R IC H FIE L D GR A D U ATE I NS T IT U TE OF TE C Essays (1148 words)

R IC H FIE L D GR A D U ATE I NS T IT U TE OF TE C H NO L OGY ( P T Y) L T D FA C U L T Y OF I N F O R M A T I O N T E C H N OL O G Y I T P R O J E C T M A N A G E N T 7 00 1 S T SE M ES T ER A S S I G N M E N T N a m e S u r n a m e: IC A S N o : Q u a l i f i c atio n : S e m est e r : M o d u l e N a m e: D ate S u b m i t t e d : A S S E S S M E N T CR I T E R IA M A RK A LL O C A T I ON E X A M I N E R M A R K S M O D E R A TOR M A R K S M A R K S F O R C O N T E N T QU E S TI O N ONE 45 QU E S TI O N T WO 45 T O T A L M A R K S 90 M A R K S F O R T ECH N I C A L A S P EC T S 1. T A B L E OF CO N T E N T S Acc u rate n u m b e ri n g a c cor d i n g t o t h e n u m b e ri n g in t e xt a n d p age n u m b e r s . 2 2. L A Y O U T A N D S P E LL I N G Fo n t - Calibri 12 Li n e S p aci n g - 1.0 Margin sh o u ld b e j u s tif i e d . 3 3. R E F E R E N C E Accor d i n g t o t h e H ar v ard M e t h od 5 T O T A L M A R K S 10 T O T A L M A R K S F O R A S S I GN M E N T 100 E xa m i n e r ' s C o m m e n ts: M o d e r at o r ' s C o m m e n ts: S i g n a t u r e o f Ex a m i n e r : S i g n a t u r e o f M o d e r a t o r : Q UE S T I O NS [ 90 M A R K S] N B : Y o u are r e q u i r e d to a n s w e r t h e f o l l o w i n g t w o q u e st i o n s. E a c h q u e s t i o n w i l l c a r r y e q u a l ( 4 5 m a r k s ) a n d y o u r a n s w e r f o r e a c h q u e s t i o n s h o u l d be ar o u n d 150 - 3 0 0 w o r d s m i n i m u m: Q UE S T I O N O NE ( 4 5 M A R K S) 1. 1 W i t h t h e a i d of t h

The Eiffel Tower as a City Landmark Essay

The Eiffel Tower as a City Landmark Essay The Eiffel Tower as a City Landmark Essay Example The Eiffel Tower as a City Landmark Essay Example Being a landscape that reflects social, political, economic and cultural relationships, this topic will be discussed in the context of cultural geography. It will enable the investigation of the changes in perceptions surrounding the design, construction, as well as the continued existence of the tower. This paper will deal with all aspects of this structure and how they reflect the perception of France as a nation and the city of Paris. As a city landmark, the tower has been exaggerated to communicate social messages in the loudest way possible (Riggs 2009, p. 6). THE EIFFEL TOWER. HOW DOES THIS LANDMARK REPRESENT THE FRENCH NATION? In particular, this essay will attempt to explain the true definition of a landmark and the representation a particular landmark (Eiffel Tower) has on a particular nation (France). Using the reference of the Eiffel Tower, I will further attempt to explain the architectural attributes and perception of this landmark by its nation. Further, I will analyze ‘why’ the Eiffel Tower is a representation of France, taking into accounts such aspects as structure, building materials used in relation to the rest of the country and the history and intentions of the building. This essay will be a critical analysis of the perception of the Eiffel Tower and how different groups (locals and visiting tourists) each encounter different experiences of the landmark. Finally, it will analyze whether the Eiffel Tower is truly an expression of France. According to Arnold and Ballantyne, â€Å"We are interested in the ways in which places are perceived and appropriated across intervals of time or culture landscapes. Buildings and urban environments are reconfigured in incommensurable ways by different groups with their own particular identities, concepts and preoccupation† (Arnold Ballantyne 2004, p. 1). The questions will be answered by drawing upon a range of methodologies and philosophies. For many, the essence of France is its capital city and in particular its iconic structure of the Eiffel Tower, thought by many to be a beautiful timeless masterpiece. However, is this the universal perception of the Eiffel Tower or is there a great divide between what the locals of Paris think and the rest of the world looking in through the eyes of a tourist? It is a fundamental question, which I will attempt to examine and analyze. Landmarks As quoted by the Oxford English Dictionary, a landmark is â€Å"An object or feature of a landscape or town, which can be seen easily and be recognized from a distance, especially one that enables someone to establish the location† (Oxford English Dictionary 2013, p. 1). Landmarks are used to express and define a particular era and the surrounding area. It was originally used as a geographical tool to navigate explorers through an area landmark. Nowadays, they have come to mean so much more. Now they not only navigate through a city, but encase a plethora of history, heritage and memories. A survey devised by the Getty Institute (1997) states that landmarks unite young people, families, and communities with a common feeling (The Getty Conservation Institute 1997, p. 1). Landmarks become more distinguishable and substantial, when they have a clear structure, if they are distinctive with the surrounding area as well as whenever they are prominent within a large area. The context, against which a component stands out, should not be restricted to its immediate background. Examples include the steeples of the Los Angeles City Hall and the Eiffel Tower in Paris, which are the landmarks distinctive against the backdrop of the entire city. Spatial prominence establishes elements as landmarks in one of two ways: either by enabling the landmark to be noticeable from various view points or by creating an antithesis between proximate elements. An example is a deviation between the exterior surroundings and elevation (Lynch 1960, p. 78). Thus, this essay will focus on the Eiffel Tower. The structure is qualified as a landmark in a number of ways. France has had its important matters commemorated and celebrated here. Though the installation of its lighting system was done in 1900 for the then exposition, the tower got established as broadcasting beacon from 2000, when the millennium celebration has been conducted. Even after this, there was an installation of a new projector, whose two beams of light could go up to 80 kilometers. With the 1999’s unavailing of new light sets, which could glitter as midnight was approaching, the tower gained its intended status as a universally accepted symbolic landmark (Carr 2014, p. 1). The new century saw the landmark being illuminated by different colors and patterns. It has been done to mark a number of past celebrations and anniversaries, which were of great importance to French people. The year 2004 saw the red lights being used in oneness during celebration of Chinese New Year. On the other hand, it was lit in blue in the year 2006 in marking the twentieth anniversary of the Europe’s day. The year 2007, the gold and green colors were used together with rugby posts and ball in celebration the hosting of Rugby World Cup by France. This representation makes the symbolic connotation of the tower obvious to the world Carr 2014, p. 1). In the context of this paper, a landscape encompasses both the physical places as well as their artistic representation. In fact, the places of the statuses, such as that of Eiffel Tower, are never