Southern Sudan Referendum

Table of Contents Introduction The Referendum Process Conclusion Works Cited Introduction Southern Sudan is currently conducting a referendum and the voting exercise has been scheduled to run from January fifth to fifteenth 2011. The referendum is being conducted after a consensus between the North and the South on the modalities of power sharing between the two blocks had been set (The Kansas City Star).Advertising We will write a custom article sample on Southern Sudan Referendum specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The out come of the referendum will determine whether the Southern Sudan citizens will gain their independence, that they have fought for over the last few decades, or continue being part of Sudan (The Kansas City Star). The exercise has attracted a great international attention characterized by a high presence of international diplomats and journalists who are keenly observing the process. The Referendum Process The Southern Sudanese citizens have demonstrated a great sense of nationalism since the beginning of the voting exercise by turning out in large numbers to vote in various polling centers (The Kansas City Star). The polling centers have also been extended to neighboring countries like Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda among other counties which have a considerable number of Sudan citizens. This is meant to give the Southern Sudan citizens in these countries a chance to participate in the exercise. According to the Kansas City news paper report on Sudan referendum, the Sudan government and its party are ready to consent the outcome of the referendum. This comment was made by Ibrahim Ghandour and it has reduced the speculation that the government would probably disown the results of the referendum (The Kansas City Star). On the other hand, Omar al-Bashir who is the current president of Sudan has however had mixed reactions about the process saying that it would possibly compromise peace between the Northern and Southern Sudan regions. Nevertheless, he has promised that as long as the whole process is conducted fairly the Southern Sudan block will be free to be autonomous (The Kansas City Star). Although the referendum is being carried out in various parts of Southern Sudan, the hotly contested Abeyi region which is popularly known for having rich deposits of oil â€Å"the black gold† has actually been left out in the referendum race due to unresolved residential and demarcation disputes (The Kansas City Star). The Abeyi region was to have a parallel referendum at the same time to determine if it should be part of the South or the North. However, this has been shelved until the mentioned disputes are ratified. Cases of escalating violence have been recently reported in this region owing to the current high political temperature in the region (Garang). It has also been reported that Northern militia groups have been lynching the southerners along the border of Kharto um (Garang).Advertising Looking for article on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The US government has pledged to give the current Sudan government which operates from Khartoum splendid incentives should it accept the outcome of the process (Garang). The news paper report has also revealed that close to two million lives have been claimed since the beginning of the conflict between the North and the South which has now lasted for well over two decades. If Southern Sudan gains independence, it will bring under its control a large territory with rich oil deposits and this can best explain why the Northerners have always been reluctant to separate from the Southerners (The Kansas City Star). The removal of Sudan from the file of countries that fund terrorists and rebels is likely to start once they accept the outcome of the referendum. Conclusion Until the final results of the referendum shall have been relea sed in a few days to come, one cannot make conclusive remark that the Southerners have gained their independence. However, owing to the current situation on the ground coupled with positive media reports about the whole process it is evident that the outcome will be good. Thus the Southerners are likely to gain the independence they have always longed for. The Southern Sudan citizens have also envisaged better opportunities should they gain independence (The Kansas City Star). Works Cited Garang, Joseph. â€Å"Sudan bishop speaks about referendum, international partnerships†. Anglican Journal.com. 06 Jan. 2011. Web. The Kansas City Star. â€Å"Sudan: ruling party ready for south’s independence†. The Kansas City Star. 14 Jan. 2011. Web. This article on Southern Sudan Referendum was written and submitted by user Isiah D. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Free Essays on The Society Of The Victorian Age

Showing their role in society, women in literature are often portrayed in a male dominated position. Especially in the nineteenth century, women were repressed and controlled by their husbands as well as other male influences. â€Å"The writings of mid-century women often reveal much about their perception of themselves† (Rose). In "The Yellow Wallpaper", by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, the protagonist is oppressed and represents the effect of the oppression of women in society. â€Å"Gilman used the story to illustrate her belief in the great need for social reform in the Victorian Age and the potentially crippling effects that lack of opportunity has on women† (Johnson). This effect is created by the use of complex symbols such as the house, the nursery room, and the wallpaper which, encourages her oppression as well as her self expression. It is customary to find the symbol of the house as representing a secure place for a woman's transformation and her release of self expression. However, in this story, the house is not her own and she does not want to be in it. It represents a prison in which she is trapped. She declares it is "haunted" and that " there is something strange about the house"(Gilman 195). Although she acknowledges the beauty of the house and especially what surrounds it, she constantly goes back to her feelings that "there is something strange about the house"(Gilman 195). Her first impression of the house almost tells you that the narrator knows of the upcoming transformation that will take place in the house while she is there. The location of the house, 3 miles from the nearest village, its slight state of disrepair symbolizes the narrator’s mental condition as being that of isolation and segregation. Another significant setting is the nursery room, â€Å"It was a nursery first, and then a playroom and gymnasium, I should judge for the windows are barred for little children, and there are ... Free Essays on The Society Of The Victorian Age Free Essays on The Society Of The Victorian Age Showing their role in society, women in literature are often portrayed in a male dominated position. Especially in the nineteenth century, women were repressed and controlled by their husbands as well as other male influences. â€Å"The writings of mid-century women often reveal much about their perception of themselves† (Rose). In "The Yellow Wallpaper", by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, the protagonist is oppressed and represents the effect of the oppression of women in society. â€Å"Gilman used the story to illustrate her belief in the great need for social reform in the Victorian Age and the potentially crippling effects that lack of opportunity has on women† (Johnson). This effect is created by the use of complex symbols such as the house, the nursery room, and the wallpaper which, encourages her oppression as well as her self expression. It is customary to find the symbol of the house as representing a secure place for a woman's transformation and her release of self expression. However, in this story, the house is not her own and she does not want to be in it. It represents a prison in which she is trapped. She declares it is "haunted" and that " there is something strange about the house"(Gilman 195). Although she acknowledges the beauty of the house and especially what surrounds it, she constantly goes back to her feelings that "there is something strange about the house"(Gilman 195). Her first impression of the house almost tells you that the narrator knows of the upcoming transformation that will take place in the house while she is there. The location of the house, 3 miles from the nearest village, its slight state of disrepair symbolizes the narrator’s mental condition as being that of isolation and segregation. Another significant setting is the nursery room, â€Å"It was a nursery first, and then a playroom and gymnasium, I should judge for the windows are barred for little children, and there are ...

