original or authentic mark/sign made by Derrida, it is an repeated printed copy of the same. This act highlights key elements of Derridas arguments from the essay, as to the nature of iterability, repetition, absence and context. The communication of Derridas ideas in the preceding essay are somehow signified as more genuine, or sincere because he has placed his signature at the end of the essay and placed a mark/sign of authenticity to the essay. Derridas conclusions to the essay tie in with this idea, in that while language can be philosophised in an ordinary manner, as a means of communicating semantics, there is always an underlying and infinite possibility to other factors such as presence, knowledge , representation, and truth. For Derrida the practice of communication and the spoken word or writing must be inclusive of these elements in order for a text to be understood or communicated in its entirety. Derridas stylistic presence is evident in the title and structure of the essay, in the use of questions, often at times rhetorical, and the proposition of paradoxes. The essay is actually structured in the reverse order of the title Signature Event Context: Context is discussed first in presentation of Condillacs ideas, followed by Austins arguments on the Event, and the essay ends with Derridas thoughts on Signature.  [6]  This playing with the order of the elements which Derrida is discussing is somewhat typical of Derridas stylistic and consciously playful approach to writing. At times the language and style is analogous to the spoken word or a speech; which again is self-referential to the form of the text, as it was initially a spoken text/utterance. The form and structure of the essay reiterates the ideas and arguments that Derrida presents. The essay is structured in a fairly accessible yet formal manner whereby Derrida at times breaks arguments or ideas down into listed or numbered sections. Although the complexity of the ideas and concepts presented are perhaps more complicated than the stylistic form of the written language. Derrida repeats certain points and arguments, by presenting his theories in a manner which reiterates the essence of his arguments, and by repeating the same central arguments in a slightly altered form. He uses repetition of the arguments to make the ideas that he is presenting familiar and understandable to the reader, and this is his general approach to the function and understanding of language, signs and words the more familiar we become with words, the easier they are to understand in their true meaning. The meaning lies in the repetition and iterability not only of the words, but also in the concepts and ideas which lie beneath the semantics of the sentences and content of the essay. Derridas arguments are therefore communicated to us as readers when we read and understand the text in the context of the structure of the essay, and experience the text as part of a wider cultural discourse.

Homicide Case Study: Homicide Patterns in the UK

Homicide Case Study: Homicide Patterns in the UK murder is when a man of sound memory and of the age of discretion, unlawfully killeth within any country of the realm any reasonable creature in rerum natura under the kings peace, with malice aforethought, either expressed by the party or implied law, so as the party wounded or hurt, etc, die of the wound or hurt, within a year and a day of the same. The aim of this essay is to determine whether the case study is typical of homicides and also to analyse in general and to clarify if it is an example of a particular type of murder and how does it fit into the general pattern of homicides in England and Wales. The author will look at typical cases of homicide and how it fits in with the case study, the general patterns of homicide in England and Wales. And finally we will analyse the biology, psychological and sociology state of Ryan with reference to the case study and the racial motive for the crime. The case study of Ryan is class as a typical homicide and also heavily involves racial violence leading to the homicide of Ryans victim. The criminological literature suggests some key behaviour traits that have been identified as potential contributors to violence and, thus, homicide. Such behaviours include physical aggression which often starts early in life (Ryan line 21 22) and can lead to homicidal violence later in life (Ryan line 40). Drug and alcohol abuse and criminal gang membership where with-in group norms can support violence and criminal activity. The number of homicides recorded by the police in 2011/12 (550) fell by 14 per cent compared with 2010/11. Homicide is at its lowest level since 1983 (when 550 were also recorded). The reducing trend in murder and homicide is reflected in a reduction in attempted murder, which is down 8 % and serious Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH) and Actual Bodily Harm also down 8 % across England and Wales. Home Office data concluded that in 2011/12; more than two-thirds of homicide victims were male. The most common method of killing continues to be by sharp instrument. Female victims were more likely to be killed by someone they knew. In most of these cases, female victim were killed by a current or ex-partner while male victims were most likely to be killed by a friend or acquaintance. Victims aged 16 years were most likely to be killed by a parent or step- parent. There is a growing body of evidence about factors that place individuals at risk of criminal offending. The theoretical approaches towards biological, psychological and sociology attempt to explain the relationship between those risk factors and criminal behaviour related to Ryan. There is no consensus on the relative merit of these theories and it may be that the casual mechanisms are more or less significant for different individuals. The study of criminology theory is an opportunity to analyse crime through explanations for the creation of criminals and criminal behaviour. Each theory explains a reason for crime, making logic of the causes for the criminal appeal. Making sense of the dilemmas that impact social structure, behaviour, and change make it easier to understand what needs to be done to prevent the behaviour and actions of the criminal. Classical and biological theories of thought explain crime through two different considerations that are necessary for the rationalization of deviant behaviour. Most homicides are committed by one of the three major types of perpetrators; the victim has a relationship with the perpetrator, lovers, and spouses, children, neighbours, or co-workers. The victim is