Accomplishments of the Ancient Chinese

The, The Veil, By Langston Hughes, Marjane Satrapi And...

Far From Being Truthful To My Own Self The subject of religion has always been a subject of contradiction against people because of the diverse religion that exists in the world. Everyone will then have an agreement on the fact that religion is having faith and believing on what is above a human being. â€Å"Salvation†, â€Å"The Veil†, and â€Å"What God Got to Do with It† respectively written by Langston Hughes, Marjane Satrapi and Karen Armstrong, revealed an interesting experience during a time of their life on religion. Those authors by their writings expressed how somebody should lead his road through God beside the handiness of judgment that people and society have about it. Politics and the action of people in society are the main issues encountered regarding religion in the different essays. By relating the same idea through their writing, each author presents different paths to line the subject using a claim of solution. Any child growing up has the bel ief that their elders are their God, so they will definitely believe anything they said because for the child, the elders know everything and they never lie. In general, children are known to be angel souls and deep believers. But believing in the elder s words never drive them to questioning; they just understand everything the way they hear it. At twelve years old, Hughes faced a moment of resurrection concerning his way to be saved by Jesus. â€Å"When you were saved you saw a light, and something happened to you inside! And

Illegal Trade And Human Wildlife Conflict Environmental Sciences Essay Free Essays

