Fiction analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Fiction analysis - Essay Example Because the grandmother recognizes him, the entire family is taken back into the woods and killed with the exception of the grandmother, who is allowed to talk with the Misfit until the rest of the family is dead and then is killed there at the side of the road. A few more superficial comparisons can be made in that the main character of each story is a woman, each woman must face the death of her son and both women die by the end of the story for reasons they have little or no control over. However, there are deeper similarities between these two stories that emerge when one takes a closer look. These similarities include being written in the realist tradition, featuring men who suddenly realize their own common connections and both having a gothic element. One of the most glaring similarities between these two stories is that they are both written in the realist tradition. The realist tradition in American literature focused on the concept that people were just people, not submerge d divinities as the transcendentalists claimed or helpless victims of fate as the naturalists claimed. "These American realists believed that humanity's freedom of choice was limited by the power of outside forces" (Penrose). In other words, realism acknowledges individuals have their own power to make choices, but that they are also forced to work within boundaries established by external events. In Chopin's story, this is seen as Desiree finds herself trapped in a situation in which her beloved husband can no longer stand the sight of her because of the obviously mixed blood seen in their baby - a condition she cannot control. However, her fate is determined by her individual choice to "not take the broad, beaten road which led to the far-off plantation of Valmonde ... She disappeared among the reeds and willows that grew thick along the banks of the deep, sluggish bayou; and she did not come back again" (Chopin). It is also found in O'Connor's story as the grandmother is unable t o determine where she will go for a family vacation, but has the option of going along with the family or continuing to bid for a trip to Tennessee instead of Florida. In each case, there are limiting outside forces, but it is still the individual's choice that leads them to their fate. Both stories also have a strong gothic element. Some of the common elements of Gothic literature are emotional terror, some form of crumbling architecture, death and madness occurring among the characters, a sense of pervading darkness and plenty of secrets and hereditary curses (Hume 282). Desiree's home is dark enough to give Madame Volmonde shivers with its deeply sloping roof, "steep and black like a cowl," and the "big, solemn oaks" whose "thick-leaved, far-reaching branches shadowed it like a pall" (Chopin), giving a strong instance of foreshadowing in the symbolism used within this description. The nearby marshes, the stubble of the fields that cut Desiree's feet on the November evening that s he disappears, and the prevailing gloom of the harshly treated slaves all function to create a gothic environment. This is further enhanced by the mental anguish of the lady as she perceives

Communication, Information and Coordination in Organizations Essay Example for Free

Communication, Information and Coordination in Organizations Essay In speaking of organizations I believe that how organizations communicate is an extremely key factor in success versus failure. The purpose of this paper is to talk about Communication, Information and Coordination, specifically Vertical and Lateral Coordination in organizations. I will reference the four different organizational frames we have learned about as a reference guide to explain how communication is viewed, as well as which types of organizations are best suited to use either a Vertical or Lateral Coordination methodology. When we began the term we laid down a foundation on the different types of frames that an organization can take on. I would like to briefly touch on the four frames and then show how communication is defined in each. The first frame is the Structural Frame, which, â€Å"†¦emphasizes goals, specialized roles, and formal relationships†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Bolman and Deal p. 14) In this frame the organization ultimately uses â€Å"†¦rules, policies, procedures and hierarchies to coordinate diverse activities into a unified strategy. †(Bolman and Deal p. 4) As you can see with the definition above, communication is being done through a system of symbols, signs and or behavior. The organization creates the method for information to be passed and there is an expectation that it will be followed. In the structural frame communication is used to, â€Å"Transmit facts and information. † (Bolman and Deal p. 307) You as an employee are simply taking information from the organization and using it accordingly as well as taking information you receive and passing it along. You as an individual are not analyzing the information, drawing any conclusions altering it, You are simply taking the information given to you and acting on it as given. The second frame is the Human Resource Frame. The Human Resource frame sees the organization, â€Å"†¦much like an extended family, made up of individuals with needs, feelings, prejudices, skills and limitations†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Bolman and Deal p. 14) In this frame the organization is made to fit the individuals that work there. The Human Resource Frame uses communication to â€Å"Exchange information, needs and feelings. (Bolman and Deal p. 307) The Human Resource Frame uses the individual as a conduit for information gathering and dispersal and is much more flexible in the delivery of information as opposed to the Structural Frame, which is more rigidly aligned. People are the most valued asset of an organization. The Human Resource Frame seeks to develop the individual employee in the organization rather than making them one step is a core process. The third frame is the Political Frame and sees organizations as â€Å"†¦arenas, contests, or jungles†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Bolman and Deal p. 4) In the Political Frame all people in the organization are in constant competition to get ahead and one way to get ahead is to possess the power of information. In the Political Frame it is who and what you know and who you are willing to share your information with that gets you ahead. With all of the competition involved there is often conflict between those vying for power. The Political Frame sees communication as an opportunity to, â€Å"Influence or manipulate others. † (Bolman and Deal p. 307) As stated previously, Information if a powerful tool. In a Political Frame possessing information and having the ability to communicate that formation is key. The problem with Politics is that often information is used destructively rather than constructively. In an organization influencing and manipulating can and usually is a double edged sword. Finally in the fourth frame is the Symbolic Frame is a more organic frame that is seen organizationally as, â€Å"Tribes, theaters, or carnivals. It abandons assumptions of rationality more prominent in other frames. † (Bolman and Deal p. 5) This frame is not widely used because it is so free flowing and actually quite odd that it does not work well in many cases. However, the Symbolic Frame still address communication as a means to, â€Å"tell stories. † (Bolman and Deal p. 307) Telling stories is a way often used to pass along information. Many cultures use stories to educate the next generation and the stories contain information that is important for the next generations to k now and preserve. In organizations, stories, tales and fables should not be seen as appropriate sources of information. Basically, all the frames acknowledge that communication is an essential part of their make-up. The ability to communicate, whether through rules and procedures, meetings and networks or stories is very important in the day-to-day operations of your organization. I now offer a definition of communication as found in Webster’s Dictionary and I will use the definition to further explain the importance of communication and more specifically the communication of information through a coordinated effort. Webster’s Dictionary defines Communication as: : an act of instance of transmitting 2 a: information communicated b: a verbal or written message 3 a: a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior b: personal rapport 4 a: a system for communicating b: a system of routes for moving troops, supplies, and vehicles c: personnel engaged in communicating 5 a: a technique for expressing ideas effectively b: the technology of the transmission of information. Since the beginning of time man has attempted to communicate and as a result communication has constantly been improved. Thoughts, events and information have been recorded and passed along in some form or another for centuries, so you can see how communication is an essential part of everyday life. Knowing this you have to wonder how do we effectively communicate with each other? The above question has become and will always be a huge topic in society. People spend millions of dollars a year on counseling and learning techniques to better communicate with each other. Many people have capitalized on this quest for better communication skills and have become supposed experts in the field of communicating. You hear everyday how you need to be able to communicate better in your relationships, with your friends, peers and in general with everyone. So I look to the above definition to better clarify what exactly is meant by the various definitions of communication as I interpret them. I will use three of the definitions above and concentrate eon how they tie in with the theme of the paper, which is coordination. 