Globalisation and financial crises Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Globalisation and financial crises - Essay Example In this regard, recognising that global financial crunch is multifactorial (Bordo, 2008; Wellink, 2009), still, it cannot deny the truism that one of the major factors that led to the global financial crisis is brought by banking failures and difficulties (Blundell-Wignall & Atkinson, 2008; Brown & Davis, 2004). Bank capital is a residual item that is calculated as the difference between assets and those other liabilities, which have more prior claims on banks’ revenues and assets. However, this simplistic definition of bank capital have changed overtime due to regulations and other exogenous factors brought by globalisation, national economies and policies. This continuous evolution on the understanding of bank capital has paved for the concept of bank capital adequacy, which is viewed as having a standing conflict with the notion of bank profitability. In light of this context couple with the gargantuan problem global financial crunch, this research will be looking into the conflict between bank capital adequacy and profitability in relation to the global credit crisis. As such, this research will seek to address the question What is the importance of the conflict between bank capital adequacy and profitability in relation to the global credit crisis? This study is significant because not only it presents current concerns of banking systems across the globe but also it shows the conditions with which banking systems are presently working. Moreover, it endeavours to understand old concepts in the light of the new experience of global financial crisis. Hopefully, this can provide help in the apprehending of the global financial crunch as well as in the charting of policies that may help prevent the same financial crisis from happening in the future. It is the hope of the researcher that the study may add to the existing discourse insights that may clarify the conflict between bank capital adequacy and

Student and Group Essay Example for Free

Student and Group Essay Group is part of our lives. Everywhere we will hear about group whether outside or in college. Group means some number of people involved in the interaction among themselves or in a series of meetings and meetings in which each member makes certain views or perceptions of one another. Group activity involves, providing information and messages, share information and messages, and provide feedback. In the group work, there are some advantages that we have among them. That is, we can work together to complete an assignment in groups, working together is very important to finishing our assignment and can be completed quickly. The next advantages are effectiveness in communication among team members. In a given group, we can communicate effectively with the members from different countries to exchange ideas and share information for further information about the tasks that were given to our group. In addition, the advantages of group work is we can discipline themselves to seek any information required and also to meet at a specified time to discuss that is determined to discuss the assignment. The next advantage is foster friendship between members in a group of different religions, races and nations. Apart from discussing the assignment, we are also able to interact with students that we never knew before whether local students and international students. Further advantage is all members take part in the search for information about their assignment. Each of group members given sub-topics and find information about the topic and then sharing with the members of the group. However, working in groups also had disadvantages. Among them, it is difficult to meet with members of the group to discuss the assignment because stay far away from the group members. Next is, there are members who are very shy and we difficult to know the idea that he thinks. In addition, during the discussion we also find that the internet facilities provided in the college is very weak, this causes us to take a long time to discuss the assignment, seeking the information needed and had to wait long for the search results. In addition, students who later enrolled in the class also  disadvantages in working in groups. This is because these students do not search for information because all the information about the task has been completed and the student just joins us to make a presentation only. In conclusion, working in groups has its own advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, each member involved should enhance cooperation in the group to obtain good results in the group and to overcome the disadvantages that occur in groups, each member should strive to avoid the problem.

Graduation Speech -- Graduation Speech, Commencement Address

Ah, life eh? Hello Class of 2012. There are so many things to say to you. I feel so privileged to get to speak to everyone, and there is so much to say. We have come to this point in our lives that many have come to before us. I almost feel like I have done it already, having watched people grow up and graduate before. But now today it is our turn to really do it. To walk this aisle, to sit in the seats, and to play with these tassels. It seems like so long ago and it seems like just yesterday, those perils of adolescence. Brier Terrace Middle School, just seething with awkwardness and emotions, was where I spent most of my days, chilling out, maxing, relaxing all cool, playing some b-ball outside of my school. One of my most memorable days at Brier was a day my friend Kyle kicked me in the face. We were playing Zebra ball in P.E., probably one of the legendary Mr. Soward's inventions, and I was already out, sitting on the wall waiting for the next round to begin. Kyle was still in the game running around, when he, in an attempt to dodge a ball hurling at him, tried to leap over me, unintentionally kicking me squarely in the face. My glasses broke a little and I was super embarrassed. Kyle had no idea that he did it and kept playing. Casually at lunch later, I told him what happened, as if he would want to know. It is funny what an impact, literally, our experience in school has made on us and also the impact we have made on them. Academically, we have achieved much at our school. Every one of us here has accumulated twenty-two Green Terrace High School credits and individually our very own Senior Project. A big pat on the back seems deserved by everyone here for four years of hard work. Some here get a big slap on... ...e that meant something to others, like Kyle and Mr. Tolstoy didn't, but you undoubtedly have. Don't forget the lessons that we have learned from each other. The ones in friendship, in love and all the lessons of just plain how to live well. My prayer for all of you is that you will not give up this wonderful habit of giving to people in this way, but that separately, as we all diverge from this place, you will live lives knowing that human worth is not dependent on achievement, but on simple existence. Find purpose in what comes naturally to all of us, to love. Class of 2003, you have given me more than I asked for, more than the titles I have received or accomplishments I have made, you have called me sister. Go out and be great because you are able to love greatly. Thank you so much for the honor of speaking. I adore you, my brothers and sisters, Class of 2003

