Saturday, August 31, 2019

The Effects of World War Ii on Northern & Southern Ireland; 1939-1945

The effects of World War II on Northern & Southern Ireland; 1939-1945 Daniel McCarthy (Visiting Student) Student Identification Number: 08102474 The Two Ireland’s in the 20th Century 0809-HI 208. E John Cunningham Word Count: 2,990 13 March 2009 Daniel McCarthy 1 Throughout the time period of 1939-1945, the two countries of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland found themselves in two different positions in regards to participating in World War II. Northern Ireland, which was controlled by the United Kingdom, played a vital role in helping defeat the Axis powers through its strategically located position and its manufacturing abilities. While the Republic of Ireland lead by Taoiseach Eamon de Valera vowed to remain neutral and keep its citizens out of war. While completely different in ideologies, did the two different countries share any similar experiences throughout World War II? A vast range of similar and differencing experiences occurred to these two Ireland’s collectively throughout 1935-1945. Overall, while the Republic of Ireland formally remained neutral and Northern Ireland continued to fight, both of the Ireland’s different philosophies and approaches helped garner new experiences and identities on an international stage. To understand the experiences and philosophy of the Republic of Ireland during World War II, the past must be analyzed to realize their decision for declaring neutrality. Ireland’s neutrality lineage can be dated back to 1914 when organizations such as the Irish Neutrality League promoted such nationalist slogans as, â€Å"Neither King nor Kaiser but Ireland! (Murphy 9). Prior to World War II beginning, the Republic of Ireland found itself in a less than desirable position. Ireland fought the British for independence from the years 1919-1921 in the Anglo-Irish War and subsequently again from the years 1933-1938 in the Anglo-Irish Trade War. This twenty year period left the Republic of Ireland in a state of political reconstruction and economical recession. Resulting from this, a â€Å"Guaranteed Neutrality† clause was added to the â€Å"Draft Treaty A†. Irish delegate Erskine Daniel McCarthy 2 Childers explained that an independent Ireland would, â€Å"stand alone, like the vast majority of small nations, with complete independent control of our territory, waters and forces, neutral in all wars and devoted to peaceful development† (Murphy 10). Moreover, the experiences of these amounting conflicts resulted in Ireland wanting to rebuild its own infrastructure and nation rather than become entangled in conflict, on any scale. A few philosophies existed in the Republic of Ireland supporting neutrality, in particularly de Valera leadership for remaining neutral the entirety of the war. To de Valera one of his earliest conclusions was that it would be â€Å"completely foolish† for a small nation like Ireland, to volunteer and become a belligerent country. Thus, welcoming hardships in his eyes were not necessary or needed. Alongside this, de Valera used the partition of Ireland to explain remaining neutral by offering, â€Å"we believe that no other position would be accepted by the majority of our people as long as the present position exists† and also explaining, â€Å"The continued existence of partition, that unnatural separation of six of our counties from the rest of Ireland, added in our case a further decisive reason† (Murphy 14). This nationalist feeling portrayed from Southern Ireland was that it must no longer be involved in â€Å"England’s Wars† and allow for Ireland to create their own sovereignty (Murphy 9). These experiences prior to World War II offer a brief synopsis as to why de Valera continued to remain out of the war: to protect Ireland’s best interest. This ideology of self preservation and neutrality would be the driving force behind Ireland’s experiences throughout World War II. While de Valera and Fianna Fail Daniel McCarthy 3 ontinued on its path of neutrality, Northern Ireland would in time experience a different emergence onto the national stage of politics. The story of Northern Ireland and World War II reveals quite a different experience in comparison to the Republic of Ireland. At the beginning of the war, Northern Ireland experienced little preparation or sense of concern in being drawn into the violence of World War II. On one account a Belfast diarist desc ribed her native city as, â€Å"probably the pleasantest place in Europe. We are unbombed, we have no conscription, there is plenty to eat and life is reasonably normal. † (Barton 48). Mainly, this lack of preparedness and sense of urgency was blamed on Northern Ireland’s Prime Minister Lord Craigavon. Craigavon, was criticized by many as too old and ineffective of a leader to prepare for what many predicted as a very turbulent future for Northern Ireland (Farrell 154). However, Northern Ireland was not initially included in plans from Westminster legislation because they decided that Northern Ireland had no military significance to the allies’ forces. Northern Ireland in the upcoming years would experience a shift from having little importance in World War II into that of a crucial manufacturing city that also supplied Britain with a labor force and acted as a strategically located base (Second World War Online Learning Resource for Northern Ireland). Within the first seven months of 1939, Northern Ireland would begin to transform into a country ready for war. Belfast was quickly noted as not being adequately utilized; with a large number of the population unemployed and its valuable location, measures were quickly put into action to use Northern Ireland’s location. First, Westminster Daniel McCarthy 4 legislation would grant government contracts worth more than ? 6m for equipment which included bedding, battledress, and electrical wiring (Second World War Online Learning Resource for Northern Ireland). While these new initiatives were meant to help the Allied forces, it also helped to a degree curb down Northern Ireland’s unemployment rate. In 1938, the number of unemployed in Northern Ireland was a staggering 91,000. However, with the unemployed working in the shipyards and other various jobs this number eventually curbed down to 77,000 by 1940 (Farrell 161). Furthermore, Northern Ireland would begin to see other changes occurring through its country at the beginning of World War II. The rationing of food followed by the introduction of an identity card system, restrictions on travel, the censorship of mail and telephone calls, governmental controls on the press, the imprisonment of male enemy aliens, the formation of a local home guard and Auxiliary Territorial Services were introduced to Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland over night was quickly transforming into a society to contribute to the war. Due to these escalations and output from Northern Ireland, it soon became a point of interest to the Axis powers and its role in aiding the Allied forces (Second World War Online Learning Resource for Northern Ireland). As illustrated before, a discussion was made which showed the reasons as to why the Republic of Ireland remained neutral throughout the entirety of the war. However, how neutral was Ireland’s experience throughout World War II? The Republic of Ireland and de Valera were formally considered to be neutral but they did assist Northern Ireland and the Allies on numerous occasions. Whether sending meteorology reports to help assist coordination of the invasion of Normandy or sending aid and fire trucks to Belfast Daniel McCarthy 5 after heavy German air raids, these covert operations clearly assisted the Allies (Girvin 25). But, de Valera and Ireland did experience and receive negative feedback throughout the war. De Valera did censor Holocaust images from Ireland and also ceased news radio shows only limiting war reporting’s to brief paragraphs in the paper. Furthermore, German and Japanese embassies remained functioning in Dublin during de Valera’s reign. But then again, Ireland was supposed to be an impartial and neutral country. Once, an American historian for the New York Times stated that de Valera’s nation had, â€Å"missed out somehow on the greatest moral issue of modern history† (Murphy 13). How can the Republic of Ireland’s experience in remaining neutral be summarized throughout World War II? Fianna Fail and de Valera believed that by staying neutral it would preserve Irish sovereignty and indeed save Irish lives. Winston Churchill even made vague promises of reuniting Northern and Southern Ireland at the United Kingdom’s most vulnerable time to de Valera if Ireland joined the Allied forces effort. In a telegram Churchill stated, â€Å"Now is your chance. Now or Never, a Nation once again. Am ready to meet you at any time. † (Farrell 172). De Valera declined Churchill’s offer, knowing that in desperate time’s promises aren’t necessarily kept. But how did all of this affect the Republic of Ireland? Ireland’s experience throughout World War II was neutral but they did indirectly aid the allies’ troops through employment, covert operations, and thousands of Irish volunteering as Allied soldiers. Perhaps, through this experience, de Valera and Ireland contributed more to World War II and the United Kingdom through formal neutrality and covert operations as opposed to having the Daniel McCarthy 6 majority of Ireland, who disapproved of entering the war, being a negative belligerent presence (Murphy 15). While Ireland remained neutral; Northern Ireland continued to build its military presence and differed in many experiences that Ireland didn’t endure. After