engaged in the use, purchase, sale, storage, or distribution of illegal drugs. The victim is either an innocent target or is either an innocent target or is engaged in socially marginal activities, such as prostitution, gang behaviour. These with are classed as typical types of homicide. Homicides committed by serial killers, psychotic killers, and perpetrators who do not fit into one of the three major types are atypical homicides. Racist violence in the UK came under sharp public interest following the murder of a Black teenager, Stephen Lawrence, by a gang of racist white youths in 1993 and the subsequent public inquiry that was reported in 1999 (Macpherson 1999). Among the UK police it resulted in the creation of many new practices, training, and requirements to report, record and act on allegations of racist harassment and assault. (Bowling 2002) The targeting of racist violence, along with domestic and homophobic violence is part of a wider social and legal agenda to tackle the hate or bias crimes where the victim is selected on the grounds of their social status. As a result of this, the numbers of recorded racist attacks in England and Wales has risen from 15,000 in 1988 to 25,000 in 1999, and 54,351 in 2003. (Home Office 2002). Mesner (1989) stated that alongside inequality, an aggravating factor would be the mechanism by which inequality was reproduced, so that inequality based on racist exclusion woul d result in high levels of diffuse hostility and a high homicide rate. The elements of criminal behaviour are no means a simple equation. A small percentage of crime is attributed to abnormality or genetics. Criminal activity can be explained in terms of the learning of societal norms were an individual has mistaken or been influenced to develop a way of living that is not compatible with the laws of a given society, therefore a conflict is created that may lead to a criminal confrontation. Another aspect though is that a small percentage of a given societies people will suffer from abnormalities or mental infirmities that are actually the predominant cause of an individuals criminal conduct. This is exasperated by the social phenomena of stereotyping, prejudice and racism that that heavily contribute to social injustice (McKnight et al 1994) ( RYAN line 33). Seen in the light of frustration (Bartol 1999) and escalation (Bartol 1999) theories it can be seen that biological explanations of behaviour are far too limited in that it is next to impossible for a person to change their genetic structures. Normal criminals and abnormal criminals are better accounted for their behaviour by both biological and psychological theory though the more comprehensive theory is psychological as this takes into account biological factors as well as environment, the individual, cognitive processes and social and group processes. To explain these concepts of criminal behaviour theories from biological, learning and social cognition are outlined and evidence is presented that shows why more than just biological determinants of criminal behaviour are important. Lombrosos work is a biological theory, which he believed accounted for why criminals committed crimes. (Bartol 1999) in unison with the contemporary views makes the statement that Lombrusos work did not fully account for criminal behaviour. While the important role of psychosocial factors in the development of criminal behaviour has long been acknowledged, there has been an increasing interest in the neurobiological basis of aggression and crime over the past decade, boosted by methodological advances in genetics (Sterzer et al 2009). Researchers recognised the potential role of biological factors in the etiology of criminal behaviour and analysed whether abnormal fear conditioning predisposes to crime (Gao et al 2010). Fear conditioning is a basic form of learning in which fear is associated with a previously neutral stimulus. In relation to Ryan fear conditioning could of being a big part in his early life and this factor could have played a major part of this individuals biological make-up. In imitational learning, behaviour is observed and imitated and is maintained depending on the extent of re-enforcement that occurs. When aggression is observed it may lead to a swing in the norm of aggression as unacceptable to b eing acceptable. According to (Bandura 1995) behaviour that is learned can also be relearned with more appropriate responses, however (Bartol 1999) argued that cognitive scripts are resistant to change and they are subject to observational learning and reinforcement theory. Therefore, the age at which a given behaviour is learned is dependent on the rewards it brings when it is imitated and the length of time it is maintained before it is the form of criminal confrontation. The problem is that the behaviour that is causing the criminal confrontation will be more resistant to change the longer it went undetected, reinforced and maintained therefore this behaviour will be more resistant to being replaced with a more appropriate behaviour. In theory the better a young person is raised with good models of social normality the less likely the individual is going to adapt antisocial behaviour. Crime is a multifaceted behavioural outcome of complex interactions among multiple biological an d environmental factors and cannot possibly be explained by a single neurobiological factor such as fear conditioning. The degree to which criminal behaviour is controllable and correctable is determined by many connecting factors none of which alone can explain crime. The approaches of psychological learning theories are the subsequent developments are more comprehensive biological theories are far too simple and do not account for all areas of individual and social behaviour. The biological theories emphasise the values on a complicated issue that demands attention to detail and a broad minded approach that is willing to account for human behaviour and how they do or dont commit deviant behaviour in society. One in three men in the UK will have a conviction for a serious offence by the age of 31. (Newburn et al 1994) states that the most significant fact about crime is that it is almost always committed by men (Ryan was 22). There are many social and cultural theories of violent behaviour, stressing social learning (Hearn 1998). Through violence men attempt to affirm a positive self-concept, enhance self- esteem and reclaim personal power (Campbell 1993). Male violence reflects patterns of socialization in which the male role involves greater readiness to use violence as a means of control and assertion of power. The