Literature Summative Assesment

Rules of the Game Pre Reading: A. Read the cartoon and answer the questions.1. What country do the mother and daughter live in? They live in America.2. Was the mother born there? How do you know? No, she wasn’t born in American. I know because in the cartoon the daughter asks the mother if she means America and the mother says no where we are from original, our mother country.3. Why is the mother angry? The mother is angry because the daughter doesn’t know her and her mother's origins.4. Why is the daughter angry? The daughter is angry because her mother keeps nagging her.B. The mother and daughter in this cartoon do not understand each other. In your opinion, which of the following factors are to blame for this lack of understanding? Explain. The different in their †¦. Language : the mother was born and raised in another country so her English isn’t as fluent as her daughter's, who was probably born in the USA, this may cause a â€Å"shortage† in com munication or embarrass the daughter. Culture : the mother probably comes from a more traditional culture, which may cause a conflict between her and her daughter. C. Do you think the same types of conflict between parents and children are common in our country? Why or why not? I think that the same types of conflicts exist in our country because it consists of different ethnic groups and minorities. Every generation differs from the one before it, especially when the parents are born and raised in other countries. For example, the Russian immigrants who have trouble learning the Hebrew language and their children who adjust more easily. Basic Understanding Part 1What lesson does the narrator learn from her mother? The narrator learned from her mother that she can get what she wants without nagging.What hopes does the narrator's mother have for her children? The narrator's mother hopes for her children that when they grow up they will learn in a University.Is the family poor? Does narrator think so? The narrator's family is poor because she lives above a bakery with two bedrooms flat, but the narrator doesn't think that her family is poor because she says that her bowl was always full and that she ate five meals a day.Do you think the narrator's memories of her childhood are pleasant or unpleasant? All in all, I think the narrator's memories of her childhood are pleasant. She fondly remembers her life in San Francisco's Chinatown, which were filled with games in back alleys, fragrance of Chinese food and the different shops in the area.Why do the children prefer the alley to the playground? The children prefer the al ley to the playground because its’ darkness gives a sense of mystery and adventures.Why is the narrator scared of the sanddabs? The narrator is scared of the sanddans because it reminds her story that her mother told her about a careless girl who ran into crowded street and was crushed by a cab.What joke does the narrator play on the tourist? The tourist asked the narrator and her brother to pose for a picture in front of the â€Å"scary† restaurant, and after he took the picture, she told him to have dinner in the restaurant. The tourist asked what they served, and she shouted: â€Å"Guts and ducks and octopus gizzards! † and ran off.How did the narrator get her name? What does this tell us about her parents' desire to adapt to their new culture? The narrator was named after the street that her family lived in, and it tells us that†¦What is the tone of this passage? The tone of this passage is deductive and defensive , the mother explains the many abilitie s Chinese people have.Vocabulary practice: Write a sentence about the story using each pair of words/ phrase. 1. Invisible / strength: Waverley's mother taught her the art of invisible strength. 2. Strategy / arguments: Waverly learned from her mother the strategy for winning. 3. Rise above / circumstances: Waverly’s mother wanted her family to rise above their circumstances. 4. Two bedroom flat / Chinese bakery: Waverly lived in a two bedroom flat that sat above a small Chinese bakery. 5. Alley / playground: the best playground for the Chinese children was the dark alleys. 6. Playmates / adventures: The playmates always find adventures in the dark alleys. 7. Named after / official: the narrator is named after an official name of a street. 8. Wicked / Chinese torture: the wicked people should be tortured in Chineseculture. Understanding the poem: Answer the questions. 1. Point of view is the perspective from which a story is told. Whose point of view is rules of the game told from? The story is told by the narrator's point of view. 2. How did Waverly get her name? She was named after the street that her family lived in. 3. Where does the story take place? Copy and complete the chart. The setting City| San Francisco. | Neighborhood| China town. | Home| Jong family home| 4. What do we learn about Waverly's family? Waverly's family is a Chinese poor family that lives in Chinatown in San Francisco and in her home there is one girl named Waverly and her two brothers. Basic Understanding Part 2 1. What do we learn about Chinese culture from this incident? we learn from this incident that Chinese people attribute great importance to modesty and humility. It was shameful for the mother that her son was disappointed with his chip gift. 2. Is Waverly happy with her gift? How do you know? Waverly was happy with her gift which is life savers candy because she says that she kept eating them all the night because they were her favorites. 3. Why does Mrs. Jong tell Vincent to throw the chess set away? Mrs. Jong told Vincent to throw the chess set away because it was used before and he knows that because there are missing parts. 4. What is it about chess that attracts Waverly? She sees that the chessboard seems to elaborate secrets waiting to be untangled. 5. How does Waverly convince her brother to let her play chess? She uses the Lifesavers (her gift from the Christmas party) as a bribe to be let into the game. 6. Why do you think Mrs. Jong tells Waverly not to rely on other people to explain the rules? Because there is a sentence which says: â€Å"better you take it, find out yourself†. This means that it's better to find the answer yourself because Waverly has to learn to go forward alone without any help. 7. Why do Waverly's brothers lose interest in chess? Waverly's brothers lose interest in chess because they become more interested in roaming the streets in their Hopalong Cassidy cowboy hats. Vocabulary practice A. Which word in each group has a different meaning from the other two?donated / given / receiveddecent / poor / fineroken / lacking / missinggraciously / impatiently / politelyextra / replacement / substitutetactic / strategy / foresighthide / reveal / showadversary / partner /opponentB. Complete the sentences with the correct form of the words from exercise A. There may be more than one possible answer. 1. The gifts at the Christmas party were given. 2. It would have been a decent chess set- except that it was obviously used. 3. Several of the chess pieces were missing, but Mrs. Jong accepted the gift politely. 4. Vincent wouldn’t let Waverly play until she offered her life savers as replacement for the chess pieces. 5. Waverly studied the instruction book and learned some important strategies for winning at chess. 6. She learned that chess is a game of secrets which she must never reveal. 7. Soon, Waverly wasn't losing any games -but she lost her adversaries! Understanding the story: Answer the questions. 1. Which gift does Waverly choose at the Christmas party? The gift that Waverly chose was heavy and compact one that was wrapped in shiny silver foil and a red satin ribbon. 2. Who gets the chess set? Vincent, Waverly's brother gets the chess set. 3. What is wrong with the chess set? The wrong thing about the chess set is that it was used before and there are missing parts. 4. How is the problem solved? The problem was solved by putting a buttons (Lifesavers) instead the missing parts. 5. How does Waverly learn to play chess? She learns the rules of the game and goes on to continue playing chess. 6. How old is Waverly at this time? Waverly is six years old. Basic Understanding Part 3 1. Why is the man surprised by Waverly's question? — 2. What are these the names of? â€Å"These† is the names of strategies in chess which Lau Po taught Waverly. 3. What do we learn about Chinese culture from Mrs. Jong behavior? We learned about Chinese culture that it is built on modesty. 4. What strategy does Waverly use to convince her mother to let her compete in the tournament? The strategy that Waverly used to convince her mother to compete in the tournaments is the art of invisible strength 5. Why do you think the boy wrinkled his nose? Because he is 15 years old and she is 9 years old and he thought that she is young to play chess. 6. What does the wind represent in this passage? The wind represents the thinking power of Waverly. 7. What does Waverly silence tell us about accepted codes of behavior in the Jong family? It's tells us about the respect and listening to elders and for what he says because he has more experience than us. 8. How does Mrs. Jong justify Waverly's special treatment? Mrs. Jong justified Waverly's special treatment by telling Vincent:† Waverly squeezes all her brains out for winning chess. You play, worth squeeze towel†. 9. How does Waverly behave at chess competitions? What does this tell us about her character? It tells us that Waverly is very smart because she made for her opponent a good measure and that will make him think less because he is thinking that he is going to win and then Waverly will win. Vocabulary practice: A 1. Form as many phrases as you can by combining words the box. You may use words more than once, but use each word at least once. *champion *game *regional *chess *grand master *smile *child *local *status *etiquette *national *tournament *exhibition *prodigy *triumphantnational championchess national championlocal championlocal tournamentchess gamechild prodigyhess etiquetteexhibition gametriumphant smilegrand master statusregional tournamentA 2. Complete the sentence with the words combinations you formed. You may use words more than once, but use each word at least once.Waverly learned the fine points of chess etiquette from Lau Po.After watching an exhibition game, a man suggested that Waverly should play in local tournament.Waverly said that she didn't want to play in the local champion, but she really did.After Waverly won an important national tournament, shop owners in the neighborhood decided to sponsor her in national champion.By her ninth birthday, Waverly was a national champion, but she was still 429 points away from grand master status.6Waverly had become a child prodigy and her picture appeared in life magazine.At the end of a game, Waverly would flash her opponent a triumphant smile.B. Match the words from A and B to form verb phrases. Use each phrase in a sentence about the story. Make any necessary changes. A B 1. Attend 2. Want desperately 3. Defeat an opponent 4. Display trophies 5. Do chores Understanding the story: Answer the questions.Who helps Waverley become a better chess player? Lau Po, an old man helped Waverley to become a better chess player.Who watches Waverly exhibition games in the park? Some of Chinese people and tourists watch Waverly's exhibition games.Why does Waverly think her mother will not allow her to play in chess tournament? Waverly thinks that her mother will not allow her to play in chess tournament because she thinks that her mother will not let her play with strangers.What does Mrs. Jong give Waverly at her first tournament? Why? Mrs. Jong gave Waverly a small tablet of red jade which the sun's fire to give her luck in the tournament.How do people in the neighborhood show their pride in Waverly's achievements? The Chinese bakery beneath their home displayed her growing collection of trophies in its window, a flower shop, headstone engraver, and funeral parlor offered to sponsor her.What concessions do her parents make to allow her practice? Her parents allowed her not to clean to allow her practice .At what age does Waverly become a national chess champion? Waverly became a national champion in age nine.How does Waverly dress for competitions? Waverly wears a crisp pink and white dress with scratchy lace for the competitions.Basic Understanding Part 4 1. Why does Waverly find it difficult to practice at home? Waverly finds it difficult to practice at home because her mother who stands beside her while she is trying to plan her steps in the game. 2. How do you think Waverly's brothers feel about her special treatment? I think that he feels so angry about that, because they do all the work in the home when she is practicing all the time. 3. Why do you think Mrs. Jong insists that Waverly accompany her to the market? Mrs. Jong insists that Waverly accompany her to the market because she wants to boast and show that Waverly is her daughter. 4. How does Waverly feel about her mother's boasting? Waverly feels embarrassed when her mother boasted her. 5. What do you think Waverly wants to escape from? I think that Waverly wants to escape from her mother's nagging. 6. How does Mrs. Jong react when Waverly finally arrives home? She says calmly:† we not concerning this girl. This girl not have concerning for us. † 7. Who does Waverly see as her opponent? Waverly sees her mother as her opponent in the chess game. 8. What do you think Waverly's daydream symbolizes? The imaginary game could symbolize the transition from childhood to approaching adulthood. Vocabulary practice: A 1. Match the sentence beginnings in A to the endings in B. 1. Mrs. Jong thought of herself as –Waverly's protective ally. 2. She had a habit of – standing over Waverly while she practiced. 3. Waverly's parents made many concessions – to allow her practice. 4. Waverly had to accompany her mother – to the market on Saturday. 5. Waverly thought her mother was using her – to show off. 6. She thought her mother's behavior – was embarrassing. 7. Waverly pulled away from her mother – and knocked into an old woman. 8. The woman's bag of groceries – spilled to the ground. 9. Waverly fled from the market – looking for escape routes. 10. When she finally returned home – the door was locked. 11. Waverly stood there and – waited for her punishment. B. Complete the paragraph with the correct form of the words and phrases from the list. Advance * alone * angry black slits * chessboard * disappear * fly out* grow light * rise up * scream * triumphant smile. Waverly lay on her bed. In her mind she saw a chessboard her opponent was opposite her – two angry black slits on her face was a triumphant smile. As Waverly's opponent advance Waverly's pieces scream, retreated and fell off the board. Waverly felt herself grow light and she rise up into the air. She flies out of the window and over the city until everything below disappear and she was alone. Understanding the story Answer the questions 1. Why is it difficult for Waverly to concentrate at home? Waverly found it difficult to practice at home because her mother who stands beside her while she trying to plan her steps in the game. 2. What further concessions do her parents make to allow her to practice? She doesn't have to eat all the food that her mother made for her, she doesn't have to wash the dishes, and she doesn't have to tidy her bed. 3. What is Waverly's one obligation at home? The only thing that Waverly does at home is practicing chess. 4. How does Mrs. Jong show that she is proud of her daughter? How does Waverly react? Mrs. Jong shows her daughter that she is proud of her by insisting that she accompanies her to the Saturday market days walk with her proudly between the shops and saying â€Å"this is my daughter wave-ly Jong† to anyone who looked their way. One day Waverly tells her mother that she wishes she wouldn’t do that, and reproaches her mother that If she wants to show off, she should learn how to play chess. 5. Describe the scene that Waverly imagines at the end of the story. Waverly imagines a chessboard and her mother standing in front of her as her opponent and Waverly sees her white pieces falling off the board one by one and her mother's pieces are approaching her. Analysis and interpretation A 1. In this story the game of chess is used as a metaphor for life. Rules of the game† refers not only to the rules of chess, but also to the rules of life. Do you think this is a good comparison? Why or why not? It is a wonderful comparison; the rules of chess that Waverly learns are similar to the life skills for achieving success. This is the art of invisible strength. Examples: 1. Self control –†Bite back your tongue† â€Å"Vincent at first refused to let me play, but when I offered my Life Savers as replacements for the buttons that filled in for the missing pieces, he relented. â€Å". 2. Hiding your desires –†strongest wind cannot be seen† 3. Withholding knowledge – â€Å"I also found out why I should never reveal â€Å"why† to others. A little Knowledge withheld is a great advantage one should store for future use†. â€Å"It’s a game of secrets in which one must show and never tell. † 4. Foresight – â€Å"see the endgame before the game begins† â€Å"†¦ It is essential in the endgame to have foresight, a mathematical understanding of all possible moves. â€Å". 