Germany took over France in June 1940, Northern Ireland became the most important bridgehead for protecting Atlantic shipping lanes (Second World War Online Learning Resource for Northern Ireland). Northern Ireland became increasingly paranoid that Germany was planning for an invasion. Similarly, de Valera was worried at the beginning of the war of a United Kingdom invasion or even a German one or most importantly being drawn into the war by the United Kingdom. But his fears of being drawn into war were subsided when in 1938 the British government returned key ports to Ireland in part of the Anglo-Irish Agreements. But, in Northern Ireland these fears would act as a catalyst for the nation which instructed/designed evacuation routes, ordering blackouts, and the creation of bomb-shelters. By the early 1940’s Belfast in Northern Ireland was considered a large military stronghold with over 100,000 British troops by April 1940’s (Second World War Online Learning Resource for Northern Ireland). This affected not only the economy but the demeanor of Northern Ireland. People of Northern Ireland feared and opposed conscription but the Westminster government understood that already strong resentment from Catholics and even Protestants was not worth the conscription trouble. Additionally, Catholics and Protestant hostility still existed and IRA members still sporadically bombed London but sectarianism did decrease (not by much) among these two Northern Ireland groups (Barton 52). Daniel McCarthy 7 When comparing the two Ireland’s and their experiences throughout World War II, there is a stark difference between the two and the physical damages incurred. Throughout April and May of 1941, Germany began air raids specifically targeting Belfast docks and factories. The casualties and expenses were immensely damaging to Northern Ireland. From these raids an estimated 900-1,100 died, 56,000 houses were badly damaged, 3,200 totally destroyed, and roughly 100,000 people were left homeless (Barton 50). In comparison to the Republic of Ireland, which â€Å"mistakenly† was bombed May 30, 1941 on Dublin’s north side by Germans only endured 41 causalities and seventy houses were damaged (Second World War Online Learning Resource for Northern Ireland). Here, we can see a clear difference between Northern and Southern Ireland. Northern Ireland quickly rose as an important military base while Southern Ireland remained neutral and relatively untouched. How would these events affect the two countries in the long term? One of largest shared experiences between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland throughout World War II would be the matter of emigration and contributing to Britain’s war-time effort. The Republic of Ireland, as much as they wouldn’t like to admit it, relied heavily upon the United Kingdom’s economy. This was clearly illustrated through the Anglo-Irish Trade Wars, which crippled the Irish economy when the Irish decided to ban British imports and in turn the British retaliated by heavily taxing all Irish imports. 90% of Ireland’s exports were to Britain and British consumers ceased purchasing these goods which devastated Ireland’s economy (Connolly 119). It can not be denied that the success of the Republic of Ireland’s economy was linked to the Daniel McCarthy 8 strength of the United Kingdom economy. By 1939, thousands of Irish migrated back to Ireland in fear of being drafted into the British army through conscription acts. However, in 1940 Lord Beveridge from the British Manpower Commissioner realized that over 8. 5 million peoples were needed to work in the munitions factories (Connolly 123). Britain realized the need for Irish labor and the Irish understood that their economy was only as strong as the United Kingdom’s. Westminster permitted the temporary citizenship, labeled, â€Å"conditionally landed† which exempted Irish from conscription for two years while working overseas (Connolly 125). The Republic of Ireland mainly helped facilitate and â€Å"encourage† the emigration of Irish to Britain while the United Kingdom forced an economical conscription upon Northern Ireland. Official statements revealed from the Republic of Ireland, It seems a reasonable view that if they cannot secure normal employment here during the present emergency conditions, which will probably grow worse, the Department should not refuse them the facilities and assistance when they seek to earn their livelihood elsewhere. Girvin 26) Here, the Republic of Ireland realized that during these economically difficult times that both Ireland’s were facing it was better to have Irish work in Britain rather than be unemployed in Ireland. Britain mandated this â€Å"economic conscription† which gave little options for many Northern Ireland citizens. However, the main consequence was that by 1945 the number of unemployed dropped to 16,000 (Farrell 160). Many reasoned that â€Å"economi c conscription† was a better means to an end in comparison to being drafted to fight. Daniel McCarthy 9 Mainly, both the North and South experienced a large migration of its population over to Great Britain. Between the years 1939-1946, net emigration was estimated to be around 189,942 which was a 13. 9% increase of emigration from Ireland from the prior decade. Many feared that this massive migration to Britain would lead to Irishmen and women to adopting British socialist values and abandoning Christianity. Between the years 1941-1945, wages in Britain increased 20% which was a main driving force behind these massive numbers of immigration (Connolly 126). But what did these two Ireland’s experience? They witnessed a higher income for citizens as allotments were sent back to Ireland to rejuvenate the economy and bring down the unemployment rates. Overall, the economy became stronger and Ireland contributed (indirectly) to the Allied forces eventual victory. Overall, what can be said about the two Ireland’s experience throughout World War II? First, let us observe and summarize the Republic of Ireland. Right from the beginning, de Valera and his people opposed war for many reasons. Decades of fighting with the British along with a reconstructing economy coupled as major deterrents for joining the war. The Republic of Ireland would be one of twenty nations that declared neutrality at the beginning of the war and be one of the five that remained true to their declaration. But what were the benefits and disadvantages that came along with neutrality? For one, Ireland didn’t sustain a large population loss after World War II ceased. Unlike other countries that lost thousands or millions of troops, Ireland’s causalities were nominal in comparison. Furthermore, Ireland experienced a feeling of relative safety from stronger powers amongst the world. But what are some of the Daniel McCarthy 10 disadvantages that the Republic of Ireland experienced? Along with de Valera and his orders of censorship, many Irish were left clueless as to the Holocaust happenings and the surroundings around them. Furthermore, the Republic of Ireland faced constant suspicion and hostility from Allied nations, in particularly the United Kingdom. Churchill once announced shortly after Allied victory, â€Å"†¦if it had not been for the loyalty and friendship of Northern Ireland, we should have been forced to come to close quarters with Mr. e Valera, or perish from the Earth† (Ireland during the Second World War). However, these types of verbal assaults were expected and de Valera did rebuttal. As for the Northern Ireland experience from World War II a much different picture can be painted. Northern Ireland seemed to have gotten swept up into the madness of the war. Belfast, one of the most important bases for the Allied forces took on responsi bilities that it never had before. For the main part, many Irish resented Northern Ireland’s participation in the war, particularly Catholics. But, a rapid decline in unemployment helped Northern Ireland experience better economical times. In comparison to the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland experienced more as an outcome of the war. It was actively participating in the war and even helped guide Northern Ireland into it’s most prosperous times with relations to the United Kingdom during the 1950’s and 1960’s (Farrell 152). All in all, Northern Ireland proved capable and useful to the victory of the Allied forces in World War II. In conclusion, who faired better with their approach to World War II. The Republic of Ireland, while neutral, was able to maintain a stable government and did witness improvements in their economy. On top of this, it sustained minimal causalities Daniel McCarthy 11 and also was able to reap many of the benefits that came along with the Allied victories. Had the Republic of Ireland been included into the war than it is for certain that German invasion would of occurred due to a weak military presence and lack of organization. Northern Ireland, while its experiences were vastly different to that of the South’s it had to rebuild and continue serving under the United Kingdom. Overall, both Ireland’s witnessed and endured hardness but ultimately the Republic of Ireland and their stance on neutrality won in the long run when comparing the two Ireland’s. Daniel McCarthy 12 Works Cited Farrell, Michael. Northern Ireland: the Orange State. Pluto P, 1973. Ireland During the Second World War. 10 Mar. 2009 . Murphy, John A. , Brian Girvin, Brian Barton, and Tracey Connolly. Ireland & The Second World War Politics, Society, and Remembrance. Ed. Brian Girvin and Geoffrey Roberts. Dublin: Four Courts, 2000. Second World War Online Learning Resource for Northern Ireland. Ed. NIMC Second World War. 11 Mar. 2009 .