2 a: Information communicated. 3 a: a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs or behavior. Finally, 5 b: The technology of the transmission of information. I chose the above three definitions because they tie into a repetitive theme within communication and that is the passing of information. We have discussed in this class, throughout the term, that information is power and those who have information have a definite advantage. In an organization information is key to success. The organization that is able to establish a free flow of information will always be in a better position to succeed because they are in a position to be able to adapt more quickly in times where change is necessary. I am not suggesting that information always leads to change, because the information you receive could very well be that you need to continue what you are doing without changing. In particular I’d like to look at the second definition I chose which talks about information being exchanged through a common system of symbols, signs or behavior and I’d like to focus on behavior because the way your organization is aligned can ultimately affect your communicative behavior. In chapter three of Reframing Organizations we look see two types of coordination, which determine how information is passed and who processes it. The two types of coordination are Vertical and Lateral. Organizations that operate in stable markets and use a product that has little need for change are best suited for a Vertically coordinated organizational system. Organizations that operate in a turbulent environment and require constant change are best suited for a laterally coordinated organization. I will address both types and give an example of each below. In Vertical Coordination we see that the higher levels of management maintain control of information and regulate communications through establishing clear lines of authority, implementing rules and policies, and putting in place planning and control systems. By establishing authority the hierarchy appoints people such as executives, managers and supervisors to be in charge. This core group of people selected to have authority are, â€Å"†¦officially charged with keeping activities aligned with goals. They control by making decisions, resolving conflicts, solving problems, evaluating performance and output, and distributing rewards and sanctions†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Bolman and Deal p. 51) I can use my own situation as an example of this. Working in Law Enforcement I fall under a chain of command. In the chain of command I have been appointed a Sergeant. As a Sergeant I am charged with the tasks explained above. I communicate and pass information and orders to my subordinates. I receive my orders form my Commander, who in turn reports to a Captain and it goes right up the chain until it reaches the Sheriff. Information is communicated vertically through the ranks. Our organization aligned very closely with a Structural Frame Format. Not much emphasis is given to the Human Resource Frame, as the needs of the individual are not as much of a concern over the needs of the organization. The Political Frame is limited because the information is coming from the top and being disseminated down the ranks. Information obtained in Law Enforcement is normally transcribed in report format and given out. Information that is important and not given out could result in legal action. There is no chance for the Symbolic Frame to exist because we do not communicate organically nor are we allowed to report in a story fashion. In our private lives we can tell stories and relay information, however on an organizational level we deal strictly with fact. I derive my Authority from the chain of command and am regulated largely by the Policies and Procedures manual that my organization has constructed. The policies and procedures manual gives detailed instructions how to carry out tasks, how to monitor employees performance and conduct investigations. So in my personal career I can see that my organization is Vertically aligned. Information is communicated up and down the chain of command in clear-cut lines. Lateral communication and withholding information is discouraged and can lead to sever punishment. Although new technology is often introduced, the mission of Law Enforcement stays the same. As a result Law Enforcement uses vertical alignment to get information out as quickly and uniformly as possible. The opposite of the vertical form is the Lateral Form of Coordination. In Lateral Coordination several different methods are used to communicate and pass information. Lateral Coordination involves meetings, task forces, coordinating roles, matrix structures, and network organizations to communicate and pass on information. The above listed structures are more flexible and fluid than that of a rigidly defined Vertically Coordinated organization. I will briefly touch on the different methods used in the laterally coordinated systems. Meetings are described as, â€Å"informal communication and formal meetings form the cornerstone of lateral coordination. † (Bolman and deal p. 53) Formal meetings are the normal way stable organizations go about communicating. Simple meetings can used be used to pass along large chunks of information as well as to address new business. As the organization grows in complexity and size, Task Forces are utilized. Task Forces are formed when, â€Å"†¦problems or opportunities require collaboration of a number of specialties or functions. † (Bolman and deal p. 54) Collaboration requires cooperation and cooperation can only exist when there is communication. A Task Force gets a group of specialized people together to accomplish an organizational goal. Coordinating Roles take the talents of individuals and spread them out to help persuade others to accomplish goals. An individual can monitor several different areas to help tie all componets together to make a finished product. Matrix Structures are used when the organization grows very large and crosses several different sectors of the business world. Matrix Structures are very complex and can add a lot of confusion to your organization, which is why they have been used so sparingly. Finally, Networks are now a very common communicative form in organizations. Networks have always been in existence and have grown in usage since the advent of computer technology. Computer networks have the capability of transmitting almost limitless amounts of information immediately to a large-scale group of people. Computer Networks are now one of the most valuable tools an organization can use to communicate. Since an organization that coordinates laterally is generally one that operates in a turbulent and often changing environment it is easy to see why communication is essential. Information must be gathered, analyzed, processed and disseminated as quickly as possible to ensure that you will be able to keep up. An example of an organization that suffered because it failed to properly communicate and respond is the Digital Corporation. Digital Corporation was a leader in the minicomputer industry, however when the market shifted form minicomputers to PC’s they were too tied up in a non-productive coordination system. As a result they wasted valuable time in making the transition to the new technology. The company began to fail and was subsequently bought out by Compaq computers. The technology field, computers in particular, is changing on a daily basis. If you are not able to communicate the need for change based on the information received form current market trends then you are doomed to failure. Digital is a prime example of this concept. All of the above methods of Lateral Coordination are effective, however as with any system there are weaknesses. You must ensured that your resources are being used appropriately and efficiently in order to successfully maintain a more loosely coordinated method, as seen in the Lateral Coordination methodology. When you are not strict and rigid in your controls you run the risk of giving people too much freedom in their actions. Lateral Strategies are effective, however they must be monitored. In Conclusion, the coordinated communication of information within an organization is a key determinate of success versus failure. An organization, even one in a stable environment, must be fluid when it comes to communication. A lack of communication has been shown to result in the untimely delivery of crucial information and since we have identified that information is power, a lack of information will then render you powerless. By employing sound coordination methodologies and organization can better respond to it’s environment. As the environment changes so must the organization. The best way to know if your environment is changing is by properly gather and processing information form the various areas you deal in. Once processed and analyzed the information must quickly be communicated through the appropriate channels to ensure that necessary changes can be made. A breakdown in any one of these areas can and normally will have devastating effects. Many companies have experienced this firsthand. Coordination, Communication and Information are three keys that an organization must embrace in order to survive.