5. Planning –† the one who plays better has the clearest plans for both attacking and getting out of traps. † A 2. Answer the following questions, keeping the chess – life metaphor in mind. 1. When Waverly is six years old, her mother teaches her an important rule of life:† The art of invisible strength†. By this she means remaining silent, hiding her desire in order to get what she wants. How does this lesson help Waverly get what she wants from her mother? Give two examples from the story how does it later help her succeed at chess? Thus it is that Waverly, the protagonist and narrator of this short story, possesses a strange hybrid mix of values and lessons she has learned, some from her Chinese heritage taught to her by her mother, and some from her American heritage: her birth country. The art of invisible strength, then, is part of Waverly's Chinese heritage: â€Å"I was six when my mother taught me the art of invisible strength. It was a strategy for winning arguments, respect from others, and eventually, though neither of us knew it at the time, chess games†. This â€Å"art of invisible strength† is described by her mother as not confro nting others openly. Instead, you must seem to go along with them whilst subtly leading them in the direction that you prefer. 2. Waverly says of chess:† A little knowledge withheld is a great advantage one should store for future use†. Do you think this is true in life as well? Explain. Yes, I think this quote is true in life as well as in chess. I think it's true because the more knowledge we have, the more we can make use of it in the future knowledge can be a weapon for the future. 3. At the end of the story, Waverly imagines a game of chess in which her mother is her opponent. Who is wining this game? How does Waverly react when she understands that she cannot defeat her mother? How does this imaginary game reflect what is happening in Waverly's life? In the game Waverly visions in her mind that her mother is her opponent and she is winning. When Waverly understands that she cannot win this game, she felt herself growing a light and suddenly flies out the window. This game reflects Waverly's life in the sense of the on-going conflict with her mother, in which she feels she cannot win, and prefers to run away. 4. When Waverly says at the end of the story † I closed my eyes and pondered my next move†, do you think she is talking only about chess? What else might she be referring to? What do you think her next move will be? I don't think that Waverly is talking only about chess; I think she is also talking about her next move at home if to apologize to her family or to keep on not talking to them, but I think at the end she will apologize to her family because she is still young and she still needs her parents. B 1. Conflict is the struggle between opposing forces. One of the main themes of the story is the culture conflict between American- born Waverly and her Chinese- born mother. The chart below outlines some main differences between the two cultures. Read the chart and answer the questions that follow. Chinese people value †¦| American people value †¦| group cooperation | Individualism and personal freedom| maintaining â€Å"face† by showing respect and avoiding open confrontation or criticism | Open discussion and self- expression, even if it means direct confrontation and criticism| modesty, humility| Assertiveness| A formal social society in which status is based on age, gender and family| an informal society in which status is based on personal achievements, with equal opportunity for all| Respect for elders; obedience| Self- determination; independence| Mystery and magic| Rational thinking and logic| 1. What are some of the main differences between Chinese and American culture? The differences between Chinese culture and American cultures are: The Chinese culture in built on modesty, humility, Reciprocity and understanding between each other and also to give respect to elders. The American culture everyone has to go in his own way and to be assertive, to do the maximum to get to his/her goal even to â€Å"Run over† people. 2. Which aspect of each culture do you prefer? Explain. I prefer the American people's values because their cultures and values are liberal and are similar to the values that I was brought up on. 3. How is your own culture similar to / different from Chinese and American culture? My culture is similar to the Chinese culture in the aspect of giving respect to the elders and to be modesty. B 2. Which thinking skills did you use to answer the questions in B1? Explain. * Comparing and contrasting: finding similarities and differences and drawing conclusions. I used the thinking skill Comparing and contrasting because I was asked to find similarities and differences between a different cultures and the best way to finds differences between two categories are Comparing and contrasting. C 1. Now apply this thinking skill to the story. Copy and complete the diagram below with words from the list. How are Waverly and Mrs. Jong similar? How are they different? Support your answers with examples from the story. Waverly: mischievous, competitive, Americanized, independent and selfish. Mrs. Jong: modest, boastful, proud and superstitious. Both: strong-willed, traditional, clever, stubborn, determined, hard-working, confident, ambitious. Examples:Mrs. Jong is determined to teach Waverly the â€Å"art of the invisible strength†.Waverly is determined to learn how to play chess.Mrs. Jong is modest because when Waverly won her first game she said that it's luck.C 2. We often compare and contrast in our daily lives. Give one example of how you have used this thinking skill in the past few days. I used this thinking skill of compare and contrast that happened a couple of days ago between the choices of buying a new acoustic guitar or to continue practicing on my old guitar and when I will get better in playing the guitar I will buy a professional acoustic guitar. D 1. Imagine that a student from another country has joined your class recently. Although he seems bright, he doesn't pay attention in class, doesn't do his homework and doesn't interact with the other students. Which of the following might be connected to his behavior, in your opinion? Explain. He doesn't pay attention in class and he doesn't do his homework though he seems bright because he might have difficulties with the language and with new students whom he didn’t know. D 2. We can also use this thinking skill to gain a fuller understanding of people and events in literature. How is the characters' behavior in this story connected to their cultural backgrounds? Discuss the following, keeping in mind what you have learned about Chinese and American culture. (Page 78) 1. Mrs. Jong is showing her modesty by attributing Waverly's success in the chess game to luck rather than her excellent skill in playing chess. 2. Lao Po teaches Waverly to be humble and not announce the end of the game with arrogance and pride because she may be mistaken, and her opponent may still make a move and win the game. This saying also reflects a belief in mystery and magic, rather than logical reasoning. 3. Waverly cannot say anything to disagree with her mother, because in Chinese culture children show obedience and respect for their elders and do not contradict their parents. 4. When Waverly tells her mother that she can't practice when her mother stands over her, she is expressing her own feelings and asserting herself. This is an example of how her behavior has become Americanized. 5. Waverly is being impolite to her mother. She is showing her disrespect to her elders. This behavior contradicts the values of respect and obedience to the elders that is valued in the Chinese culture. Here Waverly shows the influence of the American cultural values of assertiveness and independence. D 3. Find additional examples in the story of how the characters' cultural backgrounds are reflected in their behavior. . One of the mothers at the Christmas party slaps her son because he did not show appreciation for her gift. His mother has to apologize to the crowd for his bad manners. 2. Waverly talks back to her mother and criticize her. She expresses her opinions openly- a quality values by the American culture. 3. Mrs. Jong gives Waverly a small tablet of red jade for luck before the chess tournament. This is an example of the importance of magic and mystery in Chinese culture. D 4. Tell your classmates about a time when you used the thinking skill of making Connections to help you to understand something better. Two weeks ago I saw a friend that Is walking and his leg is broken, I asked him what happened to him and he said nothing, two hours later other friend told me that they lost the football league game and his friend was quit the game after 30 min, then I understood that he was hurt in the game. E 1. Because of the cultural differences between them, Waverly and her mother view things from different perspectives. Decide whether each of them would agree or disagree with the following statements. Explain your answer. 1. Mrs. Jong would probably agree. Waverly would probably disagree. Waverly would think that children need to adopt the values of the culture they live in. 2. Waverly would probably agree. Mrs. Jong would probably disagree. Mrs. Jong would believe that cultural values should be passed on from generation to generation. 3. Mrs. Jong would probably agree. Waverly would probably disagree. Respect for parents and obedience is part of the Chinese culture. Waverly would think that children should express their own opinions openly and not have to behave as their parents wish. E2. Discuss the statements above with a partner. Whose perspective do you identify with- Waverly's or her mother's? My partner disagree with this statement because he think that if the children will obedience for everything which his parents says to him the boy will not be wrong and he will not learn from his mistakes. F. thinks back over the story. Answer the questions. 1. How is the theme of cultural conflict reflected in the story? The theme of cultural conflict is reflected in the conflict between Chinese-born Mrs. Jong and American born Waverly. Waverly and her family live in Chinatown in San Francisco. They live above a Chinese bakery, shop in a traditional Chinese stores (like the medical herb shop and fish market), go to the First Chinese Baptist Church and get presents from a Chinese Santa Clause. The Chinese immigrant parents want to preserve their traditional culture, whereas the children want to integrate in American society. Waverly's mother emphasizes traditional Chinese values of self-control and obedience, whereas Waverly wants to assert her independence. The young Chinese American fined them pushed away not only from American society but also from their Chinese parents and heritage. 2. How is the theme of conflict between mothers and daughters reflected in the story? This story is really one big struggle about independence between Waverly and her mother. Waverly, as the story progresses, becomes more aware of her talent, shows embarrassment at the way her mother takes pride in her and wants to exploit her gift and talent to bring attention to her: â€Å"My mother would proudly walk with me, visiting many shops, buying very little. â€Å"This is my daughter Wave-ly Jong,† she said to whoever looked her way. One day, after we left a shop I said under my breath, â€Å"I wish you wouldn't do that, telling everybody I'm your daughter. While the narrator enjoys the challenge of winning at chess for its own sake, clearly the mother enjoys the success of her daughter for the admiration it brings to her. At the end, the imaginary of the chess board in Waverly's dream is used to symbolize the conflict between Waverly and her mother, as each struggles for mastery over the other. The way that the story ends, with Waverly closing her eyes and â€Å"pondering my next move,† shows Waverly's desire to escape her mother and treats her conflict as a game of chess. Although Waverly has lost this round, she is considering how to ventually beat her mother and gain the independence she so desperately desires. 3. in the beginning of the story, Waverly is more in touch with her Chinese culture. How has this changed by the end of the story? In the beginning of the story, Waverly is more in touch with her Chinese culture because she is younger and her mother has more control over her. She lives and plays in a Chinese neighborhood. By the end of the story, Waverly is older and has been more exposed to American culture. She has attended chess tournaments, each one further away from home. As a result she is less in touch with her Chinese culture. 4. Mrs. Jong is upset because Waverly is becoming Americanized, but she herself adopts certain aspects of American culture. Find examples in the story. Mrs. Jong names Waverly after the street they live on. She takes her children to a Christmas party. She allows Waverly to play in the chess tournaments and she gives Waverly special privileges (according to the American rules). 5. Waverly sometimes sees her mother as her opponent. Are they â€Å"playing† by the same rules? Explain. How does this affect their relationship? Waverly learns the Chinese rules of behavior and uses them to get what she wants. For example she uses self-control and manipulation to get her mother to allow her to play in the local chess tournaments. However, as Waverly gets older, she and her mother don't always play by the same rules. Mrs. Jong plays by the Chinese rules of behavior, whereas Waverly has begun to reject these rules in favor of the American values of self expression and independence. This causes conflict in their relationship. 6. Explain the ending of the story. What does Waverly's daydream symbolize? Do you think it could be metaphor for growing up? Explain. At the end of the story Waverly imagines a chess game with her mother as her opponent. Mrs. Jong sits opposite from her, winning the game of inner strength. The chess game is a metaphor for her struggle and rebellion against her mother, and therefore for growing up. In her imaginary game, Waverly breaks free from her mother's influence. She leaves the safety of her home and neighborhood and floats above the city. She is free but also alone with no one to guide her or tell her what to do. She must now make her own decisions. Waverly has to plan her next move at home concerning her relationship with her mother. The imaginary game could symbolize the transition from childhood to approaching adulthood. G. Like the United States, Israel is a country of many immigrants. Have you, or has anyone you know, ever experienced a cultural conflict similar to the one Waverly experiences in the story? Share an example of this with your classmates. I had a Jewish friend that his parents came to Israel from Russia, but he was born here and was raised up on the Israeli culture. His parents want him to be surgeon so he could make the Russian community proud but he wants to be musician so he had many fights with his parents until they give up. Bridging text and context A. Read the background information. To what extent is the information reflected in the story rules of the game? (Page 79) The two stories is very similar because the two stories are about the Chinese immigrants families. and both families has one girl and two boys, in both stories the girls have Arguments with their mothers and there are conflicts between the American culture and the Chinese culture. B. How does reading biographical information about Amy Tan add to or change your understanding of the story? The author's difficult relationship with her mother is reflected in Waverly's difficult relationship with her mother, whom she sees as her opponent in the imaginary game. The culture's conflict that Chinese Americans experience is another theme that is reflected in the story. Waverly does not entirely identify with the American mainstream or with her parents' Chinese culture. C. Compare and contrast the fictional character of Waverly Jong with the author, Amy Tan. The character Waverly Jong is both similar and different from the author Amy Tan: 1. Both were the only daughters of Chinese immigrant parents and both had difficult relationship with their mothers. 2. Amy Tan became a successful writer, while Waverly became a successful chess player. Reflection 1. Did you enjoy reading the story? Why or why not? I enjoyed reading the story because it reminds me of myself, even though I am not an immigrant, but still there are many things that happened to Waverly that happened to me also, and it's good to see how people from different cultures react to similar situation, because if this kind of situations will return in the future, I will know how to deal with them. 2 . What did you found interesting or memorable about the story? What I found interesting in the story are the conflicts between Waverly and her mother because it happens to everyone, not only them but it's memorable because they have a different culture which will make them look differently from myself in a similar situation. What interest me is the comparison between their culture and my own.