simply seen as a cultural landscape. They have continuously been seen as including the surrounding people and the way in which they interact and interrelate. Today, landscapes represent symbolic systems, which take the shape of the inhabitants’ beliefs as well as the meanings the landscape is attributed to. It means that the way such landscapes are shaped do express the represented social ideologies as is communicated by a given landscape. According to Crowley and Jobling (1996, p. 87), the landscapes, which humans inhabit and thus continuously modify, speak people’s geographical interest making them cultural landscapes. However, landscapes can have different meanings to various people. The perceptions they attract can also change over time. However, the majority of cultural landscapes merely represent people’s values symbolically. In essence, cultural landscapes represent a system, which allows people to communicate, explore, reproduce and experience their social order. The Eiffel Tower replaced Gothic cathedral as the major landmark before the tower’s construction. However, they shared a familial affinity since they had similar construct ideologically. That is, the Eiffel Tower later embodied the ideals of the republicans, which had initially been attributed to the cathedral (Petersen, 2004, p. 469). It was later replaced as the world’s tallest building by Chrysler Building in New York City, which was completed in 1930. Background Information on the Eiffel Tower The Republican France in the early 1880s was dealing with an economic crisis and suffering great political instability. The idea of building the tower was first formed to celebrate the first centenary of the French Revolution by designing a monument to mark this occasion. The World’s Fair inspired the idea to create a monument to boost the economy and celebrate the occasion of the World’s Fair. Edouard Lockroy, the then minister of trade, decided to create a competition which would specify the detailing of the monument (Bolloch 2005, p. 9). Bidding for the project soon began, and over 100 projects were received for Lockroy to choose from (Harris 1976, p. 11). One of the projects submitted was created by Emile Nouguier and Maurice Koechlin, who at the time were senior engineers of Eiffel’s company. Later the project was bought out by Gustav Eiffel. Nouguier and Koechlin’s initial proposal was â€Å"large pylon made up of four latticework beams spread at the base and meeting at the top, held together by metal beams at regular intervals† (Bolloch, 2005, p. 9). This idea was expanded upon by Stephen Sauvestre, who was the architect attached to Eiffel’s firm. After this the planned proposal has been displayed on the Decorative Arts Exhibition. At that time Eiffel himself became actively involved in the project and made some technical changes to the initial proposal. From 1886, the concept, planning and construction of the monument began to quickly form (Bolloch, 2005, p. 9). The monument was constructed on the Left Bank of the Seine river, at the northwestern extreme of the Parc du Champs de Mars, the surface of which was similar to the rest of Paris: â€Å"Grey, plastic clay, about 50 feet deep, resting on a solid foundation of chalk† (Harriss 1976, p. 55). The first part of erecting the tower began with its excavations and masonry foundations, outlining the base of four feet of the tower, each supporting a pillar aligning to the four points of the compass. Once it was completed, it was followed by a construction of diagonal pillars, along with the horizontal beams, assembled from puddled iron, which would together make the lower half of the tower (Bolloch 2005, p. 11). In 1888, the second phase began, which was constructing the monument past the second platform and glass cage machines, designed by Otis Elevator Company were implemented in the tower. The tower was eventually completed by 31st of March, 1889, weighing a total of 7,300 metric tons, and standing at 1069 feet (320.75 meters). It still remains the tallest structure in Paris by a clear definition (Engineering.com Library, 2006, p. 1). The image of the tower is shown on the picture below. Perception and Representation The perception of the tower in the city, its influence and grandeur has evolved from the initial conception to its completion and development. Initially, when the tower was in the concept and assembly stages, many individuals signed a petition to the Minister of Works to oppose it. The most felt petition was written by the ‘Committee of Three Hundred’. This petition stated, â€Å"We, writers, painters, sculptors, architects and passionate devotees of the hitherto untouched beauty of Paris, protest with all our strength, with all our indignation in the name of slighted French taste, against the erection of this†¦useless and monstrous Eiffel Tower†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (History, 2013 p. 1). In fact, even immediately after its completion in the year 1889, the majority of Paris dwellers did not like what they saw. Gazing at its majesty, most Parisians literary moaned because of the hatred they had for â€Å"the huge, shitty eyesore†. They saw it as a metal tower monster with a spoiling effect on the skyline of Paris, which was so precious to them. To the advantage of the opponents was the fact that the tower was not meant to be permanent, it was only to take 20 years after its use for the 1889 International Exhibition in Paris. That is, Gustave Eiffel gave in to the rules of the 1889 World’s Fair. The rules required that all structures, which were built for the World’s Fair, were to be constructed in a way that they could be easily demolished after a period of 20 years. Thus, the Parisian had known that its demolition was obvious since the land was leased for 20 years. Moreover, based on this fact, Eiffel had used a metric shit ton from iron, which is said to be the cheapest. It is what he used to come up with the world’s tallest structure at the time (Symon 2012, p. 1). Irrespective of the fact that the landmark was initially to be brought down, many people, both citizens and non is Sully Prudhomme, who admitted that the tower was â€Å"Judged and condemned only by default† (Bolloch, 2005, p. 20). Eiffel himself declared, â€Å"I believe it is fair to say we are showing the world that France continues to be the leader of progress and that she is realizing a project which has often been tried or dreamed of† (Bergdoll 2003, p. 12). Though Eiffel faced much criticisms and judgments during his construction as many local Parisians believed the tower to be more monstrosity, grotesque, the perception has changed (Harris, 1976, p. 76). Over the years, the tower has become a symbol of Paris and the French nation and now it is one of the most visited landmarks in the world. The Eiffel Tower represents a passage and evolution from the renaissance era through to the industrialized future. Constructed to celebrate the commemoration of the French Revolution, it has adapted over the years to represent the nation, its people and culture of a particular era (Sutcliffe 1993, p. 106). The tower later became common with expositions, slowly winning support of its detractors. However, the critics revived their