theory of hegemonic masculinity (Connell 1995 Messerschmidts 1997), masculinity is viewed as a crucial part of intersection of different sources and forms of power, stratification, desire and identity. Connell (1995) states that performance and choice rather than passively learnt behaviour. Violent behaviour is chosen while calling upon dominant discourses of masculinity fo r support and legitimation. In Ryans case, Ryan in fact made the informed choice to commit and act upon his own violent behaviour towards his victim (Ryan lines 30-46). In conclusion, Ryan just adds to the Home Office statistics of young male men who commit homicide in todays society, and unfortunately fits into the general pattern of homicides in England and Wales. Ryans actions on that night out will have a drastic effect on Ryan for the rest of this young mans life forever. Ryans act of homicide is labelled as a typical type of homicide. Ryans vicious attack on his victim will probably result in a typical murder charge and Ryan will be looking at a lengthy custodial sentence. It is unlikely Ryan could plead manslaughter due to the fact that Ryans actions on that night out, do not meet any of the criteria for a lesser charge of manslaughter. Ryans actions that night have destroyed so many lifes, his victim, his friend (who will also probably be charged with murder), and Ryans young life. Ryans decision to commit that vicious attack that lead to homicide will also have an effect on all family members of those mentioned.

Johann Sebastian Bach Essay -- Essays Papers

Johann Sebastian Bach Johann Sebastian Bach was born on March 21st 1685. He is the son of Johann Ambrosius. For many years, members of the Bach family had held positions such as organists, town instrumentalists, or Cantors. When Bach was eight years old he went to the old Latin Grammar School. He was taught reading and writing, Latin grammar, and a great deal of scripture, both in Latin and German. The boys in the school formed the choir of the St. Georgenkirche. This also gave Bach an opportunity to sing in the regular services, as well as in the nearby villages. He has an uncommonly fine treble voice. During this period Bach attended the Gymnasium of Ohrdruf, which had become one of the most progressive schools in Germany. He had made great progress in Latin, Greek, theology, and had reached the top form at a very early age. It was his excellent soprano voice that found Bach a position in the choir of the wealthy Michaelis monastery at Luneburg, which was known to provide a free place for boys who were poor but had musical talent. At the end of 1703, Bach took up his post at the small town of Arnstadt. He was no doubt thrilled about having his own very large organ of two manuals and twenty-three speaking stops. He also had the responsibility of providing music for his own congregation. In 1707 Bach went to Muhlhausen to take up the post of organist to the town. Unfortunately, a quarter of the whole town was hit by a...

love is worth the inevitable pain Essay -- essays research papers

Love is Worth the Inevitable Pain   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is not the typical Hollywood love film. A Hollywood love film is a film where a couple gets together in the end and lives happily ever after, but this is a love story that shows the reality of love and the consequences that come with it. Love is not one hundred percent bliss, it also comes with pain. To get rid of this pain after a break up or death a company, Lacuna, has invented a way to erase people from their memory. The two main characters in the movie fall in love and then they both decide to erase each other from their memories. Clementine, Kate Winslet, erases Joel, Jim Carrey, because she becomes bored with their relationship. Joel goes to the Barnes and Nobles where she works to see her and she has absolutely no idea who he even is. Joel probably would not have erased Clementine, but he found a card that told him he was erased from her memory and he did not think that he could go on with the memory of her. This film is completely different from a Hollywood version, at the end of this movie it leaves room for interpretation for the viewer to think for themselves whether Clementine and Joel will end up happily ever after, there are no clear answers. The scene begins with Joel and Clementine lying naked on a rug in the middle of the floor covered only by a repugnant quilt. The quilt has a tranquilizing effect however because of its warm colors, which is perfect for this scene. The colors of the quilt subconsciously give the feeling that everything is comfortable. As they are lying on the floor Clementine asks Joel if she is ugly. As soon as she asks the question the shot changes and it shows Joel instantly respond with an â€Å"uh huh,† in a manner saying no. The camera then goes to Clementine, but once she starts to speak, it instantly shows Joel again. Clementine tells Joel about how she remembers when she was little a little girl and she thought she was ugly, as the camera is still on a close up of Joel. Usually while someone is talking the camera would be on them, but in this scene the camera is on a close up of Joel while Clementine is talking to show his expressions and to see the sincerity of his emotions and the lo ve he has for Clementine. The next shot is a picture of Clementine when she was little. The picture of her is a somewhat average litt... ...something. I believe that this line is repeated to show a new beginning for their relationship, because this is a disclaimer that Clementine uses both times she meets Joel to warm him of the way that she is. Joel responds with â€Å"I can’t see anything that I don’t like about you.† Clementine says â€Å"But you will. You will think of things and I’ll get bored with you and feel trapped because that is what happened with me.† Joel says â€Å"OK† as if he is relieved, which Clementine promptly answers with â€Å"OK.† They both decide that they want to try and start over with their relationship even though they know that it probably will not work out because it has already failed once, but there is a possibility for it to succeed. They now understand that the risk they take to have a relationship and fail, is far greater than to not have even attempted to have one at all. The movie ends with the song â€Å"Change of Heart† playing while Clementine and Joel are walking in the snow towards their new beginning. The director is implying that they had a change of heart and that things in the end did work out for them to live together happily ever after, but not with out loves temporary and necessary glitches.