Folate Supplementation In Food Essay

Generally, fortification of foods have proven beneficial to people over the past years as it restores the nutrients that may have been lost in food processing and also enhances the vitamins that the food contain. Examples of food fortification include the addition of Vitamin C, to an orange drink, Vitamin D to dairy products, and Vitamins B1 and B2 to bread, among many others. However, while food fortification is generally considered beneficial to consumers, a recent article, Folic Acid Fortification: One Size May Not Fit It All, which was published in Natural News. com, showed that foods fortified with folic acid increase the risk of colon cancer. While I am in generally in favor of the fortification of foods, the article made me think twice before consuming foods that are high in folic acid. Although the article showed that folic acid had a number of benefits, particularly the 20 per cent reduction of birth defects of the spinal cord and the central nervous system, it still had health risks which, for me, should be greatly considered before taking in foods that are high in folic acid. In addition, even though the number of benefits outweigh the risks when consuming food that are fortified with folic acid, I believe that food manufacturers, nutritionists and members of the health sector should further conduct a collaborative and in-depth study on folic acid-fortified foods before they are made available for public consumption. The findings of the study should be then showed to the public so that people are aware of the risks of eating too much of a certain food. Another option which I believe would greatly avoid the risks of consuming food fortified with folic acid is the modification of food labeling. At present, food labeling is mandatory. However, it only shows the amount of nutrients, carbohydrates, calories, cholesterol, and other contents of the food and not the risks associated with it. In this regard, I would recommend that food manufacturers label fortified foods which contain substances that have known health risks in such a way that the people or consumers can see what exactly the risks are. For example, if a food is high in folic acid, which were shown to increase the risks of colon cancer, its label should clearly indicate that too much consumption of this food can lead to the colon cancer or should at least contain a warning. Furthermore, I also believe one way to lessen the risks of consuming foods fortified with folic acid, is for the government to make the public more aware of the exact content of the food and the dangers associated with them. Nevertheless, the article stated that only those who consume too much food fortified with folic acid are at risk for colon cancer, which means that these kinds of food are relatively safe if consumed moderately. The bottom line is people should always be aware of the exact content of the food they are eating in order to avoid possible health risks.

Problems and Preventions of Ebola and AIDS Essays - Ebola, RTT

Problems and Prevention's of Ebola and AIDS Essays - Ebola, RTT Problems and Prevention's of Ebola and AIDS Research Paper #4 Thursday, April 18, 1996 Viruses have become of great concern all across the world in the last few decades. The most common and the most talked about killer virus is AIDS, a virus that starts out as HIV and then proceeds to develop into a immune breaker that ultimately kills its human host. So far, there is no cure for AIDS, and most unfortunately the numbers of deaths from AIDS only continues to grow. However, another virus has gained much public and national attention. That virus is called Ebola. It is thought that Ebola's effect on humans is restricted to Zaire, Africa. Viruses that kill people in large masses is a major threat to mankind; the only hopes of destroying the viruses is dependant upon technology. AIDS is a deadly disease that most people understand as a sexually transmitted disease. In fact, the virus can be transmitted sexually, but it can also be transmitted through blood transfusions. The fact that it can be transmitted sexually causes a great problem. Everyday, enormous amounts of people have sexsome people with different partners. People may have less sex than before because of the threat that the virus poses, but it has already started, and cannot be stopped until a cure is found. Unlike Ebola, AIDS was not detected as early as one would have hoped. The AIDS virus can stay dormant for over a decade before it is noticed as a real problem (Shenon 8). During that decade, the virus can spread like a wild fire. One person contracts the virus, transmits it to another, and another, and so on. As Shenon explains, AIDS became recognized as a real problem in the early seventies and was mostly concentrated in the United States and in Africa, but surprisingly it reached Asia a decade afterward. He goes on to explain that AIDS has spread exponentially in Asia. Thailand, recognized for its proliferation of prostitutes and illegal promotion of sex with children, could be held responsible for the tremendous outbreak of the virus in Asia, explains Shenon. He also points out that now that the virus has already broken out, Asia has the best AIDS prevention agenda in the world (8). For now the best prevention of AIDS that is available is education and protected sex. Until a cure is found for the ruthless virus, this is the only means of prevention that is available to the public. Ebola is one of the most rapidly fatal viruses on the planet and is believed to have begun somewhere in Zaire, Africa (Altman 3). There is no positive explanation as to how the virus is spread. When the virus is contracted by humans it causes hemorrhagic fevers and becomes extremely transmittable (A Case of Deadly Virus 4). Like the AIDS virus, Ebola has no cure. The only advantage of prevention that Ebola has over AIDS is that it does not stay dormant for decades therefore, it can be isolated much quicker. Being able to isolate the virus in one town or country makes the termination of it much easier. It seems inevitable that the two most deadly viruses in the world are contracted by the idea of self preservation. As stated earlier, AIDS is transmitted sexually, and Ebola is widely spread through the consumption of chimpanzee meat that is a common delicacy in Asia (A Case of Deadly Virus 4). Just as sex is an act that is very widespread all around the world, eating chimpanzee meat in Asia is som ething that is very common. It is very hard to stop the spread of a disease when it is spread by something that seems "second nature" to a person. The action that probably ultimately stopped the virus from spreading to neighboring countries is the fact that the CDC (Center for Disease Control) and the WHO (World Health Organization) were prompt to go the scenes of outbreak and begin studying the virus (A Case of Deadly Virus 4). When just one man became infected with the disease in the western Ivory Coast, the WHO were on the case to examine the problem (A Case of Deadly Virus 4). Unfortunately, the people that are trying to stop the spread of the virus and those who are close with the victims are those people that have the greatest chance of being infected (Altman 3). After a great deal of studying the ways that the virus is spread, it became evident that there are other ways to become

Solvent and Double Bond Essays

Solvent and Double Bond Essays Solvent and Double Bond Paper Solvent and Double Bond Paper Theory and mechanism Epoxidation is a reaction of an alkene with a peroxycarboxylic acid (also called peracid) to produce an epoxide product, generally performed in inert solvents, such as dichloromethane. The epoxide product is a cyclic ether in which the ring contains three atoms. The alkene gains an oxygen from the peracid in a syn fashion. In this experiment, R-(-)-carvone is reacting with MCPBA, a peracid, to produce the epoxide product. Balanced equation: C10H14O + C7H5ClO3 gt; C10H14O2 + C7H5ClO2 Since the rate of reaction depends on the electronic density of the double bond, and R-(-)-carvone has two double bonds, the reaction is regioselective. The more electron-riched double bond will react faster. Mechanism: Potassium permanganate is a strong oxidant and reacts readily with double bonds. In this experiment it is used to visually identify the production in the previous reaction, since it changes color from purple to yellow-brown if reacted with alkene under aqueous conditions. Balanced equation: C10H14O2 + KMnO4 + 2H2O gt; C10H16O4 Mechanism: 2 Table of reagents . |Compound |Mol Mass (g/mol) | |Dissolution of MCPBA in CH2Cl2 |solution was clear, MCPBA dissolved | |Dissolution of R-(-)-carvone in the solution |solution stayed clear | |1. 5 h after reaction |solution was cloudy white | Part B: Syn dihydroxylation and visualization using KMnO4 (on a TLC plate) |Important steps |Observations | |TLC after 15 min, dipped in KMnO4 solution |All spots turned yellow-brown | |TLC after 1 h, dipped in KMnO4 solution |All spots turned yellow-brown | |TLC after 1. h, dipped in KMnO4 solution |The starting material was almost consumed; | | |All the spots are yellow-brown | |Evaporate the solvent to concentrate the product |The liquid obtained was transparent yellow | 5 Results 6 TLC plate Table of Rf’s Compound |Rf Value | |R-(-)-carvone | | |MCPBA | | 7 Calculations Calculation of Rf’s For the Rf of Benzil Rf = (distance travelled by the compound from the origin)/(distance travelled by the solvent form the origin) = = 8 Flow diagram 9 Discussion Since in this part of the experiment, only a liquid product was obtained, the purity of the product can only be shown by TLC plate analysis. In part A, the TLC plate obtained after 1. 5 hours of the reaction showed that the reaction was not quite complete, however, another TLC was performed after 2 hours of the reaction, and the result showed the experiment was complete (no starting material remained). In part B, the TLC plates were dipped in the purple KMnO4 solution and all the spots on the plates turned yellow-brown, showing that the product contains double bond. This cannot be a proof that the reaction was not completed or the product was not pure, since the regioselectivity of the reaction favors the electron-rich double bond. The other double may left unreacted in the reaction with MCPBA, and could be reacting with MnO4-, causing the change in color. The final product obtained was a yellow liquid. A more desirable product should be transparent orange. The use of improper equipment constitutes a source of error. In the isolation part of the experiment, the product solution was heated in a water bath to evaporate the solvent. The container of solution was a beaker, the large opening may cause the water steam to cumulate on the inner walls and cause the dilution of liquid. As an improvement, an Erlenmeyer flask with smaller opening should be used instead. 10 Questions -Addition of Na2SO3 solution: allows SO3 ion reacting with the carboxylic acid byproduct to produce Cl ion, which will react with Na ion to form salt, and then be filtered out of the solution; -Addition of Na2CO3 solution: due o the low solubility of CO3 ion in water, it will form CO2 gas and leave the solution. Na ion will remain in the aqueous phase. -Addition of Brine (saturated NaCl): because brine is very saturated, when added to a solution, it will dissolve and become less saturated, thus dries the water. a) Mechanism: b) a trans-2-chlorocyclopentanol would be obtained, because Cl- performed backside attack reaction which changes the stereosturcture of the C-Cl bond formed.