call for its demolition towards the end of the tower’s twentieth year, in the beginning of 1909. Though it was destined for destruction, a number of reasons enabled a change in the perception of Parisians towards the tower leading to its survival (Symon 2012, p. 1). First was the invention that the tower would be used to support the projected radio communication system. Eiffel projected that in future radio was destined to be the major device for communication. It was an indication of the need for a high place that would help in sending the long range messages. Though hated, being the world’s tallest tower of the time, it could not be denied that Eiffel Tower was going to grant the world that needed spot. Eiffel went ahead and erected the radio transmitter right at the top of the tower. The most significant was the fact that he willingly gave it out to the French Ministry of War to be used as the communication base. It enabled the ministry to pass messages across all the channels that were broadcasting in English at the time. The Parisians realized its usefulness during the war with Italy and Germany, when radio was widely used as a tool of transmitting instant message concerning the war (Symon 2012, p. 1). Thus it is its usefulness as the radio messaging system that seemed to have saved the tower. It was even more evidenced, when the tower was used as the main transmission point by German radio communications. The station installed its advance on the northern part of Paris. Though the call for its demolition was revived in 1967 by the Mayor of Montreal, Eiffel Tower has remained to date. Since then it has been used by Hollywood producers to a wide extent. In fact, almost all the scenes of France-based movies are making use of the tower as their background since it forms a good cue to their audience. One is looking at most of the Paris-based movies; another would literally see that the city of Paris is simply the Eiffel Tower and a number of cafà ©s (Symon 2012, p. 1). Later, a number of metrological-related experiments were carried out on it. For instance, Eiffel studied various effects of wind as well as air resistance. It has grown to be known as aerodynamics, a technology which has been very instrumental to the military and aviation departments. It has been equally embraced in the rocket technologies. It saw the tower being spared after the expiry of its permit as the military could not do without the use of its antenna. A good example can be its utilization in capturing of Mata Hari, who was the infamous spy during the First World War. The tower intercepted communications of the enemies’ radio besides being used to relay zeppelin alerts. It was also useful in the dispatch of reinforcements of troops during emergencies. It is this role that made the tower gain so much significance to the people of France erasing the initial thought of having it demolished. It was known to be the backbone of French telegraphy (Kingston Technical Software 2012, p. 1). The importance of the tower in nationhood later increased as the tower was integrated into the International Time Service making the people of France feel important at the international level. It has also been the case both with the French radio, which has utilized it since 1918, as well as French television, which has, on the other hand, utilized it since 1957 (Kingston Technical Software 2012, p. 1). Since then most tourists have visited the city of Paris to take food in one of the restaurants built in the tower to enable them have a clear view of the city. Eiffel Tower as Representation of the French Nation Equally, landscapes do give people a sense of loyalties and places. Thus they affect national identities, which are very deliberately constructed and dependant on these landscapes and not naturally dictated. It is the landscape’s influence on the people’s heritage, which is constructed socially and which make their history. It is our heritage that enables us to connect to our past easily. Both the sense of nationality and identity obtain the construction through communities which are imagined. Imagined to represent the belief by people, which is never possible for a person or the entire group, whether a nation or a race, which people have been aligning themselves to it. However, irrespective of this fact, people of the same nationality, race or any other grouping always feel that they share a kindred bond (Jackson 2010, p. 470). The importance of Eiffel Tower as a heritage of determining French identity is explained by the fact that people mostly treasure what sets them apart. French people have always felt that the magnificent structure sets them apart from the rest of the world since it is among the most visited landscapes across the world (Crowley Jobling 1996, p. 86). Equally, the very landscapes are also impacted on by our identity and heritage. It is always visible through the way in which the construction of the said landscapes had been done. Apart from its impacts on the landscape, identity can also be embodied within the landscape physically. In fact, it is the portrayal by French people of their heritage and identity within Eiffel as a cultural landscape, which has seen a high number of tourists visiting it. It has coincided with the role of the landscape in how France, as a space, has undergone commodification. Though the tower had been constructed as a way of spectacularising Paris, it has steadily gained the fame to a point that it embodies the image of France as a nation worldwide. It draws millions of visitors from across the world by its physical domination of the Parisian skyline. Just like any other renowned monuments in Paris, the tower has gained more value as well as meaning associated with it. The tower has produced and still holds social meaning while providing identity to both Parisians and France as a nation. Though national identities are normally a result of constructions made deliberately, it had not been true in the case of Eiffel Tower (Barthes 2013, p. 1) The tower can also be taken as a representation of the nation (France) taking off to modernity. Because of its complexity in design, the tower has been seen from across the world as a symbol that France is modernized. It is said that even the part of Parisians who have been opposed to the structure were simply shocked by its bold modernity. In fact, since its construction Paris has been referred to as an elegant and modern city. Since then, those visiting Paris for whichever reason have shown a great desire to see the tower to seal their visit to this city. Since then it has been known to be one of the major world icons providing endless fascination to the world and the clichà © of choice for its representation of Paris. Apart from the fact that the structure is fascinating, many of its visitors are those who would like to get a good view of Paris. The tower gives away the visitors of Paris at a glance. It has since been described as Paris or French ‘Iron Lady’. The str ucture has been literary having pride of the place whenever any report is being written on Paris. It has revolutionized photography in the country. Today, those coming up with films in France have a magnificent backdrop. It is