string(73) " leopard populations can bespeak the overall wellness of that ecosystem\." The extinction and hazard of magnetic mega-fauna is happening at an accelerated gait despite the conjunct action of concerned groups and persons worldwide. The extinction of these animate beings defies all of the international interaction that has been forcing for the convalescence and stabilizing of these flagship species. When turn toing the complicated fortunes that the different animate beings face, preservation groups find inordinately complex and extremely sensitive state of affairss and factors environing their species. We will write a custom essay sample on Illegal Trade And Human Wildlife Conflict Environmental Sciences Essay or any similar topic only for you Order Now Sensitivity can originate in state of affairss like the followers: the appropriation of traditional autochthonal land for habitat preservation of the animate being in inquiry. Complexity can be seen in the undermentioned state of affairs ; the debasement of the quarry species population for the preservation animate being, taking to the animate being assailing farm animal doing revenge violent deaths by the proprietors of farm animal. This is an issue compounded with economic every bit good as societal elements that push environmentalists to be advanced and experimental with their preservation attempts. The confrontation between environmentalists and these socio-economic obstructions are common phenomena in the sphere of international preservation. Each animate being that is being protected has a alone and original job confronting it. The solution to these jobs must be tailored specifically for that animate being and for the people straight affected by the animate being. However, irrespective of the singularity of the animate being ‘s state of affairs, environmentalists can larn from past instances. The rudimentss of preservation attempts such as: edifice a preservation program, accommodating it to the local community, blockading illegal activities, and happening advanced solutions are all learned throughout the procedure and past attempts and instances can impart penetration and counsel. A cardinal component nowadays in preservation of big bodied animate beings populating remote and developing countries is human-wildlife struggle. For environmentalists, human-wildlife struggle can be really sensitive and oftentimes is the basis of their preservation program. In Durban, South Africa in 2004 the International Union for the Conservation of Nature ( IUCN ) held a World ‘s Park Conference ( WPC ) about â€Å" Making Coexistence † sing human-wildlife struggle faced by environmentalists as a profession. HWC was the highlighted issue of this international conference. Harmonizing to the WPC, HWC is a consequence of the demands of wildlife negatively impacting human ends or demands and frailty versa. This becomes critical when people negatively affected by wildlife feel that their demands are subordinated to the demands of the wildlife[ 1 ]. The WPC besides discussed the germinating job of rapid human development and substructure growing in much of what were preponderantly wildlife countries. This normally means that most preservation countries are the staying fragments of what used to be wildlife but are now dominated by human development. Major home ground decrease and increased human habitation has resulted in increased intersection of wildlife and people, in consequence more HWC is happening. Along with HWC another country of preservation concern revolves around illegal trafficking, poaching, and hunting of endangered animate beings. This is a planetary activity that outputs moneymaking returns and an easiness of entree since the animate being is a natural resource that is being exploited. Since illegal trafficking is a planetary endeavor that normally entails developed communicating and exchange webs throughout different states, it takes an international attempt to stem the trade of endangered species. It is because of this trouble that in 1975 the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora ( CITES ) was created. This is an international understanding between the authoritiess of different states to supervise and discourage the trade of endangered speciesto protect the species from development and finally entire extinction. CITES is a legal model that can be used to implement the agreed upon international criterions nevertheless each p arty of the pact wishes. This gives a step of protection for the species nevertheless the enforcement of the convention depends on the tightness of the authorities and the resources that the state has. Often the trade of illegal animate beings occurs in tandem, hence environmentalists and people implementing the convention can utilize illustrations of other attempts to halt the trade. Since instances of illegal trade in wildlife can be so similar in signifier, the effects and solutions of one instance can be extrapolated and imprinted upon another instance. HWC and illegal trafficking of protected species appear to be two unrelated state of affairss that would hold small in common. However, both attract similar groups of militants i.e. environmentalists, preservation organisations, research workers, scientists, economic experts, and of class the people who enforce the legal regulations sing the protected animate beings. This paper deals with the inquiry of what can be learned from the success and failure of HWC direction and illegal trafficking enforcement. Both of these apparently unrelated preservation concerns can frequently happen in the same countries and trade with the same species. The empirical instance of the snow leopard illustrates the causes, effects, preservation programs, and advanced solutions that can be used for both HWC and illegal trafficking. The instance involves: the complicated state of affairss that the snow leopard finds itself in throughout its home ground, the scope of jobs that environmentalists are covering with, and the jobs dealt with in the yesteryear. To discourse this instance decently the following subdivisions will travel as follows: background, human-wildlife instance, illegal trafficking instance, discussion/analysis, and decisions. Background: The snow leopard ( Uncia uncia ) is a felid species with a scope crossing 12 different states in Central Asia and the Himalayan part: Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Nepal, Russia, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Tajikistan, China, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and India[ 2 ]. There are an estimated 4,500-7,500[ 3 ]snow leopards left in their natural home grounds. However, since snow leopards are elusive, preferring cragged, bouldery, and frequently difficult to make topographic points it is hard to acquire a precise count of the species. Snow leopards are top marauders so understanding the wellness of the snow leopard populations can bespeak the overall wellness of that ecosystem. You read "Illegal Trade And Human Wildlife Conflict Environmental Sciences Essay" in category "Essay examples" This can be an of import tool in wildlife preservation. The state of affairs of the snow leopard is complex. A 3rd of the entire scope of the snow leopard crosses international boundaries, doing snow leopard monitoring and preservation vulnerable to international struggle caused by interstate difference or aggression.[ 4 ]Another complication is the sensitive nature of snow leopard preservation refering local dwellers. Where the scope of the snow leopard intersects human habitation it is chiefly in hapless countries with developing, mostly pastoral or agro-pastoral economic systems. The addition in protected snow leopard preservation countries occurs in or around these poorer communities and local dwellers frequently resent the presence of wildlife officers and preservation groups. Although many countries have been set aside for preservation usage, local people still maintain the right to utilize them in their traditional ways. Snow leopard attacks on local farm animal and the relatiative violent deaths that can result make a human-wildli fe struggle that can endanger snow leopard endurance. The farness and expansivity of the snow leopards scope creates a stratum of cultural differences in communities within the snow leopard ‘s home ground. These differences alter the socio-economic causes of snow leopard diminution and the parametric quantities of human-wildlife struggle. This necessitates a alone and intricate preservation action programs for each community in a preservation country. Snow leopards face a myriad of challenges to their endurance. Outside of relatiative violent deaths by local dwellers and human-wildlife struggle, the other major causes of snow leopard diminution are runing and poaching. These are issues that involve international jurisprudence and are facilitated by a globalized consumer economic system. However there have been initial actions to cover with this menace to the snow leopards. When CITES was created in 1975 the snow leopard was added to the CITES Appendix 1 list of endangered species which granted it international protection from illegal trafficking, trade, and poaching. Not all 12 provinces in the scope of the snow leopard were members of CITES in 1975 and some late joined every bit tardily as the 1990s.[ 5 ]Snow leopards have hence been exposed to continued poaching and trafficking in many countries without legal protection. In 1985 the Convention on Migratory Species ( CMS ) added the snow leopard to the Appendix 1 list of protecte d species.[ 6 ]This should hold given the snow leopard some protection since its scope crosses 12 different states. However, the snow leopard population has continued to worsen and in 2002 at the Bonn CoP for the CMS the snow leopard became a conjunct action species. In malice of the enterprises that have been taken to forestall snow leopard extinction in 2002 the CMS estimated that the snow leopard population had declined by approximately 50 % by the 1990s.[ 7 ] Human-wildlife Case: Researchers Rodney Jackson and Rinchen Wangchuk researched relatiative violent deaths by local people in the Hemis National Park located in snow leopard district. Their intent was to understand the grounds for snow leopard requital violent deaths and to research possible solutions to this HWC. When they conducted their research, there were about 1,600 persons spread out in approximately 16 separate communities in the Hemis country. There was some little scale agribusiness but farm animal was the chief business in the country. The research worker ‘s chief method was to interview local families about their farm animal and snow leopard onslaughts. What they found was that a bulk of families had lost anyplace from 1 to 15 % of their herd.[ 8 ]This represents a monolithic loss for local families in developing economic systems extremely dependent on their farm animal for both nutrient and income. In this instance survey, the research workers found that the major issue loaning to the drastic sum of snow leopard predation happening was that livestock populations were significantly larger than the natural quarry of the snow leopards of this part. This created an instability in the distribution of available quarry for the snow leopard and Lent itself to higher snow leopard predation of farm animal. This is often the instance in a assortment of countries near snow leopard protected countries. Mishra et Al, found that rangeland in a peculiar country in the Spiti Valley was 80 % overstocked with farm animal. These countries ‘ were resource depleted and the farm animal was potentially out-competing the natural herbivores.[ 9 ]This would make an environment that would let for higher farm animal depredation by snow leopards if the natural quarry of the leopard was being outcompeted by farm animal. Outside the simple addition in livestock population, Jackson and Wangchuk found that alternate causes for the increased snow leopard predation had to make with local crowding wonts. These included negligent daylight observation, penetrable and inadequately constructed animate being pens, and croping in countries of premier snow leopard habitation. In this case, the local persons were conformable to take parting in an Appreciative Inquiry and Participatory Learning Action ( APPA ) program to assist the local community cut down and extenuate livestock loss while halting requital violent deaths. This involved accepting outside aid of some kind, the small town of Markha opted for marauder proofing their carnal pens to cut down snow leopard predation. The research worker ‘s end was to develop a sustainable program by conserving the snow leopard populations non at the disbursal of the support of the local dwellers of the Hemis National Park and cut downing one of the chief causes of HWC. Another research worker, Naho Ikeda, working in the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area ( KCA ) in Nepal looked at the effects of snow leopard predation in local small towns on the reactivity of local persons to some signifier of community action program such as the one Jackson and Wangchuk initiated in Markha. The villagers felt that an insurance or ‘compensation program ‘ would non be wholly just or realistic. Any program created without the support of the villagers would make nil to cut down the negative feelings associated with snow leopards or extenuate any harm they would do. The concluding for their uncertainties about the program revolved around the issue that they would non have adequate money for the lost farm animal to do the loss less critical and that for some households with medium to little herds any loss could be lay waste toing to their fiscal stableness. In Ikeda ‘s decisions, he suggested two things ; the community should make a program that would suit ably suit their demands and villagers with smaller flocks be taken into consideration since they can potentially endure the most.[ 10 ]These characteristics would necessitate to be addressed and corrected if any preservation program were to be implemented in this country. Otherwise the root of the HWC would simply be repressed and would take to resentment against the snow leopards and the preservation groups. Illegal Trade Case: Illegal trade in snow leopard organic structure parts, pelt, tegument, and unrecorded specimens is an industry on the rise. The trade of illegal animate beings is connected with the HWC jobs in the last subdivision but both jobs are non co-dependent or attendant. Often Herders who engage in a retaliatory violent death will seek to capitalise on the snow leopard and sell the dead specimen for its tegument, castanetss, or pelt.[ 11 ]Retaliatory killing nevertheless is non the primary motive for illegal trade in snow leopards, it is instead a simple side benefit that timeserving persons who take advantage to derive excess income. That is approximately the extent of connection between causes of HWC and illegal trade. Trafficking and trade of snow leopards was really popular in the mid 20th century and the rapid diminution that was subsequently seen in the snow leopard populations precipitated assorted international actions to protect the species. The trade in snow leopard pelt was so permeant that the International Fur Trade Federation ( IFTF ) wanted a moratorium in 1971 on the snow leopard tegument trade.[ 12 ]The snow leopard was put on CITES and CMS Appendix 1 protected species, and the Convention on Biological Diversity besides instituted protective steps for the snow leopard.[ 13 ]However these enterprises have non seen the betterment desirable for preservation attempts, in fact harmonizing to a Traffic International study issued in 2003, in some countries poaching and trafficking has been on the rise, in peculiar in Kyrgyzstan which has had a drastic addition in snow leopard violent deaths.[ 14 ]Besides harmonizing to this study there has been an addition in trade in the part of the Russia n Federation and countries of Central Asia.[ 15 ]A research worker in Baltistan, Pakistan reported snow leopards poached each winter in this country. They were trapped and beaten to decease so that no gun shooting will impair the fur of the leopard.[ 16 ]This is unreassuring for this state sing an already bing negative sentiment towards the species. China has one of the largest markets for the trade in snow leopard parts ; this can be extremely debatable since China besides has the largest population of snow leopards.[ 17 ]Snow leopard trade is commonplace in many Chinese markets and it is readily available and moneymaking for those involved. Leopard castanetss are used in traditional Chinese and Tibetan medical specialty and in assorted autochthonal rites which make trade a necessary portion for parts forbiding to these beliefs.[ 18 ]However, it is non merely China that is the perpetrator of illegal snow leopard trade. The Traffic study stated that all 12 scope provinces trade snow leopard animate beings or parts of animate beings which intimates that this is a globalized industry.[ 19 ]This market is non merely driven by local demands but has broader international beginnings. Two illustrations of this are the resuscitating fur trade in Afghanistan due to Westerners, and snow leopards that are illicitly brought into the Middle East and Europe.[ 20 ]This is particularly distressing since there are many international understandings in topographic point to forestall this from happening. Discussion/Analysis: In the Hemis National Park, the major cause of snow leopard onslaughts on local farm animal can arguably be placed at the pess of the local Herders and pastoralists. Their substructure and guarding patterns made them susceptible to snow leopard onslaughts and the disproportional sum of farm animal compared to natural herbivores made the farm animal vulnerable to snow leopard onslaught. Jackson and Wangchuk estimate a 3:1 farm animal to natural herbivore quarry ratio in the preservation countries and a potentially larger ratio difference outside the protected countries.[ 21 ]From the position of the environmentalists, the requital violent deaths would potentially be undue. However, viewed from the position of the local agro-pastoralists who are to a great extent dependent upon farm animal there is a different position. Increased Numberss of farm animal mean greater economic stableness in their families and potentially less worry sing nutrient, apparels, and protection. Being dependent upon farm animal agencies that any loss is important and can cut down families to destitution. This makes the local dwellers really vulnerable to the snow leopard populations in the country. It can be argued that from the position of the local villagers the snow leopard population jeopardizes the support and wellness of local communities if left unbridled. Jackson and Wangchuk, and several other grass root conservationists achieved a blending of the demands of both the local community and the snow leopards. By giving the villagers of Markha the financess and the assistance to construct marauder cogent evidence pens they are work outing one of the major causes of livestock depredation. With the engagement and committedness of the community in the action program, there is a feeling of ownership and regard for the snow leopards. The range of the APPA is long term with an accent on increased touristry and capitalisation of the tourer economic system. This would enable the community to increase their supports at the addition of the snow leopard communities and potentially lead to a decrease in dependance on farm animal. All of this was possible due to the reasonably conformable attitude of the villagers of Markha in the Hemis National Park and due to the specifically tailored preservation program created by Jackson and Wangchuk. However, this is non ever the instance in different countries of snow leopard habitation. Harmonizing to Shafqat Hussain, the Annapurna Conservation country and the Indian Trans-Himalayan parts had high degrees of snow leopard violent deaths.[ 22 ]A research instance done by Madan Oli et.al, in the Annapurna Conservation country showed that 59.1 % of villagers considered obliteration of snow leopard populations to be the lone solution and another 35.3 % wanted to seek obliteration ab initio followed by an alternate solution if it failed.[ 23 ]This negative attitude will straight impact preservation attempts and worsen the HWC in these countries dramatically. In these cases, the illustration of Jackson and Wangchuk could be extremely valuable. The research workers located the root cause and created an attractive solution along with a signifier of alternate income for the villagers of Markha which allowed the villagers to hold economic addition based on the endurance of the snow leopar ds. This transmutation of the job into a solution is of import in every preservation country. Acknowledging the alone circumstance of each small town and each country allows for more in-depth and sustainable solutions. There has been considerable work done late with different action programs in these developing communities that provide an insurance program for lost farm animal. Some authoritiess of scope provinces have created insurance programs for farmers/pastoralists that suffer livestock depredation due to snow leopards. These programs unluckily are normally ineffective and insufficient for the members of the program. The support is slow and unsure, the members merely receive a fraction of the market value, the procedure takes a markedly long clip, and bureaucratic issues can bog payments down.[ 24 ]The promise of recompense ends up going a larger issue and forces the members of the program to accept something less than what they were promised. This was something that Jackson and Wangchuk avoided with their APPA program. There is some sentiment among the environmentalist community that local insurance programs are really non good to local communities or wildlife. This would intend that a bulk of the local action being taken by preservation groups like The Snow Leopard Conservancy, The Snow Leopard Trust, WWF, and many others are non come oning towards the overall end of salvaging the snow leopard populations. Using an analytical theoretical account based on the clip in labour spent between different industries like farming versus hunting, a group of research workers looked into the issue of the benefits gained from insurance programs. The research workers found that when local households spend less clip runing the animate beings doing harm to their harvest or farm animal so they spend more clip agriculture. This means that increased land is being converted into farming land which creates badly negative effects for wildlife due to a farther loss of home ground.[ 25 ]The research workers suggested cert ain guidelines for preservation groups to follow that would avoid this result for illustration ; seting accent on surrogate signifiers of income coevals, punishing land transition versus funding it, and other actions that would enable a successful compensatory program for all parties. It is non clear if the ability to change over land into farming area is executable in many small towns that deal with snow leopards given the alpine tundra terrain. However, the liberating up of labour spent in relatiative violent deaths could let pastoralists to utilize more labour in increasing flock size and therefore go on the frequently skewed ratio between farm animal and natural herbivores. This could intensify the farm animal depredation issue particularly if protective steps in preservation countries allow for an addition in snow leopard population. This is non a far off decision since many rural countries are transitioning from a swap to a market based economic system with accent on commercial farm animal economic systems.[ 26 ]Given the assortment and expansivity of the snow leopard scope there are multiple countries where the direct issue of freed labour being invested into increased land transition could be an issue. It is positive to observe nevertheless that many environmentalist groups and park organisations are interested in non merely protecting the snow leopard species, but besides in enriching and easing the local communities. In the Kanchenjunga Conservation country, KWC park officers created multiple plans for local villagers that dealt with authorization of adult females and kids. These plans besides helped learn and educate villagers in different industries like run uping or accounting.[ 27 ] Attempts like the KWC plans are a critical portion of the hereafter of preservation for countries affected by snow leopard preservation. As the WPC stated at their conference in Durban, preservation countries are fast going the staying fragments of the natural home ground as human development accelerates. This is true for most countries and in peculiar, land about snow leopard preservation countries. Harmonizing to researcher Charudutt Mishra, pastoralists around the Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary have a treble addition in livestock size due to the commercialisation of the industry and the rapid development of rural communities. There has been growing of all sorts, including increased literacy rates, school building, and electricity entree.[ 28 ]All of these elements increase the quality of life for members of these communities, but the growing in population and increased industry will endanger the home grounds and preservation countries of the snow leopard. This struggle of involvement i s a beginning of HWC, as the WPC explained ; human-wildlife struggle can go a struggle between people on either side of the issue, non merely a struggle between people and animate beings.[ 29 ]This does non hold to be the sole contingency and for many preservation enterprises it will non be due to the advanced and originative attempts of communities and environmentalists. Many preservation groups are implementing plans similar to the 1 at KWC, the plans will supply more dependable and moneymaking signifiers of income for small towns affected by snow leopards. One action program was assisting local villagers create ‘parachute coffeehouse ‘ for tourers that come to trek through the part, in consequence assisting the local people garner a greater sum of income from eco-tourism.[ 30 ]These signifiers of preservation will assist make a sustainable hereafter for the snow leopards every bit good as a stable signifier of economic system for people in the plans. The trade of snow leopards on the black market has been addressed by CITES in general. In their 15th Conference of the Parties ( CoPs ) they talked about making enforcement and patroling squads in the different scope provinces of snow leopard home ground.[ 31 ]This is a critical mark for the international community that the trade in large cats is both endangering to the species and strongly discouraged. This CoP besides encouraged states still non parties to the convention to fall in it, and has resulted in authorising the enforcement of anti-trading and doing the push for preservation of the species more effectual.[ 32 ]There have besides been attempts to stem the trade in snow leopards. A assortment of research is being done by the World Wildlife Fund ( WWF ) to understand why snow leopards are being traded in certain countries and ways to halt it. Other enterprises involve a similar solution to HWC which is to supply alternate signifiers of income and to switch the economic systems of certain countries so they are non dependent on snow leopard poaching/trade. What is decidedly needed is more aggressive and intensive programs to halt black market trade of the snow leopards which continues to fund the poaching, hunting, and trading of this endangered species. Decision: The snow leopard instance is complex and multi-variable in range. This prevents implementing simple preservation programs. Both of the problem-lenses discussed in this paper are two of the most critical issues confronting snow leopards today. Both are globally influenced albeit in somewhat different methods. The trade of snow leopards is fueled by an international demand for the snow leopard organic structure parts and the ordinance of that trade is enforced by an international convention. This is similar to the state of affairs of retaliatory violent deaths which is being addressed by international preservation groups. Outside groups and persons are invested in both of these issues and outside beginnings can be used at one time to supply a solution. Human-wildlife struggle is a really critical state of affairs because the support of persons is at interest and the holiness of wildlife militias is jeopardized. However, the attempts that have been made late demo really promising beginnings. There have been many compensation plans initiated by local authoritiess that have fallen through and that do nil to extenuate the negativeness that locals feel about snow leopards. Many countries have whole small towns that wish to see the obliteration of the snow leopard. This is a really big index that conservationists need to step up the attempts being made. The overall solution most feasible and likely to bring forth sustainable consequences entails a shifting of the economic systems of these local villagers to an surrogate industry. In countries where most villagers are Herders or pastoralists, the base of their fundss revolves around farm animal. Therefore, snow leopard onslaughts on farm animal are direct menaces to the local villagers. I f there were different income beginnings non reliant on farm animal or farming so the negativeness that is associated with snow leopards would melt. An even more well-founded solution is to utilize the endurance of the snow leopards as a mechanism to convey in money. This would wholly switch the former counter attitude of the villagers to a proactive and good position for the snow leopards. An illustration is the industry of ecotourism, which relies on homestays for trekkers and tourers to remain in while going. This besides emphasizes wildlife and the animate beings that make touristry attractive and furthers preservation. The illegal trade in wildlife has a similar decision and there have been attempts to make these positive decisions. If local dwellers who once hunted the snow leopards for trade and incomewere provided chances to hold preparation and another income bring forthing beginning so the snow leopard trade would diminish. This is kindred to the solution for relatiative violent deaths because both jobs have the same derivative causes of fiscal addition and stableness. The ability to supply nutrient for a household, supply a humane life state of affairs, and an instruction are all touchable possibilities associated with holding money. Therefore both jobs while drastically different in range have a similar solution and an apprehensible connexion can be made between the two. This is one of the chief grounds the instance of the snow leopard was chosen. It demonstrates the jobs of HWC and illegal trafficking of protected animate beings. The snow leopard faces a bombardment of onslaughts on all for eparts and the cardinal characteristics of the snow leopard crises are simple and relatable to other animate beings in similar state of affairss. How to cite Illegal Trade And Human Wildlife Conflict Environmental Sciences Essay, Essay examples