Biography of Henry V of England

Biography of Henry V of England An icon of chivalry, a conquering hero, an exemplar of kingship and a supreme self-publicist, Henry V is among the triumvirate of the most famous English monarchs. Unlike Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, Henry V forged his legend in a little over nine years, but the long-term effects of his victories were few and many historians find something unpleasant in the arrogantly determined, albeit charismatic, young king. Even without Shakespeares attention, Henry V would still be fascinating modern readers. Birth and Early Life The future Henry V was born Henry of Monmouth at Monmouth Castle into one of Englands most powerful noble families. His parents were Henry Bolingbroke, Earl of Derby, a man who had once tried to curb the ambitions of his cousin, King Richard II, but now acted loyally, and Mary Bohun, heir to a rich chain of estates. His grandfather was John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, third son of Edward III, a staunch supporter of Richard II, and the most powerful English noble of the age. At this point, Henry was not considered an heir to the throne and his birth was thus not recorded formally enough for a definitive date to have survived. Historians cant agree on whether Henry was born on August 9th or September 16th, in 1386 or 1387. The current leading biography, by Allmand, uses 1386; however, the introductory work by Dockray uses 1387. Henry was the oldest of six children and he received the best upbringing an English noble could have, including training in martial skills, riding, and forms of hunting. He also received an education in music, harp, literature, and spoke three languages- Latin, French, and English- making him unusually highly educated. Some sources claim that the young Henry was sickly and puny in childhood, but these descriptions didn’t follow him past puberty. Tensions in Court In 1397 Henry Bolingbroke reported treasonous comments made by the Duke of Norfolk; a court was convened but, as it was one Dukes word against another, trial by battle was arranged. It never took place. Instead, Richard II intervened in 1398 by exiling Bolingbroke for ten years and Norfolk for life. Subsequently, Henry of Monmouth found himself a guest at the royal court. While the word hostage was never used, there was underlying tension behind his presence and the implicit threat to Bolingbroke should he disobey. However, the childless Richard appeared to have a genuine fondness for young Henry and he knighted the boy. Becoming the Heir In 1399, Henrys grandfather, John of Gaunt, died. Bolingbroke should have inherited his fathers estates but Richard II revoked them, kept them for himself and extended Bolingbrokes exile to life. By this time, Richard was already unpopular, seen as an ineffective and increasingly autocratic ruler but his treatment of Bolingbroke cost him the throne. If the most powerful English family could lose their land so arbitrarily and illegally; if the most loyal of all men is rewarded by his heirs disinheritance; what rights did other landowners have against this king? Popular support swung to Bolingbroke, who returned to England where he was met by many who urged him to seize the throne from Richard. This task was completed with little opposition the same year. On October 13th, 1399, Henry Bolingbroke became Henry IV of England, and two days later Henry of Monmouth was accepted by Parliament as heir to the throne, Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, and Earl of Chester. Two months later he was given the further titles Duke of Lancaster and Duke of Aquitaine.​ Relationship with Richard II Henrys rise to heir had been sudden and due to factors beyond his control, but his relationship with Richard II, especially during 1399, is unclear. Richard had taken Henry on an expedition to crush rebels in Ireland and, upon hearing of Bolingbrokes invasion, confronted Henry with the fact of his fathers treason. The encounter, allegedly recorded by one chronicler, ends with Richard agreeing that Henry was innocent of his fathers acts. Although he still imprisoned Henry in Ireland when he returned to fight Bolingbroke, Richard made no further threats against him. Furthermore, sources suggest that when Henry was released, he traveled to see Richard rather than return directly to his father. Is it possible that Henry felt more loyalty to Richard- as a king or a father figure- than to Bolingbroke? Prince Henry agreed to Richards imprisonment but it is unclear whether this and Henry IVs decision to have Richard murdered had any effect on later events, such as the younger Henrys impatience to usurp his father or his choice to rebury Richard with full regal honors in Westminster Abbey. We dont know for certain. Experience in Battle Henry Vs reputation as a leader began forming in his teenage years, as he and took on responsibilities in the government of the realm. One example of this is the Welsh uprising led by Owain Glyn DÃ… µr. When the small uprising swiftly grew into a full-scale rebellion against the English crown, Henry, as Prince of Wales, had a responsibility to help fight this treason. Consequently, Henrys household moved to Chester in 1400 with Henry Percy, nicknamed Hotspur, in charge of military affairs. Hotspur was an experienced campaigner from whom the young prince was expected to learn. However, after several years of ineffective cross-border raiding, the Percys rebelled against Henry IV, culminating in the  Battle of Shrewsbury on July 21st, 1403. The prince was wounded in the face by an arrow but refused to leave the fight. In the end, the kings army was victorious, Hotspur was killed, and the younger Henry famed throughout England for his courage. Lessons Learned in Wales Following the Battle of Shrewsbury, Henrys involvement in military strategy increased greatly and he began forcing a change in tactics, away from raids and into the control of land through strong points and garrisons. Any progress was initially hampered by a chronic lack of funding- at one point, Henry was paying for the entire war from his own estates. By 1407, fiscal reforms facilitated the sieging of Glyn DÃ… µr castles, which finally fell by the end of 1408. With the rebellion fatally, Wales was brought back under English control just two years later. Henrys successes as king can be clearly tied to the lessons he learned in Wales, particularly the value of controlling strongpoints, approaches to dealing with the tedium and difficulties of besieging them, and the need for proper supply lines and a reliable source of adequate finances. He also experienced the exercise of royal power. Involvement in Politics From 1406 to 1411, Henry played an ever-increasing role in the Kings Council, the body of men who ran the nations administration. In 1410, Henry took overall command of the council; however, the opinions and policies Henry favored were often counter to those favored by his fater- particularly where France was concerned. In 1411, the king became so irked that he dismissed his son from the council altogether. Parliament, however, were impressed by both the princes energetic rule and his attempts to reform government finances.​ In 1412, the king organized an expedition to France led by Henrys brother, Prince Thomas. Henry- possibly still angry or sulking over his expulsion from the council- refused to go. The campaign was a failure and Henry was accused of staying in England to plot a coup against the king. Henry denied these accusations vigorously, obtaining a promise from Parliament to investigate and personally protesting his innocence to his father. Later in the year, more rumors emerged, this time claiming the Prince had stolen funds earmarked for a siege of Calais. After much protest, Henry was again found innocent. Threat of Civil War and Ascension to the Throne Henry IV had never secured universal support for his seizure of the crown from Richard and by the end of 1412, his familys supporters were drifting into armed and angry factions. Fortunately for the unity of England, people realized Henry IV was terminally ill before these factions were mobilized and efforts were made to obtain peace between father, son, and brother. Henry IV died on March 20th, 1413, but if he had remained healthy, would his son have started an armed conflict to clear his name, or even seize the crown? It is impossible to know. Instead, Henry was proclaimed king on March 21st, 1413, and crowned as Henry V on April 9th. Throughout 1412, the younger Henry seemed to have been acting with righteous confidence, even arrogance and was clearly chafing against the rule of his father, but legends claim that the wild prince turned into a pious and determined man overnight. There may not be much truth in those tales, but Henry probably did appear to change in character as he fully adopted the mantle of King. Finally able to direct his great energy into his chosen policies, Henry began acting with the dignity and authority he believed was his duty and his accession was broadly welcomed. Early Reforms For the first two years of his reign, Henry worked hard to reform and solidify his nation in preparation for war. The dire royal finances were given a thorough overhaul by streamlining and maximizing the existing system. The resulting gains werent enough to fund a campaign overseas, but Parliament was grateful for the effort and Henry built on this to cultivate a strong working relationship with the Commons, resulting in generous grants of taxation from the people to fund a campaign in France. Parliament was also impressed with Henrys drive to tackle the general lawlessness into which vast areas of England had sunk. The peripatetic courts worked much harder than in Henry IVs reign to tackle crime, reducing the number of armed bands and trying to solve the long-term disagreements which fomented local conflict. The chosen methods, however, reveal Henrys continued eye on France, for many criminals were simply pardoned for their crimes in return for military service abroad. The emphasis was less on punishing crime than channeling that energy towards France. Uniting the Nation Perhaps the most important campaign Henry undertook in this phase was to unite the nobles and common people of England behind him. He showed and practiced a willingness to forgive and pardon families who had opposed Henry IV, none more so than the Earl of March, the lord Richard II had designated as his heir. Henry freed March from imprisonment and returned the Earls landed estates. In return, Henry expected absolute obedience and he moved quickly and decisively to stamp out any dissent. In 1415 the Earl of March informed on plans to put him on the throne which, in truth, were merely the grumblings of three disaffected lords who had already abandoned their ideas. Henry acted swiftly to execute the plotters and remove their opposition. Henry also acted against the spreading belief in Lollardy, a pre-Protestant Christian movement, which many nobles felt was a threat to Englands very society and which had previously had sympathizers at court. A commission was created to identify all Lollards and a Lollard-led rebellion was swiftly put down. Henry issued a general pardon to all those who surrendered and repented. Through these acts, Henry made sure the nation saw him as acting decisively to crush both dissent and religious deviance, underlining his position as Englands leader and Christian protector while also binding the nation further around him. Honoring Richard II Henry had Richard IIs body moved and reinterred with full regal honors in Westminster Cathedral. Possibly done out of fondness for the former king, the reburial was a political masterstroke. Henry IV, whose claim to the throne was legally and morally dubious, hadnt dared perform any act which gave legitimacy to the man he usurped. Henry V, on the other hand, demonstrated confidence in himself and his right to rule, as well as a respect for Richard which pleased any of the latters remaining supporters. The codification of a rumor that Richard II once remarked how Henry would be king, most certainly done with Henrys approval, turned him into the heir of both Henry IV and Richard II. Statebuilding Henry actively encouraged the idea of England as a nation separate from others, most importantly when it came to language. When Henry, a tri-lingual king, ordered all government documents to be written in vernacular English (the language of the normal English peasant) it was the first time it had ever happened. The ruling classes of England had used Latin and French for centuries, but Henry encouraged a cross-class use of English that was markedly different from the continent. While the motive for most of Henrys reforms was configuring the nation to fight France, he also fulfilled almost all the criteria by which kings were to be judged: good justice, sound finance, true religion, political harmony, accepting counsel and nobility. Only one remained: success in war. English kings had claimed parts of the European mainland ever since William, Duke of Normandy,  won the throne in 1066, but the size and legitimacy of these holdings varied  through struggles with the competing French crown. Not only did Henry consider it his legal right and duty to recover these lands, but he also believed honestly and utterly in his right to the rival throne, as first claimed by Edward III. At every stage of his French campaigns, Henry went to great lengths to be seen as acting legally and royally. In France, King Charles VI was mad and the French nobility had split into two warring camps: the Armagnacs, formed around Charles son, and the Burgundians, formed around John, Duke of Burgundy. Henry saw a way to take advantage of this situation. As a prince, he had supported the Burgundian faction, but as the king, he played the two against each other simply to claim hed tried to negotiate. In June 1415, Henry broke talks off and on August 11 began what became known as the Agincourt Campaign. Military Victories at Agincourt and Normandy Henrys first target was the port of Harfleur, a French naval base and potential supply point for the English armies. It fell, but only after a protracted siege which saw Henrys army reduced in numbers and affected by illness. With winter approaching, Henry decided to march his force overland to Calais despite being opposed by his commanders. They felt the scheme was too risky, as a major French force was gathering to meet their weakened troops. At Agincourt on October 25th, an army of both French factions blocked the English and forced them to battle. The French should have crushed the English, but a combination of deep mud, social convention, and French mistakes led to an overwhelming English victory. Henry completed his march to Calais, where he was greeted like a hero. In military terms, victory at Agincourt simply allowed Henry to escape catastrophe and deterred the French from further pitched battles, but politically the impact was enormous. The English further united around their conquering king, Henry became one of the most famous men in Europe and the French factions splintered again in shock. Having obtained vague promises of help from John the Fearless in 1416, Henry returned to France in July 1417 with a clear objective: the conquest of Normandy. He maintained his army in France consistently for three years, methodically besieging towns and castles and installing new garrisons. By June 1419 Henry controlled the vast majority of Normandy. Admittedly, warring between the French factions meant little national opposition was organized but it was nonetheless a supreme achievement. Equally notable are the tactics Henry used. This wasnt a plundering  chevauchà ©e  as favored by previous English kings, but a determined attempt to bring Normandy under permanent control. Henry was acting as rightful king and allowing those who accepted him to keep their land. There was still brutality- he destroyed those who opposed him and grew increasingly violent- but he was far more controlled, magnanimous, and answerable to the law than before. The War for France On May 29th, 1418, while Henry and his forces advanced further into France, John the Fearless captured Paris, slaughtered the Armagnac garrison and took command of Charles VI and his court. Negotiations had continued between the three sides throughout this period, but the Armagnacs and Burgundians grew close again in the summer of 1419. A united France would have threatened Henry Vs success, but even in the face of continued defeats at the hands of Henry, the French could not overcome their internal divisions. At a meeting of  the Dauphin  and John the Fearless on September 10th, 1419, John was assassinated. Reeling, the Burgundians reopened negotiations with Henry. By Christmas, an agreement was in place and on 21st May 1420, the Treaty of Troyes signed. Charles VI remained  King of France, but Henry became his heir, married his daughter  Katherine  and acted as de facto ruler of France. Charles son, the Dauphin Charles, was barred from the throne and Henrys line would follow. On June 2nd, Henry married Katherine of Valois and on December 1st, 1420 he entered Paris. Unsurprisingly, the Armagnacs rejected the treaty. Untimely Death In early 1421, Henry returned to England, motivated by the need to acquire more funds and mollify Parliament. He spent the winter besieging Meaux, one of the Dauphins last northern strongholds, before it fell in May 1422. During this time his only child, Henry, had been born, but the king had also fallen ill and had to be literally carried to the next siege. He died on August 31st, 1422 at Bois de Vincennes. Successes and Legacy Henry V perished at the height of his power, only a few months following Charles VIs death and his coronation as King of France. In his nine-year reign, he had demonstrated the ability to manage a nation through hard work and an eye for detail. He had shown a charisma which inspired soldiers and a balance of justice and forgiveness with reward and punishment that united a nation and provided the framework on which he based his strategies. He had proved himself a planner and commander equal to the greatest of his era, keeping an army in the field constantly overseas for three years. While Henry had benefited greatly from the civil war being waged in France, his opportunism and ability to react enabled him to exploit the situation fully. Henry fulfilled every criterion demanded of a good king. Weaknesses It is entirely possible that Henry died just at the right time for his legend to remain, and that another nine years would have tarnished it greatly. The goodwill and support of the English people were definitely wavering by 1422 as the money was drying up and Parliament had mixed feelings towards Henrys seizure of the crown of France. The English people wanted a strong, successful king, but they were concerned about his level of interest in France and they certainly didnt want to pay for a prolonged conflict there. Ultimately, historys view of Henry is colored by the Treaty of Troyes. On the one hand, Troyes established Henry as the heir to France. However, Henrys rival heir, the Dauphin retained strong support and rejected the treaty. Troyes thus committed Henry to a long and expensive war against a faction who still controlled roughly half of France, a war which might take decades before the treaty could be enforced and for which his resources were running out. The task of properly establishing the Lancastrians as dual kings of England and France was probably impossible, but many also consider the dynamic and determined Henry as one of the few people able to do it. Henrys personality undermines his reputation. His confidence was part of an iron will and fanatical determination that hints at a cold, aloof character masked by the glow of victories. Henry seems to have focused on his rights and goals above those of his kingdom. As ​prince, Henry pushed for greater power and, as an ailing king, his last will made no provision for the care of the kingdom after his death. Instead, he spent his energies arranging twenty-thousand masses to be performed in his honor. At the time of his death, Henry had been growing more intolerant of enemies, ordering ever more savage reprisals and forms of war and may have been becoming increasingly autocratic. Conclusion Henry V of England was undoubtedly a gifted man and one of few to shape history to his design, but his self-belief and ability came at the expense of personality. He was one of the great military commanders of his age- acting from a genuine sense of right, not a cynical politician- but his ambition may have committed him to treaties beyond even his ability to enforce. Despite the achievements of his reign, including uniting the nation around him, creating peace between crown and parliament, and winning a throne, Henry left no long-term political or military legacy. The Valois reconquered France and retook the throne within forty years, while the Lancastrian line failed and England collapsed into civil war. What Henry did leave was a legend and a greatly enhanced national consciousness.