evident in the film La Fin du Monde, produced by Abel Gance in 1931 (Barthes 2013, p. 2). Through its structure, the tower has all that would be required to have a glance at Paris or even France. The structure emerged as an unordinary monument with boasting attractions and restaurants. The way in which Eiffel Tower is constructed makes it an imposing feature. It is raised to 303 metres, which is the measurement that excludes its antennae. Its weight is over ten thousand tonnes, while it also has eighteen thousand individual sections made of metal, the assemblage of which took 2.5 million rivets. Those who aspire to access its first two levels, have to use lifts or climb all the 704 steps. Its ascent gives people the unique view of the capital of France, making people identify the tower with France (Billington 1985, p. 92). It is also identified with Paris since it gives tourists a view of Paris as the whole, as well as the view of other symbolic monuments right from its second level. Parisian, and therefore French major attractions, such as Notre-Dame, the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre and the Cahteau de Versailles can be viewed from this structure. It gives the visitors the real taste of France’s major attractions. Moreover, the second level enables visitors to have a broad range of the taste, cultural and visual experiences. Such restaurants as Jules Verne, located on the tower’s level two, as well as the vertiginous champagne bar located at the tower’s very top part, enable visitors to have a taste of French people’s culture and lifestyle (Billington 1985, p. 92). The tower in itself is a theatre of outstanding events and spectacular lighting made possible through the Champ de Mars and its Parisian park which is equally very magnificent. Some of the events, which have since been identified with France, include the July 14th fireworks on the Bastille Day; Blue Tower, which came at the time when France offered the president for the EU; the 2000 firework display, as well as the multi-coloured display done in marking the country’s 120th anniversary. Equally, most of the country’s artists, writers, painters, as well as singers have testified of having drawn their inspiration from the tower. The influence saw Robert Delaunay, one of the renowned cubist painters, dedicating most of his works to Eiffel Tower. Mistinguett, who was the cabaret artist, also expressed great amazement at the continued existence of the tower during the La Belle Epoque. The tower’s influence on the singers can be seen from the works of Jacques Dutronc. H e had a feeling that the tower has had cold feet. It greatly impacted on the kind of songs he composed (Beca 2006, p. 5). Just like in the case with other landmarks in other countries around the world, France has been identified with Eiffel Tower in various dimensions. Though the design of the tower was widely criticized by Paris writers and artists, its beauty, wizard engineering, and originality won the nationwide affection and praise. Of particular national importance about its design was the fact that it exalted French national flag singling out as the only flag with a pole measuring up to 300 metres. The country also made history as the host of the world’s tallest structure for a 30-year period. The structure has also made Paris and its environs unfold in the form of a giant map. The perception that the tower is the great scenery is universal. It can be seen based on its ability to draw tourists who are attracted to see the global famous symbol of Paris in their millions (Dunn, 2013, p. 1). In fact, it attracts such a great number of visitors, much more than any other world’s paid mon ument; at least seven million every year. Equally, the country boasts of a singly tourist structure giving employment to over 500 people. The site has also attracted various high profile stunts, scientific experiments and ceremonial events. For instance, the country boasts of the invention of cosmic rays, which was first done on the tower by Theodor Wulf, a German Physicist. Equally, it is the step taken by France that seems to have triggered other country to come up with the common similar structures that have now been erected in a number of world’s major cities (Barthes 2013, p. 1). The tower has also brought the country together at the consulate of Cape Town. It was during a season described to be the South African’s in France. The season saw Eiffel Tower being lit up with the South African national flag’s colours for a number of days. The illumination formed an attractive and powerful way to begin the season of South Africa in France. It was done for an event attended by over eight hundred South Africans. French citizens came together to enjoy events performed by South African’s best artists, academicians, and sportsmen, too (French Consulate of Cape Town, 2013, p. 1). This way France has been able to strengthen its relations with other nations as the people of different nations are brought together by the urge to see the world’s once tallest structure and interact with one another. Such international activities have also given French artists and sportsmen the opportunity, which they can use to learn from other nations as they work together. This way, the country has greatly developed its creative industry and thus promoted its culture, heritage and arts. It leads to the creation of more jobs, opening up of new markets, as well as building sustainable livelihoods among French citizens serving in the creative industries (Barthes 2013, p. 1). Harris and Ezra (2000, p. 170) refer to the tower as the universally symbolizing Paris and France. According to their work, the tower has greatly impacted on the France’s contemporary culture. It is its exposition that was used as a mark of the country’s revolution. Different from other Paris-based commemorative monuments, what the tower symbolizes is not presented outwardly. It simply represents that the country unifies as one nation after its revolution. Though many monuments have intentionally been used in cultivating national identity since the dawn of 19th century, it was never intentional in the case of the Eiffel Tower. Its major aim was to give the exposition a monumental entrance and not to give France a representation as a unified whole as has been the case. However, it is a clear show of the kind of advancement the country has made in its industrialization and design (Hebert 1998, p. 27). The Intention of the Tower Equally, the very intention of the structure also leaves no doubt about its representation of France as a nation. One of the reasons why the tower has been constructed was to mark 100 years since France was revolutionized. It means that the tower brought the nation together in this celebration. Equally, it has given the world another way of identifying France as a nation (Delaney Kaspin 2011, p. 256). It was seen immediately after it has been constructed since it was used for the 1889’s world’s exposition, which was one of the reasons why it was built. In fact, the period of Revolution, from 1789-1799, has been dominating in the country’s history. It was a period of political upheaval leading in to the French monarchy being abolished. It was