Harrison Bergeon Vs. 1984 :: essays research papers

Harrison Bergeron vs. 1984   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Harrison Bergeron and 1984 were both based on a similar concept. This concept is creating peace by limiting and controlling the population. In George Orwell’s “1984';, it was done through brainwashing and doublethink. In Kurt Vonnegut’s “Harrison Bergeron';, it was done by limiting everyones abilities until everyone is equal in all ways. Each author used class systems, nature, and society to portray their negative utopia.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Class systems played a more important role in 1984, than they did in Harrison Bergeron. In 1984, there were three classes. The highest class, the Inner Party, controlled everything. They controlled what the people saw, heard, and read, and even what they thought. The middle working class, or the “regular'; party, did all the work that the inner party wanted to be done, in order to keep the population, including themselves, in control of everyone. The third, and lowest, class is the proles. The party does not even watch or care about the proles, because they are not important, and have no power at all. Harrison Bergeron apparently had everyone equalized through handicapping all those with extraordinary abilities. The classes were the same as they are in modern America, only with handicaps.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Human Nature was repressed in both stories. It is human nature to express one’s talents in some way. In 1984, any kind of personal expression was thoughtcrime, and would cause the guilty individual to be taken to the ministry of love, and brainwashed. In Harrison Bergeron, every person was unable to display any kind of superiority over anyone else. The strong were weighted down, and the beautiful were forced to wear masks. No one was able to display any kind of talent even if they wanted to do so.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Society had almost the same roles for men and women in both stories. In 1984, men and women were both treated the same, as mindless members of the party. They both had the same jobs and duties, and they both had the same rules. In Harrison Bergeron, men and women seemed to be treated the same as they are in modern society.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The search for justice actually contributed to the creation of both societies. Both were created in the hopes of eliminating crime and injustices by controlling the population. In 1984, there was only one crime, and only one punishment. If you commited thoughtcrime, you would be taken to the ministry of love and brainwashed, until you were fit to be released back into society.

Moldova’s Relations with European Union

In 1538, the principality became a tributary to the Ottoman Empire, but it retained internal and partial external autonomy. In 1600, inhabitants of the Romanian provinces saw for the first time their dream of reunification as reality. Michael the Brave leaded simultaneously the Romanian principalities of Wallachia, Moldova and Transilvania for one year. In 1812, despite numerous protests by Moldavan nobles on behalf of their autonomous status, the Ottoman Empire ceded to the Russian Empire the eastern half of the territory of the Principality of Moldavia along with Hotin and Budgeac.The next 106 years, Romanians from Basarabia were under continues Russification and Romanian language was gradually removed from official and religious use. Basarabia proclaimed independence from Russia on February 6, 1918, and on April 9, 1918 united with the Kingdom of Romania. In August 1939, the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact and its secret additional protocol were signed, by which Nazi Germany recognized Ba sarabia as being within the Soviet sphere of influence, which led the latter to actively revive its claim to the region.On June 28, 1940, the Soviet Union, with the acknowledgement of the Nazi Germany, issued an ultimatum to Romania requesting the cession of Basarabia and northern Bucovina, with which Romania complied the following day. The Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic was established and Moldova became a tiny part of the â€Å"Evil Empire†. During the Soviet period, deportations of locals to the northern Urals, to Siberia, and northern Kazakhstan occurred regularly. Other forms of Soviet persecution of the population included 32,433 political arrests, followed by Gulag (in 8,360 cases) or execution and collectivization.In 1944-53, there were several anti-Soviet resistance groups in Moldova; however the NKVD and later MGB managed to eventually arrest, execute or deport their members. Official Soviet policy asserted that the language spoken by Moldovans was distinct from the Romanian language (â€Å"Moldovenism†). To distinguish the two, during the Soviet period, Moldovan was written in the Cyrillic alphabet, in contrast with Romanian, which was written in the Latin alphabet.On August 27, 1989, the Popular Front of Moldova organized a mass demonstration in Chisinau, that became known as the Grand National Assembly, which pressured the authorities of the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic to adopt a language law on August 31, 1989 that proclaimed the Moldovan language written in the Latin script to be the state language. Its identity with the Romanian language was also established. 