New York’s Money Drain

ALBANY, NY – Rising energy and health care prices have been slowly creeping their way up the city of Albany’s annual budget, backing a nationwide trend towards higher state expenditures on these basic costs. Mayor Gerald D. Jennings, in his State of the City Address to the Albany common council mentioned the costs currently appropriated in Albany’s budget.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"Expenses such as State pension payments and health insurance expenses for employees, utility expenses and the like continue to be a challenge,† he said. Residents of Albany won’t have to fear a deficit or higher city taxes just yet, since according to Jennings, Section 19-a payments, which come from the state of New York, currently offset these increases in city expenditures. â€Å"We’ve succeeded in this regard largely because of the successful efforts to obtain and increase the State payment in lieu of taxes on the Empire State Plaza – our Section 19-a payments,† the mayor said. â€Å"During 2006 and again for 2007 through 2010 our 19-a payments will total $22,850,000.† For the state of New York, however, the problem is mirrored, albeit in a much larger scale. The State and the Cost of Health Currently, the state capital Albany allocates fifteen percent of its annual budget of around $175 million on health insurance expenditures for its employees, or around $27 million annually.   Employees of the local government are in pretty good shape however, compared to their private sector counterparts, where employers are facing a rough choice on how to face the escalating cost of health care. Yet New York is again facing a cut in health care spending, ushered in by then-incumbent Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who had previously proposed a $1.3 billion, cut in the expense last year. Gov. Spitzer resigned last March after an unrelated prostitution scandal, which left the talks with the health care lobby hanging.   Before Spitzer left, discussions about the cut in health care services this year were already ongoing. In a New York Times interview, Dennis P. Whalen, Spitzer’s deputy secretary for health, commented on the change of mood.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"I think you can see already that the level of discussion and reaction is different this year than it was last year,† said Whalen.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"We’ve been engaged in productive discussions with hospitals about these changes that we’re pursuing.† While health care budgets are being cut, health insurance has been growing at a steadily alarming rate in recent years.   In 2007, nationwide averages for health insurance premiums increased by 6.1 percent—two times the rate of inflation. For employees’ insurance, the state isn’t so much squeezed as much as small businesses are.   Private employers are taking the brunt of the action, especially with state mandated benefits which in New York cover more than 30 different instances.   According to the Employer Alliance for Affordable Health Care, New Yorkers pay 26 percent more than the national average for health care. The Alliance is also pointing fingers at the proposed 2008-09 budget plan for the state, which includes a $140 million increase in the Covered Lives Assessment—a surcharge paid on every insurance policy and premium tax on some health insurers, which the Alliance claims will ultimately be borne by consumer. â€Å"With small and medium businesses in New York struggling to provide health insurance coverage and state leaders who have called for expanding health insurance coverage to all New Yorkers, it doesn’t make sense to propose taxes that will make it even harder for business to offer coverage at all,† said Alliance chair Jeff Leland. It all makes for a sticky situation, but another potential headache for legislators is simmering within New York’s extensive power supply grid Rising Energy Last winter, Gov. Spitzer announced additional emergency home heating assistance to New York’s most vulnerable residents.   That winter, qualified applicants through the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), a federally funded program, issued benefits to more than 719,000 families, totaling more than $178 million. The government subsidizing energy costs is inevitable however, with the way energy prices are going.   Residents of New York have long paid some of the highest electricity prices in the United States.   According to a conservative think tank, New York should reconsider some of its most ambitious energy policies to keep costs down. The study, â€Å"NY Unplugged?   Building Energy Capacity and Curbing Energy Rates in the Empire State,† was released in March by the Empire Center for New York State Policy, which is a project of the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research. â€Å"New York will need a lot more power—the equivalent of more than five new 500-megawatt generating plants—to avoid blackouts early in the next decade,† said the study.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"Yet only one new large-scale generating plant, representing barely one-eighth of the required additional capacity, has been proposed in the state since the expiration five years ago of Article X, the landmark state law designed to speed the building of such facilities.† Donald LaVada, director of marketing and development at the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, said energy spending in New York tops $53 billion annually, and 85 percent of the energy used is imported into the state.   And half of it comes from OPEC nations.   With oil heading towards $120 a barrel, energy spending has nowhere to go but up. The cost to the local government remains a drain for taxpayer money.   Back in Albany, the 2008 has appropriated around $33 million for operating expenses, the majority of which will go pay for energy consumption by the city.   A policy change, however, remains to be seen in the country’s third largest state. R E F E R E N C E S Peters, Jeremy W. (2008). Time Runs Short to Decide Albany Health Care Cuts. The New   York Times. February 22, 2008. â€Å"A Better Albany†. (2007). State of the City Address by Mayor Gerald D. Jennings of   Albany New York. Retrieved May 2, 2008 from http://www.albanyny.gov/Government/ MayorsOffice/StateOfTheCity.aspx â€Å"Governor Spitzer Announces Additional Heating Assistance to Combat Rising Energy   Prices†. (2008). Division of Housing & Community Renewal, New York State.   Retrieved May 2, 2008 â€Å"NY Unplugged? Building Energy Capacity and Curbing Energy Rates in the Empire State†.   (2008). Empire Center for New York State Policy. Retrieved May 2, 2008 from   http://www.empirecenter.org/Special-Reports/2008/03/NYUnplugged.cfm â€Å"Proposed Budget Increases Costs to Small Business†. (2008). Alliance Alert. The   Employer Alliance for Affordable Healthcare. Retrieved May 2, 2008 from  http://www.employeralliance.com/images/Newsletter_spring08.pdf