Themes Of Winesburg Ohio Essay Research Paper free essay sample

Subjects Of Winesburg, Ohio Essay, Research Paper Braxton Mr. Lane English 102 25 July 2000 The Expression of Themes in Winesburg, Ohio Winesburg, Ohio is a digest of short narratives written by Sherwood Anderson and published as a whole in 1919. The short narratives formulate the common subjects for the novel as follows: isolation and solitariness, find, suppression, and cultural failure. In order to analyze these subjects, Anderson # 8217 ; s history must be understood and examined to supply light upon why Anderson came to such beliefs about human life. Sherwood Anderson was born on September 13, 1876, in Camden, Ohio. In 1884, Anderson and his household moved to the little town of Clyde, Ohio. Clyde, Ohio, is the theoretical account for the town of Winesburg. Anderson hated his male parent because of the deficiency of love shown to his female parent and resented his male parent because of the humiliation and poorness that his male parent caused. Two major events shaped the feelings of Anderson about life. First, when he was merely 19 old ages old, Anderson # 8217 ; s female parent died, and his household pursued to divide apart. Second, after get marrieding and traveling to Elyria, Ohio, Anderson had a mental dislocation due to two things. The force per unit areas of seeking to win in concern and authorship and the struggle between his longing to go forth his unhappy matrimony to Cornelia and his committedness to his household caused a dislocation that physicians diagnosed as nervus exhaustion. During the mental dislocation, Anderson walked the streets for three yearss before being hospitalized in Cleveland. Another ground for his beliefs is that he lived in topographic points that contrasted in size. The size of the metropolis overwhelmed him at times, which gave him a feeling of isolation. Anderson, besides, despised industrialism because industrialism emitted a more impersonal ambiance ( White ) . In # 8220 ; Adventure, # 8221 ; Alice Hindman is destroyed by industrialisation a nd the metropolis. The metropolis and the hunt for money bargain her lone true love and her lone opportunity at felicity. At the terminal of the narrative # 8220 ; Adventure, # 8221 ; Anderson writes # 8220 ; began seeking to coerce herself to confront courageously the fact that many people must populate and decease entirely, even in Winesburg ( Anderson, Sherwood ) . # 8221 ; The subjects of solitariness and isolation are expressed by depicting the characters as grotesques. The grotesques are the people who have become obsessed with an thought or idiosyncrasy, such that, they have lost contact with their fellow Man. Anderson sets the class for the subject of isolation in the first three chapters, excepting # 8220 ; The Book of the Grotesque. # 8221 ; The first chapter is called # 8220 ; Hands # 8221 ; and involves the sad narrative of Wing Biddlebaum. Because Biddlebaum is accused of holding molested pupils that he taught, his custodies embody the shame that he carries. Fearing that the presence of his custodies will be misinterpreted, Biddlebaum hides his expressive custodies. By making the symbol of custodies in this chapter, Anderson creates an effectual symbol to show the subject of isolation in the novel. Because a individual # 8217 ; s physical custodies are used to pass on feeling, # 8220 ; Hands # 8221 ; is a narrative about one of the begi nnings of isolation, the inability to pass on feeling. # 8220 ; Paper Pills # 8221 ; is the 2nd chapter of the novel and trades with another cause of isolation, the inability to pass on idea. Because Doctor Reefy is afraid of pass oning straight to another individual, he writes his ideas on small pieces of paper to forestall his ideas from being misinterpreted. Because Doctor Reefy can non happen an appropriated avenue of communicating, he allows these repressed ideas to go merchandises of his custodies by throwing the pieces of paper, which have hardened into small # 8220 ; paper pills, # 8221 ; at his friends. The strength of his isolation is magnified through the absence of isolation in brief periods. For illustration, the short minutes of embracing shared between him and Elizabeth Willard. # 8220 ; Mother # 8221 ; is the 3rd chapter of the novel and trades with another cause of isolation, the inability to pass on feelings. In this chapter, Elizabeth Willard is resented by her hubby and has lost all fondness from him. The lone presence of love in her at this clip is focused on her darling boy, George Willard. Anderson writes # 8220 ; She wanted to shout out with joy because of the words that had come from the lips of her son. # 8221 ; This happens when George Willard tells his female parent that he is traveling to go forth Winesburg. Elizabeth is unable to joint her feelings of involvement and love to her boy, and perpetuates the barrier of communicating between them. The ground that Anderson expresses this type of relationship is because Anderson had the same inarticulate relationship with his female parent ( Anderson, David 155-170 ) . Anderson conveys isolation and solitariness through other ways. In some of the narratives, there is a prevailing sexual ambiance. Anderson idea of sex both as the beginning and stop to love. When George Willard takes Louise Trunnion # 8217 ; s manus in his ain in # 8220 ; Cipher Knows, # 8221 ; George is expecting sexual behavior. Although George thinks that it is merely sex, Anderson is conveying that there is an chance for love. This chance for love could extinguish solitariness and isolation. The subject of suppression is expressed through the young person in Winesburg. Inhibition has three major countries of cause and experience that are listed as follows: the job of turning up, the defeat that comes when people try to show themselves and are responded to with abrasiveness, and the job of societal chance. These jobs are the causes of the presence of the grotesques in the novel. The people became grotesques when a black experience happened at the exact minute that they were seeking to show love and feeling. In # 8220 ; Respectability, # 8221 ; Wash Williams faces the defeat of suppression when the female parent of his unfaithful married woman sends his married woman into the room naked. Wash Williams is destroyed by this action and becomes a grotesque. When Kate Swift flirts with George Willard in the instructor, her actions prevent her from showing what she truly wants George to cognize because her emotions are inhibited. George Willard is the chief character through which Anderson conveys the subject of suppression. Because George is continuing through the procedure of adulthood, the jobs that he encounters reflect upon suppression. All the grotesques in the fresh feel comfy and see George Willard as a communicating to the universe because he is guiltless to the hazards that they have experienced, and he is besides a newsman. His female parent senses great strength when she is in his presence. Because George makes Wing Biddlebaum experience confident and comfy, Biddlebaum will walk through the center of town with George, although his presence is scorned at that place. Another subject of the novel is discovery. In # 8220 ; The Untold Lie, # 8221 ; Ray Pearson gets Nell Gunther pregnant and is holding conflicting feelings whether to go forth her or get married her. He asks Hal Winters what he should make about his state of affairs. When Hal is about to state him to non get married because matrimony is like a noose, Ray looks at Hal and Tells Hal that he wants to get married Nell Gunther. At this point, Ray has a minute of find. George Willard is the chief character that conveys the subject of find. Throughout the book, different people try to assist George Willard. George eventually has his minute of find while he is at the fairgrounds with Helen White. The significance of this find that human emotions and feelings are the most of import construct is soundless, non articulated ( Walcutt 158-164 ) . The concluding subject of the novel is cultural failure. This subject is less straight stated or emphasized as the others, but is portrayed through decayed background images. For illustration, the town # 8217 ; s moralism is easy ebbing toward absence, and the streets are filled with rubbish and glass. One scene that sticks out is the scene when the baker is throwing sticks and objects at a skulking cat concealing behind trash tins. This scene seems misplaced and unneeded, but it is used to make an ambiance of impairment and decay. This dilapidating atmosphere that the background portrays invades and desecrates the lives of the grotesques ( Burbank 73-77 ) . Through the usage of short narratives combined to make a novel, Anderson is able to pass on many subjects. The unsmooth personal history of Anderson associating to humiliation, solitariness, cultural failure and sadness aid explicate his thoughts of people. Anderson was non composing about society in Winesburg, Ohio, but he was composing about people. Anderson conveys the subject of isolation, find, suppression, and cultural failure to attest the importance of worlds, jointly and separately. Anderson, David D. # 8220 ; Sherwood Anderson # 8217 ; s Moments of Insight. # 8221 ; Critical Essays on Sherwood Anderson. Boston: G.K. Hall, 1981. 155-170. Anderson, Sherwood. Winesburg, Ohio. New York: Norton, 1996. Burbank, Rex. Sherwood Anderson. New Haven: Twayne, 1964. Walcutt, Charles Child. # 8220 ; Sherwood Anderson: Impressionism and the Buried Life. # 8221 ; The Achievement of Sherwood Anderson. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1966. 158-170. White, Ray Lewis. Winesburg, Ohio: An Exploration. Boston: Twayne, 1990.