The Ageing Population in Mauritius

The Ageing Population in Mauritius Discussions Impact of aging population in Mauritius The first objective of this study aims to provide a thorough understanding of the actual impacts of aging population in Mauritius. Since old people retire from their jobs, the incomes they generate are reduced and thus they have to rely on pensions or insurances. Consequently, the aging population is very often faced with income security and poverty. Among the 80 questionnaires that were distributed, there were 18.5% of the respondents were above 65 years. This was a very significant number and was the second larger percentage after the age group of 20-35 years. Moreover, the Mauritius Statistics forecasts that 20% of the Mauritian population will be above 65 years by 2025. One of the main impacts of an aging population is that it increases the dependency ratio. There are relatively more people claiming pension benefits and less people working to pay taxes. With the ever-growing aging population in Mauritius, it is probable that this will cause problems in the future. Though 14.8% of the respondents still live with their grand-parents and 12.3% of them still help their grand-parents financially, the dependency on the pension benefits do not seem to decrease. Another impact is the increased Government spending on health care and pensions. In UK, the old age pension is currently  £113.10 per pensioners per week (Population Ageing Statistics, Rutherford) as compared to Mauritius, where the pension fund is Rs5, 000 per pensioners per month. Since the percentage of old age is said to increase to up to 25% by 2025, the Government spending will increase even more. Presently, the budget for old age health problems amounts to approximately Rs9.7 billion per year and with a promising and significant growth in the number of old people in the future, Mauritius is likely to face serious budget issues. As such, as demonstrated in table 4.5 in the previous chapter, 56.8% people have that working people should pay a token for the elders’ medical services. This gesture can remove a huge burden from the Government expenditure since people are not prepared to remove old age pension funds even if an alternative, such as building homes for the elder ly with all their required needs, is given to the old people as shown by the majority of people who voted ‘No’ to the suggestion. Moreover, an aging population directs to a shortage of workers in a country. Since the old people retire and live on pension, and there are lesser number of new-borns to eventually work to pay taxes, the country faces a lack of workers. Mauritius is not far behind from a shortage of workers. In this effect, 48.1% of the respondents thought that encouraging Mauritians to reproduce will solve the problem whereas 50.6% of them thought it would be better to hire immigrants to work here. Furthermore, since Mauritius will be putting a higher percentage of income into pension funds in the future, due to the increasing amount of old people, it could reduce the amount of savings available for more productive investments. Thus, leading to lower rates of economic growth. Impact of security budget on aging population The second objective emphasizes on the impact of security budget on aging population. With greater number of old people, comes greater expenses in terms of security. As of now, the Government is spending approximately Rs27.1 billion on social security solely in the year 2015 and as per our research conducted by the questionnaire, 38.3% people feel concern about this amount of expenditure only on social security. 76.5% of the respondents agreed that the well-off should be cut off from pension facilities. This is a considerable idea because the Government is spending way too much money on old people and getting nothing-in terms of finance-in return. Though many people (approximately 75.3% of the respondents) thought that the newly elected Government was right to increase old age pension from Rs3, 600 to R5, 000 in December 2014, a significant percentage (61.7) agreed that it was merely a political technique to gain votes. This increase in the pension fund has resulted in an increase of over 50% in the Government expenditure as compared in 2014. Over 186, 000 people benefit from the universal pension. The National Monetary Fund (IMF) has already sounded the alarm about the aging population of Mauritius that could jeopardize the national pension fund. The financial institution recommends an urgent review of the payment of this social benefit formula. As concluded by a Working Paper of the IMF entitled Pension Reforms in Mauritius; Fair and Fast Balancing Social Protection and Fiscal Sustainability, Mauritius’ old age pension situation is considered unsustainable in the long term. While now it amounts to 5% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), funding for different pension schemes should reach 11% in 45 years. The aging population is putting strong pressure on public finances. The number of people over 60 years will be 50% in 2050, whereas they represented 13% of the population in 2013. The result of expenditures on pension benefits, especially the non-contributory pension scheme will be exacerbated (Takoor, Petri, and Martin). If major reforms are not undertaken, the pension funds could cause a shortfall and could eventually be liability for the state especially when 79.0% of the respondents said they are not ready to further sustain the social security financially, besides their contributions in VAT and NPF. Problems faced because of gender in an aging population According to a study made by the UN organisation, women make up a significantly larger share of the older population. This is because women tend to live longer than men and thus rendering them more dependent on health care facilities and pensions schemes provided by their country. In 2014, Mundi calculated the ratio of females to males above 65 years old to be 66, 643: 45, 145 of the total population. The elderly dependency ratio was calculated to be 12.8%. Also, the UN found that older women experience some of the lowest literacy rates in the world. Average levels of illiteracy for women aged 65 or over are as high as 78% in Africa and 53% in Asia, compared to 58% and 29% respectively for men in these regions. This seriously impacts on the lives of the older women, preventing them from accessing health services, securing incomes, and moving out of poverty. Moreover, the fact that women’s life expectancy is greater than men’s means that health problems that increase with age, such as disability, affect a greater number of women worldwide. It is anticipated that the overall prevalence and severity of disability among older women will continue to increase, in line with the growing aging population and the higher proportion of women in the old age groups. For example, older women are more likely to suffer from blindness than older men, especially in low-income countries where 44% of cases are caused by cataracts. The greater the number of older women, the greater is the dependency on health care services. Furthermore, despite increased awareness of abuse, discrimination, and violence against women, concerns over the situation of older women have largely been ignored. Data on violence against women over the age of 60 is severely limited and research focusing on abuse of older women tends to be confined to developed countries and based on small sample sizes. Impact of sustainability on the level of protection of the old age The challenge for the future is â€Å"to ensure that people everywhere can grow old with security and dignity and that they can continue to participate in social life as citizens with full rights†. At the same time â€Å"the rights of old people should not be incompatible with those of other groups, and reciprocal intergenerational relations should be encouraged.