Friday, August 30, 2019

Cell Phone and Anti-Social Behavior Essay

There is a great sense of irony when one comes to the realization that a device originally created to keep people connected has evolved into a device that causes a strong social divergence between one another. The mobile phone, a revolutionary concept of creating the ability to communicate with others casually as well as easily, has not only created a new era of communication, but also a supplementary social standard that has reshaped the process of human interaction between people, or lack there of. This so-called â€Å"social barrier† created by the habitual and constant use of cell phones is obvious now, more than ever. As written by Adam Burgess, modern day author of Cellular Phones, Public Fears, and a Culture of Precaution, the use of mobile telephones has completely stripped modern day culture of the interpersonal connection people once shared, when person to person correspondence was the only option available. Cell phone use has become a second-natured habit to the majority of today’s society. The preponderance of people would view someone as outlandish if he or she is living in todays world without owning a cell phone. One simple device can and does have a considerable influence on the current American culture, but with that being said, an influence such as this does not simply emerge overnight. The purpose of the mobile phone upon its creation is exactly as it sounds, to create a telephone that accessible at any time and any place. This gives people the capability of having phone conversations despite their location. Despite the fact that this is a quite obvious concept in today’s society, that wasn’t the case for consumers living about twenty years ago. How can such an incredible influence occur in such a short period of time? Evolution. As stated in Kirkley Luttman’s scholarly Health & Science article, the mobile phone was created for the single purpose of sending and receiving telephone calls on-the-go. As time goes on, this simple device becomes one that serves multiple purposes for the consumer. The first advancement in the cell phone was the enabling of text messaging; Instead of conversing via phone call, one can simply type out their desired message and send it  instantly via text to their receiver. Now people are capable of having a complete conversation read through a cell phone screen and eliminating almost all intimacy of communication. The next step of evolution is then the creation of social media. Once only intended for computer users by virtue of the world wide web, this was now accessible through a mobile phone. This evolvement also means that cell phones can now access the internet, opening up an entirely new realm of communication from the same device that could once only make a simple phon e call. According to Dr. Emily Murray and her entry in KwikMed: Cell Phones Make Us Socially Oblivious, the additional capabilities with limited time for society to adapt caused a spark of interest as well as excitement in cell phones. With a device that can now send and receive not only phone calls and text messages, but also access the internet, send and receive emails, access websites, and utilize social media, a new culture emerges. All of the new features of a cell phone have one thing in common and that is the fact that they were all created on the premise of making it effortless to communicate with others, whenever and wherever. Growing up in an age where the use of cell phones is second nature, it is obvious that people truly do communicate with one another on a constant basis. It is of high importance to update ones Facebook status, tweet about the latest trend, post a picture of the weather. It is significant to obtain the most â€Å"likes† on a post or picture or the most â€Å"retweets† on a thought. It is also crucial to constantly text message a friend, even when the content of the conversation isn’t crucial at all. Such a strong emphasis has been put on communicating with everyone via every single network and outlet available that people have begun to forget what genuine communication actually stands for. This is where the irony comes into play. Comparable to a domino effect, the use of cell phones within today’s culture has grown into so much more than what is was simply intended for. Much like any innovation, developments are made and in response, adjustments occur. Not only have cell phones created an antisocial stigma within people, but have also caused this behavior to become habitual and â€Å"second-natured.† It is obvious that human interaction has drastically changed, even in a mere  twenty years. One generation ago, owning any sort of mobile phone was a rare privilege. Even with that advantage, these devices still only served a single purpose, differing greatly from today’s cell phones. Today, a cell phone is not longer viewed as a phone, but a form of assistance in planning events, sending messages and emails, video chatting, entertainment, music, and much more. With a single device in the hands of the majority of today’s society, how can one remain as social as before the creations, development, and spread of this technology? Going beyond the more obvious arguments that have previously been addressed, cell phone use has opened up the opportunity to act in a disgraceful way without immediate sanction. According to the article, The Relationship between Technology and Cyber Bullying in The Journal of Student Wellbeing, â€Å"Due to the advent of modern communication, children are now able to harass their peers with mobile phones†¦a behavior known as cyber bullying† (Beran, 2007). Without physical confrontation with one another, brutal actions can easily occur, even anonymously at times. If this sort of behavior has become habitual to the current generation, how can a positive outcome be rationally expected? Cell phone use has not only created an antisocial environment within todays society, but also the allowance of insensitive actions without punishment. It is arguable that person to person, face to face interaction is the most sincere and most intimate form of connection. For the majority of humankind, in-person transmission was one of the few options for humans to communicate. As the way of life has changed, so have the forms of communication, but the new form of disclosure has entirely stripped the affinity of human connection. People are implausibly focused on such an artificial form of interaction. Generations will soon be born into this unnatural habit and it will become the way of life from the beginning unless society understands the importance of intimacy and the cosmetic facade that cell phones have not only created, but promoted. Socialization will forever remain as the message from one person to another, but the channel for them to do so can and will inevitably effect social behavior. The paradox that ties together cell phones and promotion of social behavior will continue to diminish the  gregarious importance of physi cal connection unless society begins to suddenly become alert to the problems cell phones have and will continue to cause.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Confidentiality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Confidentiality - Essay Example This paper will aim at explaining the importance of maintaining confidentiality in secrets, operations and information basing on information provided by the two investigative reporters in their book. In ‘Top secret America’, the authors provide a list of investigative articles that describe the growth of secret intelligence in the United states after the 9/11 attacks. The book provides a three part series that explains on thousands of companies that work get to work on issues revolving homeland security, intelligence and counterterrorism (Priest & Arkin 5). The book presents the highly secretive world of America’s intelligence that few know about their existence, running costs and operations. The work conducted by these organizations gets highly classified, and the public lacks an idea of what processes get conducted. The high level of confidentiality by the ‘secret American world’ has had its benefits to the country in regards to war against terror. The two investigative journalists, who are also the authors of the book, provide evidence on their frustrations in tracing code names, acronyms without explanation and buildings without addresses (Priest & Arkin 189). In their book, Arkin and Priest reveal of another parallel world existing in America consisting of thousands of federal agencies, private companies and individuals doing ‘top secret work’. They reveal of increased spending on counter terrorism, which does not get accurately accounted for by the federal government (Priest & Arkin 223). The secret work of these agencies gets aimed at protecting the country from potential terror threats. Placing confidentiality in the operations of these agencies is necessary in keeping information regarding military actions and decisions secret from potential enemies. This helps the forces to secretly plan on attacks and detect threats without getting suspected. Maintaining a high level of secrecy and confidentiality also he lps the joint special operations command-JSOC, in their target military operations and reconnaissance. In the book, the authors explain the development of the JSOC into a lethal force and highly secretive command which conduct much work than the CIA currently (Priest & Arkin, 98). According to work conducted by Priest, the author describes JSOC as a force that gets to shape the universe in undetectable ways. Due to its highly secretive stature, the command conduct target military operations such as the one that got to kill Osama Bin Laden. The high level of secrecy maintained in these organizations is vital in alienating target terror threats. This helps the country in fighting against terrorism. The JSOC has turned out into a lethal arm of the military due to the little information that gets shared or is available about it. The high level of secrecy maintained by the JSOC has resulted in people getting curious over this mysterious organization. The high level of confidentiality tho ugh, has also served to assist the country inn getting rid of its enemies since the 9/11 attacks and keeping the country safe (Priest & Arkins 258). The success of the JSOC has resulted from few people knowing about its operations. As a result of its obscurity, the JSOC has got to not only carry out operations in countries that America is at war against but also other states around the globe. From the