Nissan Automotive Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Nissan Automotive - Research Paper Example For example, Renault acquired one-third shares of Nissan, but it was not contemplating on building Renault’s plant in Japan or shifting its model production in Japanese factories. Alternatively, Renault appointed a star manager, Carlos Ghosn, at CEO’s position in Nissan. Ghosn restructured the company, hence restoring Nissan to profitability (Crooks, 2010). This analysis suggests a simple model for FDI where Nissan as a heterogeneous investor bid to secure the control rights on proposed or existing overseas assets; the formulation is capable of explicitly considering more than two countries or market. The model avails a strategy utilized in bilateral FDI for analyzing bilateral trade in goods; its specification entails an inward effect showing characteristics pertaining to the destination country, an outward efficacy indicating the features of origin country, and a vector consisting pair-specific variables that reflect monitoring costs (Forum, 2010). The model is applied or estimated using five countries. In the second stage, the estimated outward and inward fixed effects related to variables that are predicted by the model. Then the formulation of the model is aggregated into yielding simple table used for each country’s share of the world Automobile FDI (Obashi, 2010). Many firms engage in FDI without exploiting the external markets directly via the exportation. They focus on location, internalization, and ownership advantages with internalization of intangible assets. Ownership advantage depends on the managerial and technological superiority of home country’s firm in relation to the hosting country firms. This superiority should be sufficient to deal with the extra costs incurred as a result from differences in business customs, informal and formal norms, and languages. As a result, the ownership is directly linked with control; hence control turns weaker when ownership

Early or late industrialization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words - 1

Early or late industrialization - Essay Example Capitalism on the other hand is the belief that the government does not utilize economic resources efficiently as private entities. Therefore, the society would be much better in a free market economy, which determines winners and losers. This topic is important because, essentially, communism and socialism are among the main economic systems, alongside capitalism that have existed since the industrial revolution. Both of these systems have their own merits and demerits. It is therefore, with this reason that the author wishes to conduct an evaluation on what these systems are, plus the merits and demerits associated with them. Since the Soviet Union abandoned the communism, the assumption that capitalism may be the only effective economic system have been aggressively marketed in the capitalist media. This view seems to gain credibility owing to the failure of communism with regard to its aims, corruption, totalitarian, and gross inefficiency. This topic is related to the discipline of economics to the sense that it makes us understand the meaning of economic success. A comparison of the two systems, that is socialism, and capitalism will make us to understand the meaning of economic success. An economic system that is perceives as being unjust and then led to a global poverty would be indeed a dubious achievement. It may be rightly argued that the economic justice is jeopardized when the outcome is peoples ‘that is instigated by poverty. In another spectrum, an economic system that is perceived as being unjust, and which leads to wealth, being concentrated in the hands of a few is a more dubious realization. Further, an economic system that does not motivate individuals and is inefficient cannot be said to be just or capable of producing much wealth. Finally, the ecology can only support much economic entrainment as well as wastes. Most ideologies of communist are derived from the

Factors To Consider In Setting Up A Business Essay

Factors To Consider In Setting Up A Business - Essay Example In addition, Lawrence (2013) a lawyer from a foundation that gives legal advice, suggested that when one is considering a structure for his business, promoter should consider who will own the business and what the activities will be. His choice of business structure will also depend on the type of business proposed, financial needs, and number of owners. In a separate standpoint, MacFarland, (1974, pp 60-61) said businesses are always profit seeking ventures, and as such considerations should also be given to customers perceptions. He said that a lot of businesses fail because of lack of capital, business knowledge, and inefficiency in management. Above views have been supported in the work of Dorman (2011). However, she adds business planning as an important element in business decisions. A business plan is more of a statement of goals and action plan needed to achieve them. Other organizations stated economic factors as underlying principle for choices. The Forestry Dept of FAO (20 05) cited that external, internal and individual factors determine the structure of an organization. External factors are concerns in the environment which are not under the control of owners. These are economic, socio-economic and administrative factors that could affect structure. Internal factors are purpose and organizational instruments while individual choices refer to costs and benefits. Options people have when making decisions to organize Answers to above factors will solidify the type of business structure to be organized on whether it will be a sole proprietorship, general partnership, limited liability company, or a corporation since every structure has advantages and disadvantages. When one chooses an option he thinks is needed for the business, proponent should prepare himself of potential risks and liabilities, the investment needs, costs of maintaining the business structure and framework of income tax. Evaluating these decisions when a new business is starting up Be fore anything else, the proponent must have a personal assessment of his strength and weaknesses and must have a definite goal to success. Stephenson, (n.d.) of the Entrepreneur Magazine, stated that for someone to succeed in business, he must enjoy what he is doing because his satisfaction will be manifested in the success of the business. The owner must take the business seriously and must also believe in the products or services he is selling. The owner must be able to make plans, direct, and above all manage his money wisely. When the proponent is starting with a little budget, the decision to start with sole proprietorship or a general partnership seem logical because he will find it easy to set up, since it only needs one person to organize. He does not need to report to anybody as he is the boss. Sole proprietorship is simplified as it is not required to fill up many government documentations, follow specific rule, aside from having lower taxes. Mconnon (n.d.) said many small businesses started this way then later on changed structure of ownership as it grows. However, sole proprietorship is not free from headaches, as succession is not clear; there is a risk of losing business in case of death and total disability. Sole proprietorship finds it difficult to attract investors, thus it has limited financial resources. Owner has total personal liability on its debts and obligations; while profits are taxed as personal income. General partnership In order to augment owners’ capital, he/she may invite a partner into the business. This way, a general partnership is formed wherein both agree to share in capital and management of business. In general partnersh

Modern management techniques Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 2

