Bullying Speech Essay

Hello I’m Maddi Beeson as many of you know and I wanted to talk to you about a very important issue at our school. There is the problem of bullying and I would like to say something about it which will hopefully change things. Starting off with this poem I had found on the internet which is a very inspiring poem about bullying. It is called: To This Day- for the bullied and the beautiful by Shane Koyczan. When I was a kid I used to think that pork chops and karate chops Were the same thing I thought they were both pork chops And because my grandmother thought it was cute And because they were my favorite She let me keep doing it Not really a big deal One day Before I realized fat kids are not designed to climb trees I fell out of a tree And bruised the right side of my body I didn’t want to tell my grandmother about it Because I was afraid I’d get in trouble For playing somewhere that I shouldn’t have been A few days later the gym teacher noticed the bruise And I got sent to the principal’s office From there I was sent to another small room With a really nice lady Who asked me all kinds of questions About my life at home I saw no reason to lie As far as I was concerned. Life was pretty good I told her, â€Å"Whenever I’m sad My grandmother gives me karate chops† This led to a full scale investigation And I was removed from the house for three days Until they finally decided to ask how I got the bruises News of this silly little story quickly spread through the school And I earned my first nickname Pork Chop To this day I hate pork chops I’m not the only kid Who grew up this way Surrounded by people who used to say That rhyme about sticks and stones As if broken bones Hurt more than the names we got called And we got called them all So we grew up believing no one Would ever fall in love with us That we’d be lonely forever That we’d never meet someone To make us feel like the sun Was something they built for us In their tool shed So broken heart strings bled the blues As we tried to empty ourselves. So we would feel nothing Don’t tell me that hurts less than a broken bone That an ingrown life Is something surgeons can cut away That there’s no way for it to metastasize It does She was eight years old Our first day of grade three When she got called ugly We both got moved to the back of the class So we would stop get bombarded by spit balls But the school halls were a battleground Where we found ourselves outnumbered day after wretched day We used to stay inside for recess Because outside was worse Outside we’d have to rehearse running away Or learn to stay still like statues giving no clues that we were there In grade five they taped a sign to her desk That read beware of dog To this day Despite a loving husband She doesn’t think she’s beautiful Because of a birthmark That takes up a little less than half of her face Kids used to say she looks like a wrong answer That someone tried to erase But couldn’t quite get the job done And they’ll never understand That she’s raising two kids Whose definition of beauty Begins with the word mom Because they see her heart Before they see her skin Because she’s only ever always been amazing He Was a broken branch Grafted onto a different family tree Adopted Not because his parents opted for a different destiny He was three when he became a mixed drink Of one part left alone And two parts tragedy Started therapy in 8th grade Had a personality made up of tests and pills Lived like the up hills were mountains And the down hills were cliffs Four fifths suicidal A tidal wave of anti depressants And an adolescence of being called popper One part because of the pills Ninety nine parts because of the cruelty He tried to kill himself in grade ten When a kid who could still go home to mom and dad Had the audacity to tell him â€Å"get over it† as if depression Is something that can be remedied By any of the contents found in a first aid kit To this day He is a stick of TNT lit from both ends Could describe to you in detail the way the sky bends In the moments before it’s about to fall And despite an army of friends Who all call him an inspiration He remains a conversation piece between pe ople Who can’t understand Sometimes becoming drug free Has less to do with addiction And more to do with sanity We weren’t the only kids who grew up this way To this day Kids are still being called names The classics were Hey stupid Hey spaz Seems like each school has an arsenal of names Getting updated every year And if a kid breaks in a school And no one around chooses to hear Do they make a sound? Are they just the background noise Of a soundtrack stuck on repeat When people say things like Kids can be cruel? Every school was a big top circus tent And the pecking order went From acrobats to lion tamers From clowns to carnies All of these were miles ahead of who we were We were freaks Lobster claw boys and bearded ladies Oddities Juggling depression and loneliness playing solitaire spin the bottle Trying to kiss the wounded parts of ourselves and heal But at night While the others slept We kept

Different types of wastewaters Essay

Domestic wastewater Domestic effluents are generated from activities such as bathing, laundry, cleaning, cooking, washing, and other kitchen activities. This contains a large amount of organic waste with suspended solids and coliforms. Calculations made based on available data show that half the organic waste is from the domestic sector (PEM, 2003). As stated in the EMB report, domestic wastewater discharges contribute highest to the BOD load as the lack of sewage treatment system allows more than 90 percent of inadequately treated domestic sewage to be discharged into surface waters, which contain bacteria and viruses that threaten human life. Geographically, data show that one-third (30 percent) of BOD generation comes from Metro Manila and Region IV alone, at 18 and 15 percent, respectively (PEM, 2003). Industrial wastewater Reports show that the volume and characteristics of industrial effluents vary by type of industry and are influenced by different factors such as production processes and the scale of production used. Industries that are found to be water-intensive, i.e. food and dairy manufacturing, pulp, paper and paperboard products, and textile products, correspondingly discharge large amounts of wastewater (PEM, 2003). Most of the water pollution-intensive industries are in National Capital Region, Calabarzon, and Region III. Food manufacturing industries, piggeries, and slaughterhouses are the main sources of organic pollution (PEM, 2004). A report from a study conducted by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in 1999 emphasizes that the situation is even more critical with regard to hazardous wastes. In the said report, approximately 2,000 cubic meters of solvent wastes, 22,000 tons of heavy metals, infectious wastes, biological sludge, lubricants, and intractable was tes, as well as 25 million cubic meters of acid/alkaline liquid wastes are improperly disposed of annually in the Metro Manila area alone. A study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) conducted in 2001 (as cited in National Economic Development Authority’s document on the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan 2004-2010) states that around 700 industrial establishments in the  Philippines generate about 273,000 tons of hazardous wastes per annum. It was further estimated that with 5,000 potential hazardous waste generators, about 2.41 million tons of hazardous wastes will be generated. At present, the report added, there is no integrated treatment facility for hazardous wastes in the country although there are about 95 small to mediumscale treatment facilities that treat hazardous wastes (i.e., used oil, sludge). There is approximately 50,000 tons of hazardous wastes stored on or offsite due to lack of proper treatment, recovery and recycling facilities. Sometimes they end up being recycled in backyard operations further putting at risk workers and communities hosting these informal recycling facilities. Other hazardous wastes are exported to other countries for recovery and disposal (i.e. metal bearing sludge, used solvents and electronic wastes) and treatment (e.g. PCB). Health and environmental problems Much of the surface water in urban areas is a public health risk while rural surface waters are also sources of disease. The World Bank estimates that exposure to water pollution and poor sanitation account for one-sixth of reported disease cases, and nearly 6,000 premature deaths per year. The cost of treatment and lost income from illness and death due to water pollution is pegged at PHP6.7 billion (US$134 million) per year (PEM 2006). Pollution of our water resources such as untreated wastewater discharges affect human health through the spread of disease-causing bacteria and viruses. Some known examples of diseases that may be spread through wastewater discharge are gastro-enteritis, diarrhea, typhoid, cholera, dysentery, hepatitis, and, recently, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) (PEM 2003). The state of water in the Philippines (Bacongui, Beau, 2007, October). Retrieved January 9, 2013, from http://www.greenpeace.org/seasia/ph/Global/seasia/report/2007/10/the-state-of-wa ter-in-the-phil.pdf Hazardous and toxic waste management Republic Act 6969, implemented by DAO 29 series of 1992, regulates the range of activities associated with hazardous and toxic materials (use, transportation, storage, export, distribution, manufacture, and processing). Users or handlers of chemicals must first check with DENR whether the substances are included in the Philippine Inventory of Chemicals and Chemical Substances (PICCS). A Chemical Control Order (CCO) prohibiting, limiting, or subjecting use to certain controls or conditions may be issued for chemicals that pose an unreasonable risk to public health or the environment. Environmental Impact Management System An on-going innovation under the EIS system is the introduction of programmatic compliance. Under this program, industries sited in declared industrial development areas may be issued a single Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC). This approach has the advantage of reducing the cost of document preparation and review. Furthermore, it justifies the future application of carrying capacity assessments to determine the number and types of industries that should be allowed to locate in a given area. Philippines: Country Profile. In Green Productivity Practices: In Select Industry Sectors. (Abanto, Arnel. 2001) Retrieved January 9, 2013, from http://www.apo-tokyo.org/gp/e_publi/gpp/0302PHILIPPINESrev.pdf Water pollution creeping in – senator MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines faces a creeping water pollution problem because of rapid urbanization and industrialization, a senator warned over the weekend. Senator Pilar Juliana â€Å"Pia† S. Cayetano, chairperson of the Senate Health and Demography Committee, said she is worried that government has weakly-implemented programs to improve the quality of fresh water supply. Cayetano pointed out that inadequate resources, institutional fragmentation and poor statistics as the major stumbling blocks in achieving the goal of securing a sufficient future supply of clean fresh water. She said addressing this concern is in line with the Millennium Development Goal 7 for environment sustainability which is to reduce by one half, by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources chairman, said the issue emphasizes the importance of refo resting the country’s denuded mountains. Forests, Zubiri said, act as watersheds, storing and releasing fresh water through natural processes. In past Senate Committee hearings, testimonies on the country’s forest reserve being  denuded at a fast clip the past few decades had been presented. Citing the Philippine Environment Monitor report of the World Bank in 2003, domestic wastewater represents 48 percent of the total pollution in the entire country; the rest is due to industrial and agricultural sources. In Metro Manila alone, the share of domestic sewage is 58 percent of the total. Because of insufficient sewage treatment and disposal, more than 90 percent of the sewage generated in the Philippines is not disposed or treated in an environmentally acceptable manner, Cayetano said. The same report estimates that water pollution costs the Philippine economy an estimated P67 billion ($.3 billion) annually of which P3 billion is attributed to health, P17 billion to fisheries production and P47 billion to tourism. Cayetano pointed out that Department of Health (DoH) statistics show that approximately 18 people die each day from water-borne diseases, which accounted for 31 percent of all reported illnesses from 1996-2000. She said the Congressional Oversight Committee was created following the enactment of the Clean Water Act in 2004 and found out weaknesses in the enforcement of environmentally-related laws. â€Å"There are too many hands dipping in the broth, so to speak. Around 30 government agencies are involved in the management of our water resources. The gaps, overlaps and conflicts of responsibilities are apparent during the conduct of our (committee) hearings, making the institutional framework highly fragmented, weak and complicated,’’ she said. Water pollution creeping in – senator (Casayuran, Mario. 2011, April) Retrieved January 9, 2013 from http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/312556/water-pollution-creeping-senator#.UO1KP-TwaSo ‘Water pollution a threat’ Gov’t not enforcing environment laws — SWS survey  MANILA, Philippines . Five of every 10 Filipinos believe water pollution is a serious threat to their health and environment, but the government is unable to enforce environmental laws. Results of a survey of the Social Weather Stations released Friday also showed that at least three of every six residents of Metro Manila did not agree that pollution was an acceptable trade-off for economic progress. The SWS survey, a first on water pollution and enforcement of environmental laws, was commissioned by  the environmental group Greenpeace as part of its Project: Clean Water program launched in September. The initiative aims to mobilize action in protecting the country’s vast fresh water sources. A recent World Bank study warned of a possible water scarcity problem in the country by 2025. The survey from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3 covered 1,200 randomly chosen adult respondents divided into samples of 300 each in Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. We wanted to see how Filipinos perceive the problem because it is very hard to push for the implementation of environmental laws if the public accepts water pollution as an unavoidable consequence of economic development, said Beau Baconguis, Greenpeace Southeast Asia campaigner in a press conference Friday. Half of the respondents said water pollution in the country was a very serious problem and posed great danger to their health and environment; 22 percent found it somewhat serious; nine percent, a little serious; and 19 percent, hardly serious. While growing concern for water pollution was noted among residents in urban areas, with 58 percent finding it unacceptable that economic progress should mean environmental destruction, some 48 percent said they were not aware of any laws enacted to help prevent pollution. Among the environmental policies cited in the survey were the Clean Water Act and the Solid Waste Management Act. Out of the 1,200 respondents, 26 percent said they were familiar with the Clean Water Act; 27 percent were aware of the Solid Waste Management Act while 50 percent admitted not knowing about the laws. ‘Water pollution a threat’ (Uy, Jocelyn, 2008, January) Retrieved January 9, 2013 from http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view/20080126-114918/Water-pollution-a-threat Dirty Water: Estimated Deaths from Water-Related Diseases 2000-2020 (Gleick, Peter, 2002, August) Retrieved from http://www.pacinst.org/reports/water_related_deaths/water_related_deaths_report.pdf