then replaced with an ideal democratic republic, which has remained radical since then. It saw France enduring a continued political unrest culminated by the first and the second World Wars. From this period, France joined the major leading nations in the European Union. Over time, the construction of country’s identity has been involving the complex process, which includes assigning some level of significance to its people’s cultural practices, events, historical places and people. When put together, everyone is able to have informed opinion of the country. Landscapes of this importance can form a symbolic r epresentation site (Jackson 2010, p. 470) Representation of Transition to Modernity World’s fairs represented spectacular articulations of the modern way of life. As the centre of modernity, the city’s (Paris) major concern was to impress the world. In fact, the 1889 exposition itself was an extension of the tussle that London and Paris had been having. They were both vying to be positioned first in Europe. London had benefited from hosting the industrial World’s Fair that preceded the Fair of 1889. Its main attraction was the vast Crystal Palace constructed by Joseph Paxton. It had showcased the ways, in which iron could be used innovatively. The spaces within the city had been commodified to have their nation represented in the ways which enable citizens to give an expression of their power (Crowley Jobling 1996, p. 86). However, the exposition of 1889 went beyond being a London-Paris affair. Rather, it brought the whole continent together in celebrating French Revolution. The construction of the tower was a form of landscape manipulation aimed at making the exposition a great success. It was also aimed at helping to avoid unnecessary unrest. The tower was therefore a symbol of the country’s commitment to the growing economy and overall development, while easing the political temperature on the continent. Though a number of monarchies like Holland, Belgium and Britain refused to officially participate in the event, the aim was achieved (Prost 2002, p. 317). Significance of the exhibition saw Eduoard Lockro, who had newly been appointed to head the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and also head the team responsible for the building of the tower. He aspired to have a 1000-foot tower constructed in Paris. Besides the need of winning its associated engineering race, he wanted the structure to feature a symbol, which would represent the faith that had been responsible for shaping the Parisians and French identities. Making efforts to deliberately shape people’s identity and representation is a shift to the establishment of new modern form of memory. That is the era, in which nations create their identity and are not waiting them to occur naturally (Prost 2002, p. 317). Equally, Eiffel, who constructed the tower, had gained a status as the premier constructor of France following his building of a number of bridges among other metal structures. His thirty years’ experience worked well with the fact that the design he came up with was in line with the required criteria, which led to the acceptance of proposal. His presentation saw that the country was committed to inventions and technological advancement. Equally, the construction of the tower was done in two years compared to the Washington Monument, which had taken the country 36 years to construct (Taylor-Battly 2013, p. 3). The structure’s three-dimensional nature and its modern engineering feat was clearly a symbol of modern Paris, as it was intended to be by the government. The work was meant to give a picture of French industrial strength through attesting to the kind of progress the country had made in as far as its metal structures’ arts is concerned. It was also done in celebration of the progress the country had achieved in its civil engineering in the said century. It also aimed at attracting the highest number of visitors to the country ever to enable it to be a sign of peace as the continent and the world commemorate the 1889 centenary. With the reasoning behind its construction as the real construction being done in a period that was characterized by political upheavals is an indication that even in such early times people could embody such significance and meaning (Lebovics 2004, p. 1). The tower was a presentation of the kind of advancements that France had made as a society in the early years. However, this concept can be bizarre due to the fact that the inspiration of its construction took a similar form to that of the biblical tower, which was built on the heaven. It may raise a question of how something should qualify to be modern. However, in this context, modernity will simply represent a given mental attitude. It occurred during industrialization characterized by crave for and domination over the nature and existence of order. Put together with the progress notion, it was accurately the intention behind the construction of the tower. The biblical ties of the tower signified that the country had not forgotten religious morality despite the progress people achieved. It saw the citizens of France acquiring and accepting new perception of themselves and their group as French citizens (Harris Ezra 2000, p. 170). Europe of the 19th century had its modernity-centred architectural advancements, especially functional aspects and design of structures. The leadership of Eiffel Tower in this modern domain cannot be questioned. Its design made it very unique besides being taller than any other world structures of the time. Together with its role in the creation of a commodifiable landscape, the tower hosted restaurants with the best food and kind of service at the time (Prost 2002, p. 317). Instead of lasting just for a short time as was intended, Eiffel Tower has attracted such attention to become the soul of Paris, also known as ‘the City of Light’. It has dominated Paris skyline and the Seine. It is not a mere achievement, especially noting that the tower was once seen as absolutely useless and dangerous building. It has attracted much attention from all over the world to become a heroic world symbol. Equally, irrespective of the fact that there are a number of other more advanced architectural projects in Paris and across the world, the tower is still receiving the highest number of visitors than all other monuments in Paris. It has an unprecedented presence in tourists’ maps and guidebooks. Besides selling of cultural food in the restaurants, souvenir shops located right at the towers’ pillar entrances of the first two floors do offer several cultural items, which represent Paris as well as the tower as their theme. Some of the bestselling items are tower key rings and headscarves. Finally, though it has not retained its status as the world’s tallest building, there has been a shift of priority of its visitors with most people visiting it now focusing on the values and meanings that the structure has come to embody. That is, its significance as a universally accepted symbol in a cultural landscape. Thus, other more sophisticated architectural designs have not overshadowed it and the structure’s future as a tourists’ destination is still promising.