Battle Of Wounded Knee Essays - Midwestern United States

Battle of Wounded Knee annon On December 15, 1890 authorities feared that the Sioux's new Ghost Dance? religion might inspire an uprising. Sitting Bull permitted Grand River people to join the antiwhite Ghost Dance cult and was therefore arrested by troops. In the fracas that followed, he was shot twice in the head. Sitting Bull' followers were apprehended and brought to the U.S Army Camp at Wounded Knee Creek in southwestern South Dakota. Moving among the tipis, soldiers lifted women's dresses and touched their private parts, ripping from them essential cooking and sewing utensils. The men sitting in the council heard the angry shrieks of their wives, mothers, and daughters. Several Lakota, offended by the abusive actions of the cavalry, stubbornly waited to have their weapons taken from them. It was a show of honor in front of their elders, for few of them were old enough to have fought in the Indian Wars fifteen years before. That night, everyone was tired out by the hard trip. James Asay, a Pine Ridge trader and whiskey runner, brought a ten-gallon keg of whiskey to the Seventh Cavalry officers. Many of the Indian men were kept up all night by the drunken Cavalry where the soldiers kept asking them how old they were. The soldiers were hoping to discover which of the men had been at the Battle of Little Bighorn where Custer was killed. On the bitterly cold morning of December 29, 1890, Alice Ghost Horse, a thirteen- year old Lakota girl rode her horse through the U.S Army camp looking for her father, one of the Indian men who had been rounded up earlier that day. Less than fifty yards away she could see her father sitting on the ground with other disarmed men from Chief Big Foot's band, surrounded by more than 500 heavily armed soldiers of the Seventh Cavalry. She looked North up the hill where four guns on wheels were mounted. Troopers watched silently on each side of the Hotchkiss battery. To one side Alice noticed a familiar figure standing with hands raised above his head, his arms turned upward in prayer. It was the medicine man by the name of Yellow Bird. He stood facing the east, right by the fire pit which was now covered with dirt. He was praying and crying. He was saying to the spotted eagles that he wanted to die instead of his people. He must have sense that something was going to happen. He picked up some dirt from the fire place and threw it up in the air and said, This is the way I want to go, back to dust. Seventh Cavalry interpreter Phillip F. Wells, whose knowledge of the Lakota language was poor, later told military investigators that a man named Yellow Bird stood up at Wounded Knee and deliberately incited the Lakota to fight. Colonel Forsyth gave a bizarre order: each soldier was told to aim his unloaded gun at an Indians forehead and to pull the trigger. After Wells translated the demeaning order to the astonished Lakota, they could not comprehend this foolishness. Looking at each other, their faces grew wild with fear. Alice then saw two or three sergeants grab a deaf man named Black Coyote who had yet to be disarmed. His friends had been so busy talking that they had left him uniformed. The soldiers tore off his blanket, roughly twirling him around. He raised his rifle above his head to keep it away from them. In the midst of yelling, jerking, and twisting, the struggle ended unexpectedly when the rifle pointed toward the east end discharged in the crisp morning air. Lieutenant James Mann screamed, Fire! Fire on them! On command the troops opened fire in an explosive volley, enclosing both attackers and victims in a dark curtain of pungent smoke. That day over three hundred elderly men, women, and children, all disarmed were brutally murdered. After the genocidal procedure occurred, a blizzard hit, and it was on the forth day that search parties were sent out to bury the dead. A newspaper reporter accompanying the burial party described the first body they found as that of a male about twelve years old. The boy had been shot. He was wearing a ghost shirt embolized with an eagle, buffalo, and morning-star insignia. They believed that these symbols of powerful spirits would protect them from the soldier's bullets. Many of the wounded survivors later died or were secretly carried away in the night by Lakota from other bands. The dead were buried in hidden locations, and carefully concealed from federal officials who later underestimated the

Criticism on Their eyes were watching god essays

Criticism on Their eyes were watching god essays The image of pear tree, the road, and horizon all symbolize Janies individual quest for self identity. Janie tries to look for her identity in a society both as a woman and a black person but both are neither appreciated in the white male-dominated world. The narration which Janie uses makes her strong and serves as her power for attaining and protecting the basis of African-American culture. As a woman, Janie claims her self and asserts her will to live her own life. She makes her own voice and that means she attempts the possibilities of new Black voices and new stories that reflect new realities. Janies search for inner self may well be parallel to African-Americans search for their own culture by protecting their oral traditions. It is significant that there is a lack of generation between Janie and her grandmother. Janie is brought up by her grandmother, not by her mother. The gap between two generations is so strong. Her inner voice raises first as she replaces her search for identity by the pear tree image that signifies a happy and romantic marriage. Then, her search for self identity shapes in her mind through her romantic beliefs. As Nannys death freed Janie from her snare, so Jodys death frees her from the second entrapment that makes her deal with her quest. Therefore, she becomes an active figure in planning her own life. One of the critics Missy Dehn Kubitschek asserts detailing her quest for self-discovery and self-definition, it celebrates her as an artist who enriches Eatonville by communicating her understanding The novel depicts an individual seeking an authentic place in a community. This shows, the sense of belonging to a community provides the sense of cultural and self-identity. When Janie is back in Eatonville after Tea Cakes death, s ...

How the result in home football games reflect the final standing Statistics Project

How the result in home football games reflect the final standing. (Spanish La Liga) - Statistics Project Example Home advantage plays a imperative role for the team resulting in favorable results, and this advantage makes home teams to win several games as compared to the away teams especially when accounting for the diversity of teams (Zelterman, pp.124-189). Appropriate models such as the least square for individual teams are more accurate and precise. This method estimates the home ground advantages for every team together with its individual ratings. Home advantages for all teams in Spanish La Liga from 2002-2003 seasons to 2010-2011 seasons were recorded. The above dataset consist of 20,100 matches. The result indicates that the home ground advantage is not much predictable and varies from team to team across the year. For example, some teams had an adverse home advantage for some years while other performed well at home. However, the home advantage is estimated as 0.5 of the number of goals scored. The results indicated that there was no division effect. The outcomes of the underlying research also depicted that the advantage may work well on winning rather than on goal difference. The prevailing factors results in the generation of the home advantage theory have a tendency of determining the winning team over the winning margins. Clubs with special training facilities had a significant amount of home advantage, and the Madrid clubs had the home advantages. In home advantage, there exist a wide regional variation and amazingly, the research revealed that the crowd size had no direct impact on the magnitude of home advantage. The records for home advantages for top two divisions across Europe English, German, French and Italian leagues were all similar irrespective of the high attendance witnessed in division one games. Moreover, the home advantage is in the Spanish league was at 60.7% arrived at with attendance of 31009 on average. Conversely, the

Biomedical Engineering Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Biomedical Engineering - Essay Example Before the body part is replaced, compatibility of the biomaterial and the living tissue is of great consideration (Ratner 2004). Biocompatibility is the acceptance of the synthetic biomaterial by the immediate and surrounding tissues and by the body generally (Paul & Kelvin 2009). Appropriate host response is shown by lack of blood clotting, normal heating and resistance to bacterial colonization. It is essential therefore to study the biomaterial composition and also the way in which they react with the environment in which they are put which is the surrounding tissue (Pruitt 2011). Hence, biomaterial selection involves the logical sequence of analysis of the problem, consideration of the requirement and consideration of the biomaterial properties. Biomaterials that match the properties of the bone and teeth These biomaterials have their physical characteristics that are needed to match the properties of the teeth or bone being replaced with (Ratner 2004). The mechanical properties of these biomaterials involve tensile testing that provides data on the characterization of the biomaterial. ... Good heat conductors hence have high conductivity. Coefficient of thermal expansion or thermal expansion coefficient It is by definition the fractional increase in length of a body for each degree (in centigrade) rise in temperature. ?=?L/Lo oC-1 ?T Where ?L is the change in length Lo is the original length of the biomaterial ?T is the change in temperature The values of ? are very small like for amalgam biomaterial, the value of ?=0.0000025 oC-1P.P.M Table showing the thermal conductivity coefficient of different biomaterials in parts per million (P.P.M) The original length of the tooth and the length attained when there is temperature change are calculated in order to determine the length of the biomaterial to be used in teeth filling. Expensile structures ensure that the biomaterial conforms to the irregular bony defects (Paul & Kelvin 2009). This also helps prevent the undesired movement of the fibroblast into the graft site and these yields in optimizing the quality of the repla ced bones. Coefficient of thermal expansion is widely considered in filling materials such as for the teeth with cavities. The above table shows different thermal conductivity values of different conductors used as biomaterials. Thermal diffusivity (D) Thermal diffusivity is defined by the equation; D=K Cp? Where, K is the thermal conductivity Cp is the heat capacity ? is the density A low value of thermal diffusivity is preferred however there are occasions when the high diffusivity level are preferred to the low ones like if the base material to be used is denture. It is necessary since it retains a good response to both cold and hot stimuli in the mouth (Ratner 2004). Physical properties Physical structures and stability of the