Childrens Right to Access the Internet Essay

Before I start I have a question to put to the audience, please raise your hand if you think that parents should prohibit children’s access to the Internet. I am a firm believer in the right of children to have generous access to the Internet. †Copywriter†, her username on warriorforum.com used to be one of those single – home alone mums who had two children to look after and also had to work full time as a nurse. She barely made enough money to feed the children every day and spent next to no time with her 11 year old boy and 6-year-old daughter. She was desperate. One ordinary day – when everything began to change – she found an ad saying â€Å" Earn money online†, intrigued copywriter went to check it out. Now she is a full time blogger after creating 6 successful blogs, which enables her to stay home and talk with her children and never have to worry about a meal at dinner. She has traveled the world and experienced things she never would have without the income from her blogs. Children nowadays (generation Z) are born into a world surrounded with the Internet and technology, unlike their generation X parents for whom the Internet is not as integrated into their life. By taking away their right to Internet, you are depriving them of the many opportunities to learn skills and gain knowledge on the web. People have argued that children should not have free access to the Internet. This is a problem. For example, Knowledge websites such as Wikipedia have replaced the traditional encyclopedias even to the extent that Encyclopedia Britannica has gone out of business. The web has become a key source of information. The Internet holds a vast range of tutorials available at no cost on a raft of subjects. I myself learnt a series of card tricks that are sure to amaze! Many parents do not seem to grasp this technological world we live in – this is a problem. Software developers, program coders and server hosts are among the top 10 most sought out jobs in 2012. These skills were all learned through access to the Internet and when started at a young age the people became experts very quickly. The Internet itself is a medium through which various businesses can be marketed. The techniques involved require an in depth understanding of the Internet itself as a medium, in order to be successful. Many parents do not seem to know this – this is a problem This leads me on very well on to my next topic, that of the benefits of social media. It is a tragedy that in this day and age some parents deny their children a Facebook account even past the age restriction of 13. Facebook is a social network for socializing and keeping in touch with friends across the world. Believe me, it’s a lot cheaper than international phone calls. I myself use Facebook and often check with other classmates on school related topics such as;’ what P.E subject do we have tomorrow.’ Some parents do not seem to understand this – this too is a problem. A core tenet of democracy is freedom of speech. If a parent bans my access to the Internet, are they not infringing my right to freedom of speech? The Internet is a key medium through which I express my opinions these days. Here we have a big problem! Yeah, so what’s the solution? It would be remiss of me not to point out that there are certain dangers involved with the Internet. By this I mean pornography or extreme violence. Therefore I understand the genuine concern that parents have for their children’s safety. One solution for this is to utilize censoring programs such as Net nanny to protect younger children. However the ultimate solution relies in teaching children to â€Å"self-censor† By entrusting them you give them responsibility which is ultimately more effective than restricting something and thus increasing their desire. For example, would you not rather your child learn to drink safely at home rather than underage in a pub with a bunch of strangers? My parents for example, have trusted me and therefore given me full access to the Internet, which I have not misused. In fact in my spare time I run a server, which employs 30 staff all around the world that earns me roughly 2500$ dollars a month. Therefore on balance I firmly believe parents should allow children to access the Internet to a degree suitable for their age. Now please raise your hands if you think parents should prohibit children’s access to the Internet.. Quod erat demonstrandum or in other words I rest my case.

The Devine Michelangelo and Rapheal A Mortal God videos criticism Essay

The Devine Michelangelo and Rapheal A Mortal God videos criticism - Essay Example In an effort to recreate and retell the stories of these two classical artists, BBC, in association with acclaimed directors like Bernard Hill and Sydney Kean, produced informative documentary films. These films are; Raphael – A Mortal God and The Devine Michelangelo. In 2004, BBC created a drama-documentary on the life and works of Raphael. Raphael – A Mortal God was directed by John Holdsworth. The film, which runs for 60 minutes, was released in January 2004. In the film, Bernard Hill takes the role of a background narrator. Among the key cast members include McKenna, acting as Pope Julius 2 and Joe McFadden acting as Raphael. The documentary is educational in nature (Weyant). It covers on the life and heydays of Raphael as one of the most colorful artists of Renaissance Italy. In order to enhance understanding, the documentary shows graphical representations of Raphael’s work. In addition, motion pictures depicting characters and scenes synonymous to those of Renaissance Rome are used. Personally, I think the documentary on Raphael – A Mortal God is successfully inspired. As an educational documentary, Raphael – A Mortal God captures a viewer’s attention through a recognizable conflict between the characters and the environmental context of the story. As a means of developing the dramatic curve of Raphael’s story, Bernard Hill takes a reserved stage and narrates events in a contrasting manner. For example, Raphael succeeded as an artist because he employed experimental techniques instead of adhering to conventional artistic techniques of renaissance art. In depicting Raphael’s conflict with conventional techniques of renaissance art, the film uses audio and visual medium in alienating the artist in respect to the background context (Weyant). Despite the documentary’s success in certain aspects, there is an apparent inadequacy in the use of motion pictures. In addition, the

Workplace Monitoring Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Workplace Monitoring - Assignment Example However, I find this notion to be overly apologist. The fact that employers are legally allowed to infringe on the private space of their workers is a reflection of a lack of trust that typifies modern society. Also, who monitors those who do the monitoring? It is hard to imagine that the workplace behavior and activities of senior management are monitored to the degree that their subordinates’ are. In the wider scheme of things, I would argue that unless a company‘s area of operations involves processes that are highly sensitive, then it is better to cultivate trust among employees and between employees and management. In this context, I base my premise on the labeling theory championed by Howard Becker. According to Becker, labels and stereotypes are instrumental in creating deviance where none should exist (Repa & Guerin 14). In this paper, workplace monitoring can be viewed as a typecast that generalizes all employees as untrustworthy. Ultimately, some employees will internalize this â€Å"label† and fight it by doing that which monitoring is supposed to negate. Finally, although the methods of workplace monitoring (e.g., video surveillance, background checks, email access and internet logs, phone tapping and phone log recording, etc.) can be used with positive intentions, their requirements are normally flaunted by employers. Workplace monitoring, if used, shou ld be limited to improving employee productivity. However, if designed strictly to keep employees on a tight leash then it defeats its rationale.