Accountancy Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Accountancy - Assignment Example The AICPA, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, is an earlier body, founded in 1887. Its distribution involves 128 countries all over the globe and associates in a variety of disciplines such as student affiliates, education, government, public practice, and international associates among others. Hence, this diversity functions as a credible source for accounting information. In the US, the AICPA sets the auditing and ethical standards for private, public, and non-profit organizations. Its mission is to provide sufficient resources, data, and leadership that enables accountants to give quality services in the highest professional manner for the benefit of the public, clients, and employers. The AICPA and ACCA are all members of the IFAC, International Federation of Accountants. The latter is a global body that develops high-quality guidance and standards concerning accounting professionals. It is made up of 173 associates and members in 129 countries, representing about two and a half million accountants in government service, public practice, commerce, education, and industry. However, the AICPA is the most well-known body in the United States (Dohr, 1947). The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) is also a major standard-setting organization that among other things govern the work done by accountants. Other than this, the FASB is an authoritative source and mentor in the accounting discipline. However, unlike the ACCA and the AICPA, it establishes the accounting standards for private entities.

Business Strategy Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Business Strategy - Article Example This is so because success is based on an organisation's ability to create, rather than predict the future by developing those products that will literally transform the way the world thinks and view it self and the needs (Kanter 1995:71). Within the context of today's global competition, businesses and firms no-longer compete as individual companies but try to corporate with other businesses in their activities (Wu & Chien 2007:2). These researchers went further to argue that, this strategy has become quite common in many businesses including the retail clothing chain stores. The conventional vertical integrated company based business model is gradually being replaced by collaborative relationship between many fragmented, but complementary and specialized value stars and constellation (Wu & Chien: 1). This paper focuses on Subway Franchise Company. The paper examines the strength weaknesses opportunities and threats of this chain of restaurants. There after the paper examines its competitors at various level of the chain, the third section of the paper uses Porter's five forces framework to identify the sources of competition in the industry while the last section provides the conclusion and recommendation. According to the Compa... 1.1 Overview of Subway Sandwich Franchise According to the Company's (2008) report, Subway Sandwich Franchise is owned and operated by Doctor's Associates, Inc. (DAI). This chain of restaurant has been rated as one of the fastest growing franchises in the world with approximately 30,881 restaurants in 89 countries. The restaurant is the second largest restaurants after the Yum restaurant brands having 35000 locations. Many analysts have attributed the restaurant's fast growth to the growing concern by restaurant customers and the community. This has been capitalised on by the company's marketing department. Subway today is noted as a health concious restaurant chain. The restaurants are managed by Doctor's associates founded in 1965. The restaurant do not follow just the traditional restaurants, Subway operates in many non-traditional locations. For instance, the Company's (2008) reports states that, there are over 900 Subway locations inside of Wal-Mart stores and 200 on military bases, including several in Iraq, in addition to three located inside the Pentagon, some universities and other shops (Company Report 2008). 1.2 SWOT Analysis of Subway Franchise Strengths Better Value, in the form of lower prices. Fresher merchandise and wider assortments of sandwiches. Superior Locations Better physical appearance of the restaurants themselves. Good will, exclusive rights with some of their suppliers. Maximisation of the four Ps of Marketing at all front. High capital and a pool of reserves, and cheap credit facility offered in some locations. The Employees, 30,881 restaurants around the world. cheaper, better

Critical Analysis Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 2

Critical Analysis Paper - Essay Example However, while some countries have achieved great milestones in ensuring effective practice of human rights, others are still lagging behind, with serious crimes being reported against innocent people. The United Nations has on several occasions risen to the occasion to enhance the practice of human rights in these countries in order to ensure that all people, irrespective of their social standing in the society are treated fairly in a deserving manner. Human rights refer to norms and moral principles, which describe effective standards, expected from human behavior and are often protected as essential legal rights in the national as well as international law. Human rights are essentially referred to as fundamental rights that are inalienable, where an individual is said to be inherently entitled to since they are human beings. These rights are supposed to be accorded to all people irrespective of their language, location, nation, ethnic origin or any other kind of status. These rights are expected to be applied at all times everywhere because they are universal and egalitarian because they are meant for all people. This paper examines the concept of human rights as practiced in the developing countries, focusing on the efforts being made to ensure its effective practice. It is important to realize that the human rights doctrine has become very influential as far as international law is concerned. The actions of non-governmental organisations and states form the foundation of public policies across the world. The concepts of human rights explain that when the public discussion of peacetime global community can be regarded as having a universal moral language, which is human rights. The strong assertions of the particular doctrine relating to human rights has continued to provoke substantial skepticism and wide debates over its content, justifications and nature of human rights to the present day. The specific meaning of right remains controversial,

Water Purification In The Coming Decades Environmental Sciences Essay