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Sotcks investment project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Sotcks investment project - Essay Example Listed at the NYSE in 1970, the UK firm was selected because of the interest in the energy sector based on the price fluctuations it experiences. The BP stocks were trading well at an average of $41.5. With earnings per share of 4.99 in the current year, investing in the firm would be a noble idea. But with the news of how the company was duped in the compensation of for the 2010 Gulf of Mexico spill because its attorneys failed to include the need for proof of damage by the spill, the BP stock slipped, and particularly by 1.2% in London on 5th June 2013. The same industry had me trade in ConocoPhillips, a major integrated oil and gas firm that explores, produces and markets crude oil, natural gas and bitumen globally. With its headquarters in Houston, Texas, the firm was founded in 1917 with Conoco and Phillips merging in 2002 to create the firm. The choice of ConocoPhillips’ stock for trading was informed by the need to understand the industry by considering another firm oth er than the earlier studies BP. ConocoPhillips would be a viable investment because since 2002, the firm has had its gross profit and cost of goods sold remain constant or improve, save for the year 2008 when falling commodity prices and declining market capitalization caused a slight dip. As such, shareholders are assured of returns on their investments over a long term. Additionally, the firm is the largest independent energy and petroleum firm as measured by production and proved reserves as noted by Market Watch; a sovereignty that secures the interest of shareholders. The stock price of ConocoPhillips exhibit strong correlation with its financial achievement. The $11 billion repurchase of common stock in 2011 aimed at increasing its earnings per share and net income thus increase demand for its stock which would in turn raise its price at the stock exchange. With a dividend of $2.64 in the pas financial year, the firm has had its stock price averaging at about $60. To further u nderstand the trends in major integrated oil and gas industry, Exxon Mobil, another firm from the industry, was selected for trading practice in this class. Exxon Mobil explores and produces crude oil and natural gases and also manufactures petroleum products. The Irving, Texas firm, founded in 1870 also transports and sells these products. Its operations cut across the globe to cover the US, Canada, Africa, Asia, Europe and Australia. The merger between Exxon and Mobil in 1999 which made the firm the largest publicly traded company in the energy sector could be a reason to attract investors. Just like other firms in this industry, the stock price of Exxon Mobil would be greatly influenced by the prices of crude oil. The increase in prices of crude oil in the period around 2011 saw the firm raise the price of its products which translated to increased stock price. With forecasted future increase in energy demand globally, it is anticipated that its share price will keep rising. Four thly, Hertz was selected for the trading practice to help understand how changes in the oil industries affect consumers of its products. Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Park Ridge, NJ, Hertz runs two segments in its business: renting cars and renting equipment in Canada and the US. Investing in Hertz would be viable as

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Outsourcing Apple IPad Production Research Paper

Outsourcing Apple IPad Production - Research Paper Example Apple’s IPad is one of the products, which was originally produced in the United State, but its production has currently been outsourced to oversea industries based in North Korea and China. In order to understand the basics of outsourcing strategies, this paper provides a cost break-down of processes involved in the production of Apple IPad, both in the United States and contracting oversea countries. It also discusses the advantages and disadvantages of outsourcing IPad production to oversea firms. As part of this paper, some legal and ethical issues that arise as a result of outsourcing Apple IPad are also discussed. Key words: outsourcing, Apple IPad, and economy Introduction Apple iPad is a modern piece of electronic that performs most of the functions just like a personal computer. Because of its light weight and efficiency, it is highly fantasized by people who need to walk around with their computers, while performing certain tasks (OGrady, 2009). The high demand for t his product, both inside and outside the United States, has forced the Apple Inc. to incur large transportation costs so as to reach its local and international customers, something that has significantly increased the cost of production. In order to limit cost of production resulting from importation of material, shipping of the products and labor costs, Apple Inc. realized that outsourcing of IPad production to overseas firms, especially with a large number of customers, will significantly reduce its cost of production and maximize profit (Hill & Jones, 2009). Samsung Company based in North Korea, and some other electronic firms based in China are some of firms that are currently producing Apple IPad. These firms produce Apple IPad and distribute them to both local and international customers. This means that less cost of transportation is incurred when this product is sold to the local customers more than if it was produced in the United States, and sold in either North Korea or China (Schniederjans, 2005). Cost Break-down for the Production of Apple IPad Material, transportation and labor costs are the key determinant of Apple IPad production cost. Apple iPad 2 was the most talked about consumer electronic that was released into the market in 2011 (Sparks, 2011). The price break-down cost for manufacturing 32GB GSM/HSPA version (From iSuppli) in the United States and oversea

Monday, August 26, 2019

The 2004 and 2011 Tsunamis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The 2004 and 2011 Tsunamis - Essay Example Such occurrences, lead to a series of irregular movements that generates shock waves at the waves’ focus and this results in an earthquake. The magnitude and size of the resultant earthquake depends on the magnitude of the movement, and the depth at which the quake has occurred. The earthquakes that are intense but occur at relatively shallow points of water mass do result into severe earthquakes. Tsunami can only occur if the intensity of the quake developed exceeds earthquake magnitude of 6.5 on the Richter scale with a focus less than fifty kilometers in depth; otherwise, the entire effect is absorbed and no tsunami occurs. However, the main factor for consideration is the displacement of the intensity or the degree of placement of the sea floor. If an earthquake occurs on a large but shallow water mass, an intensive tsunami is realized. It is worth noting that the phenomena that lead to the 2004 and 2011 are extremely rare circumstances. The effects of quake waves are inte nse and usually lead to severe effects to both humanity and the earth itself. Notably, the 2004 and 2011 earthquakes that lead to tectonic plates and oceanic floor movement by about fifteen meters permanently altered the surrounding islands geography. Additionally, such quakes led to wobbling of the earth’s axis thus altering or shortening the length of days by fractions of seconds. The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake was later identified as an undersea mega-thrust earthquake. The earthquake that led to the 2004 tsunami is believed to have resulted from the subduction movement of the tectonic plates. This movement triggered a series of devastating tsunamis on the surrounding landmasses bordering Indian Ocean. The resulting waves stretched to numerous neighboring towns and cities killing over 230,000 people. The effects of this quake were felt in fourteen countries. The wave developed were thirty meters high with magnitude of Mw 9.1 – 9.3. This magnitude is the third large st that had ever recorded on a seismograph. The earthquakes’ effects lasted for the longest duration that had ever been observed, approximately 8.3 and 10 minutes. Notably, this earthquake led to a one centimeter vibration of the entire planet a phenomenon that triggered another earthquake in far regions including Alaska (Moos 1). The 2011 earthquake had a magnitude of MW 9.0. It was less than the 2004 tsunami in magnitude. It occurred undersea, and it was as well regarded as a mega-thrust earthquake. The 2011 earthquake triggered waves off the coast of Japan and had its epicenter approximately seventy kilometers east of Oshika Peninsula and its hypocenter at underwater depth that was later approximated to be about 32 kilometers (Rajamanickam 78). It was the most powerful wave to have ever hit Japan and the 5th most powerful earthquake on the global listing. The 2011 earthquake triggered a powerful tsunami with waves hitting the heights of up to 40.5 meters and travelled a di stance of up to ten kilometers inland. This earthquake moved the Honshu about 2.4 meters towards the east; thus, shifting the Earth’s axis by approximately a distance of between ten to twenty five meters (Nanto 5). The Japan tsunami led to numerous, devastating effects to objects and human life. It led to a number of nuclear accidents; notably, the level 7 meltdowns of at least three reactors in

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Information interview for a job Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Information interview for a job - Assignment Example Sukirti: MKSK features a humble beginning in planning and urban design as a product of a merger in 2011. The company has worked for private and public clients under the parent companies namely KKG and MSI Design (Mkskstudios.com). The company prides itself in exceptional planning and design, and that is where I derived my inspiration as an urban designer and planner. Sukirti: Currently the company has an open position for outstanding six principals and associates following promotion in the recent past. The positions will be advertised soon through local dailies and company website. Sukirti: It took me several weeks to figure out the perfect plan for getting a subordinate role at MKSK. You must have excellent skills in designing, passion and talent in urban planning to become a part of the MKSK team. The current leaders in our team consist of exceptional figures from different countries who have experience in accounting, grant writing and geography among others. Therefore, you must have a unique quality and extra skills besides urban design and planning to become a part of MKSK. Sukirti: The Company does not look into unique skills in a prospective employee but the requisite knowledge on urban design and planning. However, your individual abilities and contribution to the team will propel your career further. Sukirti: Personally, I invested in teamwork and an inquisitive nature because I did not have deep knowledge in the work. The company expects you to take up challenges from private and public entities and look for a mentor from the executive level. Interacting with Sukirti at a personal level opened a new chapter in urban planning career. Gaining a foothold in a profession demands passion, talent and an experience other career fields besides urban planning. Mentorship is an inevitable need when you join an international team that serves communities and private entities. The company awards its principals and associates who offer a valuable

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Outline classical theories of motivation and illustrate their Essay

Outline classical theories of motivation and illustrate their application in different business situations. Discuss their useful - Essay Example The first theory that this paper deals with is Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. To reiterate, this theory is considered to be one of the most important available motivational theories and is used by many professionals in various institutions. It has a broad—and even, perhaps, a universal—appeal. It is actually a very common-sense theory in that â€Å"it suggests that people are motivated to fulfill basic needs before moving on to other needs† (Cherry, K.). The depiction of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs enables easy understanding of his theory. The base of the diagram, which contains the basic needs, is broad and, as with all pyramids, comes to a point at the top. This should indicate that in relation to other levels of the pyramids, humans have more basic needs than other needs. The most basic needs are the physiological needs for water, food, warmth, air, and sleep. It can be readily seen that if an employee does not have these satisfied, that (s)he is n ot going to be motivated—and, in fact, not able—to be productive. ... The second of the five levels of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs are those of safety and security, which although necessary for survival are not as crucial as those of the first level. Examples of second-level security needs are shelter from the environment, safe neighbourhoods, steady employment and health insurance (ibid.). There is grass roots and political movement afoot in some areas for employers to pay their employees a living wage, the amount differing somewhat depending upon the cost of living in any given area. Minimum wages in some areas are barely sufficient to pay rent and bus fare to work. The food banks help. Businesses would be wise to consider what loyalty and quality production can be expected from employees in such situations, especially if they have a toothache but have no money nor dental insurance to have a dentist take care of the problem. Many a business manager has been heard to lament that it is impossible to find good employees today. If such managers, g ave up their lifestyle for a couple of months and tried living on the wages paid to their minimum or close-to-minimum-wage paid employees, they would, undoubtedly, have a rude awakening. Even if the employees’ physiological and security needs are met, if their social needs—the third level of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs—are, for whatever reasons, barely being met, these employees are hurting inside and, consequently, in most cases are not sufficiently motivated nor capable of giving their all to their work. The needs in level three are social needs. THEORIES OF MOTIVATION 3 According to Maslow’s theory, social needs are met through friendships; romantic