Ethical Organizational Climate Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Ethical Organizational Climate - Essay Example In 2009, less than a month after being sworn in, he signed three presidential memoranda and two executive orders concerned with ethics and transparency (Hughes and Ginnett, 2012). A leader’s public and private morality can be distinguished because people exhibit different behaviors privately and publicly.A leader cannot act privately the same way he acts in the public because the expectations in both cases are different and trying to streamline them can create strains privately or publicly. The best approach is to find a balance between the two (Bowie, 2013). A bad person cannot be a good leader because effective leadership requires respect for the people one leads. How can one be a good leader if he does not respect the very people he is supposed to lead, and who probably placed him in that position of leadership? It is impossible. If leaders do not demonstrate ethical conduct then their followers will do the same (Bowie, 2013). Next, their followers’ followers will fo llow the cue and within no time a whole society will be corrupt and unethical. Leader behavior is more important in improving ethical values in an organization than a code of ethics or employee training. This is because good leadership embodies the other two aspects. A good leader creates a conducive environment to facilitate the employee training and the creation of codes of ethics. Codes of ethics and employee training cannot create better leaders than natural leadership (Bowie, 2013).

Finance Personal Statment Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Finance Statment - Personal Statement Example I am motivated to beat the odds and change the Saudi Arabia culture in order to open the doors to female workers to aspire higher professional goals. I want to join your program for several reasons. One of my career goals is to pursue a career in teaching in the future. Most universities require its professor’s to hold PhD degrees. During the first year of the program I hope to get acquainted with the faculty and sharpened my research skills in order to select a good topic for my thesis. I am very passionate about finance. In high school I started following local and international stock markets and reading the financial page of the newspaper. A few years later once the internet arrived at my country I had greater access to articles and financial news. I wanted to study finance at the university, but they did not teach it for girls at that time in Saudi and my parents did not allow me to study abroad for cultural reasons. This led me to choose accounting as my major. Accounting is often regarded as the cousin to finance since both practices are interrelated. I got married in my last year of college on October 2001 and had my first child in 2003 and my second in 2005. Since 2002 I was signing petitions to allow women to enter Saudi organization of certified public accountants so they can hold the Saudi CPA. Finally in 2004 the acceptance was granted. I am a goal oriented, assertive, self motivated, and a hard worker that is not afraid of a challenge. I am also ambitious, a good analyzer, team player, and a great leader. I am aware of the impotents of self development. I have attended several workshops on the subject. In the latest which was about women leadership, the presenter asked what about the main challenges Saudi women faced while doing their dissertation. I thought a professional women network could be the solution. I took the initiative and

Valuation and Discounted Cash Flows Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Valuation and Discounted Cash Flows - Case Study Example The second alternative suggests that five-year zero-interest loan and the new loan was to be repaying in 5 equal annual payments. And this alternative would save them well more than $2,000 in interest. So the alternative A is better than the alternative B to pay the mortgage. 3) A) If an investor invests $2 million in stock market to purchase shares the return is based on the market. Some time he will get high return on his investment some time he will get loss his investment. The return is based on the economic condition. But the investment in bond will generate constant return to the investor, the investor would get specific percentage of interest at particular period of time also he will get principle amount at the end of specific period of time. Bid is the obtainable price at which the investor can sell his share. $1.5 million is the price that the buyer is willing to pay. Minimum bid price $1.3million has already placed, even there is $1.5 million bid I would not sell at $1.5 million I will hold the investment because the Wall Street financial analyst predicted that the successful bid is $ 2.1 million. The investment is also depending the tax imposed by the government authorities. B) In my point in July 1 1992 the capital market provides fair market value to the investment. The investor gained better yield for their investment and the approximate market fair value of the ticket will be $1.5 million because there has been minimum bid for $1.3 million so the fair value would be $1.5 million for the ticket. C) If tax rate is increased for the bond investment it will decrease the return from this bond investment. Then I would prefer the investment in other investment options like shares, mutual fund etc. If tax rate is increases, for the investment in corporate bond that I would make valuation on the bond based on face value. If tax rate is increased then I would choose

Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 2

Ethics - Essay Example Rawls’s argument that we should maximin instead of maximize leads to a fascinating standoff, whereby the argument for maximin appeared not compelling, but it was straight additive maximization of utilitarian in a way that revealed the possible function associated with morality that people are expected to maximize. In fact, according to Rawls, the utilitarianism is not straight based on taking maximandum, which refers to the things that are to be maximized that is utility instead of the primary social goods. Moreover, the idea of maximizing the key social goods is not appealing, since it fails to pursue the maximization of utility. Therefore, the espousal of the ideal legitimacy in political Liberalism does not have an effect on the conclusions and arguments that are developed to reinforce the ideal with respect to justice as fairness in utilitarianism and Rawlsian theories (Arneson, 2000). There is another problem with the utilitarianism, which is associated with the tenuous a ssociation with liberalism, whereby in prominent situations of aggregate goods of numerous, people outweigh the few individuals. Moreover, utilitarianism appears to be committed to the majority over the minority, and it seems to be unfair or violating the fundamental rights and liberties. Therefore, utilitarianism retort is unfair since the mere handovers from outdated and pernicious moral conversions. On the other hand, Rawls’s arguments are in the first part, whereby he focuses on the conflicts between utilitarianism and people’s beliefs concerning justice and fairness. In fact, he provides diagnosis, which is unflattering in order to appeal to utilitarianism. Therefore, utilitarianism may seem to be appealing by taking over the model of decision-making that individuals make relating to their lives. However, there is a significant difficulty associated with implementing the model in a society with people suffering from sacrifice, whereby they are denied the chance to obtain the benefits. In this case, the official arguments, in the parties in the original state prefer the Rawlsian Maximin Principle, by turning the choice between rules related to making the decision under uncertain circumstance of maximizing expected utility instead of maximin. The formal argument of the Rawls’s assertion is supported by the psychological arguments related to parties in the original state that prefers the principles. In fact, ideas of psychological arguments related to Rawls’s principles do not have limitations of the strains of commitment, like utilitarianism. Moreover, Rawls maintains that people growing in a society governed by principles Rawls’s principles, they would end up valuing the principles and complying with them. Rawls’s principles are concerned with the worst off, whereby the society is committed to the well being of the well off. However, this is not the case with the utilitarianism, whereby it is easier to have the all egiance to a society, which is governed Rawls’s principles, compared to the society governed by utilitarianism. Making a comparison between the Rawls principles with the maximin rule and utilitarianism, there is a chance of utilitarianism given

Thinking skills and processes in the inquiry method of teaching Essay Example for Free

Thinking skills and processes in the inquiry method of teaching Essay There is an array of ideas and sometimes bewildering lists of terms used to describe the ways people think. But, what does thinking mean? What are thinking skills? What are higher –order thinking skills? Form the many definitions that have been provided, most include statements which describe abstract intellectual processes and operations. For example, †¢ Thinking is a process involving such mental operations as induction, deduction, classification, and reasoning; †¢ Thinking is a process of dealing with abstractions and discovering the essential principles of things, as contrasted to remaining on the concrete level of facts and specific cases; †¢ Thinking is the ability to analyze and criticize and to reach conclusions based on sound inference or judgment. Most contemporary statements about thinking recognize that thinking skills are not the same as skills associated with more concrete behaviors or physical activities. Consider the following statements provided by Lauren Resnick (1997) about what she calls higher-order thinking: †¢ Higher order thinking tends to be complex. The total path is not â€Å"visible† (mentally speaking) from any single vantage point. †¢ Higher order thinking often yields multiple solutions, each with costs and benefits, rather than unique solutions. †¢ Higher order thinking is effortful. There is considerable mental work involved in the kinds of elaborations and judgments required. From these definitions, obviously, thinking processes and skills people need to activate them are highly complex. Hyde and Bizar (1999) have provided another conception of thinking. Based on recent research in cognition, Hyde and Bizar write about thinking as intellectual processes instead of skills. Like Resnick, Hyde and Bizar point out the complexity of thinking. They also emphasize the importance of thinking about thinking in context. That is, although thinking processes have some similarities, they also vary according to what one is thinking about. For instance, the processes we use when thinking about mathematics differ from those used when thinking about poetry. Because of their complexity, thinking processes cannot be taught using only approaches suitable for teaching concrete ideas and skills. Thinking skills and processes are, however, clearly teachable and most programs and curricula which have been developed rely heavily on classroom discussions. Main Features of Inquiry Method of Teaching Instructional Effects of Inquiry Method of Teaching The inquiry method of teaching is not designed to cover a large amount of learning materials or convey huge quantities of information to early childhood education students. The model has been developed primarily to accomplish three important instructional effects: (1) to help students develop the intellectual skills of asking important questions and seeking answers; (2) to help students acquire the inquiry process skills associated with various domains of human learning, and, most importantly; (3) to help students become independent, autonomous learners confident and capable of learning on their own. Syntax of Inquiry Method of Teaching There are five major phases in the inquiry method of teaching science and mathematics. However, skillful inquiry teachers often vary particular sequencing and syntax. But the general flow of a science or mathematics inquiry lesson consists of five major phases: establishing set and explaining the procedures, presenting a puzzling situation or the problem to the students, helping students gather data about the problem, helping students hypothesize and explain the problem, and helping them analyze their thinking and inquiry processes. Structure of the Learning Environment Unlike the very structured learning environment required of the presentation and direct instruction methods, or the use of small groups required in cooperative learning method, the learning environment in an inquiry method is characterized by wholeclass instruction, open processes, and active students roles. In fact, the whole process of helping students become independent, autonomous learners and of assisting them in becoming confident in their own intellectual skills requires active involvement. Although the teacher and students proceed through the various phases of the lesson in a somewhat structured and predictable fashion, the norms surrounding the lesson are those of open inquiry and freedom of thought and expression. The teacher’s role is not one of dispensing knowledge and truth but instead acting as helper and guide. Procedures for using Inquiry Method of Teaching Conceptually the inquiry teaching model is quite straightforward, and it is easy for beginning teachers to grasp. Effective execution of the model, however, is more difficult. It requires considerable practice, and it requires making specific decisions during the preinstructional (includes deciding on purposes for an inquiry inquiry lesson, choosing and designing a puzzling situation); interactive (includes conducting the lesson, establishing set and explaining inquiry procedures, presenting the puzzling situation, data gathering and experimentation, hypothesizing and explaining) and postinstructional (consists of some type of feedback, assessment, and evaluation) stages of the lesson. Conclusion This research fairly consistently points out that it takes inquiry teaching and strategies associated with higher-level thinking to produce growth in the thought and inquiry processes of early education students. This growth brought about by any inquiry teaching is hoped to give both the teacher and the students the skills they need to become lifelong learners. The researcher further believes that acquiring such inquiry skills builds up self-esteem and confidence and leads to greater academic success. The challenge of using the inquiry method of teaching especially in the sciences and mathematics in the early childhood education is enormous. However, one has to look up to the change you will make in the set of children entrusted to your care. References Bruner, J. (1996). A study of thinking (rev. ed). New York: Wiley. Dewey, J. (1993). How we think (rev. ed). Lexington, Mass. : D. C. Heath. Duckworth, E. (1997). Twenty-four, forty-two, and I love you: Keeping it complex. In K. Jervis and C. Montag (eds. ), Progressive education for the 1990s: Transforming practice. New York: Teachers College Press. Fenton, E. (1996). Teaching the new science and mathematics in elementary schools: An inductive approach. New York: Holt, Rinehart Winston. Hyde A. Bizar M. (1999). Thinking in context: Teaching cognitive processes across the elementary school curriculum. New York: Longman. Newton, F. (1992). Facilitating inquiry in the classroom. Portland, Oregon: Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory. Resnick, L. B. (1997). Education and Learning to think. Washington, D. C. : National Academy Press. Suchman, R. (1992). The Elementary school training program in scientific inquiry. Report to the U. S. Office of Education. Urbana, III: University of Illinois.