Water Purification In The Coming Decades Environmental Sciences Essay This article was written by six academicians related to a work for The Center of Advanced Materials for the Purification of Water with Systems (NSF STC WaterCAMPWS, University of Illinois, USA). They are working for various departments which are suitable for this research at different universities. The WaterCAMPWS works for new technologies for water treatment. (1) This article focuses on recent technology for disinfection, decontamination, re-use and desalination methods to improve water quality. It describes the importance of water and water problems, moreover it gives information about the water treatment systems using today and will be used in the future. It also makes comparisons to identify the advantages and the disadvantages of water treatment systems. It is suitable for anyone who wants to be informed about water purification techniques. A person who has the technical infrastructure about water and water treatment can understand more easily this article. While reading sometimes difficulties may be encountered to understand this article but in general language of the article was clear. At the first part of the article authors mention the importance of the water, pollutants water problem and new water treatment technologies. Water problem is explained clearly by using remarkable numbers but they do not give the date and sources about numbers. In addition to the situation at the article, developed and developing countries are provided the examples of the water situations to make the water problem more understandable. Water is needed for living organisms to survive and there is life on the Earth thanks to water.(2) According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) water may contain bacteria, suspended particles, parasites, viruses, organic chemicals, heavy metals and solvents above the allowed amount for example, Escherichia coli and arsenic level limit is should be less than 10 ÃŽÂ ¼g/l (WHO report, 2008) (2-3) The elimination of unwanted materials, chemicals, contaminants, impurities, micro-organisms is called water purification which is a cleaning process. (4) Clean water demand is rising day by day because of increasing in population, water shortage and users competition. (5) If people accessed clean potable water easily, it would be a completely positive effect on health. Unfortunately, WHO report in 2007 shows that 1.1 billion people cannot reach the clean water and 1.8 million people die dehydration from diarrheal because of safe water problem each year. Hearth problems, brain stokes, HIV /AIDS, acute respiratory diseases, chronic lung diseases are some health problems which are caused by diarrheal.(3) The recent water treatment activities are not safe, sustainable and sufficient enough but they can be develop such as energy efficient systems, renewable purification.(2) New generation water treatment systems, which are based on such as disinfection, flocculation, sedimentation and decontamination technologies, should be developed to remove bacterial, viral and parasitic pathogens more effectively.(9) At the beginning of 4000 B.C. people tried to make drinking water better in taste and smell. Some treatment methods were developed such as sand filtration, disinfection by sunlight and boiling after 1500 B.C. (9) At 1600à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s desalination experiments began and around 1800à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s the first water purification plant was built in Scotland. During the 20th century, people focused on drinking water quality especially removing the pathogens. In 1914 The U.S. Public Health Service prepared standards about drinking water and which were revised by the Public Health Service in 1925, 1946 and 1962. (9-3) Disinfection is the process of the deactivating or destroying of pathogenic microorganisms present in water. (10) In the paper, extensive information about disinfection methods and the comparison between disinfectants were written. Authors give information about how the disinfection processes can control the viruses but I think this is unnecessary detail about the subject. Using sunlight (solar) was the first application of disinfection. (10) The most common disinfection methods are free chlorine and chlorine related chemicals because of cost and easy accessibility, they eliminate the living materials by oxidation of cell wall compounds. Free chlorine (Cl2) is so effective method but chlorine is a very dangerous chemical and it produces toxic disinfection by-product DBPs for example trihalomethanes. (11) The method of using solid calcium hypochlorite (Ca(ClO)2.4H2O 65% chlorine) as a disinfectant has a lot of limitations such as corrosion and taste problems. Another disinfectant is sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) solution (5-15% chlorine) which cannot be stored easily. (11) Viruses, yeast, spores, bacteria, and molds can be killed by ozone disinfection method. Ozonation method is more effective than chlorine method and it does not produce any danger by-products. (10) There are some disadvantages of this method for example, it is not easy technology, low dosages are not enough to kill pathogens and it is costly. (11) Ultraviolet light (UV) can be used for inactivating pathogens by photochemical reactions in the RNA and DNA which is the result of light absorption. (10) It is effectively and for this method the contact time is short, there are not toxic or non-toxic by-products but it cannot use water which includes suspended material. The new method is use chlorine with UV and ozone which is very effective method to eliminate bacteria, protozoa cysts and some vital pathogens. The solar photocatalysis disinfection which means killing of pathogens by using the photoca talysis of TiO2 is the future method for water disinfection.(12) The use of nanoscale science in the water treatment systems, which includes nanocatalysts, nanostructure membranes, bioactive nanoparticles, nanoparticles filtration, nanosorbants, is the futuristic disinfection method. Nanoparticles which have large surface areas will be the best materials for water purification systems in the near term. Today, the major challenges of nanomaterials are the integration of water purification process, cost effective and design problems. (5) In the article another method is described called, the water decontamination which is the process of eliminating the harmful substances (chemicals, organisms, heavy metals, radioactive materials) from the water. In this section of article, authors try to explain some problems about measuring and detection of compounds concentrations, modelling, and remediation strategies. Reverse osmosis, synthetic resins, activated carbon, sand filtration are the some methods to remove contaminants from the water.(13) The best treatment method which supplies the most purified water is not clear. The determination of contaminant type and concentration are as important as the decontamination technology. The advanced laboratory technology is necessary for measuring of low concentration of toxic compound for example Hydride Generation Atomic Absorption Spectrophometery and UV-Spectrophometry can be used to analyse arsenic. (13) Chromatography and mass spectroscopy which have the drawbacks such as cost, sensitivity and efficient; are the old but the most common technologies. Catalytic DNA is the recent system for testing heavy metals in the water and the traditional methods for this are X-Ray Fluorescence, some chemical tests and Inductively Coupled Plasma.(13) The biosensoring technology is defined as the usage nanoscale or microscale biological sensors to detect contaminants with high sensitivity. The technological development about biosensors is necessary to determine the toxicity of water treatment process.(14) Highly treated water can be called reclaimed water which is the low cost alternative of potable water. If we consider the amount of consumed water per day, remained water on the Earth and the growth of population, the reuse of reclaimed water is absolutely necessary. Some of the uses of reclaimed water are irrigation, industrial activities and groundwater recharge.