2. From RSSM to Republic of Moldova The third richest colony of Soviet Union, Moldova, obtained its independence in 1991 and in just 20 years managed to become the poorest country in Europe.After the breakup of Soviet Union in 1991, Moldova found itself in a new reality. In 1990, 5 Moldovan districts with less than 1 million inhabitants, located on the left side o f river Nistru, declared their independence. Tensions between the Moldovan government and the breakaway Transnistria Republic escalated into a military conflict that started in March 1992 and was concluded by a ceasefire in July 1992. Transnistria's sovereignty is not recognized by any member of the United Nations and it has no official diplomatic relations with any of those states.Nevertheless, Russia is great supporter of Transnistria and other self-declared independent territories of the former Soviet Union countries (Abhazia, South Osetia). Transnistria accounts for 40% of Moldovan GDP, the main part of the Moldovan industry is located on the left side of the Nistru, and therefore it is a strategic region for Moldova. Transnistria is still under the control of Russian 14th Army, which constitutes a serious violation of International Public Law and of the 1999 Istanbul Agreements.On July 8, 2004, the European Court of Human Rights stated in a ruling that the Russian army â€Å"s tationed in Moldovan territory [is] in breach of the undertakings to withdraw them completely given by Russia at the OSCE summits in 1999 and 2001. † Even with domestic conflicts and tensions, Moldova had to establish its state institutions and undertake a complex process of social and economic reforms. Moldova established its diplomatic relations with other countries and organizations, including European Union (EU). Despite the relative short period of cooperation between Moldova and EU, these relations were marked by striking â€Å"ups and downs†. . Moldova’s relations with EU For the purpose of this paper, I would like to distinguish between following stages of Moldova- EU relations: 1. 1991-1998 – â€Å"wait and see† period 2. 1998-2008 – â€Å"two steps forward and one back†, 3. 2009-2010 – â€Å"twitter revolution†- turning point in Moldova – EU relations 4. November, 28th 2010 in Moldova will be held the Par liamentary elections which are crucial for Moldova’s European future. 3. 1. 1991-1998 – â€Å"wait and see† period The first framework for EU-Moldova relations was provided by TACIS (Technical Assistance for Commonwealth of Independent States).TACIS was established in 1991 and provided grant-financed technical assistance to 12 former USSR countries, except Baltic countries, to help in their transition to democratic, market-oriented economies. TACIS was not a bilateral agreement between Moldova and EU, it was drawn by EU as a common tool for 12 former USSR colonies aimed at enhancing the transition process. In 1994 Moldova and EU signed first bilateral Agreement, the so-called Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), which entered into force in 1998. While this ramework agreement was passing through a cumbersome ratification procedure by the EU member states, Moldovan President P. Lucinschi expressed, by successive official letters addressed to the President of European Commission and to all EU heads of states and governments, the aspiration of Moldova to become an associate member of the EU. Though no formal answer followed, through different channels it was suggested that before passing to the associate stage a full implementation of the EU-Moldova PCA was necessary. 3. 2. 1998-2008 – â€Å"two steps forward and one back†During this period Moldova-EU relations gained more consistency, but the relations were marked by changing of the power in Chisinau. The communist Party won the Parliamentary elections in 2001 with 50, 07 % and in 2005 with 45, 98 %. From 2001 to 2008 the Communist Government promoted the so-called ‘facade Europeanization’. Moldova had double standard messages for Brussels and Moscow, the promotion of European values and democracy were done just to gain more voters. No wonder all the actions which aimed to bring Moldova closer to EU were undertaken at the end of the first Communist mandate ( 2005).In March, 2003 – EU and USA introduced a visa ban against self-declared Transnistria leaders. After the Eastern enlargement of EU in 2004, EU launched the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP). The objective of the ENP is to share the benefits of the EU enlargement with neighboring countries. ENP was intended to offer a privileged relationship to EU’s neighbors, which will build on mutual commitment the common values principally within the fields of the rule of law, the respect for human rights, the principles of market economy and sustainable development.ENP was intended to be an incentive for Europe’s neighbors to pursue reforms and to import the EU’s values and practice as the candidates states do. In February, 2005, in the framework of ENP, Moldova and EU signed the Action Plan, which initially was intended to be for 3 years, but eventually it was extended by one year more. Among the objectives of the Action Plan, I would like to mention: the stren gthen of the institutions guaranteeing democracy, rule of law and respect for human rights, promoting economic reform, improving living conditions, etc.The Action Plan supported efforts to achieve a lasting resolution of the Transnistria problem. In October 2005, the EU has been invited to join the mediation process as observers in the so-called 5+2 format. Moldova, Transnistria, OSCE, Russia and Ukraine are mediators, while USA and EU are observers. In my opinion this format is not functional and needs to be changed. There is a big question mark whether all of the mediators are engaged in a fair process of mediation and can ensure a resolution of Transnistria conflict and in the same time the territorial integrity of Moldova.The format 5+2 is not balanced, because Russia and Ukraine (officially and/or non-officially) support Transnistria, OSCE is mainly controlled by Russia, EU and US having the status of observers, cannot intervene in the mediation process and at the end of the da y, Moldova does not have the necessary levers to sustain its points during the mediation. This question was recently raised by Kalman Mizsei, the European Union Special Representative for Moldova at the OSCE Summit in Vienna on 16-18 October, 