The Social Contract Theory Philosophy Essay

The Social Contract Theory Philosophy Essay The term social contract describes a broad class of philosophical theories whose subject is the implied agreements by which people form nations and maintain a social order. In laymens terms, this means that the people give up some of their rights to a government in order to receive protection and social order. Social contract theory provides the rationale behind the historically important notion that legitimate state authority must be derived from the consent of the governed. The starting point for most of these theories is a heuristic examination of the human condition absent any social order, termed the state of nature or natural state. In this state of being, an individuals action is bound only by his or her conscience. From this common starting point, the various features of social contract theory attempt to explain, in different ways, why it is in an individuals rational self-interest to voluntarily give up the freedom of action one has under the natural state (their so called n atural rights) in order to obtain the benefits provided by the formation of social structures. Common to all of these theories is the notion of a sovereign will, which all members of a society are bound by the social contract to respect. The various types of social contract theory that have developed are largely differentiated by their definition of the sovereign will, be it a King (monarchy), a Council (oligarchy) or The Majority (republic or democracy). Under a theory first articulated by Plato, members within a society implicitly agree to the terms of the social contract by their choice to stay within the society and receive protection. Thus implicit in most forms of social contract is that freedom of movement is a fundamental or natural right which society may not legitimately require an individual to surrender to the sovereign will. The social contract theory has some basic features where it says- firstly. State is an artificial institution signifying that it is a means to an end, secondly, it is created by human beings with the help of a contract, thirdly, the contract must be based on the consent of one and all, and lastly that prior to formation of state me lived in a hypothetical situation known as state of nature. Thomas Hobbes (1651), John Locke (1689), and Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1762) are the most famous philosophers of the social contract theory, which formed the theoretical groundwork of democracy. Although the theory of natural rights influenced the development of classical liberalism, its emphasis on individualism and its rejection of the necessity to subordinate individual liberty to the sovereign will stands in opposition to the general tenets of social contract theory. According to Hobbes theory, without society, we would live in a state of nature (a hypothetical situation since it cannot be supported by historical data), where we each have unlimited natural freedoms. The downside of this general autonomy is that it includes the right to all things and thus the freedom to harm all who threaten ones own self-preservation; there are no positive rights, only laws of nature and an endless war of all against all. In other words, anyone in the state of nature can do anything he likes; but this also means that anyone can do anything he likes to anyone else. The state of nature according to Hobbes is presocial and pre political in nature and there is no scope for development to take place. To avoid this, we jointly agree to a social contract by which we each gain civil rights in return for subjecting ourselves to civil law or to political authority. In Hobbes formulation, the sovereign power is not a party of the contract but instead the sovereign is its c reation, and so is not bound by it. The command of the sovereign is law and the contract is irrevocable. Alternatively, some have argued that we gain civil rights in return for accepting the obligation to respect and defend the rights of others, giving up some freedoms to do so; this alternative formulation of the duty arising from the social contract is often identified with militia, or defense activity. State of nature is a term in political philosophy used in the social contract theories to describe the hypothetical condition of humanity before the states foundation and its monopoly on the legitimate use of physical force. In a broader sense, a state of nature is the condition before the rule of positive law and order comes into being. In some versions of social contract theory, there are no rights in the state of nature, only freedoms, and it is the contract that creates rights and obligations. In other versions the opposite occurs: the contract imposes restrictions upon individuals that curtail their natural rights. Hobbess philosophy English philosopher Thomas Hobbes in his famous work Leviathan first posited the concept of a state of nature in the 17th century. Hobbes described the concept in the Latin phrase bellum omnium contra omnes, meaning the war of all against all. In this state, any person has a natural right to do anything to preserve his or her own liberty or safety. Hobbes believed that human beings in a state of nature would behave with cruelty towards one another. Yet Hobbes argued that people had every right to defend themselves by whatever means necessary in the absence of order. He believed that such a condition would lead to a war of every man against every man and make life solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short. He believed that in the international arena, states behave as individuals do in a state of nature. Rousseaus theory Hobbess view was challenged in the 18th century by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who claimed that Hobbes was taking socialized persons and simply imagining them living outside of the society in which they were raised. He affirmed instead that people were born pure and good; men knew neither vice nor virtue since they had almost no dealings with each other. Their bad habits were the products of civilization specifically social hierarchies, property, and markets Natural rights are those universal rights that are seen as inherent in the nature of people and not contingent on human actions or beliefs. One theory of natural rights was developed from the theory of natural law during the Enlightenment in opposition to the divine right of kings, and provided a moral justification for liberalism. The concept of natural rights can be contrasted with the concept of legal rights: A natural right is one that is claimed to exist even when the government or society as a whole does not enforce it, whereas a legal right is a right specifically created by the government or society, for the benefit of its citizens. Thomas Hobbes was an English philosopher who influenced nearly all-western political philosophy. He is best known for his contribution to the social contract theory of origin of state. Hobbes was greatly influenced in his ideas by the English civil war that broke out in 1642. This led Hobbes to produce a book to set forth his theory of civil government in relation to the political crisis resulting from the war. It was based on an unpublished treatise of 1640. The State, it now seemed to Hobbes, might be regarded as a great artificial man or monster, composed of men, with a life that might be traced from its generation under pressure of human needs to its dissolution through civil strife proceeding from human passions. The work was closed with a general Review and Conclusion; in direct response to the war, which raised the question of the subjects right to change allegiance when a former sovereigns power to protect was irrecoverably gone. In addition, he criticized religious doctrines on rationalistic grounds in the Commonwealth. Hobbess Leviathan had immediate effects because of its secular nature and he had to appeal to the revolutionary English government for protection, which explains his fondness for monarchy and gratitude for royal patronage. Leviathan was written during the English Civil War; much of the book is occupied with demonstrating the necessity of a strong central authority to avoid the evil of discord and civil war. Any abuses of power by this authority are to be accepted as the price of peace. In particular, the doctrine of separation of powers is rejected: the sovereign must control civil, military, judicial, and ecclesiastical powers. Hobbes explicitly states that the sovereign has authority to assert power over matters of faith and doctrine, and that if he does not do so, he invites discord. Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a Genevan philosopher whose political ideas influenced the French Revolution, the development of socialist theory, and the growth of nationalism. Rousseau had lived a poor life full of hardship and travelled all over observing the inequalities among the rich and poor and the different lifestyles. This led him to write a famous book of his known as Discourse on the Origin and Basis of Inequality among Men. Rousseau saw a fundamental divide between society and human nature. He contended that man was neither inherently good nor bad when in the state of nature (the state of all other animals, and the condition humankind was in before the creation of civilization and society), but is corrupted by society. This idea has often led to the attribution to Rousseau the idea of the noble savage. He held that humans are good because they are self-sufficient and thus not subject to the vices of political society. He viewed society as artificial and held that the development of society, especially the growth of social interdependence, has been inimical to the well-being of human beings. He claims that as humans were forced to associate together more closely by the pressure of population growth, they underwent a psychological transformation and came to value the good opinion of others as an essential component of their own well-being. Rousseau associated this new self-awareness with a golden age of human flourishing. However, the development of agriculture, metallurgy, private property, and the division of labor led to humans becoming increasingly dependent on one another, and led to inequality. The resulting state of conflict led Rousseau to suggest that the first state was invented as a kind of social contract made at the suggestion of the rich and powerful. This original contract was deeply flawed as the wealthiest and most powerful members of society tricked the general population, and thus instituted inequality as a fundamental feature of human society. Rousseaus own conception of the social contract can be understood as an alternative to this form of associatio n. In his famous work The Social Contract, he begins by saying, Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains. One man thinks himself the master of others, but remains more of a slave than they are. Rousseau claimed that the state of nature was a primitive condition without law or morality, which human beings left for the benefits and necessity of cooperation. As society developed, division of labor and private property required the human race to adopt institutions of law. In the degenerate phase of