†(United Nations, World Population Ageing 1950-2050, Population Division) Social protection of the old age approach has addressed the multiple interlinked global challenges of poverty eradication, environmental sustainability, and economic equity, and gender equality, equitable distribution of resources, human rights, and inequality. In Mauritius, though about 50% of old people do not take public transport, the latter is still free for people above 60 years old. However, about 21.0% find that this system should be abolished. Basic income security for people in old age is considered as necessary to avoid poverty among the old age. However, approximately 49.4% of Mauritians find that Rs5, 000 is a risk factor to the life of the elders. This amount of money is considered to be too much and can put the life of the elders at stake. Conclusion This chapter has discussed the various objectives of the research work together with the data that was obtained and calculated in the previous chapter, data analysis. As shown, some data obtained were in line with the objectives of this study. The next chapter will talk about the proposed recommendations. Recommendations and Conclusion Introduction In this chapter we will propose a list of recommendations of how the impacts of aging population can be minimised. We will also recommend ways in which the security budget can be controlled, how gender equality and equity can be ensured, and how to ensure a sustainability in the aging population of Mauritius. Housing for seniors: Elder friendly housing Specific measures can be taken to facilitate the development of retirement housing by the private sector, in particular, varying the length of land leases to lower land costs, to facilitate elders’ needs in terms of housing. Also, through a review of the Code on Barrier-Free Accessibility, the Government can consider introducing guidelines for the provision of accessibility and safety features in the homes for the elder people so that they have a more elder-friendly environment to live in. in this way, the elders will more likely have a healthy lifestyle and thus lessening the health expenditure for the Government. Stretching the workforce and working hours The participation rates of women and elderly people in the workforce should be increased to ensure more contribution is being brought economically to Mauritius. According to the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), 49% of the people aged between 60 to 64 years old in USA are still gainfully employed. There are many ways in which a higher participation of the ‘young’ seniors (aged between 60 and 65) can be achieved. Among them, the most important are to correct the inducement of early retirement, reduce the period of entitlement to unemployment benefits, and eliminate high severance payment, extensive job dismissal protection as well as seniority principles. Also, by implementing new child-minding arrangements and more creative working time models and speeding up organisational reforms, the participation of women within the workforce can be increased. Additionally, the annual working and/or average weekly times can also be increased such that fewer workers have to work for more hours in order to compensate for a negative demographic effect on potential growth. Thus, a higher share of women will be put in the workforce and a greater number of part-time jobs will be switched to full-time positions. It will also require an increase in collectively agreed weekly working times. Migration Immigration can help to slow down the process of aging and shrinking of the population and mitigate its negative economic consequences. The younger, more flexible and better qualified the population, the more favourable the outcome will be. Mauritius should promote migration and set suitable migration policies where the policies do not only stop at identifying suitable immigrants but also help them integrate well into the society. It is also very important for Mauritius to promote harmonious race relations-which is not very difficult, considering the fact that we are ourselves a multi-racial nation. Better use of existing resources and adoption of new technologies. We can help people to stay active, healthy and autonomous by building age-friendly cities and â€Å"smart homes† that deploy a range of monitoring and supportive devices to help older people manage life more effectively. We can re-engineer health systems to focus on disease prevention and early screening, rather than on expensive intervention. With these measures, we will contribute to creating better quality lives for older people: lives that are also inclusive and sustainable. Preventing falls strategies Given the magnitude of this public health problem, policymakers should elevate falls prevention as a priority and support policies and programs that aim to reduce risk factors among older adult populations. This may be accomplished in multiple ways. For instance, increased funding may be provided to Area Agencies on aging for broader implementation of community-based falls prevention programs. Certain falls prevention strategies, such as home safety assessments, could also be integrated into existing senior outreach services and programs, such as Meals on Wheels. Enhance opportunities for physical activities among older adults It is recommended that policymakers enhance the opportunities for physical activity among the elders. Especially, they should implement policies and targeted strategies that support active living for seniors. This involves identifying and addressing the barriers that currently prevent seniors from participating in physical activities, ramping up education and outreach efforts, and promoting community-based programs that incorporate strength, endurance, balance, flexibility training programs. Some communities for elders offer other social benefits, such as peer interaction and support. This should be put into practice by all the communities for the elderly. Additionally, policymakers should support a broad continuum of programs, ranging from low to high intensity levels, available to people of all abilities, cultures, and ethnic backgrounds. 6.7 Additional benefits for additional years worked Some countries offer financial incentives to workers who keep on working even though they have reached their retirement age. Normally, the incentives are calculated on the basis of contribution period, for example, an additional day, month, quarter, or year worked after the retirement age. They can come be in the form of a single bonus payment or a percentage increase in the final pension. If Mauritius were to adopt this system, it will ensure more people working and thus more people paying the taxes. Encourage employers to retain and recruit older workers The Government should encourage employers to retain and recruit older workers. One way in which this can be achieved is for the Government to directly contribute to the consts of employing older workers (Gineste, 2012). Reducing unemployment benefits for older people Reducing unemployment benefits and lowering pensions could be an incentive to work longer. If the elders have lower pensions and reduced unemployment benefits, they will be more keen to work for longer periods of time so that they achieve a more satisfying and comfortable lifestyle for the time when they are not able to work at all. 6.10 Conclusion This research work has tried to highlight the impacts of the aging population and appraise what is being done the Ministry of Social Security, National Solidarity, and Reform Institutions to bring about a sustainable development in the aging population of Mauritius. With the decrease in fertility and mortality rates, life expectancy at birth has increased drastically. And despite this rapid aging population, it can be said that the Government, along with the concerned institutions, are striving to keep the population an economically productive and healthy one. To conclude we have also tried to formulate some suggestions which can be implemented in order to ensure that the aging population process stays in control and that Mauritius does not suffer or at least suffers the minimum impact of such a population.