2010.Helping Moldova to ensure full control over its borders and customs territory, the EU has deployed since December 2005 an EU Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) on the Moldova – Ukraine state border (including the Transnistria sector). Other priorities of EU-Moldova relations include reforming the judiciary system, ensuring respect for freedom of expression and media, cooperating on issues such as migration, fight against trafficking, organized crime, corruption and money laundering, thereby contributing to the long-term objective of sustainable development.Even if the Action Plan provided certain actions that should be fulfilled by Moldovan Government, it did not have a particular and lasting approach from Moldovan side. Governmentâ €™s actions often achieve good results at project level, but have less impact at sector and national policy level partly due to a lack of continuity and coherent long-term sector planning. In spite of all the advantages and benefits of ENP, the 2006 spring (when Russia established embargo for the Moldovan wines) pointed out that ENP cannot be compared with political and economic pressure of Russia in Moldova.In the ENP framework, EU offers immediate and limited benefits and cannot cancel the effects of Russian economic blockade. This is one of reason why EU decided to double financial assistance in Moldova for the period 2007-2010, thus Moldova became the second beneficiary per capita of the EU assistance, after the Palestinian Authority. EU has provided about 210 million euro of assistance to Moldova through European Neighborhood and Partnership Instrument. The ENP and Action Plan brought new dynamics in the relations etween Moldova and EU; extended their cooperation opportunit ies; specified and detailed co-operation process between parties; updated the areas of dialogue [†¦] However, this is not say that everything went smooth in the implementation process of EU-Moldova Action Plan. While performing quite well on the economic dimensions of the document, Moldovan authorities proved an obvious lack of administrative capacities and unwillingness to promote fully-fledged reforms in crucial areas, such as respect of human rights, freedom of the media, the rule of law, fight against corruption and business environment. . 3. 2009-2010 – â€Å"twitter revolution†- turning point in Moldova – EU relations The next period of Moldova-EU relations is directly linked to the events of April 2009 and the so-called â€Å"twitter revolution†. On April 5th, 2010 in Moldova were held the Parliamentary elections. For the 3rd time in a row the Communist Party won the elections with 49, 48 %. The opposition parties and civil society organizatio n accused the Communist Party that they rigged the elections.On 6th and 7th of April, 2009, around 30000 people went into streets to protest against the results of the elections, the number quickly increased due in large part to new technologies and social networks like Facebook, Twitter, Odnoklasniki, etc. A large group of protesters stormed the Parliament and the Presidential Palace vandalizing both buildings and leaving the Parliament in flame.The Government reaction to the storms was severe, thousands of students were arrested and there were credible reports about mistreatment and torture of detainees, three fatalities were reported in connections with demonstrations and detentions. However, the Communist Party lacked one vote to elect the President and in July 2009 new Parliamentary elections were held. A new government formed by a fragile alliance of liberals and centrist was established after the elections. There was no coincidence in naming the coalition the Alliance for Eur opean Integration.These events brought Moldova back on the EU agenda; the new government started a diplomatic offensive to charm EU capitals and created high expectation in Moldova, especially for the educated, young electorate which tends to see the EU as an opportunity to bypass isolation and poverty. The events in Moldova coincided with the launching of EU Eastern Partnership – an institutionalized forum for discussing visa agreements, free trade deals and strategic partnership agreements with the EU's Eastern neighbors, while avoiding the controversial topic of accession to EU.Among the main provisions of the Eastern Partnership: new association agreements including deep and comprehensive free trade agreements, for those willing and ready to take on the far-reaching commitments with the EU that these entail; a conclusion of â€Å"mobility and security pacts†, allowing for easier legitimate travel to the EU while at the same time stepping up efforts to combat corrup tion, organized crime and illegal migration. These pacts would also cover the upgrading asylum systems to EU standards and the establishment of integrated border management structures, etc.The ultimate long term goal would be full visa liberalization, on a case by case basis, provided that conditions for well-managed and secure mobility are in place; the Commission will study possibilities for labor mobility with aim of further opening of the EU labor market; enhanced energy security in the partner countries themselves and with the European Union, including through support to investment in infrastructure, better regulation, energy efficiency and more efficient early warning systems to prevent disruption of supply; enhanced cooperation on environment and climate issues, etc.The new Government quickly engaged the country on the pro-European way. The Government gathered support for a new and very ambitious project, called â€Å"Rethink Moldova†. The EU, USA, IMF, WB and various EU member states took part in this action and in total $ 2,6 billion are scheduled to help Moldova for 2011-2013. In 2010, the financial assistance from the international organization increased 4 times. The table below describes the EU member’s states position versus Moldova: Table 1: EU Member