society, man is prone to be in frequent competition with his fellow men while at the same time becoming increasingly dependent on them. This double pressure threatens both his survival and his freedom. According to Rousseau, by joining through the social contract and abandoning their claims of natural right, individuals can both preserve themselves and remain free. This is because submission to the authority of the general will of the people as a whole guarantees individuals against being subordinated to the wills of others and ensures that they obey themselves because they are, collectively, the authors of the law. While Rousseau argues that sovereignty should be in the hands of the people, he also makes a sharp distinction between sovereign and government. The government is charged with implementing and enforcing the general will and is composed of a smaller group of citizens, known as magistrates. Rousseaus ideas were influential at the time of the French Revolution although, since popular sovereignty was exercised through representatives rather than directly, it cannot be said that the Revolution was in any sense an implementation of Rousseaus ideas. In Thomas Hobbes book Leviathan- Parts One and Two, he presents a commonwealth ruled by a sovereign leader that is based on the laws of nature and the kingdom of God. At the root of the commonwealth is a social contract, which is a covenant binding the individuals of the society to wills and judgments of the sovereign leader. The contract explores the asociality of the human species and self- preservation, which is fundamental to the human drive. Influenced by Hobbes social contract, Jean Jacques Rousseau published On the Social Contract presenting his theory of the social contract that both expanded and differed from Hobbes principles. Rousseaus social contract presented the governing factor to be the general will. Although Hobbes and Rousseau have differing Social Contracts they each are represented by the phrase, A kingdom divided cannot stand; for, the former is a reference to a monarchy and the latter is a reference to the general will. In Hobbes Leviathan, he presents the asociality of human nature. Because, he notes, human kind is equal in both the body and the mind, men are in a constant state of war with one another. For, from equality arises the desire to attain our goals, which leads to competition between men who are seeking the same end. Thus, out of equality develops diffidence and war. In this state of war men, live without any common power and thus, every man is enemy to every man. Their only security is their strength compounded with the strength of their associates. Because man has no common strength or power, there are no governing laws; hence, there are no injustices. Accordingly, there is no place in the state of war for rights and wrongs. Hobbes notes, Force and fraud are in war the two cardinal virtues, both of these virtues are unjust. He concludes that the only motivation man has to seek peace is the fear of the consequences of war. The motivation of fear does not connote social tendencies of the human specie to aid one another; instead, it clearly notes humankinds selfish disregard of each other. In addition to humankinds tendency towards asociality, Hobbes presents people as being inclined towards self-preservation above all other concerns. The theme of self-preservation is presented in what Hobbes calls the right of nature. He explains this fundamental concept to be, the liberty each man has to use his own power, as he will himself, for the preservation of his own nature- that is to say, of his own life, meaning that any man can go to whatever lengths necessary in order to preserve his own life. Furthermore, an additional law of nature notes that, as a rule, a man is prohibited from behaving in a manner that is destructive to his life. Hobbes also supports what the Christian bible has entitled the golden rule, or the declaration that one should behave, as he or she would wish to be treated. This is a law of self-preservation, which, if ardently followed, would greatly increase peace. Yet, the golden rule is not often followed in the state of war; for, one is disinterested i n any other mans desires besides his own. Thus according to Hobbes, in a state of war man is allowed to behave in any manner he wishes; however, his primary interest and natural guide are the rules of self-preservation. Both humankinds nature of asociality and tendency towards self-preservation are incorporated into Thomas Hobbes social contract. His social contract presents a commonwealth in which there is one sovereign leader, to which all of his subjects have pledged a covenant to surrender their judgments to those wills and judgments of the sovereign. The covenant between the subjects and the sovereign entails very specific rules of conduct. First, the subjects are bound to maintain the same form of the government. They cannot lawfully make a new covenant among themselves; nor, can they break their covenant to the sovereign in any form. For, if one man dissents all of the other subjects should leave the commonwealth and return to a state of war, but this is a great injustice. In addition, they cannot try to replace their covenant to the sovereign with a covenant to God, for a covenant with God must be a lie, unless God, himself, contacted a subject, which, one must admit, is highly unlikely. Sec ond, a sovereign cannot break the covenant with his subjects. Thus, none of his subjects can be freed from his discretion and will. Third, the subject is never endowed with the power to punish the sovereign. Fourth, the roll of the sovereign is to perform whatever is necessary in order to maintain a state of peace and to defend for all of his subjects. In addition, the sovereign determines what doctrines are appropriate to teach his subjects. Fifth, the sovereign is endowed with the right to create governing rules. According to such rules, subjects must lead his life. Furthermore, he has the right to declare peace or war. Lastly, he develops a hierarchy within the subjects, pending on their level of honor. Thus, the sovereign has ultimate control. Hobbes believed that the sovereign ruler must be endowed with utter control; for he believed, a kingdom divided in itself cannot stand. He recognized that often the dissolution of a commonwealth occurs due to the division of the sovereign power. For instance, if two states join, yet each maintains their previous rulers, the subjects will never have a definitive ruler or social code. Dissolution of the commonwealth is also spurred by abuse of power, monopolies, conquering of a state during wartime, and private judgments of good and evil. Although it is always an injustice if a subject questions the rulings of the sovereign, Hobbes occasionally acknowledges that it is necessary. Thus, the premise of Hobbes social contract lies in a single leader with entirely obedient subjects. It is clear that Hobbes Leviathan influenced the social contract put forth by Jean-Jacques Rousseau entitled On the Social Contract. At the onset of his book, Rousseau presents the fundamental problem for which he has developed his social contract: Find a form of association which defends and protects with all common forces the person and goods of each associate, and by means of which each one, while uniting with all, nevertheless obeys only himself and remains as free as before. Rousseau presents the predicament of an association, which protects each associate, while heeding the common good, yet still obeys each associates judgment and will. To this, he proposes a social contract, which is composed of clauses defined by the nature of the act. These clauses are generally accepted and thus sprout from ones reasoning. A violation of this social contract leads to each person regaining their liberty established prior to that association, but losing the liberty the association provided. Rousseau further simplifies his social contract by explaining that these clauses are reducible to one clause. This simplified clause states that the man who breeches the contract from each associate in the community, shall incur alienation from all associates. Rousseau finally condenses his social contract into one statement: Each of us places his person and all his power in common under the supreme direction of the general will; and as one we receive each member as an indivisible part of the whole. Rousseau is concluding that each man places his power under the control of the general will or the balance of the sum of private wills with the sum of general interests. The largest difference between Rousseaus social contract and Hobbes is the state of nature. For, as previously stated, Hobbes state of nature between men was that of war and diffidence. Additionally, Hobbes believes that social order is a state of nature. Yet, Rousseau diverts from Hobbes on this matter. At the onset of his book, Rousseau notes that although the social order is sacred it is not a natural order. In addition, Rousseau explains that the state of war cannot exist solely between individuals, but a private war is one between two states. In such a case, individuals are enemies only due to the nature of war, not due to the nature of mankind. This gap is the primary reason that Rousseau and Hobbes social contracts differ. For, Hobbes social contract is pendent on the natural, perpetual state of war between men. Because of such a state, Hobbes feels that it is necessary to implement the strongest form of government, Monarchy. Accordingly, because Rousseau does not believe in t his natural state of war, he finds the people more capable of reasoning the publics best interest. Thus, he relies on the general will of all to determine the actions of the governing body. Despite this difference, Rousseaus social contract is very similar to that of Hobbes. They each are rooted in the principle of a divided kingdom cannot stand. It is clear that Hobbes social contract upholds said principle for it is based on the premise of the one sovereign leader. Additionally, Rousseaus social contract unifies the kingdom differently. For, according to Rousseau, the unity of the citizens lies in their general will. Thus, the government will act in a manner favorable to the general will and accordingly, the public is united. Hobbes Leviathan: Parts 1 and 2, presents a moral code of conduct established through prudence and science. His proposed commonwealth attempts to protect men from one another by unifying a group of subjects under one sovereign leader. His theory, however, does not account for potential lunatic dictators who incur mass genocide on their people or develop a state of divided classes, with an extremely impoverished lower class and an unnecessarily wealthy upper class, or overall misuse of their ultimate control. Yet, Rousseaus social contract has its negative points too. As Rousseau admits, the public does not have the intellectual capability to rationalize the general good. Individuals may maintain the best intentions of determining the general will, yet each response will be skewed. Thus one needs to take into account only their intentions; yet, it is impossible to accordingly determine the general will. Hence, neither Hobbes nor Rousseaus social contract is perfect.