Transcendentalism :: Literary Analysis, Emerson, Thoreau, Dickinson

Transcendentalism blossomed during the 1800s with the help of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Emily Dickinson. They were Transcendentalists who expressed their beliefs through writings from poems to essays and they believed that â€Å"the individual was at the center of the universe† (Prentice Hall 384). The idea of Transcendentalism is complex and for this reason, only a number of people understood it. Emerson, Thoreau, and Dickinson, were one of the many people who were Transcendentalist; these writers went out of their way in society to represent their beliefs. Emerson’s beliefs were mainly on â€Å"the human mind [because it] was the most important force in the universe† (Prentice Hall 384). In â€Å"Nature†, Emerson viewed nature as â€Å"[the] plantations of God, a decorum and sanctity reign, [and] a perennial festival dressed† (Emerson 388). God made nature and some view it as just trees, leaves, grass, etc., but Emerson saw the true beauty in nature. He saw it as if lights, tinsel, ornaments, etc. already decorated it. In addition, Emerson compared himself to â€Å"a transparent eyeball† and â€Å"[he] see[‘s] all; the currents of the Universal Being† (Emerson 389). He can see everything and everyone around the world. In â€Å"Self-Reliance†, Emerson conveys that one must follow for what they believe in. They have to accept themselves â€Å"for better [or] for worse† (Emerson 391). Emerson states, â€Å"A man is relieved and gay when he has put his heart into his work and done his best† (Emerson 391). He implies that one must love their job and loves to work hard because at the end they will be happy. In addition, Emerson viewed the human soul as part of an â€Å"‘Over-Soul,’ a universal spirit to which all beings returned after death† (Prentice Hall 384). The Over-Soul is similar to reincarnation, where after one person dies, that person will come back to life, but in a different form, like, an animal, an insect, or a human. Emerson’s works define being an American because they gave him the freedom to write what he wanted. Also, his works define being a Transcendentalist because they include descriptions of the deep sense of nature, human soul, and individualism. Thoreau, the protà ©gà © of Emerson, went through tough experiences to understand Transcendentalism and to be in â€Å"harmony with nature† (Prentice Hall 385). In Walden, Thoreau spends two years living in a cottage, which he made, next to Walden Pond in the woods.

A Report on Child Labor

The reaction of a typical citizen of a western state to child labor is generally one of disgust. They dream up images of a shoe factory in South Eastern Asia with hundreds of children stooped over sewing machines slaving their youth away. Instead of going to school or playing these children are locked in dangerous workshops, paid barely enough to survive. The truth of the matter is quite different. The average westerner does not realize that most often child laborers are working alongside their parents on small, family owned pieces of land. They are not tortured by a mean overseer, but rather surrounded by family and friends. My intent is not to paint a glowing picture or to diminish the fact that children would be better off in schools, but we must be realistic. Generally life for the child laborer is not as bad as many imagine and frequently their hard work is the difference from their family thriving and their family starving. Not only that, but when they work in the export-manufacturing sector of the economy their labor can fuel future growth of the economy, preventing their children or grandchildren from having to work in factories. This is not to say that we should do nothing to help child laborers, but rather that we should focus our aid in areas other than merely restricting the importation of items produced by them. We need to turn to more creative devices that will focus on improving the education and opportunity for education rather trying to focus on blindly banning child labor. In short, child labor is not the purely evil institution many feel it is and can even be useful in developing third world economies. At the same time we should still try to attempt to do more to develop those economies in order to not only end child labor but also to reduce all the forms of suffering which go on in the third world. Before examining child labor abroad we should look at it here in the United States. Throughout much of our country we employ thousands of, frequently illegal, immigrant laborers to work on farms producing our nation†s food supply. These laborers most often work in family units, with children working the fields side by side with their parents. When pesticides are used farm workers are often not warned or given insufficient warning to prevent their exposure to these dangerous chemicals. The result is that here in America, there exists a large number of children who work rather than going to school and while working are exposed to conditions similar or worse than that of third world factories. Little of this is done beyond the limits of the law. Agriculture has been granted many perks in labor law that would seem absurd in other sectors of the economy, despite the hazards involved in this type of work. All age limits imposed on other types of labor are reduced in agriculture. Outside agriculture 13 and 14 year old children cannot work more than three hours a day during a school week. These restrictions do not exist for farm workers; instead children from the age of 12 can work full days as long as they have their parents† consent. Even ten and eleven year olds can work as long as it is during short seasonal harvests, but they require special permission from the Department of Labor. Even these minimal restrictions can be avoided as many of these laborers do not speak English, do not know their rights, and are generally afraid of going to the authorities for fear of being deported from the country. Workers endure this system for an estimated average annual income of $7,500, a rate few Americans would be willing to accept. They are paid poorly, the rights they don†t know exist are abused, they are exposed to pesticides, and their children are not given the opportunity to get an education. This makes one wonder why they even come here. The answer is that the money they earn here is better than what they would make at home. Despite the abuse they suffer, it is worth it for the amount they get paid. Not only that, but here their labor is somewhat regulated by the government. Conversely, in Mexico regulation is often relaxed or nonexistent. It is better for children to work here where they at least are protected, even if minimally, than in Mexico where the same is not true. While working here they are able to send or take money home and support relatives. Evidence throughout the world has proven that when the opportunity for education is low or when the schools in an area are poor, the rate of children working is high. With this in mind we should work to improve education in Mexico. The family members supported by their farm-working relatives would be able to educate their children. This, in turn, would improve the economy in future years, making it no longer worthwhile to come to the