states position versus Moldova Category| Member states| Description|Unconditional and active supporter | Romania | Romania traditionally supported a membership perspective, even when Bucharest had cold relations with former Moldovan Communist Government. Bilateral agreement were signed for agriculture, environment, education, in which Romania will offer assistance to fulfill EU criteria | Supporters | Poland, Sweden, Hungary, Baltic States, Bulgaria | Countries that offer support for Moldova’s EU ambitions, although fully aware that this is not a short-term option | Reluctant supporters | Czech Republic, UK | Open for discussing for EU embership if some other MSs would put the i ssue on the table. Both reluctant on visa. | Good willing skeptics| Germany | High level contact between Chisinau and Berlin brought encouragements, but Germany expects substantial reforms before any discussion on membership | Indifferent skeptics | France, Spain, Italy, Netherland | No clear position on Moldova. It seems not to be on their agenda. Italy is positive on visas. Netherland seems to focus on human rights and minorities treatment | Indifferent but visa skeptics | Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg | No position on membership, opposing visa liberalization |The unconditional supporter of Moldova â€Å"Europeanization† is Romania. On November 13th, 2009, Moldova signed the Agreement on Small-Scale border traffic with Romania, which went into effect on February, 25th, 2010. The Agreement permits people who have been residents in the border area of either country for at least a year, to travel in the neighboring state’s border zone without a visa, for 3 months. Anothe r achievement of the pro-European Government from Chisinau is the beginning of negotiations for the Association Agreement and Deep and Comprehensive Trade Agreement with EU.There were four rounds of negotiations in 2010. Currently, Moldova and EU negotiations focus on four working groups addressing issues that relate to foreign policy, security, justice and economic cooperation. Regarding the â€Å"economic cooperation† were closed already 18 of the 22 chapters which have been negotiated. After the last negotiations held in October 2010, Gunnar Wiegand, the head of EU delegation, Director for Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia, mentioned that:†This year [2010] has been enormous progress in EU-Moldova relations†.The European official said that after the conclusion of the fourth round of negotiations, the EU will provide some key recommendations for Moldova, concerning the creation of free trade area. After Russia imposed the second embargo on Moldovan wine i n 2010, which had catastrophically consequences for Moldovan wine industry (which constitutes 25 % of Moldovan GDP), EU doubled the quota for Moldovan wine. In March, 2010 Moldova joined European Energy Community, which will contribute to the diversification of the energy sources in Moldova.In just one year, Moldova became a champion in negotiations with EU. Since November 2009 to November 2010 there have been 5 EU Commissioner Visits in Moldova (from 1991 to 2008 just 4 visits). During September – October 2010 Moldova hosted 16 high EU missions. 3. 4. November, 28th 2010 in Moldova will be held the Parliamentary elections. These elections are crucial for Moldova’s future. Moldovans have to choose between continuing the course toward European economic integration or live with the past and the shadow of Soviet Union. 4. Current issues of Moldova – EU relations Watch out, Moldova joins EU through the back door†. During the summer of 2010, many Europeans news papers as Der Spiegel, The Daily Telegraph, Daily Express, Il Giornale, Le Figaro expressed their concerns about Romania giving â€Å"too many† citizenships to Moldova’s inhabitants. I would like to address this issue from Moldovan perspective. In 1940, when USSR by force occupied Moldova, they changed the nationality of the Moldova’s inhabitants from Romanian to â€Å"Moldovan† and none of them were asked if they wanted to become Soviet Moldovans.The political decision of Moscow to create a new identity – â€Å"Moldovan†, a new language with Cyrillic alphabet – †Moldovan† was a continuation of the process of Russification that was started in 1812. But what Soviet Union did not take into account is that, they could not erase a memory of a nation. After the 1991 independence, a lot of Moldovans refused the â€Å"Moldovan† identity (written in their ID) as their nationality and sued the Moldovan Government for admitti ng of the false information in the documents.All in all, the Romanian citizenship offered by Romania comes as a rehabilitation of historical injustice made to Romanians from Moldova. The process is named re-gain of the citizenship, which means that once, because of the historical circumstances the citizenship was lost but without their will. More than 70 % of the Moldova’s inhabitants could be eligible for Romanian citizenship. There is no statistical data, but unofficially around 300 000 Moldovans have double citizenship: Romanian and Moldovan and there are around other 1 million applications for Romanian citizenship.The procedure of re-gaining the Romanian citizenship is tough and time consuming (more than 4 years), there is a list of around 20 documents that the applicant has to provide, including certificate of birth of grand-parents, certificate of marriage, criminal records from Moldova and Romania, etc. The applicant has to prove that his grand-parents were born Romani ans and he is their descendent.Moreover, Soviet Union Rusificated the Moldovan’s name by adding the Russian endings like† –va† and â€Å"- vici† to the Romanian names and in order to be eligible for Romanian citizenship, the applicant should embrace a bureaucratic and costly process of correcting his name and his parents’ name. A lot of concerns were raised to the number of Romanian citizenships offered to Moldovans, but