The Differences Between Internal And External Sources Of Business Finance Finance Essay

The Differences Between Internal And External Sources Of Business Finance Finance Essay Businesses require financing in order to operate. The source of this finance can be either internal or external and furthermore it can further subdivided into long or short term. Long terms sources are those that provide finance for more than a year while short term provide for less than a year; Internal sources of finance come from within the business and do not require the agreement of anyone beyond directors and managers of the business. (LOE 2010:317). The long term sources of internal finance include retained profits while short term sources include selling of inventories, extending period of credit from suppliers and stricter credit control over funds owed by credit customers (LOE 2010). Sources of finance are considered short term because they can easily be reversed in the short run. External sources of finance on the other hand require(s) the compliance of potential shareholders (LOE 2010:317) and in this case the company owes outside institutions or individuals (Brindley 200 8). According to LOE (2010), long term sources of external sources of finance include ordinary shares, preference shares, long term loans, finance leases, hire purchase agreements etc. While short term sources of external finance include bank overdrafts, debt factoring and invoice discounting. Difficulties SMEs face in raising adequate finance: SMEs face numerous challenges in raising enough finance for their business. According to Propoarco (2009:13) difficulties in gaining access to financing constitute the main stumbling block for SME development in Sub Saharan African. This is caused by a number of factors. First, there are inadequate personal funds and resources to fully fund the business and this requires that they look for external sources of finance where they are likely to encounter further challenges. Lack of collateral Banks require guarantees in the form of assets, forecast of business growth etc in order to approve long and short term loans and ensure that they can get their money back through payments or by selling off the defaulters assets. Unfortunately most SMEs do not have many assets in the business name as they are start ups and this poses challenges. Moreover, because some SMEs are sole proprietorships, it can be difficult to separate the SMEs assets from those of the business owner (oecd.org). Banks are therefore weary of providing funding where there is no clarity especially when it is unclear regarding the health of the business and its assets. There is no guarantee that the SME can sustain loan payments. High Cost of finance, Too high interest rates that are unsustainable. SMEs are considered high risk because they have a high failure rate and therefore more likely to default on loans (ITC 2009). As such, in order to counter their risk of lending to such enterprises, banks charge high interest rates. This in turn makes access to funding expensive for SMEs compared to larger organisations that are not viewed as high risk. SME owners sometimes lack access to information regarding where to access funds and may not be aware of the requirements in order to access these funds ITC 2009). Moreover SME may not have a clear and well constructed business plan that details the business path over the next few years; a key requirement for most financing institutions; or the business plan may be poorly constructed and not have key information (oecd.org). In addition banks may require pertinent information such as credit rating, credit history in order to make well informed decisions. Unfortunately as a start up, an SME might not have this information. Moreover the company may not have kept this information or the companys funds may be intertwined with the owners personal finances, making it difficult to produce this information. Such regulatory constraints make it challenging for SMEs to access financing. The loan application process itself may be too lengthy and complicated such that the SME owner gives up (ITC 2009). SMEs can also be pessimistic about outside investors and would rather keep it in the family. As such they are not open to financing ideas that involve outsiders taking part ownership or control of the companies. This therefore limits their financing options. Possible Advice and Solutions SMEs have several options regarding where and how to access funding. SMEs can access finance through venture capitalists. These are individuals who provide funding to start up companies with exciting ideas that promise high returns and they offer funding to start ups, to businesses that need to achieve a turnaround, that need to expand etc(LOE 2010). However in certain cases venture capitalists may require equity or control in the said business in return. Non- governmental organisations (NGOs) have also devised programmes in order to provide funding for SMEs because of the difficulties of accessing fund in the mainstream. Oikocredit an NGO in Ghana for example offers funding for SMEs (Mensah 2004). USAID Development credit authority also provides funding for SMEs. Governments have also taken interest in this issue and through initiatives such as Small firm loan guarantee scheme in the UK (LOE 2010: 357) and Africa Development Bank, governments help SMEs that lack security to access funds by being the guarantors of a large percentage of the loan. Grants and subsidies are also available for example through the Ministry of SMEs in Zimbabwe. Listings on alternative stock exchanges such as Altx in Johannesburg (RHPS.com) and AIM in the UK allow smaller businesses to list and float shares with less stringent requirements thereby raising equity finance. Wealthy individuals, already successful in business, called business angels (LOE 2010) invest in SMEs through a shareholding to assist start ups or SME expansion plans. This can be in the form of a single individual or a consortium. While they dont get involved in the day to day operations of the business, they do take an active interest. And can be a valuable source of business skills and experience. According to ITC (2009), trade credit (where collateral is not required) and cash advances from customers can be short term source of finance for SMEs.

The Hofstra Production of Shakespeare’s Play, Loves Labors Lost :: Love Labor Lost

The Hofstra Production of Shakespeare’s Play, Love's Labor's Lost Well-educated college students who study Shakespeare’s plays tend to have mixed feelings on how to stage scenes. In Shakespeare's Love's Labor's Lost, the boy says, "An excellent device. Now Hercules destroys the snake." (5.2.137). Here he is supposed to be taken seriously and be bringing out a good point during the "Nine Worthies." In the Hofstra stage version he pretty much looks like a joke and his comments then become meaningless. He should have been appearing as a much more serious character, portraying the attitude of an intelligent young boy. As the production proceeded there were other distractions that caught the viewer's eye. Another major distraction was the running to the microphones to sing or to state an idea. If everyone else can hear the actors and actresses for the rest of the play what was the point of the microphones? Along with the microphones and running, the songs really tended to cause the audience to become less interested. The crowd’s attention goes towards the microphone and the rest of the play is ignored. Another major problem was the scenery. The stage was set the same for every scene, never changing, although the setting changed in the text version. For instance, when all the men, beginning with Berowne, confess that they broke the oath and fell in love they are in a forest-like setting. When the production took place there were no trees or bushes. When Berowne says, "I was behind the tree and heard everything so why are you lying "(4.3.80), the audience noticed there were no trees or any type of setting to resemble that. This makes the words sound bad if the scenery does not match what is being acted out. Once again distractions cause problems within a play. Although the messenger coming down the aisle was an interesting touch, it caused my eyes to leave the stage, the main focus. There are some positive opinions on this production. The ending scene was very well acted and stressed what really went on in the text.

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner Essay -- Rime Ancient Mariner

It has been suggested that The Rime of the Ancient Mariner may be read as a religious text, presenting ‘nothing less than the fall of man’. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner has been interpreted in a variety of ways since it’s creation in 1797. Some, such as Gavin McGann, argue that ballad is a story of our salvation of Christ, whereas others dispute this, believing it to be a metaphor for Original Sin in the Garden of Eden. Whilst these interpretations may differ, the view that The Rime may be read as a religious text does not. Religion lies at the heart of the poem, focusing on the trials and tribulations of man, depicting a moving spiritual journey of sin, punishment, repentance and eventual redemption. In murdering the albatross the Mariner commits a terrible sin. The bird brought with it Southerly winds to lead the straying ship out of the Antarctic, after it had been driven off course by a storm. Flying alongside the ship, the albatross held only the good intention of helping the ship finds its way back on track. The mariner’s sin is fundamentally unpremeditated and unfounded, and in committing a crime against nature, he is essentially committing a crime against God, the creator of all nature and life. The punishment which the Mariner must face following the motiveless shooting of the albatross is not unjustified. The crime arouses the wrath of supernatural spirits who then pursue the ship â€Å"from the land of mist and snow†; the Southerly wind which had initially led them from the land ... ...re is no doubt that it does present, through allegory, the spiritual regeneration of man. However, to approach the poem with purely a Christian interpretation in mind would be foolish as there a many respectable alternative interpretations, including Freudian and Jungian, which, although dissecting the poem in different ways, each have their own strengths. So, it is fair to say that the suggestion that The Rime of the Ancient Mariner may be interpreted as a â€Å"religious text† is true as a text can be interpreted in whatever way a reader wishes to view it. However to limit and confine the poem to this would be unfair, as a text can always be interpreted from many angles, and it would be highly critical towards Coleridge to conclude that, when he sat down to write the Ancient Mariner, he did so with the aim of creating simply a religious tale.

Meaning of Life and Happiness Essay

I do not think that there is a single person in the world who can say that knows what happiness actually is and, more importantly, that knows how to achieve it. We sometimes get the glimpse of pure happiness but those moments are so rare and so intense that we only recognise them too late. Each of us understands this feeling in a different way†¦I, for instance, see it as the one that can make you feel that there is no worry in life and nothing and nobody can hurt you anymore. For me, it is when you feel like you can do anything and forget about the past, the future, just enjoying the mere present. In my case, it is one of two feelings that can make you cry with all your heart†¦because it is too much for you to express in plain words or pointless gestures. â€Å"Tears are words that the heart can’t express† a wise man once said and could have never said it better, as happiness is that joy which is so strong that sometimes even hurts. However, I never remember the recipe for happiness and even if I did I do not think it would work again because one of its components is also hazard. Still, this does nt make me stop searching for it and devote it everything I do, I am and I achieve. Likewise, each person I’ve ever met, consciously or not, did the same†¦we want to get something, to become someone. Why? Not because that would make us feel miserable, but fulfilled and maybe a little bit more: happy. Hence, I strongly believe that happiness is the main purpose of our lives, the whole aim of our ephemeral existence. We are born happy and we want to die the same; this is the true ideal that we all crave for reaching. Money, wealth, knowledge mean nothing, without someone who cares about what you have achieved. Human beings, whether they like admitting it or not, need other human beings to share their secrets with, to share their joy or sorrow; as genuine joy can only become happiness if there is another person by your side. In other words, happiness is, in my opinion, the actual meaning of life; and life seems so complicated especially because we seldom get to its core, we almost never get to know what happiness feels like†¦and afterwards all that remains is an unclear memory of the moment and a wish of feeling it again.