United States to work. Better education in Mexico could make migrant farm workers in the United States a major source of growth for the Mexican economy. Internationally the situation is frequently similar. Eighty percent of child laborers abroad work in agriculture. Only eight percent of children work in manufacturing and of those only five percent manufacture items for export. This leaves a very small number of children worldwide that we can have much of an effect on through import restrictions. What we should do is try to limit the reasons that children work abroad, not just the demand for their labor. If a family will starve without the work of their children our efforts should be focused on increasing the wages their parents receive. The best way to do this is improving their level of education. It is too late to achieve this for the current generation, but we can use the labor of some children to improve the education of others to help future generations. Organizations like Rugmark, Kaleen, and Care & Fare are excellent examples of where international efforts should be focused. Essentially they take funds from the sale of each rug sold internationally and invest those funds in schools and hospitals for children in the country in which the rugs were made. Organizations like Rugmark focus on banning child labor from the carpet making industry but that is not necessary. As long as they collect money from the sale of carpets they are able to improve the economy. With those funds they can invest in education for the rest of society. Taking children from the carpet making industry will only move them into other, unregulated industries that could be more dangerous and detrimental to their development. Using organizations like Rugmark and Kaleen would be improving the economy on the backs of children, but perhaps this is a price we must pay for improvement. One other problem in the third world that deserves examination is that of children working when their parents do not. There is a high correlation in South Asia between child labor and adult unemployment. The reason for this is not definite, but one can only assume that it is due to either the parents not wanting to work or employers preferring children to adults. It is known that employers frequently rather have children in their shops as they complain less and are more pliable. If they are unwilling to employ adults in they factories, then this is a matter for the governments of those states. They must enact and strictly enforce laws ensuring that children are not working in their parents place. It is one thing for a child to work in order to feed their family, but another because the parents are too lazy or an employer to greedy to hire them. Education could still be a force to decrease child labor here. As child labor is high when educational opportunity is low, the mere act of building a school and hiring good teachers could do much to decrease child labor in the near future. Parents might decide that if their children could get a good education and live a better life, that they should work instead of their children. The main idea of what has been outlined above is that the best tool for reducing child labor is education. This is an investment, and as such the rewards may not be reaped for decades, but it is still worth the effort. We should use education, even if it must be funded or supported by the work of children, to improve the economies of countries dependent upon child labor. This is a pragmatic solution and one that is not beautiful, but if we were to merely ban importation of items produced by children we would in effect be cutting off our collective nose despite our face. Without educational opportunities in third world states children not working will only be street children, doing nothing with their time. We should also not be unwilling to encourage cultural change when it allows parents to stay home and do nothing while their children labor away in factories. Education is not a creative solution to the problem of child labor, but it is really the best tool we have to save future generations from suffering.

Genetically Modified Organisms

Some people might ask why agriculture is so important, or why it would matter to me? Well there are many reasons why it matters; it matters because farming is what built this country. We are going to go over a few main points including feeding, livestock, tractors, and equipment. Farming is also very important because it is what feeds the people everywhere; they grow the food that you see every day.In bread and cereal there is wheat which is mostly grown down in Kansas. Wheat is found in any different products like flour, bread, crackers, and anything with whole grain. Crops like these including corn and soybeans contribute too many things that make what are food is today. Corn helps with ethanol, corn starch, flour, and high fructose corn syrup. Soy beans help with oil; like vegetable oil and the grease in the fryers they use in fast food restaurants. Speaking of restaurants, you can't have a restaurant without beef or pork.The cattle industry has been on a rise for a long time, bee f is all your hamburgers, steaks, and roasts you have come to know and love to eat. The pork industry has been on the rise from what it has been. A couple of years ago it took a major drop, my dad had to sell his hogs because they weren't worth it. They would cost more to feed then the money you get back from selling them at the sale barn. This was Just one business that almost went broke from having hogs, Nebraska Pork Producers went broke a few years ago and two big businesses bought them.Those business are Pilled Family Farms and The Masochism, they both have over a 100,000 hogs. That's a lot of pork! You may not know and this may take you by surprise was all hose things are connected to each other. The corn, soybeans, beef, and pork all connected together because the farmer grows the corn and soybeans and takes some of it to COOP and puts the rest of the bin and feeds it to his livestock so they can gain weight and take them to the sale barn and sell them.There has been much adv ancement in raising livestock. People think that livestock is Just for food; well it helps in the medical field to. It helps in the medical field because they use pig skin for skin grafts, they use their organs in insulin. They also use their hide for anything leather, rugs, and mats. Their hooves and horns help to make combs and brushes; and even the poop of the cows, pigs, horses, and whatever else there is, they don't go to waste.Farmers use their poop to spread manure on their fields and pastures so their grass in the pastures and the crops in the field can get more nitrogen. That way the crops can grow more and be healthier. Feeding and breeding livestock has become well planned and they can be on a strict diet so they can put out nice healthy calves and so the cow doesn't have problems giving birth. When feeding calves and cows you can give them rations of feed, like for a couple says you give a pen of 150 calves bosses of feed and then you give them more the next day so they have bosses of feed.The reason they get more feed is because they're Just like kids, when they grow more they eat more. Breeding livestock has had many advancements including