as we can see in the following table, Romania offers much less citizenships than other EU member states: Table 2: Citizenships offered by selected countries of the EU in 2008:Another key issue in Moldova – EU negotiations is liberalization of visa regime with EU. I would like to point out that Moldova almost fulfilled the technical requirements for liberalization of visa regime without being asked to (Ukraine did it in 3 years). There were a lot of fears concerning the liberalization of EU-Moldova visa regime, most of t hem related to illegal immigration. But, a logic exercise of the Moldova reality would show that these fears are not realistic. Moldova has around 4 million inhabitants (including Transnistria).According to migration studies, the potential migrants are between 20 to 49 years old. In 2009, in Moldova there were 1,677,616 inhabitants between 20 to 49 years old. Therefore, if there was free visa regime between Moldova and EU 1,677,616 of Moldovans would become potential immigrants. Taking into account that around 30 % of Moldovans (~1 mln) already left the country for EU, US, Russia, etc. , the fears of illegal immigration disappear. Moldovans are already in EU, a big majority of them working for 2, 5 and even 8 years without getting a chance to visit their families.An interesting fact is that just 14 % of Moldovan immigrants plan to settle abroad. The free visa regime between Moldova and EU will improve and legalize the situation of Moldovans who work in EU and also would decrease the illegal immigration (some Moldovans pay 4000 Euro to get to EU). 5. Which way further? An actual question is which way further will Moldova go? Will it stick to its past or it will try to build a European future? It is certainly a question which answer we will found after November elections.One issue is obvious, the changing of the power in Chisinau brought Moldova back on EU agenda and the international circumstances are very favorable for solving the Transnistria conflict. On 4-5 June, Russia and Germany signed the Meseberg Memorandum. The document proposes creating an EU-Russia Political and Security Policy Committee, to be chaired by the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Policy Catherine Ashton and Russia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei Lavrov, for high-level consultations and decisions.The committee’s mandate would include â€Å"setting ground rules for joint civilian and military crisis management operations by the EU and NATO,† as well as â⠂¬Å"working out recommendations on various conflicts and crisis situations, to the resolution of which the European Union and Russia may contribute within appropriate multilateral forums. † On these definitions, the EU-Russia Committee would be vested with greater powers than those of the NATO-Russia Council. It would also institute an EU-Russia policy coordination mechanism, such as the EU does not have with the United States or with NATO.The German government has identified the conflict in Moldova’s Transnistria region as the issue most likely to demonstrate that the EU can work one-on-one with Russia on European security. In Berlin’s view, Russia should ultimately withdraw its troops from Moldova’s territory and allow Moldova to reunify with Transnistria. In return for cooperating to settle this conflict, Russia could receive a major role in European security affairs, with access to EU decision-making processes via the proposed committee. The German ini tiative can generate a positive dynamic in the negotiations on Transnistria.It can also help raise this conflict high on the EU-Russia agenda. After the French-Russian-German summit in Deauville on 18-21 October, 2010, the Russian President, Dmitri Medvedev, for the first time in last 20 years, talked about including Romania in Transnistria negotiation process. Some analysts would argue that this propose is related to the invitation of Romania to participate in South Stream project, instead of Nabucco project. On October 21, 2010, the EU Parliament adopted a Resolution concerning EU-Moldova relations.The resolution stresses the substantial progress in EU-Moldova relations over the last year and calls on the Commission to swiftly adopt a visa liberalization plan for Moldovan citizens. Parliament also approved the recent initiative launched by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Dimitri Medvedev to create an EU-Russia Security Committee to discuss regional issues suc h as a settlement of the Transnistria conflict. In addition to German support, Moldova also received positive signals from Central East European countries and Baltic countries, as Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Estonia, etc.In September 2010, Moldovan Prime-Minister had a bilateral meeting in Budapest with Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orban. The next month, the Hungarian Prime-Minister visited Moldova and reiterated the Hungarian support for Moldova’s cause. At the beginning of November, the Polish economist Leszek Balcerowicz, famous for his â€Å"Shock Therapy† (a method for rapidly transitioning from a communist economy, based on state ownership and central planning, to a capitalist market economy), visited Moldova at the invitation of Moldovan Prime-Minister and expressed his will to share with Moldova Poland’s experience concerning economic transformations.In conclusion, one issue is evident, the so-called Moldova twitter revolution had changed the Eu ropean agenda concerning Moldova. Not so long ago, Moldova was seen as a lost country, â€Å"black hole of Europe†, â€Å"the poorest European country†, â€Å"a grey zone under Russian influence† and no one expected the quick change that would bring Moldova in the headlines. The change came from inside the country, from young Moldovans and students, from the so called â€Å"twitter generation†, who does not accept a totalitarian regime and wish for a better country to live in.