Friday, August 23, 2019

Biodiversity and Ethno botanist Exploitation by Pharmaceutical Essay

Biodiversity and Ethno botanist Exploitation by Pharmaceutical Companies - Essay Example Many medicinal plants were thus planted in farm gardens so that they could be used for treating fast illnesses whenever they occurred even without the intervention of other remedies. Physicians, midwives and herbalists in the 1800s were specifically trained in the use of medicinal plants to solve various medicinal conditions. During this time, plants parts were widely used by medical practitioners to cure various ailments in line with the teachings they received in their learning institutions. The pharmaceutical industry has flourished for a long time going by the number of large and highly profitable pharmaceutical companies that exist especially in wealthy countries today. The industry greatly relies on plant derivatives and should reasonably be at the forefront in pushing for plant conservation according to (Lapinskas par 1). Like every other business entity, pharmaceutical companies have profits at the top of their agenda. Indeed, without profits, they are doomed to fail however worthy their courses are. In order to remain in business, the companies have to seek ways of maximizing their profits and minimizing their costs. These two objectives are usually achieved by engaging in research with an aim of developing new products, improving efficiency and using cheaper raw materials. Pharmaceutical organizations use plants in two main ways; as raw material and as inspiration for new products according to Lapinskas (par 3). These organizations have established massive screening programs to identify plants that could be used for making new drugs, thousands of compounds being analysed every year in this respect. When a compound is... This report stresses that the use of herbal medicine among pharmaceutical companies has really grown in recent times and most modern pharmaceutical firms trace their origin from plant products and the knowledge of ethnobotanists or indigenous peoples. Most pharmaceutical companies have grown huge interest in herbal medicine and this interest has led them into believing that there are great profits in medicinal plants, thus they have turned their focus towards indigenous land and knowledge for new resources that can be used in developing new drugs. The knowledge of ethnobotanists is in great demand and usually sought by pharmaceutical companies and medical researchers in their fight to come up with new medicines and products for commercial exploitation. This paper makes a conclusion that the importance of plants in the development of drugs cannot be underestimated. Indeed many of the drugs that sit on the shelves of pharmaceutical companies are a result of plant derivatives some of which originated from remote parts of the world. Many arguments have been posted regarding the exploitation of plants, ethnobotanists, herbalists and indigenous people by large pharmaceutical companies. While some argue that the companies are innocent in that they commonly manufacture synthetic compounds similar to those derived from plants to come up with mass-produced products, others argue that the companies unduly exploit resources without regard to the environment and those who contribute the knowledge. Going by the arguments posted above, it goes beyond doubt the later argument holds more water.

Finance crisis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Finance crisis - Essay Example ing to Keynes (1936) the smooth flowing world economy was destabilized during the late 2000s and such a scenario was seen in Iceland for the very first time and even in the world. Krugman (2008) explains economic crisis is one the retarding factors that have pulled down the steep growth of the world economy including the subsequent growth of the smaller economies which have gained a new impetus in the growth of their economies. Kothari (2010) defines economic crisis as a collection of varied circumstances that results in the huge loss of the nominal value of their financial assets. He further explains that an organisation or a company has a number of stakeholders who are directly or indirectly related to the organisation or company through a financial relation. An economic crisis turns a company into a dried well of financial resources and a result the stakeholders of the company even suffers through immense lack of financial resources. According to the observations of Kothari (2010) the economic crisis faced by the entire world has turned a disturbingly huge number of people jobless and thus penniless. People all over the world lost their jobs while others bargained for the job in exchange of one of the most meager sum of money. As more and more people turned jobless the chaos and panic regarding being jobless seemed to engulf them over a long time. He further elucidated the different kinds of economic crisis. Firstly it is the banking crisis where the depositors of the respective banks immediately ask for returning their deposited money. The bank faces a crisis over the availability of the funds within a stipulated time period. The second form of economic crises is the stock market crash which clearly suggests that it refers to the drastic decrease of stock prices over the larger section of the stock market that hugely depreciates the amount or value of the stocks resulting in excessive loss for the investors. The third form of economic crisis comes in the form

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Argument in Encounters with the Archdruid Essay Example for Free

Argument in Encounters with the Archdruid Essay In the third section of John McPhees Encounters with the Archdruid, the author observes the discourse between conservationist David Brower and Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation, Floyd Dominy, on the merits of dams in the southwestern United States. Brower hates all dams, large and small, while Dominy sees dams as essential to our civilization. The Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell, which Dominy created, are the main issue of debate between the two men. Floyd Dominy graduated from the University of Wyoming in 1932 and, after an unsuccessful stint as a teacher, became a county agricultural agent for the federal government in Wyomings Gillette County. This was the time of the Great Depression and also a great drought in the American Midwest, which quickly garnered the name of the dust bowl. Frustrated by the lack of water available to farmers in his county, Dominy orchestrated the building of many dams in Gillette County, providing water to thirsty farmers and their livestock. Rewarded with a job in the Bureau of Reclamation for his efforts, Dominy became the Bureaus director in 1959 and oversaw the construction of Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River. Completed in 1962, the 710 foot tall dam built out of 4.9 million cubic yards of concrete has a reservoir (Lake Powell) that has a maximum capacity of 27 million acre-feet and is the one of the largest reservoirs in the world. Lake Powell has become a popular water recreation site and provides homes with about 1 million kilowatts of hydroelectric power and 8.23 million acre-feet of water and irrigation per year. Dominy views the dam as a great asset, both to provide utilities and to provide recreation Now people can fish, swim, water-ski, sun-bathe. Cant you imagine going there with your family for a weekend, getting away from everybody? But Mr. Brower says we destroyed it. (174) David Brower was born in 1912 in Berkeley Hills, California. When he was young his father used to take him to the Sierra, where Brower found his love for nature. After leaving his study of entomology at UC-Berkeley, Brower left for the Sierra, and became a world-class mountaineer, conquering over seventy mountain peaks. John McPhee even mused that if he were to be set  down at night anywhere in the Sierra Nevada, with the coming morning he would know just where he is. After serving as a decorated platoon leader in World War II, Brower started his work with the Sierra Club, becoming the first executive director of the club in 1952. Over this remarkable period until his dismissal in 1969, Brower would become the worlds foremost naturalist and environmental conservationist. The flooding of Glen Canyon was very personal to Brower, and his failure to stop the dams construction haunted him for the rest his life. He referred to it as Americas most regretted environmental mistake, and the greatest failure of his life. (163) In 1952, the Echo Park and Split Mountain Dams were proposed, which threatened the Green and Yampa Rivers and Dinosaur National Monument. Brower led the Sierra Club into action. Successfully, under his leadership, the Sierra Club defeated the Bureau of Reclamation hands down. But the victory at Dinosaur Monument was tempered by the Sierra Clubs offer of support for a dam downstream at Glen Canyon a higher dam, in fact, than one proposed earlier by the Bureau of Reclamation. Brower spoke in favor of a high dam at Glen Canyon, a speech he came to regret until the very end. While his supporters urged him not to blame himself, he repeatedly reminded whoever would listen that he could have done more to stop it. He believed that the fact he da m existed was his fault. He felt that he was not adequately prepared for his own mission, and if he had been, the dam would not have been built. Brower referred to Glen Canyon as the place no one knew. Before the construction of the dam and the creation of Lake Powell, Glen Canyon was one of the remotest places in the United States. Few people ever set foot in the Canyon, and after the construction of the dam, no one else would ever see it. Brower viewed nature as a sacred place, a place that must be earned. He hated the idea of people developing wilderness areas. He felt that cities should have strict boundaries, and people should stay there. Brower and Dominy have conflicting views in this situation. Brower is disgusted by the development around Lake Powell and the destruction of the wilderness that is now beneath it. Lake Powell is a drag strip for power boats. Its for people who wont do things except the easy way. The magic of Glen Canyon is  dead. It has been vulgarized. (240) Dominy, on the other hand, is proud that he has created such a beautiful lake and has made it accessible to the masses. Dominy is tired of trying to satisfy a noisy minority while trying to bring water, power, and recreation to the people. Im a greater conservationist that you are, by far. I do things. I make things available to man. Unregulated, the Colorado River wouldnt be worth a good God damn to anybodyDo you want to keep this country the way it is for a handful of people? (240) Beside these arguments, there is also a more quantitative side to the debate. The ecological detriments of the Glen Canyon Dam have been well-documented. Extensive changes were brought about in the Colorado River ecosystem by the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam. Most of these alterations negatively affected the functioning of the system and the native aquatic species of the river. The reduced supply and transport of sediment is the primary factor responsible for the degradation of the post-dam Glen Canyon ecosystem. When the dam was completed, and the flow of the Colorado River was stifled, sediment traveling along with the river was blocked by the dam and began to build up in the Lake Powell reservoir. Due to the sediment-free water flowing evenly out of the dam and the associated extreme drop in water temperature, many species of fish, amphibians, and insects which use sediments for habitats, spawning ground, and protection, have been put at great risk. Another problem arising from the dam is silt aggradation. Aggradation is the accumulation of sediment where the river flow slows as it approaches Lake Powell. Aggraded sediment deposits accumulate upstream, eventually piling up hundreds of feet above the current reservoir level. Huge sediment deposits have already filled some of the upper sections of the reservoir. Under current hydrological conditions, enough sediment flows into Lake Powell to potentially fill it up to the river outlet valve level within 100 years. When silt reaches these safety valves, the dam will become unsafe and need to be decommissioned. Since the completion of the Glen Canyon Dam in 1963, enormous amounts of sediment have been steadily accumulating behind the dam.  While the impacts of sedimentation werent understood prior to the construction of the dam, significant problems have emerged with the relentless buildup of sediment behind Glen Canyon Dam. Economically, on the other hand, the Glen Canyon Dam has provided many benefits since its 1963 completion. It has provided water supply and power for much of the southwestern United States, and parts of Mexico. The Glen Canyon Dam is part of the Colorado River Storage Project, implemented mainly to supply power to Native American reservations, Rural Electric Co-ops, government facilities, and municipalities. The Glen Canyon Dam supplies 75-85% of the power generation for this project. 85% of the dams water goes to irrigation projects. With the input of irrigation, the arid regions of these states have become fertile agricultural lands. Because of the high productivity of these areas, many customers in the United States are provided with fruits and vegetables year-round. Lake Powell has also provided many economic benefits. It is one of the most popular tourist sites in the southwest, bringing in about 4 million tourists and $2.5 million each year. The Glen Canyon Dam issue is a complicated one. Do the benefits of electricity and water outweigh the ecological detriments? Is there any other option besides building a dam to provide these utilities? It is difficult to find unbiased information weighing these issues fairly. In addition there are the more metaphysical, moral issues surrounding dams. Is it right to impose ourselves upon nature is such a way? Are we really harming our future with short-sighted projects like the Glen Canyon Dam? The question is one of the true nature of progress and the advancement of civilization. Is the Earth meant to be subdued by man or to be preserved in a constant search for paradise? The ultimate goal, I suppose, is to find a way to make advance and enrich our lives without detriment to our environment.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Case Study of Managing patient suffering Opoid constipation