“Owl Creek Bridge” by Ambrose Bierce and Stephen Crane’s “The Blue Hotel” Essay

Many authors use irony to impact the story in different ways. Sometimes the author makes the tone very pleasant and dreamy, like every thing is good and ok, when all of the sudden the story is flipped completely, changing the whole outcome of the story. Irony can also be used in a much more subtle way, for example it doesn’t change the entire story, it just makes the reader think about what just happened a second time. For example, Ambrose Bierce’s short story, â€Å"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge† has very ironic elements to it. Just about the whole story itself is quite ironic. Peyton Farquhar, the main charter, is being hung. In the seconds of dying, he stretches the couple of seconds out into a long-lasting dream. He imagines himself swimming away while dodging bullets, and then he gets into the forest where he must make a long and miserable trip back to his house. Just as he is about to reach his wife’s arms his neck breaks and he dies, but he didn’t die there, he died long ago at the bridge. Bierce makes you truly think that Farquhar has escaped from death, but just as you think you are going to witness a happy ending, you figure out Peyton Farquhar has died at Owl Creek Bridge. Another example of irony in the short story â€Å"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge† was when the Union solider dressed as a Confederate soldier so easily convinced Farquhar to attempt to burn down the Owl Creek Bridge. All he had to do was mention that the bridge could easily be burnt down from one side. He was really a Union soldier trying to, in a way, trick Farquhar into giving up his life, and it worked fairly easily. Another short story that has some very ironic parts to it is Stephen Crane’s â€Å"The Blue Hotel†. One of its ironic points is when the Swede is in the pub. He is starting to get drunk and asks a small group of men in the pub to come have a drink with him. They say no and eventually the drunken Swede goes over and puts his hand on one of the men’s shoulder and ends up strangling him. This forces the man to pull out a knife and stab the Swede, which ends up killing him. All the Swede wanted was someone to drink and have a good time with, but oddly enough, this ends up costing him his life. Another very ironic point to â€Å"The Blue Hotel† was what all the Swede went through when he accused Johnnie of cheating in a game of cards. He got into a fight with Johnnie and then left the hotel from which he got stabbed and killed. The Swede lost his life over a little accusation of cheating. Later on in the story we learn that his acquisition turned out to be true; Johnnie actually did cheat at the card game, just nobody believed him over Johnnie because everyone has known him for a long time, but the Swede was just some random guy that thought everyone was out to get him. Irony can be used in different ways, some very dramatic, and some just to add a little kick to the story. Bierce used irony in a very direct and in a way that it completely changed the plot. He used it so that an almost seemingly happy ending turned into a very sad ending in the blink of an eye. Crane’s use of irony sort of adds to the story without completely changing it. It makes the reader feel sort of bad for the character, making them feel if just this little change would have occurred, everything would have turned out happy. Irony is a very strong tool that can be used is to enhance the story and even to fool the reader sometimes.

Influence of Reference Groups Essay

When you think about reference groups, there are a number of perspectives that one has to consider. According to Hawkins (2010), a reference group is a group whose presumed perspectives or values are being used by an individual as the basis for his or her current behavior. Thus, a reference group is simply a group that an individual uses as a guide for behavior in a specific situation (p. 227). Groups may be classified according to a number of variables. Four criteria are particularly useful: membership, strength of social tie, type of contact, and attraction. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is a private, non-profit organization whose purpose is to provide assistance and support through established programs in local communities throughout the world. A sisterhood of more than 200,000 predominately Black college educated women, the Sorority currently has over 900 chapters located in the United States, England, Japan (Tokyo and Okinawa), Germany, the Virgin Islands, Bermuda, the Bahamas and the Republic of Korea. The Sorority was founded in 1913 by 22 students at Howard University. These young women wanted to use their collective strength to promote academic excellence; to provide scholarships; to provide support to the underserved; educate and stimulate participation in the establishment of positive public policy; and to highlight issues and provide solutions for problems in their communities (Delta Sigma Theta, 2010). Delta Sigma Theta’s website is about heritage. This site speaks volumes about how these women wanted to be a part of an organization that consists of excellence. These women have a lifetime membership within the sorority. The influence that this organization has, as well as the site, is remarkable. The information on this site will allow younger women that have the desire to go to college and be a part of an organization that helps one excel, not only in school, but also in the workforce as well. This site has all the criteria of a basic reference group. The social ties that this organization has within the world are by far the best for young women that are willing to be a part of change. People that have â€Å"made it† when it comes to financial stability may feel that they are affluent in the society. There are people that have made millions and they do stand alone when it comes to affording â€Å"the better things† in life. Bentley’s website is attractive because the vehicle shows class. The influence that this vehicle has on a person’s financial status is undoubtedly the car of all cars. A Bentley is unmistakable – all it takes is a glance at the twin headlights, matrix grille or the high waistline to know one. The paradox of the car is that although it is instantly recognizable, it takes time and effort to hand-build each one. That’s the assured Bentley hallmark. A hand-built car using the finest quality natural materials takes time. Yet, while others may do things ‘meticulously’ or ‘painstakingly’, Bentley has always been about passion. In fact, our entire reputation rests on the experienced skills and passion of our people, handed down through generations. Many of our people say that they work on each Bentley as if it were going to be their car. They want to get it right. It’s no wonder that every machinist who creates a set of upholstery signs the back of it with his or her initials (Bentley, 2010). Once again Bentley’s website is about class and luxury. This site tells a story about smoothness when it comes to highway. There is nothing like being comfortable while traveling on highway or down the street to the mailbox. People that are attractive to the glitz and glamour will definitely enjoy riding either in the backseat of a spacious vehicle or driving behind the wheel. The six-time success at Le Mans has made Bentley more than a car – it has come to stand for a way of doing things: with spirit, flair, courage, instinctive intelligence and teamwork. Endurance racing has always been a way for us to test, strengthen and improve the cars.

Billy Budd by Herman Melville

The story, Billy Budd, by Herman Melville embodies many themes. The same story has also been the subject of many different interpretations because of these themes. One of the more popular interpretations has to do with the many different allusions to the holy Christian bible. Billy has often been interpreted as Adam from the book of Genesis, while his counterpart, Claggart, has often been compared to the serpent in the Garden of Eden or as Satan. The reason for this comparison has to do with the sacrifice that Billy makes at the end of the story.Good natured and kind hearted, Billy becomes the innocent victim of a harsh society. In order to make this portrayal, however, it is necessary to briefly discuss the trials and tribulations that Billy endured. The goodness of Billy is highlighted more during the times when Claggart tries to tempt Billy in committing dastardly acts and deeds of evil; the temptations that Claggart dangles in Billy’s way show Claggart’s different a ttempts to destroy the character of Billy. This is analogous to the situation in the Garden of Eden where the Serpent tries to deceive Adam into taking the fruit of the forbidden tree.The description of Claggart’s dead body as it lies lifeless in the form of a snake reinforces this point. This is an important characterization that is used well in the story as it makes it easier for the readers to identify one of the many themes that are embedded in Billy Budd. Without these comparisons to Adam, the innocence and the tragedy of the downfall of Billy would not be as highlighted as they are in the story. The sacrifice that Billy makes in the end becomes the haunting image of how a hostile society can corrupt the lives and minds of the innocent ones.

Intro to Mgt Syst Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Intro to Mgt Syst - Assignment Example By instituting privacy policies in information systems, organizations can safeguard personal information of their employees and customers from access and manipulation by ill-motivated individuals. There are several human and technological protective measures that can be used to safeguard and enforce privacy in information systems. Some of the most operative and widely used mechanisms include encryption, data masking, and authentication. Kim and Solomon (2012) define encryption as the process of encoding information and/or messages in such a manner that only the authorized parties can access or read it. The process involves encrypting plaintext with an encryption algorithm to generate the cipher text that is only readable if decrypted. Therefore, any interceptor of the message cannot access it unless they provide the encryption key which is provided by the originator of the information (Kim & Solomon, 2012). Data masking, on the other hand, refer to the process of hiding the original data with random characters to prevent classified personal data from access by unauthorized persons (Rainer & Cegielski, 2012). Data masking aims at protecting the actual data by having a function al substitute when the real data is not required. Authentication is another measure that can be taken by determining whether something or someone is what he or she declares to be. Authentication in information systems is attained through the use of logon passwords and pin numbers (Kim & Solomon, 2012). There are several problems related to management information systems that arise from privacy of information. One of the most common problems is security breaches, which emanate as a result of hackers and viruses. Today, most organizations store their data on remote cloud servers accessible with a username and the appropriate password (Kim & Solomon, 2012). However, there is a higher risk of losing the data through viruses, hijackers, and wrong-minded