Choctaw Indians Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Choctaw Indians - Essay Example in the Mississippi is comprised of ten communities such as Pearl River, Red Water, Bogue Chitto, Standing Pine, Tucker, Conehatta, Crystal Ridge, and Bogue Homa while the other two located off the Mississippi are on Ripley, Tennessee and the Attala Property. On the other hand, the Choctaws in Oklahoma occupy ten and o ­ne-half counties in the southeastern part of Oklahoma. Their territories are bounded on the north by the South Canadian, Canadian and Arkansas Rivers; the east of their territory is the State of Arkansas, while o ­n the south they are bounded by the Red River. To date, both tribes have a government structures similar to a democratic nation. They both have an Executive, Legislative and Judicial government branches. The Tribal Chief holds the Executive office with judicial authority. The Tribal Council has the Legislative powers of the government. Originating from Mississippi, the Choctaw Indians belong to the Muskhogean family along with the Chickasaws, the Alabama-Koasatis, the Apalachees, the Creeks, the Seminoles, and the Hitchiti-Mikasukis. They were all descendants of the Paleo-Indians. The Paleo-Indians were believed to be the first occupants of North America. These ancestors hunt and farm for their subsistence much similar to how the Choctaws subsist. Another view on the origin of the Choctaws is accounted on their oral history. Two stories have been passed on through generations of Choctaws. The first one tells of how the Choctaws were created along with the other tribes while the second one spotlights how the Choctaws were lead to live in Mississippi. Both stories involve the Nanih Waiya which symbolizes the divine elements mentioned in the stories. Relatively, as shown on the Choctaws’ belief in their stories of origin, reflects their religious nature. Their belief in supernatural beings can be seen in their literary works. Choctaws before the Europeans came, believed in a god named Aba. Along with this god are the good and bad

Bussiness law Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Bussiness law - Assignment Example Most of the firms have their clearly defined S.O.Ps, legal sanctions and legal domains looking into the often occurring disputes. This paper looks into the broad lined disputes that often occur and the example of how two companies in U.A.E undertook the dispute and conflicts at hand. The paper also looks into the generic code of conduct that is implied towards the business sectors with regard to the legal disputes. The DIFC courts are in place and actively working towards the resolution of the problems in the business sector for quite a while now. They are one of the most authentic and established entity designed for the purpose of looking into the matters and resolving them according to the need and professional requirements (Gaeta, 2012, p 45). The DIFC courts incorporate English for the purpose of interaction and conversation exchange with one another. The multi nationals and the Western companies engaged in the business activities undertake such processes and take assistance of the DIFC courts in preference over the local courts whenever some dispute takes place. DIFC comes in combination and consonance with the Al-Tamimi group that specializes in the working of the finding the legal grounds towards the resolution of problems that may occur at different phases on the project and activities so undertaken (out-law, 2012). This was of the generic and broad line declaration of the methods by which the disputes can be resolved. Owing to the overall success and influence of the recognition and reconciliation entity, United Arab Emirates has engaged itself in the same mechanism and has taken the ownership and membership which allows it practicing the same principles in the spirit of the professional work. U.A.E government, realizing the importance of it signed it and became an official signatory of it towards 2005 and 2006 and later on made it a general practicing model towards the business activities and disputes resolution. In such scenarios the

Performance Management at Lincoln Electric Company and Southwest Case Study

Performance Management at Lincoln Electric Company and Southwest - Case Study Example A common denominator that has been linked to their success is their concern for employees that trumps their concern for their shareholders (Schuler, 2012, p.572). These companies assert that if employees are well taken care of, they will do their jobs better, and doing so benefits customers and shareholders. Lincoln Electric is the top company that designs, develops, and makes arc-welding products, robotic arc-welding equipments, and plasma and oxyfuel cutting tools. It also leads in the brazing and soldering alloys industries. Lincoln owns 40% of the U.S. market share. Moreover, it provides its employees with a well-known Lincoln Incentive Management Plan, which results to above-industry-average productivity (Schuler, 2012, p.559). In 1995, the company attained $1 billion revenues, while at present, sales reached $2 billion (Schuler, 2012, p.559). Employee morale and productivity are good; while turnover is almost zero (Schuler, 2012, p.559). A similar company with strong employee f ocus is Southwest Airlines. It has led the low-cost airline industry by focusing on being the cheapest and most efficient operator in domestic regional markets (Jackson, Schuler, & Werner, 2012, p.578). Despite being a low-cost airliner, Southwest is known for on-time travels, excellent customer service, and safety (Jackson et al., 2012, p.578). In 2012, the company bought AirTran Airways for $1.4 billion. The acquisition is believed to increase revenue and capacity by almost 25%, although its direct impact on Southwest’s success remains to be seen (Schuler, 2012, p.580). Like Lincoln Electric, employee morale and productivity are high in Southwest through the joint efforts of its employee-based committees. This paper compares, contrasts, and evaluates the human resource management practices of Lincoln Electric and Southwest. Recruiting and Selection Recruitment and selection are attuned to the organizational needs and cultures of Southwest and Lincoln Electric. Recruitment i s restricted to internal recruitment for most jobs in Lincoln Electric. Only entry-level positions are open to external recruitment (Schuler, 2012, p.561). Selection is performed by HR, which also happens in Southwest. In Southwest, however, selection is more refined due to specific employee attitudes that it looks for. This can be explained by the fact that Southwest operates in a service industry, while Lincoln Electric works in the manufacturing industry. Southwest has a stringent selection policy, where it spends more time, energy, and money in recruiting people who can fit the fun and collaborative culture of the company (Jackson et al., 2012, p.584). It has a People Department that performs the decisive function of recruiting and selecting personnel (Jackson et al., 2012, p.584). Personality tests and interviews support the rigorous selection process (Jackson et al., 2012, p.584). Hence, though both companies ensure that their employees fit company goals and culture through th eir recruitment and selection practices, Southwest shows extra dedication and uses more resources in recruiting people with the right attitudes. Performance Management Management Styles Both Lincoln Electric and Southwest have charismatic founders, whom employees find be empathic of their employees’ welfare, although Southwest has a â€Å"wackier† attitude to managing employees. In an employee interview, Trahan remarked that James Lincoln â€Å"