Discuss the key guiding principles which should underpin a successful Essay

Discuss the key guiding principles which should underpin a successful Destination Management Strategy, using relevant examples - Essay Example The entrance of new competing destinations has heightened competition prompting the destination marketing organizations to change their business strategies. Since each country has unique goals and objectives for tourism, it is crucial that the marketing strategies match the gaols of the specific country. For any country to position its tourism marketing strategy, it is crucial to design a visionary plan, design strategies to promote the plan, source funds and support for the program and work out a correction plan to counter the challenges that are likely to arise during the strategy implementation process. The challenges arising in the tourism require a different approach of destination management to stimulate growth and ensure that all stakeholders in tourism benefit from the investment plans. The first step towards efficiency destination marketing is to build a vision and a plan that involves all the stakeholders in the industry (Shirazi & Som, 2011). The vision of the destination marketing should be to use an integrative approach that embraces changes, flexibility and one that is customer focussed. The customer should be the main focus of the organization, as they are the source of profit for the organization. On this note, the objective should be to understand the customer needs, and develop strategies to satisfy them. Additionally, the vision of the project should be to involve all the stakeholders of the tourism industry in the implementation process. England is an example of the countries that have focussed on the customer needs to stimulate a tourism growth of over 5% per year (Prideaux & Cooper, 2002). By satisfying the customers, the locals, the employees and the government, it is possible to overcome the challenges that affect the tourism market. Destination marketing seeks to satisfy all the stakeholders by actively involving them in the