Modern management techniques - Essay Example It is noteworthy that construction as a process consists of a wide range of activities including building and infrastructure assembling. Examples of activities in the construction industry include residential construction, bridge erection, roadway paving, large-scale painting jobs, and demolitions. The management of the construction industry comprises of project manager among other personnel. The project manager ensures that there is smooth operation in the industry. Conversely, the construction manager and design engineer who assumes the role of a supervisor assists the manager. Construction is a hazardous involvement and construction workers are thus, exposed to hazards while delivering their services. These hazards include unguarded machinery, electrocutions, falling from rooftops, and acquisition of injuries from construction equipments. Therefore, the employers and workers need to work towards reducing these hazards. In order to achieve this, the identification, reduction, and hazard elimination is essential. Management, therefore, should work towards reducing these hazards, and failure to accomplish will lead to failure to accomplish organizational goals and objectives as described by Emre (2007, p.200). Effective and successful execution of activities industry achieved by putting in place effective planning, budgeting, scheduling, and ensuring safety in the construction site. Construction as a technical and complex process requires specialization, the four fields of construction that is; industrial construction, heavy, civil construction, residential building construction and commercial building construction require that the industry employ specialist in each field. Each of these construction projects should put in place a unique team, design, construction, and project maintenance with an effort of ensuring success in the industry. Technological changes in the modern society have profoundly

Business Research Methods Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Business Research Methods - Assignment Example The information that was gathered from the research completed is of great help to the company. This is because the company is able to pinpoint their strong hold like customer’s satisfaction, loyalty to its products, and its products competitiveness in the market. This is very important in any organization in order to maximize the profits (Allan, 2007, p 45). In the first part of the question that gets to know how first the customers was attended to. It’s observed that most of the customers this is approximately 62% seem to have been attended to in less than 5 minutes. This is a ratio question that its goal is to establish an exact time. The therefore having more than half of the customers falling on the upper cut in terms of in time service it’s commendable. No one likes to wait for service delivery we all detest quest .In the business world service delivery is key (Fraser, 1990, p 23). The second question in the research is also out to establish the almost exact amount of time that the customer gets responded to. As a company apple is trying to establish its competence in customer service when it comes to responding to their needs. Most of the customers as well here seem to get their response in a span of less than 12 hours. It is all logical to know that customers especially if one is calling regarding problem with products provided by apple company among them phones which are an everyday use a 12 hour wait for them to attend and fix a problem is long. Therefore the response shows that most of the customers get delayed service hence it’s in order for apple to improve on the above (Trochim, 2000, p 78). Referring to the third question in regards to the second question. We come across customers calling for all the varied reasons this includes warranty claim, more information on the products, web pages among others. Looking at this in a customer’s point of view it clearly shows some sort of inefficiency. This is because when cu stomer is calling to inquire about for instance there settings with the web pages and they get the response after 2 hours or so. The information they needed might not be of any help later .People ask questions to get direct answers to solve their problems according to philosopher Rene Decartes. While information gets to an individual not immediately it does not serve the intended purpose. Only 19% of the customers seem to have gotten the information in less than 2 hours (Fraser, 1990, p 76). According to the research we gather that those with problems with functionality of the products, and service problem had to wait for the longest time. As indicated prior apple products are an everyday use therefore their failure to function or delayed fixing can cause an individual a job, money time, it has power even to spoil a day and even break a relationship either personal or professional. Apple customers as the research gathers are young people by young we are talking less than 40 year old s that is where the customer base is. The company has been able to detain this age group because of its products that are saying compatible with the age. This age comprises late teens this is where freshmen in college fall to the young entrepreneurs who are striving hard to climb the corporate ladder. Basically what this age comprises is the proverbial young and energetic. Therefore having established that apple company has the right information required to identify its strength and weaknesses among its customers (Trochim, 2000, p 57). The question that rates the customer service the research finds out the customer service at apple is rated very low that is it falls below average. The customer service

Journal Entry Week 6 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Journal Entry Week 6 - Essay Example For instance, Sebenius notes that business dealings in China are influenced by local political groups even in private companies, which might surprise American business professionals (p.7). In case of Germany, major board-level decisions involve labor force participation. Cultural differences also cause serious confusion in identifying the actual decision makers. Different cultures follow different norms and have different meanings to trust, faith, relationship, and ethics. These differences could startle the ignorant business personnel. In some countries, decision rights are even vested with the shareholders, which could become terrible cause for concern when foreign companies invest in these shares; moreover, shareholder regulations are different in different countries. Sebenius also points out that informal influences can cause significant say in a deal; these informal groups can assume different forms in different countries (p.7). Hence, it is important to realize and understand w ho these informal groups are before signing any deals. Through illustrations explaining such influences of cultural difference, Sebenius attempts to clarify that cross-border negotiations would require acquisition of clear understanding of other cultures, their influential people, roles, and various other groups that might influence the negotiation and the business. Sebenius (p.10) also enlightens us with some suggestions to deal with people from different cultures to arrive at successful negotiations. For instance, in top-down authoritative cultures, negotiations must be made directly with the authoritarians rather than any subordinates; however, it is also important to obtain an awareness of other informal groups in such cultures. Negotiation process also differs in different cultures. In some cultures, the negotiators aim at win-win whereas in some they only think about their advantage. This article also introduces various types of

Business Research Methods Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Business Research Methods - Assignment Example The information that was gathered from the research completed is of great help to the company. This is because the company is able to pinpoint their strong hold like customer’s satisfaction, loyalty to its products, and its products competitiveness in the market. This is very important in any organization in order to maximize the profits (Allan, 2007, p 45). In the first part of the question that gets to know how first the customers was attended to. It’s observed that most of the customers this is approximately 62% seem to have been attended to in less than 5 minutes. This is a ratio question that its goal is to establish an exact time. The therefore having more than half of the customers falling on the upper cut in terms of in time service it’s commendable. No one likes to wait for service delivery we all detest quest .In the business world service delivery is key (Fraser, 1990, p 23). The second question in the research is also out to establish the almost exact amount of time that the customer gets responded to. As a company apple is trying to establish its competence in customer service when it comes to responding to their needs. Most of the customers as well here seem to get their response in a span of less than 12 hours. It is all logical to know that customers especially if one is calling regarding problem with products provided by apple company among them phones which are an everyday use a 12 hour wait for them to attend and fix a problem is long. Therefore the response shows that most of the customers get delayed service hence it’s in order for apple to improve on the above (Trochim, 2000, p 78). Referring to the third question in regards to the second question. We come across customers calling for all the varied reasons this includes warranty claim, more information on the products, web pages among others. Looking at this in a customer’s point of view it clearly shows some sort of inefficiency. This is because when cu stomer is calling to inquire about for instance there settings with the web pages and they get the response after 2 hours or so. The information they needed might not be of any help later .People ask questions to get direct answers to solve their problems according to philosopher Rene Decartes. While information gets to an individual not immediately it does not serve the intended purpose. Only 19% of the customers seem to have gotten the information in less than 2 hours (Fraser, 1990, p 76). According to the research we gather that those with problems with functionality of the products, and service problem had to wait for the longest time. As indicated prior apple products are an everyday use therefore their failure to function or delayed fixing can cause an individual a job, money time, it has power even to spoil a day and even break a relationship either personal or professional. Apple customers as the research gathers are young people by young we are talking less than 40 year old s that is where the customer base is. The company has been able to detain this age group because of its products that are saying compatible with the age. This age comprises late teens this is where freshmen in college fall to the young entrepreneurs who are striving hard to climb the corporate ladder. Basically what this age comprises is the proverbial young and energetic. Therefore having established that apple company has the right information required to identify its strength and weaknesses among its customers (Trochim, 2000, p 57). The question that rates the customer service the research finds out the customer service at apple is rated very low that is it falls below average. The customer service

TalkTalk Telecom Group PLC Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

TalkTalk Telecom Group PLC - Coursework Example TalkTalk is a company that provides telecommunications, internet, and pay-television services and the headquarters of the company are established in London, United Kingdom (TalkTalkGroup.com). Initially the company was only a fixed landline provider but now the company also provides mobile phone, home phone and broadband services. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange (TalkTalkGroup.com). Since the company is incorporated in the United Kingdom therefore the company is bound to fulfill the requirements of the regulations of the UK for the preparation of its annual report (TalkTalkGroup.com). Every company in the UK is required to follow the International Accounting Standards (IASs) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) developed by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). Therefore, TalkTalk is also required to prepare its financial statements in accordance with the standards mentioned above. For each head in the financial statements, a specific accounting treatment has been prescribed in the IASs and IFRSs. There are a number of standards that deal with different heads in the financial statements. The financial statements of a company include; statement of comprehensive income, statement of financial position, statement of cash flows, statement of changes in equity and the notes to the financial statements. These five documents constitute the financial statements of a company. The statement of comprehensive income provides an extensive view of the revenue earned by the company, the cost incurred by the company throughout the financial year, the profits or loss made by the company. The accounting standards provide certain accounting treatments that are required to be followed for the preparation of the statement of comprehensive income. One of the most important requirements is the treatment regarding recognition of revenue. IAS 18 – Revenue provides the required accounting

Ethnic Diversity Essay Example for Free

Ethnic Diversity Essay 2. Discuss the effect that modernization has had on ethnic identification and ethnic conflict. The effect modernization has had on ethnic identification and ethnic conflict is not a great one. Early modernization theorists, who were quite optimistic about the positive effects of literacy, urbanization, and modern values, clearly underestimated the extent to which these factors might mobilize various ethnic groups and set them against each other (Handelman, 2011, p. 113). Modernization challenged traditional religious, national, and tribal identities by undercutting traditional ethnic practices and values. A huge part of current modernization is globalization, which pose an even greater challenge. The long-term effect of the expanding â€Å"world culture† advanced by globalization are not entirely clear (Handelman, 2011, p. 114). Globalized culture can create a backlash and increase tensions between neighboring communities as not everyone can ethically identify with each other. 3. What are some reasons that might explain why major civil strife related to ethnicity has declined in the last 10-15 years? Some reasons that might explain why major civil strife related to ethnicity has declined in the last 10-15 years are statecraft, constitutional arrangements and external intervention. In addition, the transition to a democratic government has aided in the decline. Faced with common critical environmental, social and economic matters for the previous 10 to 15 years, different ethnic groups came to what socialist have called a culture of accommodation. Accommodation is the practice which contradictory groups make a mindful attempt to make working arrangements with in them which then suspend the conflict and make their relations more acceptable and reduce wasteful energy.