How Good Communication Skill Is Significant In Healthcare

How Good Communication Skill Is Significant In Healthcare This study is all about how communication helps and how good communication skill is significant in health and social care environment. Effective communication is crucial for health and social care. What is communication? Communication is nothing but just the exchange of information and meaning by using symbols and signs between individuals. The sender, message, receiver and feedback are the four components used in the process of communication. And to have a continuous flow of communication it is necessary to comprehend to each component. Communication takes place in many forms like verbal, non-verbal, formal and informal, written, etc. Communication helps in comprehending human behaviour. Application of all these techniques of communication is required in health and social care. So for an effective social and health care it is essential to have good interpersonal and communication skill. Use of Communication Skill in Health Social Care Context Communication skills are of great importance in any field. It is very much necessary to communicate with the target audience in the way they comprehend it and also it is of great significance to comprehend the intellectual and physical limitations of the targeted audience. Let us simplify it by taking an example: Let us take a hypothetical situation, consider you are a doctor and practicing on a child and the child is having some heart problem. In this case you will not expect that child to comprehend the lengthy report on his heart functioning test. So definitely you would water it down. Many such examples can be given to understand the importance of communication to health and social care. Communication skill helps in organising a conversation, helps in probing the opposite person, it also helps in keeping the conversation going. Also communication skills are necessary in order to build up a good and health relation with the people using your services, also it helps in comprehending and meeting the needs of the person as well as can bond up with their friends and families. It helps in sending and receiving the information with the people taking up your services. There are many different types of communication named one-to-one communication, group communication, formal communication and informal communication, written communication. In health and social care generally a formal communication is used, which generally starts with the greeting. It is generally used to show respect towards the person and it is also a communication starter. A professional person generally in health and social care uses formal communication in order to speak to opposite person in regards to the services. It is exact, clear and avoids misunderstandings. Another communication, which is generally used in health and social care, is written communication. In health and social care environment, written communication is central to the work of any person when keeping records or in writing any reports. Different styles of writing are needed for different types of communication but the basic of all is the requirement of literacy skills. When recording any information about a patient a very formal style of writing is required. Barriers to Communication in Health Social Care Many things contribute in stopping an effective communication. People working with health and social care should comprehend the barriers in order to overcome them. Effective communication is very much necessary in health and social care setting; if the communication is not effective or understandable than it would be difficult for a service user to involve in the discussion regarding the care or planning the future. Similarly, it would be difficult for a service provider to help the service user if he do not understand what the person is trying to ask. Few of the barriers are language problems, jargons, acronyms, health issues, stress, emotional difficulties, environmental problems, misinterpretation, aggression, etc. Let us briefly understand all the above-mentioned barriers: Language Problem (Foreign Language): Using a language other than local or using sign language creates problem for both the service provider and user in comprehending each other. Even if someone tries and helps out in translating the message, it is again difficult to pass the message clearly. Jargons: Technical words used by the service provider, may not be understandable by service user. For example, if a patient rushes to doctor and to diagnose the problem doctor asks the patient to do a MRI scan and blood test than that would certainly sound scary to that patient. Instead of directly imposing what to do if the doctor explain what the MRI scan is and why it is required than the patient would be more relaxed. Acronyms: Acronyms are the initials of the shortened words. In health and social care lots of acronyms are used and they are confusing too. Sometimes subconsciously the use of acronyms is made which makes the opposite person feels left out. For example, if a health care professional says that you have to take these tablets TDS. What did you comprehend from this sentence? So we feels left out her. Here TDS means three times a day. It is also related to jargon. Health issue: When a person is not feeling well or is not in the best of his health, it becomes difficult for him to communicate effectively as he is not well. This definitely affects the service user and colleagues too. So the people who are being taken care in the hospital due to some illness might not be able to communicate like normal. Also the patients who are being treated in the hospital for their long-term sickness like Parkinsons disease also affect their ability to communicate. So if you are working in health and social care than you should be aware about such scenarios and should be capable enough to handle it. Stress: Stress also causes difficulty in communication. A person if stressed out might not listen properly and so he might misunderstand or misinterpret the conversation. Stress also cause difficulty in speaking or might be tearful as well. Emotional difficulties: At times everyone faces emotional difficulties and get upset. For example, a fight between husband and wife, a split up between boyfriend and a girl friend or a bad new; all these contributes towards emotional difficulties. Here as the person is already preoccupied he might not hear to what is being said and so this might lead to misunderstanding. Environmental Problems: It is the communication affected by environment. For example, if someone is having reading problem (due to weak eyesight) than the person will surely struggle in reading the written information in low light. A person on a wheelchair may face problem in talking to a receptionist if the desk is too high. Aggression: Unpleasant and frightening behaviour is aggression. It can be mental, verbal or physical and can cause emotional harm or pain. For example, a person working in health and social care irritated or annoyed due to some reasons than the person to whom he is providing service might feel threatened or dominated and so might not be able to respond. This results in the offering of the bad services. Ways to deal with inappropriate Interpersonal Communication Selection of wrong words or use of passive vocabulary, body language misinterpretation or cultural insensitivity leads to inappropriate interpersonal communication. In such case what can be done to avoid such problem is: Always rephrase in simpler and different words to whatever has been said in order to avoid unnecessary confusion and misunderstand. One of the way to deal with inappropriate communication in focusing, it also helps in preventing communication barriers. Attentive listening without interrupting is also one of the ways to deal with it. Respectful respond should be given to persons opinion and listeners view should not be imposed. One