selective breeding, which is when you take your best male and your best female and you have them mate, so they can put a nice, strong, and healthy baby. There has also been changes in the genes of cattle. A while ago they made pure bred red Angus, and if you don't know Angus cattle are all black. There also is a black Hereford, and regular Hereford re red and white.They have also messed around with Hereford genes because they had white around their eyes which means they can get cancer of the eye and blind really easily, but they have made it so that they can put red around their eyes so that doesn't happen. Hereford usually have horns, but people have found out that they can kill you, or they can get their heads stuck really easily and when they get stuck they panic, and break their necks trying to get out, but that's changed because they have made it so you can get them without horns, they are called polled Hereford. Artificial Insemination is another form of breeding cattle.You can do it and not even have a bull, you can buy them off of people who get the semen from their bulls and sell them. It is Just like how they inseminate people; they take a rod with semen and put it in the cow's vagina. That semen contains the characteristics of that bull you bought it from, you want to buy the semen from a bull that is strong, big, and has the features you want the calf to have. The bull has specific birth weights for the calves they can have, like if the bull's birth weight is supposed to be boss-boss then that is hat the calf is supposed to weigh.You pay for the bull you want, if you buy a cheap one then it is most likely the bull won't have a very good birth weight. It also depends on the mom, it depends how big her pelvic is, and if the calf is too big it can hurt her by getting stuck and no t being able to go through, and then you have to do a C- section on the cow, it also hurts her in general and can pull her vagina inside out, or a vaginal prolapsed. Then if that happens you have to call the veterinary to put it the vagina back in and sow it up.After the calf they have gets fat enough to sell they well o to the slaughterhouse. At the slaughterhouse the cattle go through a pre- inspection and if the cattle pass the inspection they get to be slaughtered. How they kill it, is they take a gun powered by air, and it has a small metal rod that it shoots in the brain and pulls back out. It kills them instantly and is painless. Then they get hung upside down and their main artery cut so they bleed out, then they get skinned and they start cutting them up and taking out the meat.Speaking of cattle and slaughtering them, the person who feeds the cattle needs a feed wagon to do it and other equipment. There have been numerous advantages in feed wagons. The first feed wagons ma de where Just chains that brought the feed up and out of a spout. The first feed wagons were also very small, like the Kelly-Ryan feed wagon was their fifth. Manure spreader with a few modifications. Then they started making bigger feed wagons and with augers that mix the feed.That way you're not Just feeding silage in one spot and hay in the other, you feed it all equally. Cattle feeding have become almost a science, because now people feed them minerals and weight boosters so they grow faster. Cattle can also gain weight faster if they put implants in their ear, implants are small pellets that you put under the skin of the ear and they help to gain weight faster. Feed wagons now have orbit motors that run everything, the spout going up and down, the chains or augers running the feed out, vertical beaters, and the 3 or 4 auger mixer.In feed wagons with augers, the augers spin in a way to bring the feed forward and down to the spout and then the chains or augers take the feed out. A farmer's equipment is Just as important as he is, without his farm equipment he wouldn't be able to do anything. He wouldn't be able to disk, plant, feed, and anything else that needs to be done with a tractor. With equipment there has been many advantages made with making them more accurate, larger, and being more efficient.A planter used to be very simple, you put the seed in the box and the wheels turn, dropping the seed and a disk blade would push it into the ground. Now they have GAPS so it's straight, maybe a couple inches off, they also have it on air systems which uses air to push the seed in the ground and they have it so you don't have to disk before, it's called no-till. Planters have also put tanks on them and on the tractors that are filled with nitrogen and certain herbicides and pesticides. They spray out the back right on top of the dirt where the seed is so it can soak into the seed.Manure spreaders have had numerous advances from what they used to be. They used to be boxes with a chain that drags across the floor to take the manure back to a cylinder with teeth that throws it across the ground. Manure spreaders today have gotten much bigger; some can hold up to 42 tons of manure. There are two types of manure spreaders, one type has 2 horizontal beaters, and the other has 2 vertical eaters, but they both have a door that comes down in front of the beaters so no manure can fall out or push against the beaters and get them Jammed.The horizontal beaters go side to side and are run by orbit motors and they flop the manure out the back so that way you can haul frozen manure in the winter without ruining your beaters and motors. With vertical beaters they are run by orbit motors to, but they can't have frozen chunks, cement block, or anything hard go through the beaters because they are closer together and they explode the manure out the back really far. They both have a big door in the back that is run by hydraulics. The chain that drags the manu re to the back is run by 2 orbit motors on each side.There have been many advances in agricultural equipment including tractors. Tractors used to be steam powered, and now they are run by diesel. Tractors have been advanced in and outside the tractor, tractors have cabs and the cabs have become more fancy then Just a seat, steering wheel, and levers. They now have climate control, heated and cooled seats, they have air ride seats and air ride cabs, and everything is electronic, like the hydraulics, throttle, gear shifter, and all the seat controls.Tractors have also advanced in horsepower, older tractors used to be like 40-80 horsepower and now they have tractors with over 600 horsepower. They have gotten so big because they need that horsepower to pull the equipment because they have gotten bigger too so farmers can farm more and get more done. Tractors have little seats in them for people that are called buddy seats with mini fridges underneath them but they aren't supposed to hav e people with you in the tractor so they are called instructor seats.You can put GAPS on your tractors so you can plant straight and the have made it so you can use GAPS on your cultivators to. Tractors have 3-points on the back which are Just 2 bars that have holes in the end and you back up to a cultivator or another piece of equipment and you slide a pin through both. Then there is a top one and it is the same as the bottom 2. Tractors now have quick hitches which allows you to Just back up to the equipment and pull up 2 levers