Effects of an oil price shock on importing and exporting countries

Effects of an oil price shock on importing and exporting countries From the middle of twentieth century, due to exceptional importance of the crude oil in the supply of the worlds energy demands, it has become one of the major indicators of economic activities of the world. Even after the appearance of alternate forms of energy like solar power, water and wind, the importance of crude oil as the main source of energy still cannot be denied. This sharp increase in the world oil prices and the volatile exchange rates are generally regarded as the factors of discouraging economic growth. Particularly, the very recent highs, recorded in the world oil market bring apprehension about possible slump in the economic growth in both developed and developing countries. A large number of researchers proposed that exchange rate volatility and oil price fluctuations have considerable consequences on real economic activities. The impact of oil price fluctuation is expected to be different between in oil exporting and in oil importing countries. An oil price increase should be considered as bad news for oil importing countries and good news for oil exporting countries, while the reverse should be expected when the oil price decreases. Through demand and supply transmission mechanism, oil prices impacts the real economic activity. The supply side effects are associated with the fact that crude oil is a basic input to production, and an increase in oil price leads to a rise in production costs ultimately that result in firms lower output. Oil prices changes also entail demand-side effects on investment and consumption. Consumption is also affected indirectly through its positive relation with disposable income. Moreover, oil prices have an adverse impact on investment by increasing firms costs. On the other hand it is generally recognized that the depreciation of exchange rate would reduce imports and expand exports, while the appreciation of exchange rate would encourage imports and discourage exports. Especially a depreciation of the exchange rate leads to income transfer to exporting countries from importing countries through a shift in the terms of trade. Since 2003, oil prices increased continuously, even touched the peak of $137 per barrel in July 2008, but after that a declining trend was observed. After 1970s, many negative oil shocks hit the world economies. The first one was during 1973-74 caused by OPEC oil prohibition, and secondly in 1978-79 when the OPEC put restraints on its oil production. This rising trend in oil prices continued until mid 1980s, subsequently, Iraq-Iran war in early 1980s further shoot up the prices. However in 1986, when Saudi Arabia increased its crude oil production, oil price tend to decreased. In 1990s, Iraq-Kuwait war was a major factor of oil price increase but it was ended in a year because of Asian financial crisis. In 1999-2000 the OPEC again narrow its production leading to another price shock. The latest and last oil price shock was started in the year 2003 which continued till July 2008. In other words, oil prices have always remained quite volatile. According to report of IEA (2004) , these price shocks have raised serious concerns among the policy makers all over the world. The adverse economic impact of higher oil prices on oil-importing developing countries is generally considered as more worse than for the developed countries because of their more reliance on imported oil and are more energy-intensive. Malik. A (2007) also mentioned in her research that, the recent surge in the oil prices especially after 2000 has worried many economists about its possible adverse impacts. This increasing trend in the oil prices has hurt many of the economies worldwide including that of Pakistan, in terms of creating inflationary pressures, increasing budget deficit and balance of payment problems. According to ADB (2005) report, supply, demand, and speculative factors, and their interrelationships, all leads towards the steady rise in oil prices. From the last many years, all over the world, the demand for oil grew due to economic strength and growth in the US, as well as strong economic performance in developing Asian countries specially China and India. From 1990s to 2003 global demand for oil grew at the rate of 1.3 % whereas for the People Republic of China and India the combined rates is at 7 % and accounted for almost 40 percent of the demand growth. There are various empirical literatures, investigating the relationship between oil price variations and economic growth. The existence of a negative relationship between macro-economic activities and oil prices has become widely accepted especially after Hamiltons 1983 work. He pointed out that increase in oil prices, reduced US output growth from 1948 to 1980. Hamiltons findings have been confirmed and extended by many authors and researcher. Hooker (1996) confirmed and extended Hamiltons work for the period 1948 to 1972 and demonstrated that the oil price level and its changes do reflect the influence on GDP growth. This is shown in the third and fourth quarters after the shock that rise of 10% in oil prices lead to a GDP growth decrease of approximately 0.6 %. Accordingly, Lee et al. (1995) Mork (1989), and Hamilton (1996) presented the non-linear transformations of oil prices to re-establish the negative association between oil prices increases and economic decline, as well as t hese researchers also analyzed Granger causality between both variables. The result of Granger causality test proved that oil prices Granger cause U.S. economy before 1973 but no longer Granger cause was found from 1973 to 1994. Recently, Hamilton (2003) and Jimenez and Rodrà ­guez (2004) also confirms the non-linear relationship between the economic growth of U.S. economy and increases of oil prices The quantitative exercise conducted by the IEA in alliance with the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and development) department of Economics and with the assistance of IMF Research department in 2004, indicated that a continued $10 per barrel increase in oil price would result in the decrease of about 0.4 % OECD as a whole, in the first and second years of higher prices. Inflation would increase by half a percentage and unemployment would also increase in this case. The OECD imported the oil at a cost of over $260 billion in 2003 which is 20% more than its 2001 oil need. European countries, which are highly dependent on oil imports, would suffer most in the short term, their GDP dropping by 0.5% and inflation rising by 0.5% in 2004. The U.S would suffer the least, with GDP falling by 0.3%, because its indigenous production meets a bigger share of its oil needs. Japans GDP would fall 0.4%, This analysis assumes constant exchange rates and economic growth for the US econom y. The present paper is the extension of the existing empirical literature in two directions. First, we have not focused on the oil importing US economy only , rather we analyzed the effects of an oil price shock in two different type of countries which include five oil exporting countries i.e. Saudi Arabia, Norway, Venezuela, Kuwait , Nigeria and five oil importing country i.e. Pakistan, India , China, Japan , Germany. Secondly, we will not only demonstrate the relationship between oil prices and real economic growth but we will also analyze the role of the real exchange rate for real economic growth. Oil Importing Countries China Chinas real GDP has increased continuously at surprising rate of 10% per year in recent years. Simultaneously with strong economic growth, its demand for energy is also surging rapidly. The figure 1 clearly shows about the oil consumption and production behavior of the country which tends the country to import from different countries. China produces 3798 thousand barrels per day and consumes 8200 thousand barrels per day of oil in 2009. This means that China has to import roughly 4402 thousand barrels per day to meet its consumption needs per day. In the year 2007, China was declared as the worlds third largest net importer of oil behind the U.S and Japan. In July 2005, the reform of the exchange rate system was introduced by the central bank of China. After the reforms, the exchange rate of yuan was set according to a basket of other currencies. At the end of 2007, the yuan was appreciated by 7.5% approx. against the dollar, in consequence of these reforms. India According to the Oil Gas Journal (OGJ), India had second-largest amount of proven oil reserves i.e. 5.6 billion barrels in the Asia-Pacific region after China as of January 2009. With the high rates of economic growth and over 15 % of the worlds population, India has become one of the important consumer of energy resources. In 2006, India was the sixth largest oil consumption country of the world. The global financial and credit crises have slowed Indias significant economic growth particularly in its manufacturing sector. Due to this crunch, the GDP growth rates have turn down from 9.3 percent in 2007 to 5.3 % in the last quarter of 2008. Despite of this slow economic growth, Indias energy demand continues to rise. India is developing into an open-market economy now but traces of its past autarkic policies remain. The accelerated country growth was averaged at 7% since 1997 and the main factor behind this was economic liberalization, including reduced controls on foreign trade and investment, began in the early 1990s. An industrial slowdown early in 2008, followed by the global financial crisis, led annual GDP growth to slow to 6.5% in 2009, still the second highest growth in the world among major economies. The government abandoned its deficit target and allowed the deficit to reach 6.8% of GDP in FY10. Nevertheless, as shares of GDP, both government spending and taxation are among the lowest in the world. From the figure 2 it can easily be observed that the production of crude oil is not upto that level to meet consumer demand which tends the country to import from outsiders. From 1996 onward India is producing oil approximately with the same trend but consumption is increasing day by day. India produced 680.4 thousand bbl/d of total oil in 2009, of which approximately 650 thousand bbl/d was crude oil, with the rest of production resulting from other liquids and refinery gain. India has over 3,600 operating oil wells, according to OGJ. Although oil producti on in India has slightly trended upwards in recent years, it has failed to keep pace with demand and is expected by the EIA to decline slightly in 2009. Indias oil consumption has continued to be robust in recent years. In 2007, India consumed approximately 2.8 million bbl/d, making it the fifth largest consumer of oil in the world. In 2006, India was the seventh largest net importer of oil in the world. The EIA expects India to become the fourth largest net importer of oil in the world by 2025, behind the United States, China, and Japan. On the other hand the Govt of India control its exchange rate and after 2002 reforms , it tends to decrease and Indian currency tends to appreciate. Japan In the years following World War II, government-industry cooperation, a strong work ethic, mastery of high technology, and a comparatively small defense allocation (1% of GDP) helped Japan develop a technologically advanced economy. Today, measured on a purchasing power parity basis, Japan is the third-largest economy in the world after the US and China; measured by official exchange rates, however, Japan is the second largest economy in the world behind the US. Japan has virtually no domestic oil or natural gas reserves and is the second-largest net importer of crude oil and largest net importer of liquefied natural gas in the world. Including nuclear power, Japan is still only 16 percent energy self-sufficient. Japan remains one of the major exporters of energy-sector capital equipment and Japanese companies provide engineering, construction, and project management services for energy projects around the world. Japan has a strong energy research and development program that is supp orted by the government. Oil is the most consumed energy resource in Japan, although its share of total energy consumption has declined by about 30 percent since the 1970s. The figure 3 clearly shows about the oil consumption and production behavior of the country which tends the country to depends heavily on imports from different countries. Japan Oil production is very low and in 2009 it produces only 5.3 thousand barrels per day which is very low as compare to its consumption demand i.e. 4362.9 thousands barrel per day in 2009. This means that Japan has to import roughly 4357.02 thousand barrels per day to meet its consumption needs per day. Due to its gap between domestic consumption and production, Japan remains the second-largest net importer of oil after the United States. After 1970s Japan shows the declining trend in its exchange rate with dollar which means that dollar depreciate against Japanese yen. Growth slowed markedly in the 1990s, averaging just 1.7%, largely becaus e of the after effects of inefficient investment and an asset price bubble in the late 1980s that required a protracted period of time for firms to reduce excess debt, capital, and labor. In October 2007 Japans longest post-war period of economic expansion ended after 69 months and Japan entered into recession in 2008, with 2009 marking a return to near 0% interest rates. Germany The German economy the fifth largest economy in the world in PPP terms and Europes largest is a leading exporter of machinery, vehicles, chemicals, and household equipment and benefits from a highly skilled labor force. GDP grew just over 1% in 2008 and contracted roughly 5% in 2009. Germany crept out of recession in the second and third quarters of 2009, thanks largely to rebounding manufacturing orders and exports primarily outside the Euro Zone and relatively steady consumer demand. The German economy probably will recover to about 1.5% growth for the year 2010. Because of Germanys monetary dilemma, and because the German government as well as the nations bankers and industrialists have recognized German limitations and vulnerabilities, the exchange rate of the country remain very stable from the last many years against dollar. However, If we see the Figure 4, we can easily judge the oil consumption and production behavior of the German economy. In the year 2009 the total oil production was 30.8 thousand barrels per day while the consumption was 2,437 Thousand barrel per day. This means that roughly country had to imported 2406.2 thousand barrel per day of oil from other nations. As with the passage of time it reduces its consumption of oil due to environmental reforms but to fill the gap of Oil production and consumption, country have to rely heavily on oil imports. Pakistan Pakistan, an impoverished and underdeveloped country, has suffered from decades of internal political disputes and low levels of foreign investment. Between 2001-07, however, poverty levels decreased by 10%, as Islamabad steadily raised development spending. Between 2004-07, GDP growth in the 5-8% range was spurred by gains in the industrial and service sectors despite severe electricity shortfalls but growth slowed in 2008-09 and unemployment rose. Inflation remains the top concern among the public, jumping from 7.7% in 2007 to 20.3% in 2008, and 14.2% in 2009. In addition, the Pakistani rupee has depreciated since 2007 as a result of political and economic instability. The government agreed to an International Monetary Fund Standby Arrangement in November 2008 in response to a balance of payments crisis, but during 2009 its current account strengthened and foreign exchange reserves stabilized largely because of lower oil prices and record remittances from workers abroad. Figure 5 of oil consumption and production shows that Pakistan is not reach in oil production however, the ratio is quite good than other advanced economies. The consumption of oil in the year 2009 was 373 thousand barrel per day which was less as compare to 2008 i.e.396 thousand barrels per day. Oil Exporting Countries Kuwait Kuwait is one of the worlds top exporters of oil, with about 2.4 million barrels per day exported in 2008. Kuwaits economy is heavily dependent on oil export revenues which account for roughly 90 percent of total export earnings. Kuwait channels around 10 percent of its oil revenues into the Future Generations Fund for the day when oil income runs out. The Kuwaiti constitution forbids foreign ownership of Kuwaits mineral resources. The Kuwaiti Parliament passed the Foreign Direct Investment Act in 2001, aimed at promoting foreign investment in Kuwaits oil and gas sectors, which facilitated some development in those sectors. Kuwait has a geographically small, but wealthy, relatively open economy with self-reported crude oil reserves of about 102 billion barrels about 9% of world reserves. Petroleum accounts for nearly half of GDP, 95% of export revenues, and 95% of government income. Kuwaiti officials have committed to increasing oil production to 4 million barrels per day by 2020. Kuwait survived the economic crisis on the strength of budget surpluses generated by high oil prices, posting its tenth consecutive budget surplus in 2008, before slipping into deficit territory in 2009. Foreign exchange rates of Kuwaiti dinar are quite stable if compared with dollar. Figure 6 above shows the production and consumption capacity of the co untry which clearly depicts the exporting behavior of the country. In the year 2009 the total oil production was 2350 thousand barrels per day where as consumption was only 320 thousand barrels per day which allow the country to export the oil to other nations and increase their income level. From the figure the it can also seen the how Iraq- Kuwait war in 1992 impact the Kuwaiti oil market and its production. Venezuela Venezuela is one of the worlds largest exporters of crude oil and the largest in the Western Hemisphere. In 2008, the country was the eighth-largest net oil exporter in the world. The oil sector is of central importance to the Venezuelan economy. Venezuela remains highly dependent on oil revenues, which account for roughly 90% of export earnings, about 50% of the federal budget revenues, and around 30% of GDP. A nationwide strike between December 2002 and February 2003 had far-reaching economic consequences real GDP declined by around 9% in 2002 and 8% in 2003 but economic output since then has recovered strongly. President Hugo CHAVEZ in 2008-09 continued efforts to increase the governments control of the economy by nationalizing firms in the agribusiness, banking, tourism, oil, cement, and steel sectors. In 2007, he nationalized firms in the petroleum, communications, and electricity sectors. In January, 2010, CHAVEZ announced a dual exchange rate system for the fixed rate boliva r. The system offers a 2.6 bolivar per dollar rate for imports of essentials, including food, medicine, and industrial machinery, and a 4.3 bolivar per dollar rate for imports of other products, including cars and telephones. The nation is also the fifth largest member of the OPEC, in terms of production. As a result of its bountiful natural resources, Venezuelas economy has been one of the most thriving economies in South America. According to Oil and Gas Journal (OGJ), Venezuela had 99.4 billion barrels of proven oil reserves in 2010, the largest amount in South America. Figure 7 shows that Venezuelas production of crude oil has fallen, while domestic consumption has risen, causing a decline in net oil exports. Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and home to Islams two holiest shrines in Mecca and Medina. Saudi Arabia has an oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. It possesses about 20% of the worlds proven petroleum reserves, ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC. The petroleum sector accounts for roughly 80% of budget revenues, 45% of GDP, and 90% of export earnings. Roughly 5.5 million foreign workers play an important role in the Saudi economy, particularly in the oil and service sectors, while Riyadh is struggling to reduce unemployment among its own nationals. Five years of high oil prices during 2004-08 gave the Kingdom ample financial reserves to manage the impact of the global financial crisis, but tight international credit, falling oil prices, and the global economic slowdown reduced Saudi economic growth in 2009, prompting the postponement of some economic development projects. Saudi Arabia is t he worlds largest producer and exporter of total petroleum liquids, and the worlds second largest crude oil producer behind Russia. Saudi Arabias economy remains heavily dependent on oil and petroleum-related industries, including petrochemicals and petroleum refining. Oil export revenues have accounted for around 90 percent of total Saudi export earnings and state revenues and above 40 percent of the countrys gross domestic product (GDP). Figure 8 shows the Suaid Oil production and consumption behavior. It is the largest consumer of petroleum in the Middle East, particularly in the area of transportation fuels. Domestic consumption growth has been spurred by the economic boom due to historically high oil prices and large fuel subsidies. In 2006, Saudi Arabia was the 15th largest consumer of total primary energy, of which 60 percent was petroleum-based. The remainder was made up of natural gas, the growth of which has been limited by supply constraints. The graph also depicts the sa me behavior of consumption and production Saudi Currency is one of the stable currencies as compared to dollar from the last decade. Norway Norway is the worlds third-largest gas exporter, its position as an oil exporter has slipped to seventh-largest as production has begun to decline. Norway opted to stay out of the EU during a referendum in November 1994; nonetheless, as a member of the European Economic Area, it contributes sizably to the EU budget. In anticipation of eventual declines in oil and gas production, Norway saves almost all state revenue from the petroleum sector in a sovereign wealth fund. After lackluster growth of less than 1.5% in 2002-03, GDP growth picked up to 2.5-6.2% in 2004-07, partly due to higher oil prices. Growth fell to 2.1% in 2008, and the economy contracted by 1% in 2009 as a result of the slowing world economy and the drop in oil prices. According to the Oil and Gas Journal (OGJ), Norway had 6.7 billion barrels of proven oil reserves as of January 1, 2009, the largest oil reserves in Western Europe. Norway produced about 2067 thousand barrels per day (bbl/d) in 2009 and consumed about 220.2 thousand barrel per day (Figure 9).From 2004 onward the trend shows that Oil production is declining day by day but the good sign is that consumption trend is not showing many fluctuations however, there is hope that new developments in the Barents Sea and increasing the production of existing fields will offset some of the recent declines. In 2008, Norway was the sixth-largest net oil exporter in the world, exporting about 2.25 million bbl/d. According to EIA, Norway exported an estimated 2.25 million bbl/d of crude oil and petroleum products in 2008, down from 2.34 million bbl/d in 2007. According to Statistics Norway, the amount of crude oil alone exported in 2008 was 1.83 million bbl/d. The largest single recipient of Norwegia n oil was the United Kingdom, which imported 35 percent of Norways total oil exports. Norway currency was also depreciated in 2007-08 but again appreciated in 2009 as compared to dollar. Nigeria British influence and control over what would become Nigeria and Africas most populous country grew through the 19th century. Following nearly 16 years of military rule, a new constitution was adopted in 1999, and a peaceful transition to civilian government was completed. Oil-rich Nigeria, long hobbled by political instability, corruption, inadequate infrastructure, and poor macroeconomic management, has undertaken several reforms over the past decade. Nigerias former military rulers failed to diversify the economy away from its overdependence on the capital-intensive oil sector, which provides 95% of foreign exchange earnings and about 80% of budgetary revenues. Based largely on increased oil exports and high global crude prices, GDP rose strongly in 2007-09. The Nigerian economy is heavily dependent on the oil sector which, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), accounts for over 95 percent of export earnings and about 65 percent of government revenues. Figure 10 show s the oil production and consumption of the country. The graph shows the decreasing trend in the production si de, hence less oil will be available to export. In 2009, total oil production in Nigeria was slightly over 2.2 million bbl/d, making it the largest oil producer in Africa. Crude oil production averaged 1.8 million bbl/d for the year. According to the Oil and Gas Journal, Nigeria had an estimated 37.2 billion barrels of proven oil reserves as of January 2010.Since December 2005, Nigeria has experienced increased pipeline vandalism, kidnappings and militant takeovers of oil facilities in the Niger Delta. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) is the main group attacking oil infrastructure for political objectives, claiming to seek a redistribution of oil wealth and greater local control of the sector. Additionally, kidnappings of oil workers for ransom are common. Security concerns have led some oil services firms to pull out of the country and oil worker s unions to threaten strikes over security issues. The instability in the Niger Delta has caused significant amounts of shut-in production and several companies to declare force majeure on oil shipments. Nigeria is an important oil supplier to the United States. Close to 40 percent of the countrys oil production is exported to the United States. Currency of Nigeria is also not as much stable and was highly depreciated in 2009 against dollar. Despite the general recognition that oil price and real exchange rate plays an important role in economic growth, a comparative analysis on the impact of oil prices and exchange rate on oil export country and oil import country is still few. In this paper we firstly take the natural log to eradicate the problem of after that we have checked the descriptive statistics of the data. After descriptive analysis we then employed ADF test to check the stationarity of data. After checking stationarity of data we employed AIC test and then Co-integration. Granger Casualty test was employed at the end to investigate whether the oil price and real exchange rate Granger cause to the economic growth in all of our oil importing and exporting countries. Moreover, the vector autoregressive (VAR) modeling with co-integration techniques is applied to examine how real GDP in all our sample countries are affected by changes in international oil prices and the real exchange rate of these countries in the long-run. Finally, a vector error correction model (VECM) will be employed to analyze the short-run dynamics of these variables.