of the communication strategies for providing comfort is empathy; an empathic approach helps in comprehending. Factors influencing Communication Process in Health Social Care Communication process is influenced in several ways. According to Watson, the action of caring includes communication, support, positive regards or physical interventions by the nurse (1985 cited in Kozier at el, 2004, p.419). A sense of care is felt through communication, although a lot depends on interpersonal attitude as well. A sense of importance and worth is felt when respect is given and opinions and ideas are accepted and not judged. Also a terrible feel during an interaction is also a factor of communication barrier. Judgemental action, probing, agreeing/disagreeing, stereotyping, rejecting are the non-therapeutic responses (Kozier at el, 2004, p.432). Cultural Factors Influencing Communication Process What is Culture? Culture refers to beliefs, shared and learned values and behaviour, which is common to a particular group of people (Orbe Bruess, 2005). Music, food, dress, customs and celebration are also included in culture. Communication and culture are the two inseparable. Culture is a significant part of our perspective through which we see the world. Culture is shaped by communication and is also learned through communication. Communicating with people from same culture is different and communicating with people from different culture is a different experience. Although culture is powerful, they are frequently influencing conflicts and unconscious. Always remember two things about culture; one is that culture are always changing and the other is they communicate to symbolic dimension of life. According to Stella Ting there are three ways where communication process is affected by culture. First is Cognitive Constraint which is the reference frame that provides surrounding that all new information is compared to or inserted into. Second is Behaviour Constraint; it is about culture having their own rules of behaviour regarding verbal and nonverbal communications. For example, how much distance should be maintained when talking to the other person, whether to look in the other person eye or not, etc? The final one is Emotional Constraint; every culture has their own way of showing emotions. For example, there are many cultures that get emotional when debating on an issue; they yell, cry, etc. While many cultures tend to remain calm and keep their emotions hidden. All these cultural difference leads to communication problems. This is more likely to happen when dealing with cross cultures. To overcome these problem only awareness regarding the cultures is needed. Legislation, Code of Practice and Policies in Health Social Care Legislation- Legislation are the laws made by parliaments, these laws shows the right of an individual, group or an organisation. All the health social care settings should comprehend the significance of sticking to legal guidance as this can defend against the poor practice. For example, the data protection acts, freedom of information act, care standards act, race relation act, etc. Policies- In order to promote equal opportunities and strengthen the code of practice of particular professional bodies it is must for an organisation to have policies and procedures. Policies includes confidentiality, harassment and bullying, health and safety, equal opportunities, risk assessment, etc. Code of Practice- Since 2000, it has become vital for all health and social care settings to have a professional code of practice. In order to inform the practitioner about their rights and responsibilities and to guide the code of practice is kept. It is mandatory for all health and social care worker to carry out an induction period where the proper training leading to appropriate qualification is given. Same code of practice is followed by Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England. Health Social Care Services with specific Communication needs People having cognitive impairment, language and sensory deficit, structural deficits and paralysis need specific communication (Kozier et al. 2004, p.438). In general, the care worker uses the SOLER technique by Egan (1986), it helps in effective communication with the clients, and makes them feel safe and trust the caregiver. SOLER stands for: S- Sit squarely in relation to the patient O- Open position L- Lean slightly towards the patient E- Eye contact R- Relax This technique helps in good interaction and can be used for both; people with or without any special needs. Depending on the type of communication impairment different strategies and techniques can be used. For people with hearing problem or who are deaf, BSL (British Sign Language) was introduced which was eventually accepted by UK government officially in 2003 and now this sign language has become universal. But it is different in each place of origin. Not only people with hearing impairment learn this language but also the people who interact with these people learn this language. For example, friends and families. Also Lip-speaking is a technique used for deaf. In lip-speaking interaction through facial expression, gesture and mouth is done without making any sound. There is one more technique, which is used for people with learning difficulties such as structural deficit and paralysis and cognitive impairment. It is known as Makaton. Makaton uses common vocabulary and is much simple. It uses symbol, action as well as speech, unlike BSL. This is a very helpful technique for people with limited ability to communicate. For Blind people reading and writing method through Braille is used. It is useful for every individual who is completely dependent on sense. Finally, Human Aids, Human aids are the people helping communicate with each other. Translator, interpreter, etc are the examples of human aids. Information Communication Technology (ICT) in Health Social Care ICT provides great support for care professional and other staff in order to provide effective, fast and convenient care. Visible and workable ICT is required in order to deliver high standards. In order to get the quality outcome data and to give the best possible care to people it is needed to exploit ICT. Individuals quality care depends on easy access to care plans and electronic records. It must be capable enough to distribute information across health and social care. ICT helps in delivering more effective and better healthcare services. ICT helps doctors, hospitals and pharmacist for taking better care of our health. ICT helps in saving lives, improving patients care, helps in reducing cost in health care. For example, a patient with heart problem will be carrying a monitor, which will alarm the doctor if any changes in patient condition and will let them do their task. ICT use is central to social work, which is concerned with sharing assessments and exchanging information with other professionals and practitioners. Quickly and securely medical data can be exchanged. ICT has made the operation simpler than before. The basic ICT at health social care includes: Quality care (efficient and effective care service) Empowerment (patients involving in their own care activities) Availability (waiting time, access and better utilization of resources) Care continuity (information sharing and coordinating with care provider) Patient safety (risk is reduced in regards to patient harm) Some of the technologies used at health care are CDMS (Chronic Disease Management System), CPOE (Computerised Practitioner Order Entry), CDS (Clinical Decision Support), ETP (Electronic Transfer of Prescription), Electronic Appointment Booking, PHR (Personal Health Record), Telemedicines, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) Bar-coding, etc. ICT is used everyday at health care. ICT is used in administrative department to keep a check on in and out of the patients, to keep the records of the patients staff as well.