Case Study of Managing patient suffering Opoid constipation This case study outlines the clinical management of a client with a problem with Opioid induced constipation. Opioid analgesics (narcotics) cause constipation in most people. Opioids slow down the stool as it passes along the intestinal tract. This causes the stool to become hard. If you have hard stools, have difficulty passing bowel movements and the movements become infrequent, then you have constipation. Constipation can be very bothersome and last as long as you are taking narcotics on a regular basis. Therefore, it is important that we learn to manage our bowels effectively. Throughout the analysis the anonymity and confidentiality of this patient will be protected as outlined by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (2008) and therefore the patient will be referred to as Mark Scott. Additionally consent was gained by Mark to allow the author to use his case for my assessment. History of present illness Mark Scott is a 64 year old gentleman who is 2 days post op following a Right Total Hip Replacement (RTHR). Total hip replacement involves removal of a diseased hip joint and replacement with a prosthetic joint. Whilst doing the medications Mark confided in the nurse that he may have a problem with his bowels and that he may be constipated. To enable the nurse to assess Mark she would have to understand constipation, it helps to know how the colon, or large intestine, works. As food moves through the colon, the colon absorbs water from the food while it forms waste products, or stool. Muscle contractions in the colon then push the stool toward the rectum. By the time stool reaches the rectum it is solid, because most of the water has been absorbed. Constipation occurs when the colon absorbs too much water or if the colons muscle contractions are slow or sluggish, causing the stool to move through the colon too slowly. As a result, stools can become hard and dry. Mark asked the nurse if there was anything she could give him to ease the discomfort he was experiencing, However as Mark has presented with a new problem with the possibility of him needing medication, the nurse would first need to undertake a holistic assessment of Mark. The purpose of assessment is to allow the nurse to examine all relevant factors of the problem and allow her to make the decision of whether prescribing a patient group directive (PGD) is an appropriate intervention (Humphries, 2002). Consider the patient When Mark stated he thought he was constipated, it was important to ascertain his own interpretation of what this meant. For example, Wondergerm (2005) states that for some, constipation may mean opening their bowels less than three times a day. On the other hand, constipation may mean opening of the bowels less than three times a week. There appears to be a general consensus that the range for normal bowel activity lies somewhere between three bowel motions daily to one bowel motion every three days. However, it is important to remember that a change from three bowel motions a day to one every three days may represent a significant change for the patient, despite remaining within the normal limits (Peate, 2003). Mark felt he was constipated because he hadnt had a bowel movement in the last five days. On further questioning it emerged that these symptoms had been going on approximately 4 days before his surgery and when he did have a bowel movement he had difficulty passing the stools and often had to strain. Mark also stated that the stools were very hard and painful to pass, the symptoms that Mark presented with were consistent with the side effects of constipation, However the cause of constipation is multifactoriol with many influencing factors that need to be investigated and eliminated wherever possible (Banks,1998). In Marks case it was the analgesia he was taking to control his pain post operatively. During Marks assessment, enquiries were made as to whether he was experiencing any other symptoms with his constipation, such as blood in the stools, rectal bleeding and/or mucus discharge, recent weight loss, abdominal pain or alternating constipation/diarrhoea. Edwards and Bentley (2001) state that this is important during history taking as all of these symptoms are common of colon and rectal cancer and the possibility of this disease should be in the mind of the nurse looking after Mark. Mark assured the nurse that he hadnt experienced any of the symptoms mentioned although he did have a little discomfort in the area of his abdomen, lots of wind but no pain. If Mark had any of these symptoms the nurse would have to liase with the patients consultant. No medication would have been given by the nurse at this stage. This is because as a nurse, she is accountable for her actions and omissions (NMC, 2008). For example, if Mark was to have a bowel obstruction such as a tumour which is c ontra-indicated for most laxatives, and the nurse had prescribed such medication then Mark may believe he has been harmed by her careless prescribing. Additionally failure to refer a patient for more senior opinion is considered to fall below an acceptable standard of care (Griffith and Tengnah, 2004). It is important to ascertain how much dietary fibre and fluids are being taken by the patient as high fibre content is effective in increasing stool weight and bowel movement frequency, ultimately preventing constipation. Additionally, low fluid intake has been associated with constipation, slowing colonic transit time or reducing stool output (Walker, 1997). Current medication regimes, whether prescribed or purchased over the counter is essential information and can assist in identifying any drugs that may be responsible for causing constipation (Annells and Koch, 2002). Additionally, a history of medicine taking should include noting whether a patient has any allergies. For example, arachis oil enemas have a nut basis and may cause allergic reactions (Edwards and Bentley, 2001). Pre and post operatively Mark had been prescribed analgesics in the form of Paracetamol, codiene and ibuprofen for his pain. He had been taking these regularly daily. Mark wasnt taking any other medication, wasnt allergic to anything he knew of and hadnt purchased anything over the counter for his constipation. Opioids are a common cause of constipation and act by increasing intestinal smooth muscle tone, by suppressing forward peristalsis and reducing sensitivity to rectal distension. This results in delayed passage of faeces through the gut (Fallon and ONeil, 1998). Through assessment together with eliminating possible causes and sinister abnormalities, the nurse diagnosed Mark with constipation secondary to opioid use. Which Strategy/Product Where the patient complains of feeling constipated and is experiencing discomfort, a rectal examination (DRE) is indicated in order to detect a loaded rectum and to determine which choice of product to administer, and this will depend on the consistency of the stool found on examination (Edwards and Bentley 2001). Digital rectal examination (DRE) is an invasive procedure and should only be performed after completion of a full assessment of constipation. The Royal College of nursing guidelines (2006) recommend that nurses undertaking digital examination are appropriately trained. Furthermore consent to this procedure needs to be gained as outlined by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) (2008) Further to examination, it emerged that no stools could be felt within the rectum. However, Edwards and Bently (2001) suggest that it is anatomically impossible to conclude that the rectum is empty through simple digital examination, as the length of the rectum is approximately 15cm and is th erefore beyond the reach of the longest index finger. Therefore due to Marks history, the preferred medical route will therefore guide the need to administer a laxative. Amongst the stimulant laxatives are senna and bisacodyl. These laxatives stimulate the intestinal mucosa, promoting the secretion of water and electrolytes, enourging peristalsis (Duncan, 2004). Timby et al (1999) recommend that stimulant laxatives be used only for short periods of time to allow normal bowel function to return as soon as possible as long term use may result in diarrhoea and hypokalaemia. However Marks constipation may remain for as long as he is using opioids or could re-occur. Therefore this type of laxative may not be sufficient. Osmotic laxatives act by retaining fluid within the bowel that they are administered to or by drawing fluid from the body. They include lactulose, macragols, magnesium salts, rectal phosphates and rectal sodium citrate (Peate, 2003). A phosphate enema would not be used in this case because this is usually used prior to radiology, endoscope and surgery for rapid bowel clearance. Additionally Mark stated he didnt want to go through having an enema, and would prefer something he could take orally. Lactulose is non-absorbable and acts by softening and increasing water absorption. This laxative may take up to 72 hours to act and bloating, flatulence, cramping and an unpleasant taste have all been reported side effects, (Banks, 1998). Additionally, lactulose may not be suitable in constipation where gut motility is impaired such as opioid use in Marks case, unless accompanied by a stimulant such as Senna. However, choosing a senna/lactulose combination, means that taken together they will act at different times (Edwards and Bently, 2001). However, evidence comparing different types of laxative is very limited. Nonetheless, a study was found comparing a low dose macragol with lactulose for the treatment of constipation. The treatment was 1-3 sachets of compound oral powder (movicol) versus 10-30g of lactulose daily. After 4 weeks patients in the movicol group had a mean number of stools and a lower median daily score for straining than the lactulose group (Attar et al, 1999).This concluded that movicol was more effective and better tolerated than lactulose in the treatment of constipation. This would then justify prescribing movicol for Mark, therefore increasing the frequency of bowel movements and reducing straining. However the Nurse had to get Marks doctor to prescribe Movicol as it is not listed in Patient group directive, so the nurse gave Mark 10mls of lactulose and 2 senna until this was prescribed. Negotiate contract In implementing the strategy the consent and agreement of the patient is paramount, and may be viewed as a shared contract between patient and nurse. This is known as concordance. It is important for nurses to adopt this approach to administering medication, as this directly involves patients in decision making about their treatment. It must be remembered that nurses owe a duty of care to their patients. Duty of care is a legal requirement owed by one person to another to take reasonable care not to cause harm. The courts have held that the nurse-patient relationship gives rise to such a duty (Kent v Griffiths, 2001). Additionally, common law decided from cases requires that nurses take care when prescribing, otherwise, a patient harmed by careless medicine administration can sue for damages by claiming negligence (Griffith and Tengnah, 2004). It is essential therefore that duty of care extends to quality of prescribing, including, assessment, advice and information giving, record ke eping, decision making along with medication selection and calculation, as well as communication with the patient and other professionals. The patient needs to know what is expected of them in carrying out the treatment plan and when the nurse needs to reassess the situation. Additionally the patient needs to know what the medication is for, how long it takes to work and how to take the product (Edwards and Bentley, 2001). In Marks case it was explained to him that he would be prescribed a product by the name of movicol for his constipation and evidence found on its appropriateness along with possible side effects for his condition was explained. He would receive 20 sachets with a view to taking 1-3 sachets a day. It was explained he would have to mix 1 sachet with 125ml of water (British National Formulary, BNF 2009) and the importance of drinking 2lts of fluid was explained along with the effects that movicol will have within his bowel. Mark was alerted to any know side effects of movicol as these could be alarming to the patient if that information is not given, for example, abdominal distension, pain and nausea. However this does not mean that Mark will experience any of these. Nonetheless, this information is essential and Mark was told to report any adverse effects to the nurse. Record keeping The NMC (2005) guidelines for records and record keeping, state that good record keeping is integral to our role as records are sometimes called in evidence in order to investigate a complaint. In light of this all details, including full assessment details, along with care plans which were both planned and executed, plans for review, and medications and prescriptions given, were all entered into Marks patient held records immediately. Additionally this was also recorded within notes in Nursing Notes. Marks own consultant was also informed of this information in order to assist with prescribing and also to avoid polypharmacy and adverse events from drug interactions. The nurse also ensured the drug card was signed as per NMC guidelines. Complementary Therapies Complementary therapies are treatments used to support regular or orthodox treatments such as medication. These treatments may be used to reduce stress and anxiety or may be used to help with problems such as pain, nausea and constipation. Abdominal massage has been shown to be effective as a marginally effective laxative regimen in one trial. However, massage is extremely demanding on staff time, and consequently is unlikely to be of widespread benefit to the patient. Acupuncture, One small within subject trial of sham versus true acupuncture showed some benefit in chronically constipated children, but acupuncture has never been tested for opioid-induced constipation. Herbal preparations such as Senna, a laxative, may be used as pods or a tea. Rhubarb stems (not the leaf, which contains poisonous oxalic acid), chrysanthemum stems, and peach leaves have laxative properties. Many preparations promoted as herbal or natural laxatives are in fact bulk forming preparations which should be avoided in opioid-induced constipation. However, if possible medication can be avoided as bowel movements may be facilitated if done at the same time every day, by mobility and physical activity, and increased dietary fibre and fluid intake. However, these approaches alone may not benefit all patients, especially those with severe constipation. Nevertheless, deficiencies in physical activity, and fluid and fibre intake should be addressed. Physical constraints and barriers should also be rectified, and commonsense toilet practices should be reinforced, such as not suppressing the urge to defecate, and using public washrooms if out of the house rather than waiting to return home. Summary The above account highlights that in the clinical management of medicine administration, it is vital that this is undertaken in an informed and systematic manner. This can be achieved through the selection and application of an assessment tool and by having clarity about the decision-making framework used to underpin Evidence Based Practice. The NMC emphasises that the administration of medicines is an integral and essential entry criteria for the Councils Professional Register (NMC, 2008). Furthermore, the Code of Professional Conduct clearly states that medication administration must not be seen solely as a mechanistic task but as a task that requires thought and the exercise of professional judgement (NMC, 2008). For nurses to practice competently, they must ensure that they possess the knowledge, skills and abilities required for lawful, safe and effective practice. They must acknowledge their professional competence and only undertake practice and accept responsibilities for those activities in which they are competent (NMC, 2008). The NMC guidelines of professional conduct (2008) require that nurses must maintain knowledge and competence. This can partly be achieved by the use of reflection on prescribing and administrating decisions. Word Count 3012 References Annells M Koch T (2002) Faecal impaction: Older peoples experiences and nursing practice. British Journal of Community Nursing. 7 (3)118-126 Banks A (1998) An overview of constipation: causes and treatment. International Journal of Palliative Nursing 4 (6) 271-275. Duncan J (2004) The management of constipation by nurse prescribers. Nurse prescribing 2 (2) 66-69. Edwards M Bentley A (2001) Nursing management of constipation in housebound older people. British Journal of Community Nursing, 6 (5) 245-252. Fallon M, ONeil (1998) ABC of Palliative Care. London, BMJ books. Griffith R, Tengnah C (2004) A question of negligence: the law and the standard of prescribing. Nurse Prescribing 2 (2) 90-92. Hardy, D., Smith, B. (2008) Decision Making in Clinical Practice. British Journal of Anaesthetic Recovery Nursing. Vol. 9 (1), pp. 19-21 Humphries J (2002) Assessment and evaluation in nurse prescribing, 2nd ed Palgrave, Hampshire. Kent v Griffiths (2001) QB 36 IN Griffith R, Tengnah C (2004) A question of negligence: the law and the standard of prescribing. Nurse Prescribing 2 (2) 90-92. Kyle, G. (2007) Bowel care, part 5 a practical guide to digital rectal examination. Nursing Times; 103: 45, 28-29. Nursing and Midwifery council (2008) Guidelines for records and record keeping. London. Nursing and Midwifery Council. (2008) The Code: Standards of Conduct, performance and ethics for nurses and midwives. London, NMC. Wondergerm F (2005) Relieving constipation. Journal of community nursing, 5 12-16 Peate I (2003) Nursing role in the management of constipation: use of laxatives. British Journal of Nursing. 12 (19) 1130-1136. RCN (2006) Digital Rectal Examination and Manual Removal of Faeces: Guidance for Nurses. London: RCN Timby B, Schere J, Smith N (1999) Introductory Medical-Surgical Nursing. 7th edn. , Philadelphia, Lippincott. Walker R (1997) Diagnosis and treatment of constipation. Practice Nursing 8 (4) 20-22