Child Abuse and Neglect :: Violence Against Children

Every year more than 3 million reports of child abuse are made in the United States involving more than 6 million children. There can be no single factor identified as the cause of child abuse. However it appears to be influenced by the parents' histories, psychological resources, and economic status. Parenting is not instinctive, it must be learned. While this is often done through experience, education courses for individuals prior to their becoming parents, and close evaluation of questionable homes could enhance parents' knowledge and the childrens' well being. A high percentage of abusive parents have histories of physical and emotional abuse inflicted upon them during their childhood. Thus, they were deprived of parents who taught them how to be good parents. Child abuse scenarios that seem tragic to others are ordinary to parents from abusive backgrounds, and often overlooked. The absence of good parents is detrimental to a child's learning how to fulfill parental roles. The children from abusive households think that an abusive environment is normal, correct, and acceptable. They grow up believing that and emulate that lifestyle. Sometimes abuse does not stem from a lack of knowledge, but rather from a psychological disorder. Many abusive parents have some type of emotional or mental disorder. An dictatorial personality is a common characteristic of abusive parents. Drug and alcohol abuse is also another common trait among abusive parents. Neurosis, mental deficiency, and/or emotional immaturity can also contribute to abuse. Surprisingly, mothers make up the larger percentage of child abusers, about 48 percent, while fathers only represent around 39 percent of cases. The rest of the cases come from friends or other family members. Most abusers range from 20 to 40 years of age, but parents between 16 and 20 years old inflict the majority of fatalities. There are four factors that can be used to identify child abusers. They are Rigidity, problems with self-image, lack of social skills, and lack of self-control. Economic status also plays a role in contributing to child abuse. According to a report put out by Child Protective Services all of the families in their system are considered financially unstable, and less than half hold jobs. There is still no excuse for child abuse , regardless of a person’s history or current condition in life, nothing makes abusing a child right. Child abuse is a cycle and once it has begun it is extremely hard to break.

Reporting Practices & Ethics Essay

Financial management can be defined as both an art and a science of organizing the financial resources of an organization in such a way as to achieve maximum output from the finances that are available to the organization. (Brigham & Ehrhardt, 2004). Financial management is one of the key aspects that each organization including healthcare facilities need to put more emphasis on to increase efficiency. The four elements of financial management There are four fundamental elements that guide the art of financial management (Baker & Powell, 2005) these include: i) Financial accounting and reporting This element of financial management enables both the financial managers and the general managers to be able to undertake the legal reporting responsibilities by providing the information and data that can be scrutinized. ii) Financial Analysis It is an indicator of the performance of an institution or a company. It can be used to expose potential shortcomings or any weaknesses which the management should put more focus on to be able to meet both short and long term goals of the institution. iii) Financial planning & Budgeting The first two elements of financial management i. e. financial accounting and reporting and financial reporting, lead to the third element which is financial planning and budgeting. The financial plans and budgets are prepared from the first two tools and will help to guide the company or institution in both the short run and the long run (Brigham & Ehrhardt, 2004). This is an important financial tool that can help to identify any shortfalls or deficits in the internal funds in an institution and thus point to the need for external funding such as debt or equity financing. iv) Financial Activities These are the activities which a company can explore to be able to make up for any deficit in the internal budget. These sources of financing could include: retained earnings, contributions from donors and governments, equity and debt financing and leases or concessions. Generally acceptable accounting Principles There are several principles that can be considered as acceptable in financial management and these include: i) Consistency-this means that across all time periods, all information that is gathered and presented should be the same. It holds that a company/institution cannot for example change the way in which they do their inventory without a valid reason for the change being included in the financial statements. ii) Relevance-this stands for the appropriateness of the information that is contained in the financial statements presented. These statements should be able to help one to predict the future financial state of the company or institution. Reliability-an independent party should be able to verify the information that is presented in the financial statements. The institution must be sure that an independent auditor would come up with the same findings if they were to carry out the same analysis (Brigham & Ehrhardt, 2004). This is a great way for the company or institution to prove that it is transparent and can be trusted. iv) Comparability- this means an institution’s financial statements can relate with similar businesses within the same industry. This enables investors to note the differences within an industry to compare the performance of a company in relation to others in the industry. These generally acceptable principles ensure that all the companies are on the same level playing grounds. General Financial Ethical Standards The ethical standards that should be closely observed in financial management include: i) Conflict of Interest It occurs as a result of a clash of the private interests of an individual with the interests of the company. As a result of these actions one is unable to effectively carry out the duties due to him/her in the organization. This can also be as a result of an individual or a member of his/her family receiving personal benefits in an improper way due to the position they hold in the organization (De Boers etal, 2007). Another case that can bring about a conflict of interest is when one at the time of working for a company has associations with a competitor. Thus all staff of a company should report to the executive officers any transaction that is likely to bring about any conflict of interest. ii) Corporate opportunities This deals with the fact that one should always help the company to advance its interests first wherever possible and there should be no use of corporate property or information for improper personal gain. Employees are also prohibited from competing with the company or organization either directly or indirectly. This ensures that the institution always gets top priority from its employees and at such improves business practices. iii) Compliance and Reporting All the employees of financial institutions should make it top priority to identify any potential problematic issues. They should also seek for help whenever they have doubts about the codes of conduct in the financial institution (De Boers etal, 2007). Any violation of this should lead to subsequent disciplinary action. This standard is important as it helps the institution to identify any potential problem way before they occur if all the employees observe this standard keenly. iv) Public Disclosure The information in the public domains should not only be fair and accurate, but also timely and understandable and should include the interest of all the key stakeholders in the institution. Information should not be knowingly misinterpreted or omitted or be presented in such a way as to cause others to do the same. This standard helps the institution to win the confidence of the public and more so the shareholders as it displays that their operations are transparent. v) Fair Dealing Each employee in the institution should strive to be fair in their dealings with all the involved parties and especially the clients, suppliers and service providers as well as employees and competitors alike. This helps the institution to gain goodwill of all the people the deal with and it helps to build the reputation of the institution (Baker & Powell, 2005). Reporting Illegal and Unethical Behavior It is the duty of all employees to report any one that is deemed to be going against these ethical standards. This reporting can either be internal or external and it should be treated with utmost confidentiality. References Brigham, E. & Ehrhardt, C. (2004). Financial Management: Theory and Practice. Boston Massachusetts: South Western College Publishing. De Boers, P. , Ruud, B. , & Wim, K. (2007). The Basics of Financial Management: An introductory course in finance, management accounting and financial accounting. New York : Routledge Publishers. Baker, K . ,& Powell ,G. (2005). Understanding Financial Management: A Practical Guide. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons Inc.

Medical Ethics in Islam

Medical Ethics in Islam In our lives, we often face difficult decisions, some relating to life and death, medical ethics. Should I donate a kidney so that another may live? Should I turn off life support for my brain-dead child? Should I mercifully end the suffering of my terminally ill, elderly mother? If I am pregnant with quintuplets, should I abort one or more so that the others have a better chance of surviving? If I face infertility, how far should I go in treatment so that I might, Allah-willing, have a child? As medical treatment continues to expand and advance, more ethical questions come up. For guidance on such matters, Muslims turn first to the Quran. Allah gives us general guidelines to follow, that are constant and timeless. The Saving of Life ...We ordained for the Children of Israel that if any one slew a person - unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land - it would be as if he slew the whole people. And if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people.... (Quran 5:32) Life and Death are in Allahs Hands Blessed be He in whose hands is the Dominion, and he has Power over all things. He who created death and life that He may test which of you are best in deed, and He is Exalted in Might, Oft-Forgiving. (Quran 67: 1-2) No soul can die except by Allahs permission. (Quran 3:185) Human Beings Should Not Play God Does not man see that it is We who created him from sperm. Yet behold! He stands as an open adversary! And he makes comparisons for Us, and forgets his own creation. He says who can give life to (dry) bones and decomposed ones? Say, He will give them life who created them for the first time, for He is versed in every kind of creation. (Quran 36: 77-79) Abortion Kill not your children on a plea of want. We will provide sustenance for you and for them. Come not near shameful deeds whether open or secret. Take not life which God has made sacred except by way of justice and law. Thus He commands you that you may learn wisdom. (6:151) Kill not your children for fear of want. We shall provide sustenance for them as well as for you. Verily the killing of them is a great sin. (17:31) Other Sources of Islamic Law In modern times, as medical treatments advance further, we come across new situations which are not described in detail in the Quran. Oftentimes these fall into a gray area, and it is not as simple to decide what is right or wrong. We then turn to the interpretation of Islamic scholars, who are well-versed in the Quran and Sunnah. If scholars come to a consensus on an issue, it is a strong indication that it is a correct position. Some examples of scholarly fatwas on the subject of medical ethics include: Organ donation is permissible as long as no financial incentive is given, and no permanent harm comes to the donor.Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide are prohibited.Mechanical life support should be continued until brain-death or imminent death has been confirmed by a physician or team of physicians, in which case it can be withdrawn.   Assisted reproduction is allowed as long as it is done with sperm and egg between husband and wife.Late-stage abortion is condemned unless necessary to save the mothers life. For specific and unique situations, a patient is advised to speak to an Islamic scholar for guidance.