My Memories :: essays research papers

These are some of my memories that I can remember clearly. Some are from a very long time ago and some are quite resent. I have three, some parts of them are bad memories and other parts are that good that I’ll never forget them. One of my earliest memories was when I was about 3 or 4 and lived in a small house in Warrington. It was a hot sunny day and I was out in the garden playing football with my friend Joe. My Mum, and Joe's Mum, were both in the house having dinner together because they had not seen each other for a while. Me and Joe were both seeing who could do the most kick-ups. When it was my turn, I kicked the ball too far and it landed in next doors garden. I walked over to have a look if I could see it. As I was walking over I could see some thing in the bush, I then realized it was an action figure. So I ran to get it, but before I got there, Joe had already beaten me to it. I tried to snatch of him but he kept hold tight, like a dog with a bone. We were fighting and arguing over it for about 2 or 3 minutes. Then all of a sudden he let go and I went flying through the air. I then ended up landing on the concrete out side the back door and smacking my head on the floor. The pain rushed to my head and I started to feel dizzy. It felt like some one had put my head in a vice and tightened it slowly. There was no blood but there was a huge bruise on the back of my head. I started to scream as loud as I could and both of our parents came rushing out of the back door to see what was going on. The brui se lasted for a week or so and I didn’t talk to Joe for a month or so. Another one of my memories was when I was around 10 years old. My Dad had a friend who was doing up an old motor bike out of scrap parts. At the time all I wanted was a motor bike, and I begged my Dan to buy it of his friend. My Dad asked his friend if he would sell the motor bike after he had got it working.