A Casy Study_PTII Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

A Casy Study_PTII - Case Study Example The methods to use for collecting effective data generally consist of techniques like questionnaires designed for taking interviews, observation practices and other measures like surveys. However the methods like observation and surveys are taken to be unobtrusive in nature and thereby do not require the researcher to go for an in-depth analysis of the research question. On the contrary, the use of interview technique based on development of a questionnaire helps the researcher to gain potential inferences to the research question. Thus for the research question under view it would be feasible to incorporate the interview method than other data collection methods (Cummings and Worley, 2008, p.123). Use of open and close ended questions in the interview would enable the researcher to get effective views and feedbacks of the respondents to the research question. Using written document along with an in depth interviews the researchers will be able collect information of the phenomena. By reading it carefully researcher tends to drive the essence of experience by conducting interviews with the individuals who have already experienced the phenomenon. Interviews to be conducted for the research are of mainly three types, unstructured interview, semi structured interview and focus group interview. In unstructured interview, the questions are not set in advance so that the flow is not limited with certain set of questions. Once the interview is underway, the interviewer may ask question to clarify his thoughts such as â€Å"tell me what you meant by† or â€Å"please say more about†. In semi structured interview, the interviewer pre plans few of the general questions to be asked. This type of question typically begins with set of guiding questions which address significant aspect of the research subject. Open ended questions are used to guide the interview and offers some structure and at the same time attempts to maintain

Taste and design Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Taste and design - Essay Example Taste and color in design are two components that need to be studied in order to understand how design can take different meanings and appeal among different people. Taste and Color, both are part of the design process that cannot be objectively labeled as good and bad. In order to differentiate between good and bad, we need to understand the role taste and color play in the design process. In this paper, both taste and color would be discussed in detail. Every person has a different taste towards design. Every few pieces of design have universal appeal among the people. People’s perception of good design changes with their personality, their culture, their status and even the socio-economic group. For instance, in India people tend to prefer red dresses for their weddings while in America, the most preferred color is white. Even the styling of these dresses change from one country to another. It is almost impossible to make people agree over one taste in design. A person’s individual personality also plays an important role in defining his taste in design. Some people prefer simple minimalist designs while others prefer opulent designs. It cannot be argued which design is better. A room with minimalistic design may appeal to one designer but not to the other. Design taste also changes with changing cultures. People in different cultures decorate their homes in different ways. Taste in Design is not a universally accepted principle. It is difficult to develop a tasteful design based on a set of principles. This is mainly because taste in design tends to differ from person to person. Cultures, age, time, personality, mood and almost everything changes a person’s perception of tasteful design. Design Tastes also vary with time. It is easy to observe this if one goes back and observes how fashion has evolved with time. What our parents perceived as good design is

Investments & Returns Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Investments & Returns - Essay Example Systematic risk, in finance, also known as non-controllable or non-diversifiable risk is the uncertainty in financial returns caused by factors that are beyond the control of an entity. These factors are macro-economic in nature. This type of risk cannot be managed by the organizations. They are the interest rate risk, the inflationary risk, the exchange risk and the market risk. The interest rate risk is caused by the movements in the cost of debt, thereby causing a decline or an increase in the interest payment on debt finance. An increase in the interest rate is unfavourable to the borrowers who will dig deeper into their pockets in order to meet the cost of debt. On the other hand, an increase in the interest rate is favourable to the lender due to an increase in the return. The opposite of the statement is true (Akrani, 2012). The inflationary risk is caused by a future increase or decrease in the commodity prices due to a deficit or a surplus in the supply level. An increase in the inflation reduces the real value of the local currency while a decrease in the inflation increases the real value of the local currency. A decline in the value of the local currency reduces the value of organizations, whereas, an increase in the value of the local currency increases the value of organizations. The exchange rate risk is caused by the volatility of the exchange rate. The exchange rate is the price of a local currency against that of the foreign currency. Companies that have subsidiaries in the internal market lose/gain when converting foreign currency to local currency when the exchange rate decreases/increases (Akrani, 2012). A decrease in the exchange rate means that less local currency is given up for the foreign the foreign currency. On the other hand, an increase in the exchange rate means that more local currency is given up for the foreign currency. The market risk is caused by the rise and fall in the prices of shares and other securities in the

Describe the types of communication mechanisms that can be adopted by Essay

Describe the types of communication mechanisms that can be adopted by A&S fashions limited to help ensure better understanding a - Essay Example Staff members who will receive the message are the decoder while the channeling could be through word of mouth or a written memo. Once the staff members receive the message, they may relay back some feedback to management. In this paper, the most effective ways Alex and Sons fashion limited could use to help solve structural and coordination problems it is currently facing will be outlined. The paper will identify the exact coordination problem that faces this business. Further, it will formulate a work plan on the best way forward. Alex and sons fashion limited faces a few coordination/communication problems. The marketing department feels that the human resource people are not recruiting the right talent to drive sales upwards. They also feel that the finance department is not allocating enough funds to enable it carry out promotions and marketing operations. Marketing department also has a query with the people in logistics and operations unit (O'rourke, 2009, p.23).  They belie ve that this department is taking too long to deliver inventory such that once it arrives to the trading floor, it is no longer fashionable and customers will not buy. The operation department feels that their suppliers are being lured by more attractive incentives from the competitions and as such are not as responsive to their supplies team. They also feel that the marketing department is not motivating their people with incentive such as bonuses and commissions to help drive sales upwards. Further, they believe that the finance department is not allocating enough resources to recruit better designers. The finance department in turn thinks that if all departments could work together, they could meet the company’s goal that is to maximize profit. The result of this will in turn mean that they have enough funds to disburse to different departments. The staff members also have issues with the management team. As result of remarks made by Alex recently in an interview, the staf f feel threatened and have issued a strike notice and gone ahead to strike. They want their job security and the temporary workers want to be employed on a permanent basis with benefits. To solve this myriad of problems, the following communication techniques can be employed. Bringing in an expert in communication can be a very effective way to solve some of these problems. The expert may organize seminars, training or lectures on communication. Timely advice on the best way forward and detailed action plan would be draw by the expert. The guru could work on a consultancy basis and will be coming in to monitor how effective the techniques suggested are coming through (Fielding, 2005, p.34).  There are several firms involved in communication, most charge a few hundred pounds to several pounds depending on the duration they will be involved with a firm. One of the best ways to improve communication in an organization is to solicit feedback from each member on how effective they thin k each member communicates. A&S fashion limited could organize weekly meetings solely dedicated to this. At these meetings, members would solicit feedback and further ask for suggestion on the best communication techniques they think would apply to them (Coghill & Garson, 2006, p.54).  In addition, weekly status report should be organized. During this meeting, what has been

Bolsa Chica Wetlands Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Bolsa Chica Wetlands - Essay Example It is assumed that the wetlands of Bolsa Chica provide shelter to a number of endangered species of flora and fauna. Recently the nature reserve of Bolsa China is also being used as a tourist-spot for nature-lovers. Since it is an important stop on the Pacific flyway of migratory birds, outbound travelers often grab the opportunity to come into the close contact of natural sceneries of the marshlands of Bolsa Chica. Apart from Bolsa Chica’s ecological importance, it has become a popular tourist spot, which provides the nature-lovers with a significant number of recreation activities such surf fishing for â€Å"perch, corbina, croaker, cabezon and sand shark†, bare-handed fishing for â€Å"California grunion, a species that only spawns on sandy southern California beaches†, bird-watching, etc. To the north and the South of Bolsa Chica Nature Reserve, there are the Warner Avenue and Seapoint Avenue, whereas there are residential areas on along border. Moreover, one can enjoy both the natural sceneries of Bolsa Chica and the oceanic beauty along the Pacific Coast Highway on the western border of Bolsa Chica. Though docent-led tour is available on the first, the second and the third Saturdays of each month, one can take a tour personal tour in these areas at any time of the year. The tours on the first Saturday and the third Saturday of each month are arranged by the â€Å"Amigos de Bolsa Chica† and the â€Å"Bolsa Chica Land Trust† from the South parking lots. Inbound nature-lovers can get a substantial knowledge about the areas’ weather, climate and geography from the Interpretive Center at Warner Ave. Bolsa Chica is endowed with some unique geographical features because of its more or less direct connection to the sea along its southern border. When we visited the area, the weather was somewhat cloudy. Though we guessed that it might rain, it did not happened finally. Before we reached there, we researched the weather st atus of Bolsa Chica by consulting the Bolsa Weather pages online. We learnt that the Bolsa Chica area has a typical weather which is applicable to any coastal area along the Tropic of Cancer. â€Å"A warm, dry Mediterranean climate,†, as it is said in Bolsa Chica page on Weather.com, â€Å"prevails over Southern California - inland it is hot in the summer, mild in the winter† (â€Å"Profile for Bolsa† pars. 3). August in Huntington is the warmest month, when the average temperature fluctuates between 900 F and 1050 F. In December, which is the coolest month, the average temperature oscillates from 200 F to 300 F. During the summer, frequent fogs prevail over the region and â€Å"most of the precipitation comes as rain† during the winter in December (â€Å"Profile for Bolsa† pars. 5). Since we visited Bolsa Chica at the end of July, the weather on our visiting day was neither foggy and nor rainy. Since Bolsa Chica stands very close to the coast of t he Pacific, the local climate remains almost moderate without much demarcation between the summer and the winters. Such moderate weather makes Bolsa Chica’s weather and climate different from the overall climatic pattern of California. Bolsa Chica, having all the characteristics of a wetland, is a rich habitat of a wide range of flora and fauna. A wetland is, indeed, a natural home of different species of birds, animals and plants. The â€Å"