Disciplines In Health Promotion Health And Social Care Essay

Disciplines In Health Promotion Health And Social Care Essay In the past years there has been an increasing expectation of new strategies and ideas concerning Public Health and Health Promotion with regards to effectiveness, efficiency and the importance of a wide range of various disciplines contributing to enhance the uses of resources and the practice of health promotion (Macdonald and Bunton 2004). This assignment will explore with critical reflections and throw more light on the importance of the various disciplines such as psychology, sociology, economics and ethics that contribute to improve the practice of health promotion. Discussions will include the relevance of economics, sociology and ethics to the practice of health promotion and ways in which these can contribute to understanding and evaluating health promotion. Finally it is expected that this assignment will highlight the problems and challenges identified, address them and make recommendations for professional practice. CONCEPT OF HEALTH The most acceptable known definition of health, states that health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity (WHO 1946). However, although this definition has been accepted widely as a holistic and positive interpretation of health, it has been criticised for not including the spiritual and emotional aspects of health (Ewles and Simnett 2003 cited in Bennett et al 2009 p. 48). The question is what really informs the understanding of health and ill health considering the lay people and the practitioner is that, the definition of health is entirely personal to the individual and his/her life styles. This has become necessary that healthcare professional should understand that the interpretation of health is highly understood differently from one person to the other with regards to issues militating against them from one point of time such as self-esteem, social support, individual control and social status (Laverack 2007), so that in an attempt to address these issues one should be ready to consider to embrace and undertake interventions of health promotions to achieve realistic goals. Blaxter (1990) identified five main concepts of health as follows, health as a physical fitness, health as social relationships, health as a function, health as psychosocial well-being, that prevails with young men of higher socioeconomic groups and lastly, health as not ill that is the absence of symptoms or medical effort widely used by all group. The term health promotion describes a multidimensional approach to encouraging health related lifestyle changes among individuals and communities (Laverack 2007). Health promotion aims to allow people to increase their control over their health and the factors that affect it, with the ultimate aim of enhancing health and its determinants (WHO 1986, 2005). Naidoo and Wills (2000) described three levels of health education as follows, Primary prevention for example immunisation, Secondary prevention for example screening. Then Tertiary prevention which aims to limit complications associated with irreversible conditions, for example cardiac rehabilitation. However, an individuals approach to health promotion will be influenced by their own health beliefs and that of the profession they represent. Ewles and Simnett (2003) outlined a framework of five approaches that demonstrate a range of values and beliefs that are commonly held. A value is an idea or concept that is regarded as worthy, desirable or useful (Moore 2001). And according to Fishbein (1976), a belief is a probability judgement that links some object or concept to some attribute The five approaches are; Medical approach to prevent disease, Behaviour change approach that is persuasive education, Educational approach that provides patients right to make an informed choice, Empowerment approach, this is patient-centred approach that helps patients to identify their own learning needs and, facilitated by a health educator, gain the knowledge and skills they require to make decisions about their health needs and the Social change approach this does not focus on the individual but on society as a whole (Ewles and Simnett 2003). Similarly health promotion interventions can be achieve by adopting the downstream approaches to tackle health behaviours that give rise to problems and upstream approaches to tackle the causes of such behaviours such as alcohol and smoking problem that leads to social exclusion and poverty. To alleviate this problem taxes should be imposed on such items and local employment programmes set up at the upstream to tackle the cause. Health info rmation and behaviour programmes should be provided to solve this problem at the downstream (Mckinlay 1979). THE DISCIPLINES For health promotion to be effective and efficient, it is important to explore a variety of disciplines as well as the use of an available resources and the appropriate evidence base practice (Macdonald and Bunton 2004). The question is which discipline ideas, concepts or theories inform us in promoting health? But generally it has been said that psychology has played an important role in formulating strategies (Bennett and Murphy 1997; Bennett et al. 1995), identifying aims and objectives and suggesting effective approaches for health promotion (Bunton et al. 1991; Bennett and Murphy 1997). Psychology therefore is concerned with the scientific study of the processes of the mind and behaviour and how human and other animals relate to one another with the environment (Colman 1988). It has been found that psychological theories by using communication model of behavioural change has proved successful and reported of positive outcomes for example, according to Boots and Midford (1999), suggested that females were used in campaigning in mass media activities to raised awareness of drivers to stop drinking when driving in Australia. Similarly Petty and Cacioppo (1986) by the use of Elaboration Likelihood Model explained how pre-existing beliefs and interest of an individual as well as the message content (how it is package) has a positive impact in changing behaviour that is the likelihood of a known HIV positive person who is involve in a campaign of promoting National AIDS awareness programmes can effect an increase knowledge, less risky attitudes and a safer behaviour chang e than somebody without the disease (Scollay et al. 1992). It has also been found that the use of the health belief model has given an in-depth understanding about low rates of compliance to screening and prevention recommendations. This type consist of five models, more common are the approaches that increase the barriers to unhealthy behaviours that is by use of increasing taxation in tobacco or alcohol that serves as an effective deterrent with young adults who are more affected by price changes than older adults (Lewit et al. 1981). But Brownson et al. (1995) also affirmed that by imposing restrictions on such items on alcohol without licencing, renders it ineffective that poses political issues and controversy. Also through Social learning theory (SLT), that states behaviour is the product of a relationship between perception and environmental events (Bandura 1997). It has been realised that, behaviours are influenced by two sets of expectancies, the first being the action-outcome that explains the fact that if an individual believes th at a particular action will cause disastrous health problems like smoking causes cancer then the individual sees the outcome as a value. The second being the self-efficacy expectancy, that is if the individual realises that giving up of smoking will reduce the risk of getting cancer then the person places a high value on the behavioural change. These two expectancy beliefs have been found to be effective in helping to resist peer pressure to smoke or the use of drugs (Stacy et al. 1992) and engaging in safer sex practices (OLeary et al. 1992). However it has been argued that behaviour comes as a result of a formal decision making and seems to be habitual and thoughtless (Hunt and Martin 1988). Conversely economics as a discipline has also contributed to health promotion either in a positive or negative way globally. Health economics according to Santerre and Neun (2009) studies the supply and demand of health care resources and the impact of health care resources on a population (p.4). It can also be used to access the impact of tax changes on smoking behaviour, for instance increasing taxes on such item like cigarette would be very effective. Because it will increase the cost of cigarette which will in turn correspond to a reduction in the number of young adult smokers and at the same time reduce the amount of consumption. Similarly the changes in tax do not actually affect the number of adult smokers. On the other hand if taxes are imposed on cigarettes, the disadvantage is that tobacco duty is going to go up which will affect the poor more the rich (Grossman and chaloupka 1997). Economic policies has also threaten the developments of interventions globally for instance, the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) which was hailed as a new frame work for development that would have propelled and directed change in the spheres of hunger, health and human right, equality and education is being threaten by economic problems of soaring commodity prices, government decisions of misdirecting funds and global slowdown to bring it to reality. For example this will affect the UN population fund, whose agency focuses on maternal and reproductive health which is a major public health issue for instance it has been estimated that, in India the number of women dying during childbirth is highest anywhere in the world that is one woman dying every three to six minutes from preventable causes, yet the country spends less than 0.9% of gross domestic product on public health. On the other hand it would cost the world $6bn to stop women dying during childbirth less than the amount s pent in a day and a half on the military. Also sound economic investment could go a long way to bring success in countries across Asia pushing down the poverty levels. At the same time political priorities, if geared towards health-related MDGs will help save women from dying, reduce child mortality rate, combat HIV/Aids, promote gender equality and eradicate extreme poverty and hunger globally (Holmes 2008). Another discipline of importance is sociology which has also played an effective role in promoting health. Sociology enables us to understand the structure and dynamics of society, it attempts to analyse the patterns of human behaviour and individual life changes. It also examines the different forms of social structures like groups, organisations, communities and social categories such as gender, age and race and various social institutions like kinship, political, economic or religious groups that affect human attitudes, actions, values and beliefs as well as opportunities (Thorogood 2004 cited in Macdonald and Bunton 2004). The significance of this has highlighted an understanding into how health and illness affect our everyday life and has also criticised medicine as a tool to support capitalist development and exploitation (Navarro 1974; Doyal and Pennell 1979). According to Illich (1976), medical dominance has done a lot of harm than good for example the practice of biomedicine has created a lot of sicknesses as a result from the risk of surgery, anaesthesia, effects of drugs and immunisations. This has also open ways to examine and to improve ways of different factors of health issues that is beyond the field of medicine and which the medical world does not have an adept opinion, and sociology can offer an insight into how and why these progressions occur. These also include the family structure, housing problems and employment issues as well as policies and suggest ways to address them (McKeown 1979; Kennedy 1983; Townsend and Davidson 1982). The adoption of health promotion strategies has come under scrutiny in a sense that not only does the approach of information-giving is enough to change a person but then the issue of empowerment model that is gaining greater control and making a free choice (Tones 1986 ). For example health promotion campaign in recent times has not been successful to address the issues relating to educational responses to HIV/AID. There has been various criticism in the approach with regards to norms and values that has been associated to targeted groups and more importantly the ideas and values that binds the campaign which were not expressed (Watney 1988a).The issue of impasse facing government-sponsored programmes between agencies have been emphasised, on one hand and need for appropriate information on a vital public health issue on the other as well as a political and social unwillingness to support the profile of sex (Wellings 1988; Watney 1988b). The reasons for this tension is perhaps the s ensitivity of undertaking any public educational activities which addressed forms of sexual relationship that might misinterpreted and could damage the traditional family values (Jessopp and Thorogood 1990). This can be achieved by carefully adopting a skilful decision-making strategy of acknowledging the individual social and political views as well as the structure of the community and their pre-existing values and beliefs. This will influence the ways in which information is perceived and operated on, decision-making and choice (Thorogood 2004 cited in Macdonald and Bunton 2004). Another area that has been criticised is the concept of evidence-base to inform health promotion policy and practice for achieving health outcomes (Bowen and Zwei 2005). Programmes designed to support evidence-base health promotion (EBHP) are being investigated and discussions are on-going to find out which mechanism could be most effective to support the evidence into policy practice and relevance of practice guidelines. Even though resources can be found in large organisations that are responsible for making sure the implementation of policy and supporting EBHP practices and decision making processes (Davies 2005; Speller et al. 2005), there are well documented barriers that include lack of aptness, lack of relevance of research, mutual mistrust and lack of personal contact between researchers, policy-makers and practitioners, poor quality research, political instability, resource limitations and lack of expert opinion to explain evidence. Though many organisations are making sure to develop strategies to alleviate these barriers, there is still limited published research discovering the experiences of practitioners in the interest of evidence-based resources to inform practices. But in seeking to improve the evidence-base for health promotion and public health a multi-dimensional approach is required (Nutbeam 1999; Tang et al. 2003). CONCLUSION This essay to a large extent has given an insight into understanding the concepts, principles and models of health as well as public health and health promotion as being applied in a national and global context. It has also highlighted in a broader perspective understanding as to the way in which psychology has contributed effectively in a more rigorous application of psychological theories within health promotion interventions and evaluation designs (schaalma et al. 1996). And more also as a discipline to a large extent the contribution made in economics to health Promotion in identifying which forms of health promotion are worthwhile and which is not and therefore provided a framework which enables identification of where the benefits of health promotion justify the cost and to what extent. Lastly understanding the relevance of sociology for health promotion which has helped to outline the broad basis of sociological methods, considering the contribution this method has made or mig ht make and the criticism of health promotion, both in its methods and in its goals and objectives. 2,502