The Garden

I remember my first day of finishing school clearly. Nightingale finishing school for Girls was buzzing with pupils, ready for the new school year ahead of them, and telling tales of their . I felt out of place. It might have been that I had the wrong hairstyle, or that my shoes were not the right style, maybe it was the fact that I had nobody to talk to, maybe it was all of these. I know now that it was something much stranger than that, a power that repelled certain people away from me – it was like trying to attract wrong ends of magnets together. I saw a group of girls and decided they must have been the â€Å"popular† clique. There was a buzzing air around them, as well as a larger crowd. They were all stunning; with not a hair out of place. They looked over to me as I stood alone. The look was icy, and I presumed this was just because I was the â€Å"new girl†, an outcast. I turned away and found a place to sit alone, when I felt a sharp tap on my back. It was one of the girls from the corner. She had waist-long, wavy butter-coloured hair. Some of her hair was secured with a very ornate cameo pin. Her fluttering eyelashes curled upwards in the most graceful fashion. Even her drab school uniform seemed to suit her perfectly. She had the elegance and beauty of an exotic white tiger. I turned around and said nothing; I was far too intimidated to answer. It seemed as if the tiger was ready to pounce. â€Å"Who are you?† There was a sharp pause. â€Å"You must be the new girl then.† I tried to reply but simply couldn't. It was like trying to talk when under the pressure of deep water. She looked at me as if I were a leper. Offended, she mumbled something inaudible and snarled like a dog, â€Å"What's the matter with you? I want to warn you not to get in the way here. Don't mess with us and you might just get along here.† All eyes seemed to be on me as she hurried back to her crowd, to regain her place as â€Å"queen bee†. Her friends laughed and then went back to their conversation as if nothing had happened. Half way through my day, I knew that I wouldn't fit in very well; I was frustrated at the fact that I might not find any friends at all. As soon as we were allowed a free period and retire to the hall again, I escaped to the great library. It was a large, magnificent room, which looked as if I could blend in and not be noticed by anyone. The walls, books and floor were my only company. I reflected over my day and what had happened. Nobody understood what I was going through, and how difficult it was for me to speak to them. This triggered thought about my late mother. She died at the tender age of 33. Mostly, I'm over the death of my mother. At the time of her death, I didn't understand what was happening. I thought that I was too young to be wearing a black dress; only older women seemed to wear them. It was more uncomfortable than my normal dress and I didn't want to wear it at all. I didn't understand at my young age that it would have been unacceptable, and disrespectful to my dead mother, for me not to. The clothes my mother dressed me in were much more comfortable, and they smelt of her scent wherever I went. The week after her death, I started to wonder where she had gone. I missed her greatly after a few weeks, because my father was much stiffer and stricter, if he was there for us at all. He seemed more into his work and gambling than caring for his children. My personality, as well as my brothers', changed at this point. I became much more reserved, unwilling to talk to anyone other than my brothers. I didn't particularly feel like talking to them either; I only talked to them when it was necessary. Nobody seemed to worry about me, either. I spent most of my time in our luscious garden. I enjoyed the cool shade of the willow tree in the summer; there I could hear the sweet birds chirping. I could smell the blooming flowers, their rich colours like confectionery to the eyes. Here was the only place I could find peacefulness, and shut myself out from the rest of the uncaring world. I disliked my father for what he had done; he was responsible for sending me here†¦ â€Å"Hello.† My quiet thoughts were interrupted. â€Å"I wondered if you knew where the gardens were.† I looked up at my intruder, confused. There were no gardens, as far as I knew, at this school. He was a tall boy, of about fifteen years. I noticed that he wasn't very handsome, but there was a mysterious air about him which made him seem attractive. I wondered what he was doing here; this was a girls' finishing school after all. I attempted to say that I was new here, and didn't know where it was, but all that came out was a muffled squeak: â€Å"No, sorry.† He started to walk away. He turned around and said â€Å"Oh, okay. Good night. And may I say that you have the prettiest eyes I have ever seen.† I blushed violently, and went back to my book about wild animals. * That night I had a spectacularly vivid dream. I could see luscious green grass and fragrant flowers filled the space. I saw the beautiful colours of the wildlife; exotic birds and unidentifiable mammals. There was a small spinney which caught my eye; the branches were waving slowly in the cool breeze, and a pool of sparkling water beside it. The landscape was truly beautiful; it was like being in a different world. I saw my mother reflected in the water where I leant over. She looked as beautiful as ever, as beautiful as a rose. She was slightly different from what I remember, as if she had bloomed further. Her face was a little more blushing and her nose was slightly more pointed. Her strawberry-blonde locks looked just like mine, as well as her beautifully deep blue-green eyes. I realised after a few seconds that this was not my mother, but I. I was truly taken aback by how much I looked like my mother; I suppose I had not before looked into my own reflection properly. That was the day that changed my life. I had not experienced such a vivid dream before, but they started to happen much more often. They started to affect my concentration in the school; I longed to be outside, free, with no cares and responsibilities. I thought that it was just my imagination running wild, and longing for my comfortable past back. Having an appearance like my mother's helped my self-confidence. I was sure that she was extremely beautiful. I knew that I could never look as dazzling, as striking as her, but I knew that I was certainly not ugly. I noticed that my voice was coming through once again; no longer a muffled squeal. However, I still felt like hardly anyone liked me. I spent my evenings in the library, my secret hideaway. I was starting to get used to this school; life wasn't as bad as it used to seem. * A year later, and my evenings were still as normal, uninterrupted and peaceful. I felt a wave of sleep come over me, so I closed my book and curled up into a ball. I didn't realise at the time that this was not in a most ladylike fashion; my tiredness seemed to take over. It was not unusual to feel tired after a long day, so thought nothing of it at the time. Whilst in my sleep, I had another vivid dream. It was pleasant, the season in my world seemed to have changed to winter, but it was still beautiful. A soft blanket of snow covered the grass, and sparkling ice covered the pool of water where I often sat and thought about my mother. The leaves had left the trees in the spinney, and a layer of frost covered them. It was quite spectacular, everywhere sparkled and dazzled in the midday sun. I stumbled over a root in the spinney, but a striking evergreen bush broke my fall. â€Å"I'm sorry for my impoliteness,† I was awoken. It was a boy, the same boy that I had come across on my first day at this school. â€Å"But I wondered if I could talk to you?† I felt shy, but also warmed by his presence. Something about him made me feel slightly more comfortable than usual. This feeling was similar to the one I had when my mother was still alive. I was daydreaming, and didn't realise; there was a pause in the conversation. â€Å"It's just that†¦ I feel as if we are in the same situation.† He said, and sat down on the couch next to me. As I was slightly taken aback by this, I said nothing. My face asked the questions. â€Å"My mother died when I was young. I came here because I sensed that someone with the power was near.† He said, gently. â€Å"I know that you've had trouble fitting in, just like I did. People like me and you don't, generally. People can sense that you have something different, which wards them off.† I was slightly confused, so I decided to ask him what the power was. Was it the power to enter a secret garden in my sleep? â€Å"What is the power?† â€Å"It is when you have the ability to enter a supernatural world, full of peace and harmony whenever you wish. I gained mine a few years after my mother died; she passed the power on to me. That is why I asked you last year whether you knew the way to the gardens.† I began to understand. This boy truly knew what I was feeling, and I could talk to him, as if I were a normal girl and my feelings mattered to him; he could empathise with me and vice versa. We instantly connected and I felt at ease. I couldn't believe that I had met someone who knew how I felt, and what my life was like! We had been talking for two hours before I noticed that I was late to my dorm room. â€Å"I have to go†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I said. He asked me if I could stay for just a little while longer. I knew that inside, I wanted to stay. I wanted to stay with him forever, but simply had to go. I left after a couple of minutes. I was ecstatic; I couldn't have asked for more than a friend at that point in my life. I don't know what I would have done without somebody to understand me, at least for one day. I never did ask what he was doing at our girls' school that day; the thought never crossed my mind whilst our conversation was flowing. It flowed like a river, never ending, and as we continued to meet it stayed that way. We shared our secret desires and passions, as well as sharing the stories of our past. Together, we also discovered that we could enter the garden with each other. I don't know how it happened, but as we held each other in a warm embrace, the light appeared. We did so more and more, and over the days, weeks and months, the garden appeared to bloom – just like our friendship. The garden's wildlife became more and more stunning. Even the non-living pool appeared to be spilling with life. He was my only friend, and I wanted it to stay that way, forever.