on each side and when you are lined up with hole that has a pin through it you pick it up and it is a hook that catches the pin and then you can flip the levers down.They have also made it that the top bar is hydraulic so that you don't have to leave the cab. It allows you to move the quick hitch so it is facing up or down if your piece of equipment is facing up or down. Tractors have also become more fuel efficient too. Now in tractors they have your fuel , oil pressure, and all your other gauges on the dash or up along the corner of the cab. It also shows you how much fuel you are burning in an hour; they also have powerhouses and COW transmissions.A powerhouse lets you go through all the gears without ever touching the clutch. A COW is like that but there is no shifting. If I had to pick one it would be the tried and true powerhouse. The powerhouse is so much better and I'm speaking from personal experience, Joe Beck once rented a 300 horsepower Challenger with front wheel assist tractor because he needed a new tractor and so he demoed that one and when it was pulling a 22 foot disk the transmission couldn't take it and it sheared the transmission.So after the people came out and got it we hooked up a Case 8930 Magnum, which has 150 horsepower and is 2-wheel drive, pulled the disk with ease through the field. Balers have become more advanced over the years. They used to just pick up the hay with a chain and Just roll it into a litt le bale that is about Ft long ND is rolled up like a Tornado from Pump and Pantry. They also have square bales that make them into little squares and they have also made big square balers that make bales into big squares.Other balers would be like loafers and they pick up the hay and put them into loaves like bread, there is also Just the regular round baler that pickups the hay and makes it into a round bale. They have monitors in them that tell you how wet the bale is, how big it is, when you are supposed to let it out the back, when to close the back, when you're out of mesh wrap, and when there is something wrong. Combines have made many changes over the years. They came from people Just picking the crop by hand to driving and picking 24 rows at a time.Combines used to not have a cab on them, then they put them on since it would get dusty and hard to breathe, you could have gotten dust pneumonia, and other lung problems. They started putting heaters and air conditioners in them and then nicer seats, and now they have cooled and heated seats, dashes that tell you what the moisture is, like how wet the corn or beans are, and they have switches for lifting up the head or lowering it instead of levers. There are many other pieces of equipment that is involved in agriculture including pickups and semis.There are many pickups out there from many different countries, but the American made pickups are Ford, GM, and Dodge. Ford was the first company to have an assembly line, they paved the way to mass production of different products. The Ford F-series have been the number one best-selling in the US for the past 30 some years. Ford was the first to put diesels in their % ton pickups. They had International build them the 6. 9 liter diesel that had 200 horsepower and non-turbo.

Free Essays on The Gilgamesh Epic

The Gilgamesh Epic 1. Definition of epic (Reid):"A long narrative poem about a hero's struggle with his destiny." The epic derives from Sumerian oral tradition dating to ca. 2000 BCE. It was told and retold for centuries. Our version is from Akkadian cuneiform tablets, 7th c. BCE. Gilgamesh is a true ruler who was king of Uruk around 2600 BCE. Uruk is a Sumerian city founded around 3500. The narrative begins with Gilgamesh, the best and brightest in the city of Uruk, running rampant with antisocial and violent behavior against men and women. The g-ds create Enkidu, the hairy wildman, to provide a counterweight. They fight, become friends, and perform heroic exploits such as the slaughter of Humbaba, the forest demon. This great exploit attracts Ishtar, who proposes marriage. Gilgamesh spurns the g-ddess because of her treatment of her past lovers. Ishtar asks the g-ds to give her retribution by having the two heroes attacked by the Bull of the Sun. They kill it, which angers the sun, who requires the death of Enkidu as expiation of property damage. The major issue treated is mortality. When Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh leaves in search of an answer for mortality. The advice of Siduri, the divine barmaid (Reid p. 17), to enjoy life, is too naive for Gilgamesh: â€Å"Gilgamesh, whither rovest thou? The life thou pursuest thou shalt not findÉ Let full be thy belly. Make thou merry by day and by night. Of each day make thou a feast of rejoicing. Day and night dance thou and play! Let thy garments be sparkling fresh. Pay heed to the little one that holds on to thy hand. Let thy spouse delight in thy bosom. For this is the task of mankind!† For Gilgamesh, everyday life is soured by the realization that he, too, will die: â€Å"Why should not my cheeks be starved and my face drawn? Despair is in my heart. My brother whom I loved, the end of mortality has overtaken him. Because of my brother I am afraid of death. How can I be silent, how can ... Free Essays on The Gilgamesh Epic Free Essays on The Gilgamesh Epic The Gilgamesh Epic 1. Definition of epic (Reid):"A long narrative poem about a hero's struggle with his destiny." The epic derives from Sumerian oral tradition dating to ca. 2000 BCE. It was told and retold for centuries. Our version is from Akkadian cuneiform tablets, 7th c. BCE. Gilgamesh is a true ruler who was king of Uruk around 2600 BCE. Uruk is a Sumerian city founded around 3500. The narrative begins with Gilgamesh, the best and brightest in the city of Uruk, running rampant with antisocial and violent behavior against men and women. The g-ds create Enkidu, the hairy wildman, to provide a counterweight. They fight, become friends, and perform heroic exploits such as the slaughter of Humbaba, the forest demon. This great exploit attracts Ishtar, who proposes marriage. Gilgamesh spurns the g-ddess because of her treatment of her past lovers. Ishtar asks the g-ds to give her retribution by having the two heroes attacked by the Bull of the Sun. They kill it, which angers the sun, who requires the death of Enkidu as expiation of property damage. The major issue treated is mortality. When Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh leaves in search of an answer for mortality. The advice of Siduri, the divine barmaid (Reid p. 17), to enjoy life, is too naive for Gilgamesh: â€Å"Gilgamesh, whither rovest thou? The life thou pursuest thou shalt not findÉ Let full be thy belly. Make thou merry by day and by night. Of each day make thou a feast of rejoicing. Day and night dance thou and play! Let thy garments be sparkling fresh. Pay heed to the little one that holds on to thy hand. Let thy spouse delight in thy bosom. For this is the task of mankind!† For Gilgamesh, everyday life is soured by the realization that he, too, will die: â€Å"Why should not my cheeks be starved and my face drawn? Despair is in my heart. My brother whom I loved, the end of mortality has overtaken him. Because of my brother I am afraid of death. How can I be silent, how can ...