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Religion and International Relations

Religion and International Relations Introduction Religion (noun): the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods. In modern times, religion isn’t just the belief and worship of a supernatural entity. It is a way of life. Since birth, children are indoctrinated into their parent’s religion. Traditions, practices and values, both positive and negative are taught till they become common fact. Religion permeates into the lives of people completely and seamlessly. Given its pervasive nature, it is unsurprising that religion affects relations between people and on a larger scale relationships between nations. This project analyses the effects of religion on the international scale. Through case studies, it will highlight the advantageous as well as detrimental role of religion in maintaining peace between countries. The article will not focus on the various conflicts/ peace processes themselves, instead, it will detail the religious background, the issues and proposed solutions. Case Study 1: Jerusalem and the Israel – Palestine Conflict Background to the Conflict: Jerusalem and other holy sites of the Middle – East are holy to the three major Abrahamic religions namely – Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Historically speaking, there have been multiple conflicts over the ownership of these locations. The most famous being The Holy Crusades. In modern times, this has continued into the Israel – Palestine conflict. The roots of the conflict lie in the late 19th and early 20th century. This period saw the rise of nationalist movements amongst Jews and also amongst Arabs. Both movements wished for a sovereign state for their people, in the region. It was also a time of large scale Jewish immigration into the region. Jews were escaping the chaos caused by the Russian Revolution and later the Holocaust during WW2. In 1920,Haj Amin al-Hussein emerged as the leader for the Palestinian Arab Nationalist Movement. The man saw the Jewish Nationalist Movement and Jewish immigration as the primary enemies to his goal. This led to large scale riots and violence between the two sides. Sporadic bursts of violence continued till the start of WW2. Post WW2 tensions arose due to the large scale immigration of Holocaust survivors. This was fuelled by the stories that were coming out the Holocaust. The support resulted in Jews attacking on the Arabs as well as the British Administration. In 1947, the British Mandate approached the United Nations to provide a solution to the problems in Palestine. The United Nations Special Committee on Palestine proposed a division of territory on the basis of religion. The area was to be divided into three parts. An independent Arab state and an Independent Jewish state while Jerusalem and Bethlehem remained under UN control. Jews were dissatisfied by the loss of Jerusalem but accepted the decision. However it was vehemently opposed by the Arabs. This led to eruption of a Civil War in the region. Jews in the region were conscripted into an army. With British aid, they annexed territories to form modern day Israel. The Conflict: In 1948, The Israeli Declaration of Independence was signed officially declaring the State of Israel as an independent nation. Since then the region has been under multiple wars and conflicts. The Arab nations surrounding Israel universally opposed its existence. They trained armies and rebels to conquer the nation. In 1967 during The Six Day War, Israel occupied areas of Palestine beyond its borders. Including the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Israelis have since started settling in the region. Despite multiple attempts at peace the standing issues of the conflict could not be resolved. From 2005 onwards the Hamas organisation gained prominence in Palestine. The fighting in recent years occurred due to rocket attacks coming from both side of the Gaza strip. The Standing Issues: Jerusalem Jerusalem is the most major issue. Both sides claim ownership of the city. As stated previously Jerusalem is of great significance to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam being an important and holy city for all of them. For Judaism in particular Jerusalem is the holiest city in the world. It is the former location of the Jewish temples on theTemple Mountand was the capital of the ancient Israelite kingdom. It also contains the Jewish holy site, The Western Wall and the Mount of Olives. Hence the Israelis are unwilling to part with the city. For Islam, Jerusalem is the site ofMohammads Night Journeyto heaven, and theal-Aqsa mosque. For Christians, Jerusalem is the location ofthe Crucifixion of Christand theChurch of the Holy Sepulchre. Presently, Israel considers the complete Jerusalem as part of its sovereign region. Jerusalem also is its capital. No other nation in the world accepts this Holy sites Both sides have concern over the treatment of their holy sites under the other’s control. Historically these concerns are founded, as both sides have banned worshippers while they were in control of the region. The treatment and possible vandalism of the sites under opposing rule is a concern as well. Proposed Solutions: The most globally accepted solution is a Two State one. Since the conflict is religious in nature, it proposes splitting the region based on religion. With Palestine being comprised of the West Bank and Gaza Strip while Israel consists of the rest of the region. This would ensure that demographically Israel will have a Jewish majority with a significant Arab minority. While Palestine will have an Arab majority with a small Jewish minority. Jerusalem would serve as the capital of both nations. With the Arab part under the control of Palestine and the Jewish part under the control of Israel. Israel has expressed concerns regarding safety to this plan. As the region has been under multiple terrorist attacks, it believes that having a border so close to Palestine would increase the risk to its citizens. Case Study 2: Islamic Terrorism Islamic terrorism comprises of terrorist acts done by people in the name of Islam Ideology: The term Jihad features a prominent role in militant Islam. Jihad literally translates to â€Å"struggle† or â€Å"resistance†. Based on context and writing. This can have multiple interpretations. Peaceful interpretations include â€Å"struggling to follow the way of God†. However Jihad also has a military sense, it calls for the defence and expansion of the Islamic state. Defensive Jihad is considered an obligation of utmost importance for all Muslims, while expansionist Jihad is optional. The ideology of Islamic terrorists insists that they are initiating a defensive Jihad against the West. Terrorists believe that the Western society and its policies are actively anti – Islamic. As such they insist that their actions are in defence of their religion. The terrorists point out what they believe is a continuing war between Christianity and Islam. A war that started from the Crusades. By framing the fight as defensive, they appear to be a victim rather than an aggressor, and give struggle the very highest religious priority for all good Muslims. Many of the violent terrorist groups use jihad to fight against Western nations and Israel. Most militant Islamists oppose Israel’s existence. Another major aspect of terrorist ideology is the belief that Muslims have deviated from true Islam and must return to â€Å"pure Islam† as originally practiced during the time ofMuhammad. â€Å"Pure Islam† can only be reached by applying a literal and strict interpretation of theQuran and Muhammad’s commands. The original sources should be interpreted individually and Muslims simply should not follow the interpretations of Islamic scholars. Interpretation of the Quran from a historical, contextual perspective is corruption. In addition militants, scholars, and leaders oppose Western society for what they see as immoralsecularism. Terrorists claim that free speech has led to the proliferation ofpornography,immorality,secularism,homosexuality,feminism etc. ideas and concepts that they oppose. Conflicts: Due to their ideology, Islamic Terrorism has been in multiple conflicts throughout the world. In addition to this, Islam has had traditional rivalries with many religions. Including Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism etc. further increasing the issue. Some of the various conflict zones are: Country Main religious groups involved Type of conflict Afghanistan Extreme, radical Fundamentalist Muslim terrorist groups non-Muslims The traditional base of the Taliban and Al Qaeda. It was liberated by a joint military effort. However the Taliban is rising again and fighting continues. Iraq Kurds, Shiite Muslims, Sunni Muslims, western armed forces By mid-2006, a small scale civil war, primarily between Shiite and Sunni Muslims started. Presently, the country is in another civil war against the ISIL Kashmir Hindus Muslims Kashmir has been a contested region since the formation of India and Pakistan. Kurdistan Christians, Muslims Periodic assaults on Christians occur Middle East Jews, Muslims, Christians Israel has always been a target of religious conflict. Thus Middle East remains as a volatile zone Pakistan Sunni Shi’ite Muslims Mutual attacks, and periodic strikes by Taliban. Somalia Wahhabi and Sufi Muslims Sufi Muslims moderate version of Islam are fighting followers of the Wahhabi tradition of Islam. Thailand Buddhists Muslims Muslim rebels have been attacking southern Thailand. Solutions: As such there is no uniform solution for Islamic terrorism. The locations and grievances of each conflict are extremely varied and cannot be uniformly addressed. The terrorists also enjoy support due to the economic and social conditions of these regions. However generic solutions to address parts of this issue exist such as: Establishment of humanitarian centres to help people socially. Mobilisation of religious leaders to publicly oppose these actions and remove the militant support base. Case Study 3: The Tibet – China Conflict Background: The Tibet – China conflict is a historical and geopolitical debate. Both sides claim sovereignty of the Tibetan Plateau. Tibetans insist that they have largely been a historically independent nation, and believe the Chinese occupation to be illegal. While the Chinese claim that Tibet was a part of Chinese administration until it was annexed by the British Raj to act as a buffer between India and China and after the Raj withdrew, the Chinese were able to regain their territory in 1951. The conflict also has an ethnic and religious side. The ethnic aspect comes from the fact that the Tibetans of the Tibetan Plateau are a minority to the Han Chinese majority of China, Secondly most Tibetans are Buddhists, while religion is banned in Communist nations like China. The Chinese government has a history of persecuting religions, especially those that have widespread popularity like Buddhism has in China. Widespread persecution and the exile of the Dalai Lama have only fuelled the clash. Present Day Scenario: Tibet did not participate in international organisations like League of Nations in the early 20th Century. As such it is unable to provide sufficient evidence for its sovereignty and independence. China maintains an extremely strict stance and prevents outside intervention. However there have been known cases of genocide against Tibetans and Buddhists in particular. Also development and growth in the region seems to affect and benefit only the Han Chinese immigrants. Solutions: The most accepted solution seems to be to provide Tibet with more autonomy and freedom while keeping it under Chinese rule. This would ensure an end to religious persecution while also allowing more inclusive development in the region. Scholars also agree that the Dalai Lama must be allowed to return from exile and be an active part of the peace process. The Dalai Lama has a great influence in the Tibetan region and would be able to reassure and appease hardliners. Case Study 4: Role of Christianity in Nazism and the Holocaust During his rise to power, Hitler realised the political significance of Christianity and Christian Churches. To this effect, the Nazi party started the promotion of â€Å"Positive Christianity†. Positive Christianity differed from Christianity in many ways. Modern day historians agree that despite his claims, Hitler was anti – Christianity. He used â€Å"Positive Christianity† to justify his actions and his power. Throughout his rule, Hitler called the Nazi cause as Christian. At the same time, he utilised the historical rivalry and hatred between Christians and Jews. To justify this, â€Å"Positive Christianity† openly rejected any Jewish involvement in the Holy Bible. It: Rejected the Jewish-written parts of the Bible(including the entire Old Testament) Claimed Christ was Aryan and not Jewish Opposed the existence of the Catholic Church Promoted national unity, and wanted to put all Protestant Churches under a single national Positive Christian Church It emphasised Christ as a â€Å"positive† preacher and warrior against institutionalized Judaism Hitler also used Christianity in his justification for the Holocaust. Claiming he is continuing Christ’s work by eliminating other races. Religion as a Peacemaker Historically, religion has been a cause of conflict. However religion can also be the cause of peace. Most religions in the world advocate peace. The use of violence is advised only as a last course in defence. Even the concept of Jihad in Islam is used mainly for defending the Islamist nation. Religion can be used to eliminate the very cause of conflict itself, as opposed to merely stopping the fighting while the issues remain unaddressed. This is especially true under the following conditions. religion is a significant contributor to the conflict religious leaders on both sides wish for peace Religious leaders are of particular importance in this approach as they are trusted and respected by their communities. This enables them to: A leverage against those opposing peace Generate local, national and international support for peace Ensure promises are kept at a local level Emphasise on the maintenance of morality and humanity in peace Conflicts can be addressed by: Interfaith dialogue and interaction to address issues Proposing a solution that can address the religious and ethnic needs of both sides as a compliment to diplomatic negotiations e.g. solutions proposed for the Israel – Palestine conflict Establishment of religious peacekeeping centres in strife torn regions like Iraq etc. By this method it is possible to mobilise religion into a peaceful force that can end wars that are not only religious in nature but of other origins as well. References Beginners Guide to the Israeli Palestinian Conflict (a video available on YouTube) A Brief History of the Arab-Israeli Conflictby Jeremy Pressman BBC News reports on the Israel Palestinian Conflict ReligiousTolerance.org Conflict Over Tibet: Core Causes and Possible Solutions By Dustin Stokes â€Å"Religion and the Holocaust† by Richard E Smith â€Å"The Holy Reich: Nazi Conceptions of Christianity† by Richard Steigmann-Gall Religious Contributions to Peacemaking: When Religion Brings Peace, Not War