Free Essays on A Vintage Thunderbird

Love Is More Than A Heart Love is a very important thing to most people and as the saying goes ‘you can never choose who you love’. This is very true of the love between Nick and Karen, the main characters in Ann Beattie’s A Vintage Thunderbird. This fictional short story is rich in meaning and symbolism. When Nick is mugged, the character Stephanie, and most importantly the vintage Thunderbird all are symbols of Nick and Karen’s love for each other and their relationship. According to the hidden meaning of these events these two are meant to be together forever. Stephanie is a mutual friend of both Nick and Karen. In a time when Karen has run off to Bermuda, Stephanie comes to see Nick in need of being rescued. Stephanie has found herself pregnant and not wanting to be. For two weeks the two of them bond while waiting for Karen to return. Once she came back Karen and Nick were able to get over there argument to help Stephanie. They helped her to make and follow-through with a very difficult decision. This only proves that no matter how upset they are that Nick and Karen really love each other and are able to pull to together in a time of need. Stephanie is the only woman who doesn’t get Nick beaten. Nick has been mugged twice since he first met Karen. Over a year ago, when Nick went to visit an old girlfriend and they squabbled. As Nick was leaving he was assaulted by a teenager, who left him with out a wallet or cigarettes and badly bruised. If Nick had only stayed in the city with Karen this never would have happened. The second time that Nick is battered was while on a date with another woman. He had corresponded with Karen shortly before and she had asked Nick to leave the woman he was seeing to talk to her, Nick refused. While on the date he felt pangs of guilt for treating Karen the way that he had so he called her. She gave him the ultimatum of coming to see her right then or not at all. Nick said good-bye to his d... Free Essays on A Vintage Thunderbird Free Essays on A Vintage Thunderbird Love Is More Than A Heart Love is a very important thing to most people and as the saying goes ‘you can never choose who you love’. This is very true of the love between Nick and Karen, the main characters in Ann Beattie’s A Vintage Thunderbird. This fictional short story is rich in meaning and symbolism. When Nick is mugged, the character Stephanie, and most importantly the vintage Thunderbird all are symbols of Nick and Karen’s love for each other and their relationship. According to the hidden meaning of these events these two are meant to be together forever. Stephanie is a mutual friend of both Nick and Karen. In a time when Karen has run off to Bermuda, Stephanie comes to see Nick in need of being rescued. Stephanie has found herself pregnant and not wanting to be. For two weeks the two of them bond while waiting for Karen to return. Once she came back Karen and Nick were able to get over there argument to help Stephanie. They helped her to make and follow-through with a very difficult decision. This only proves that no matter how upset they are that Nick and Karen really love each other and are able to pull to together in a time of need. Stephanie is the only woman who doesn’t get Nick beaten. Nick has been mugged twice since he first met Karen. Over a year ago, when Nick went to visit an old girlfriend and they squabbled. As Nick was leaving he was assaulted by a teenager, who left him with out a wallet or cigarettes and badly bruised. If Nick had only stayed in the city with Karen this never would have happened. The second time that Nick is battered was while on a date with another woman. He had corresponded with Karen shortly before and she had asked Nick to leave the woman he was seeing to talk to her, Nick refused. While on the date he felt pangs of guilt for treating Karen the way that he had so he called her. She gave him the ultimatum of coming to see her right then or not at all. Nick said good-bye to his d... Free Essays on A Vintage Thunderbird Love Is More Than A Heart Love is a very important thing to most people and as the saying goes ‘you can never choose who you love’. This is very true of the love between Nick and Karen, the main characters in Ann Beattie’s A Vintage Thunderbird. This fictional short story is rich in meaning and symbolism. When Nick is mugged, the character Stephanie, and most importantly the vintage Thunderbird all are symbols of Nick and Karen’s love for each other and their relationship. According to the hidden meaning of these events these two are meant to be together forever. Stephanie is a mutual friend of both Nick and Karen. In a time when Karen has run off to Bermuda, Stephanie comes to see Nick in need of being rescued. Stephanie has found herself pregnant and not wanting to be. For two weeks the two of them bond while waiting for Karen to return. Once she came back Karen and Nick were able to get over there argument to help Stephanie. They helped her to make and follow-through with a very difficult decision. This only proves that no matter how upset they are that Nick and Karen really love each other and are able to pull to together in a time of need. Stephanie is the only woman who doesn’t get Nick beaten. Nick has been mugged twice since he first met Karen. Over a year ago, when Nick went to visit an old girlfriend and they squabbled. As Nick was leaving he was assaulted by a teenager, who left him with out a wallet or cigarettes and badly bruised. If Nick had only stayed in the city with Karen this never would have happened. The second time that Nick is battered was while on a date with another woman. He had corresponded with Karen shortly before and she had asked Nick to leave the woman he was seeing to talk to her, Nick refused. While on the date he felt pangs of guilt for treating Karen the way that he had so he called her. She gave him the ultimatum of coming to see her right then or not at all. Nick said good-bye to his d...