How to Write a Devotional The Ultimate Guide

How to Write a Devotional The Ultimate Guide How to Write a Devotional: The Definitive Guide Do you enjoy writing? Are you passionate about helping others grow in their spiritual lives? If you answered yes and yes, then you’ll enjoy learning the art of writing thought-provoking devotionals. There are many, many ways to write a devotional. But the principles that tie them together? Mostly the same. And in this guide, I’ll lay out some of the most popular and effective methods- as well as show you some strategies for coming up with great devotional ideas. Ready? Let’s start with the basics: Need help fine-tuning your devotional?Click here to download my free self-editing checklist. Devotional books are released thematically for: Teens Men Women Grandparents College students Veterans Teachers Athletes And just about any other people group you can think of Devotionals are used by a wide variety of media, including large-circulation daily devotional guides, such as The Quiet Hour, The Upper Room, The Secret Place, The Word in Season, Devozine,Pathways to God, and Wesleyan Church(These links will take youto their submission guidelines.) More than 25 devotional quarterlies each publish 365 new entries each year. Naturally, these need fresh material annually. Publishers of vacation Bible school and Sunday school materials often include devotionals for teachers and students. Many independent and denominational magazines (such as The War Cry and The Baptist Bulletin) run devotionals in each of their issues. Some publishing houses produce not only devotional books, but also devotional desk calendars and greeting cards. Again, this market must be replenished annually. Publications can’t just recycle devotionals they ran the previous year. They depend on freelance writers to provide hundreds upon hundreds of fresh, insightful new ones. What You Should Bring to the Table Writers of devotionals should have a pure heart (James 3:8-11). With humility, graciousness, and spiritual sensitivity, you can create somethingthat can alter a reader’s thinking and behavior. You also need a focused mind (Ps. 1:1-3; 73:28). A succinct and powerful message must be distilled to 150-175 words. This demands clarity. And you must have a burning desire (Jeremiah 20:9). Ask for God’s guidance to say the right words to someone who may be reading a devotional published a year after you write it. God is the Alpha, but He is also the Omega. He knows what hurts and needs people will have in the future, and He can use you to prepare materials today to help people during hard times tomorrow. You won’t get rich writing devotionals. In fact, you may have to write a half dozen to see more than $100. That’s why it’s important to write them in batches to make it worth your while- not that you’re doing it solely for the money. You can revise and resell your print devotionals as radio devotionals for about the same rate of pay. And you can collect your devotionals and publish them as a book, receiving an advance and royalties. But beyond payment, you may also enjoy the deep gratification of readers telling you your words changed a mind about an abortion, a suicide, or a divorce. Meeting Readers Where They Are People turn to devotionals to meet deep needs. Some have lost friendships, been divorced, suffered from criticism, betrayal, or the death of a loved one. They need the balm of God’s comfort. Others seek intimacy with God. Their prayer lives are lax, their testimonies weak, and their church attendance sporadic. They need to find their way back to Jesus. Some just want to grow spiritually or to discover a better way to share their faith. Your devotional may be their only connection to the Bible all day. A harried mom may read one just before bed. A busy teacher may read one during lunch. An executive may read oneduring breakfast. The Writing Method When you settle on a passage of Scripture as your anchor text, read it in different translations. Pray and meditate over it until you’re certain you thoroughly understand the verse in context. Stay current by offering an illustration today’s reader can relate to. Link modern challenges and questions to longstanding solutions from God’s Word- and make the connections obvious and logical. Need help fine-tuning your devotional?Click here to download my free self-editing checklist. The Makings of a Good Devotional Your reader is giving you a few minutes, and in exchange you must provide an engaging piece of writing that offers new insights. Be genuine and honest, not grandiose or admonishing. Good devotional writing says, â€Å"Walk with me a few minutes. Examine something with me.† Keep your style appropriate to your audience. Writing devotionals for teens is not the same as writing for seniors. Although your anecdotes and illustrations should be drawn from your life, the lesson should always be drawn from Scripture. Present God’s wisdom in a package your reader can relate to. Stick with tangible images, things readers can see, touch, smell, hear, and taste. Be specific, yet precise. Make each word count. Use visual nouns, punchy verbs, short sentences, and the active voice. Five Basic Patterns Learn these and you can begin using them immediately: 1. The Self-examination Draw on personal experiences and use anecdotes to teach valuable lessons. Often such devotionals begin with: â€Å"When I was in high school †¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"When I was fishing alone one morning †¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"During my first year at camp †¦ .† The recollection always has a moral or application that ties in with the selected Scripture. 2. An Outside Observer Reports Here you’re telling what happened to someone else. Real names may be used with permission, or changed, as long as the story is true. Often these devotionals begin with a phrase such as: â€Å"When my great-grandmother first came to America †¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"My best friend had just gotten his driver’s license †¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Most people are unaware that George Washington †¦ .† 3. You Interact with Other People Report on something you learned from a friend, coworker, or family member. Begin with a phrase such as: â€Å"My son taught me a lesson one day when I was walking him to school †¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"My friend could always make me laugh †¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"One day my college history professor was explaining †¦ .† 4. The Object Lesson Use a tangible object to parallel an event or circumstance. Jesus often used this format, employing such things as a mustard seed, a Roman coin, a lamp and a bushel, or a tower as metaphors. Object lesson devotionals quickly make readers see the parallel between the object and the lesson. â€Å"Trees killed by saltwater brought in by a tsunami will still stand upright and take up space, but they will bear no fruit. People who come to church each Sunday and occupy a pew but do nothing all week to share their faith are like these trees.† 5. The Double Meaning Phrase Take a well-known line from advertising, history, a song, or a poem and convert it to a Christian message, as in â€Å"A day without Sonshine is a gloomy day.† One devotional writer compared the rigid discipline of being a United States Marine to the discipline Christians should adhere to, calling the devotional, â€Å"Corps Values vs. Core Values.† Developing a Devotional Journal Because much of what we observe and say has potential to become material for a devotional, keep a journal for ideas, thoughts, and feelings. Begin today by answering: Did God use a specific verse of Scripture to change your life? Hows did it affect your outlook? Has God brought a person into your life to alter your direction? Like Philip with the Ethiopian eunuch, how did someone suddenly enter your life as a teacher, friend, mentor, or accountability partner? When did God make Himself known to you in a dramatic way? Did you receive an answer to prayer regarding a health issue, financial need, or spiritual awakening that proved He was working in your life? Record the details. Had God ever reprimanded and brought you back in line when you were spiritually wayward? Explain how you felt God’s chastening and corrective hand. Did God use a deep hurt in your life to make you sensitive to others or to show you new ways to be effective to those you serve? In answering these questions, you’ll discover your life is a source of great lessons you can pass along. Brainstorming More Devotional Topics As you make entries in your devotional journal each day, try to recall: A sad or funny experience you’ve had in the past year Things you’ve learned while traveling Challenging relationships with people at work, home, or school Something you are an expert on An item in a newspaper or magazine that fascinated you An editorial or column you strongly disagreed with An unusual experience or new challenge you’ve recently faced An opinion based on years of experience Something startling or insightful you recently learned from TV or a book A new perspective you gained from a sermon Societal trends that concern you An event that restored your faith in mankind Something related to science, nature, weather, or time that stunned you A trip to a museum that awakened a new appreciation for nature A new job assignment that has stretched you A family picnic or class reunion that gave you a special perspective Letters or diaries you recently discovered A poem or song that keeps coming to mind Volunteer work that helped you see the suffering of others A friend’s sickness or accident that alarmed you Avoiding Blind Spots Although certain publications use devotionals targeted to teens, working women, or seniors, most devotionals you will write will be read by a broad spectrum. So keep in mind: People live in many different financial and social conditions. The distinctive beliefs of many denominations and theological traditions are precious to people and must be respected. Some readers have limited education. So keep things simple but not condescending. People in other countries may not understand your slang and pop culture references. It is usually better not to write devotionals that stir controversy. So avoid topics such as infant baptism, female ordination, or speaking in tongues. The Basic Format Before submitting a devotional, obtain a publication’s writers guidelines and copies of the publication itself. Follow the guidelines exactly. Your name, address, and phone number should appear on each page. But some publications also ask for your email address. The basic format calls for a suggested passage of Scripture (usually 5 to 12 verses), a title, one printed-out specific verse from the suggested reading, and an anecdote or story that shows how that biblical lesson applies today. The writer’s byline usually appears at the end. Some publications ask that you begin or end with a prayer or thought for the day. Length varies, from as short as 75 words to as long as 225. The guidelines will state the preferred method of submission. Some editors like printouts mailed to the publication’s office. Some like email submissions. Some accept either. Most publications buy first rights, important because you can then re-use your devotionals in books. Summary Writing devotionals is a good way to enter nonfiction writing, earn money, and make a positive impact on thousands of readers. Your experiences and those of others are rich sources for ideas. How to Get Started 1) List 20 emotional hurts people are dealing with (loneliness, depression, guilt, shame, abandonment, grief, prejudice, etc.). Then list what aspects of spiritual growth could come out of each such experience (learning to pray more effectively, learning to bring the Good News to others, cultivating humility, etc.). 2) Start a devotional journal. 3) Try writing a one-page devotional and submit it to one of the devotional markets listed in The Christian Writer’s Market Guide. You’re on your way! In the comments section, answer this: What will your next devotional be about? Need help fine-tuning your devotional?Click here to download my free self-editing checklist.