Industrial Revolution Essay

Industrial Revolution Essay Industrial Revolution Essay Mike Appell Frazer EUC 2001 The Industrial Revolution, one of the most vital periods of change in Great Britain, occurred because of the stable economic, social, and political stance of the country, as well as brought lasting effects in Britain in each of these areas. With its fast growing monopoly on ocean trade, its renewed interest in scientific discovery, and its system of national banks holding tight to its financial security, Britain was, at the time of the Industrial Revolution, ready for change. It was the great historical change we call the Industrial Revolution which would forever change city life, social class structure, the power of the British nation amongst others of the world, the production of machinery, and the strength of the economy of Britain. Because of the Industrial Revolution, never again would the British have to suffer the results of no changes regarding the inequalities of the working world, or doubt the strength of their country. Instead they would come to view the word "technology " in a completely new way. Due to its sturdy financial and economic conditions, Great Britain was the leading figure in the Industrial Revolution. First of all, its domination of the seas via a strong military force gave it control of ocean transportation and trade. Ongoing British trade of tobacco, sugar, tea, and slaves internationally was largely a result of this control. Secondly, Britain’s national banking system provided it with capital from investments and a surplus of finances for which to use in commerce on the international scale. New inventions of the time included John Kay’s "flying shuttle" weaving device and George Stephenson’s "Rocket" railway train, along with innovations such as Abraham Darby’s thought to use coal instead of charcoal in order to create fuel, as well as Henry Bessemer's renovation of steel production (3.UShistory.com). Each of these improvements aided both the production and transportation of products and materials used fo r trade and in industrial factories. Other new developments included a seed drill, which enabled farmers to plant seeds in straight rows, along with the introduction of mechanical reapers and threshers. These and other devices greatly increased farm production in Britain, promoting the growth and trade of the country. The improved cultivation of healthier fruits, vegetables, and other foods grown on British farms using the new inventions bettered the health and growth of the population, which meant there were more workers to help run industrial factories. Great Britain was also rich in natural resources such as water and coal. These could provide an ample energy supply for trains, factories, steam ships, and other devices which increased transportation and also the movement of workers and new industrial ideas as well. In fact, Britain’s American colonies played an important role in providing the country with such vital raw materials. The enclosure movement restricted the owne rship of public farmlands specifically to the wealthy landowners. As a result of this movement, an influx of unemployed farm workers was created, adding to Britain’s strong labor force in cities. An increase in the number of workers in industry meant that factories could run more efficiently and produce more goods than ever before, helping to manufacture a much greater amount of new machinery (1.Thefreedictonary.com/industrialrevolution).It was this expanded variety of mechanical tools that would fuel the continuation of the Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Revolution was a positive era to have occurred in Britain. In the beginning, however, the Industrial Revolution appeared to bring no benefits at all to the country. Living conditions in cities became unsanitary, as well as cramped and impoverished. Factories subjected men, women, and even children workers to low wages, harsh punishments, and unprotected work around dangerous machinery.The tremendous use of coal in

The Things They Carried Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

The Things They Carried - Essay Example The burdens that the characters carry manifest themselves even before they arrive in Vietnam. In the story â€Å"On a Rainy River,† the narrator O’Brien explains the events that led him to Vietnam in the first place: â€Å"In June of 1968, a month after graduating from Macalester College, I was drafted to fight a war I hated† (44). As a pacifist, he did not believe in going to war, so he contemplated running away to Canada. With his opposition to the war, O’Brien felt that he could not carry the burden of participating in Vietnam; however, these personal burdens were not the only ones that were weighing upon him. He felt that by becoming a deserter, he would become a burden upon his family: â€Å"They carried the soldier’s greatest fear, which was the fear of blushing. Men killed, and died, because they were embarrassed not to. It was what had brought them to the war in the first place, nothing positive, no dreams of glory or honor, just to avoid t he blush of dishonor. They died so as not to die of embarrassment†(16). These motivations run contrary to the traditional motivations for going to war; he at no point considers going to war for patriotic reasons or for dedication to the ideals and causes of his country. Wanting to not disappoint his family, O’Brien decides that the burden of going to Vietnam contrary to his political beliefs was less of a burden than the ramifications of his draft dodging. Vietnam weighed heavily upon O’Brien, and he had not even been to the country yet. Among the necessities or near-necessities were P-38 can openers, pocket knives, heat tabs, wrist watches, dog tags, mosquito repellent, chewing gum, candy, cigarettes, salt tablets, packets of Kool-Aid, lighters, matches, sewing kits, Military payment Certificates, C rations, and two or three canteens of water. Together, these items weighed

World Trade Organization Information Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

World Trade Organization Information - Essay Example The legal documents of the WTO explore this idea and the individual obligations of member countries. From 1947 until Jan. 1, 1995, when the WTO formally came into being, the main body for settling international trade disputes was operated under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. Before World War II the United States had entered into a series of bilateral trade negotiations. In the 1920s and 1930s, a series of protectionist measures, including congressional approval of the Smoot-Hawley tariff law, harmed international trade and, experts say, deepened the worldwide recession. After the war, the United States and other export-dependent countries tried to establish a trade body parallel to emerging international financial institutions, such as the World Bank. Efforts to form an international trade organization foundered, with many countries raising the same objections later leveled against the WTO: fear of lost sovereignty. In 1947 in Geneva, however, 23 nations formed the GATT. Until 1994, the GATT was the forum for resolving trade disputes and launching negotiating efforts. There were eight trade rounds in 50 years, and they resulted, according to the U.S. trade representative's office, in a 15-fold increase in international commerce. But the GATT came under increasing criticism from nations and exporters who said it was too cumbersome and its settlement process was too open-ended. Under the GATT system, the losing party could simply block a decision. As long as no one did it, the system worked...but more and more started doing it, in 1986, when The Uruguay Round was launched in Punta del Este, 74 nations attended the conference. The final agreement, reached in 1994, was designed to reduce tariffs and trade barriers by 40 percent. It also, nearly 50 years after the idea was broached, created the WTO to oversee international trade. Operation How and Where World trade organization operates in the following functions: It administers organization trade agreements, Handles trade disputes. Monitors national trade policies. Provides technical assistance and training to developing countries, cooperates with other international organizations.( www.geocities.com/letoconsulting/wto_accession.htm) Serves as a forum for trade negotiations. The World Trade Organization is designed to create the rules involved with trade. These trading rules include all countries, not just the US, and can therefore be a little tricky at times. "The WTO establishes a structure for trade policies; it does not define results" (Bagwell &Staiger p80). As we can see, the rules of trading are simply set as guidelines and cannot guarantee a certain outcome for each individual agreement between countries. There are five main rules that the WTO depends on to operate smoothly on a daily basis and they are as follows: unbiasness, reciprocity, enforceable commitments, simplicity, as well as security valves. 1. The WTO shall make possible the implication , administration as well as operation, and promote the objectives, of this Agreement along with the Multilateral Trade Agreements, and shall also give the structure for the implementation,