(15) Since historical times wastewater has been used but it became attractive two or three decades ago. (16) There are several methods for reclaimed water, such as chlorination, filtration and biological systems which have been used since early 1800s. (15) Authors give information about some recent methods such as membrane bioreactors and filtration. For the biological treatment ultrafiltration and microfiltration technologies have been understood to provide high quality purified water. (17) Today activated sludge process, which is another biological treatment method, are designed for high performance. (18) The membrane bio reactor (MBR) method is relatively new treatment technology which is based on liquid-solid separation and its applications are becoming acceptable day by day for small scale with high quality of water. (17-18) Membrane bioreactor process has some advantages compared to the activated sludge process such as more compact reactor, smaller footprint for high concentration, higher mixed liquor suspended solids concentration (for MBR process average concentration 8-12 g/l). The most important drawback of MBR method is some terms such as flow issues should be developed. (18) The cleaning of membrane and dynamic effects such as aeration loss, saline intrusion and backflush loss are the two parameters which affects the performance of MBR technology. The improvements about material characteristics, permanent fouling, cost and membrane cleaning process should be done for this process. The average annual growth rate 10.9 % is estimated for the global MBR market. (19) Reverse osmosis (RO) is a li quid membrane method which removes dissolved materials. The combination of MBR and RO is highly efficient which provides 67% water recycling at the lowest cost. (20) Desalination is a method that separates the salt from water. The oldest process to remove salt from water is boiling. Thermal distillation method and natural the hydrologic cycle work same way and in the early 1900s, membrane system was developed. There are three types of thermal methods namely; multi-stage flash distillation, multi-effect distillation and vapour compression distillation. (21) The advantages of desalination by distillation are low operating and maintenance cost, minimal environmental effect and the highly purified water production, the disadvantages are high level knowledge and large capacity plants.(22) Electrodialysis, Electrodialysis reversal and reverse osmosis are the three main membrane processes for desalination. (21) Simple systematic structure, removing organic and inorganic contaminants and high production/capacity ratio are the advantages on the other hand the necessity of pre-treatment step, the difficulty of cleaning membrane and decreasing in flow rate are the drawbacks of membrane processes. (22) Total number of desalination plant is nearly 1400 (80% Membrane desalination, 20% Thermal desalination). Reverse osmosis desalination process includes four parts; pre-treatment, high-pressure pumps, membrane systems and post-treatment. (21) Hybrid desalination method can be defined as the comparison of thermal and membrane desalination process which generates power. The advantages of this process are using less energy, low cost of construction and high plant efficiency. Nowadays the RO and simple hybrid multistage flash configuration are very popular. The advantages of integrated systems are good thermal efficiency and high quality purified water. (23) The Affordable Desalination Collaboration process is newly design of reverse osmosis process which demonstrates the water with a good design. (21) Carbon nanotubes have the specific electrical, chemical and mechanical features. In the future, nanotubes will allow us to desalinate cheaply b ut there are some challenges, we have to face about this method like capital cost and difficult mechanism. Carbon nanotubes, Biomimetic membranes and forward osmosis are next generation systems for desalination. (8-21) In this section of the article the figure about reverse osmosis and activate desalination (figure 5) makes understandable the processes. The information in the book related to entropy and energy calculation is the high-level information about the subject. This article contains extensive knowledge about the water treatment systems. Authors clearly conclude solutions of water treatment systems. I have some knowledge about water purification before preparing this report but while writing I learned lots of information about new water treatment techniques from article and references. This research was made in 2008, it is a technological subject because of this when research is carried out is very important. Some current water treatment techniques need intensive energy and chemicals. We should improve the not only water treatment systems but also monitoring, measuring, modelling and management systems to deliver safe and clean water to everybody. As a result, we need new, sustainable, environmental and inexpensive purification methods. Science and technology for water purification in the coming decades by M.A. Shannon, P.W. Bohn, M. Elimelech, J.G. Giorgiadis, B.J. Marinas, A.M. Hayes, Nature 452 (2008) 301-310ÃÆ' ¶

Raising kids :: essays research papers

The object of this study is to carry out a small scale investigation, based on the Hess et al (1980) study which was development expectations of children on of mothers in different countries. Factors that I shall be taking into consideration whilst carrying out the interviews include the participants’ race, cultural background and their socio-economic status. I will also address the significance of aspects such as child having siblings, being raised by a single parent or a first time parent(s). All the areas covered in this study may to some extent affect how a child is raised and also lend some explanation to the different views the parent has acquired about the relationship with their child A child may often learn from others around them, by copying or engaging themselves in similar behavioural patterns. Parents often tend to set boundaries of what is acceptable to them. Some of their views may be typical to others; others may be formed by a certain cultural demand. A child may discover the ability to carry out certain tasks at a particular age yet the parent may feel that their child should be doing that task before or after a certain age; indeed these aspects of parenting can cause great anxieties. Taking a look back at Hess et al’s study it can be seen by the statement cards that many parents often have different opinions or expectations on when their child should be able to do something, possibly in comparison to the behaviour of other parents with their children, or how they themselves have been raised. Parental influence on children is very important in the early stages of child development and as the children grow they will start to deal with things in the ir own way, compiling what they have been taught by parents with their own experiences and understanding of their background and social environment. In addition children’s own observations from their environment as well as their engagement with older and closer age children can often contribute to their learning from others for example in feeding and dressing themselves and other such activities, in doing so they are getting to grasps with different emotions and ultimately the art of human interaction. Children have the ability to resolve issues by learning to balance initiative against the demand of others. Development involves change and this goes for any of the stages in child development, but more crucial are the issues that affect the rate of a child’s development.

Peer Influence: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Essay

â€Å"Everyone needs to belong — to feel connected with others and be with others who share attitudes, interests, and circumstances that resemble their own. People choose friends who accept and like them and see them in a favorable light.† (Lebelle, 1999). Middle school is a tough time. There are numerous changes occurring internally and externally amongst children in this age group. Boys and girls are maturing physically at rapid paces, but their emotional maturation is a lot slower. This can cause problems. Most young adolescents desire adult treatment, because they are beginning to look like adults, but, on the inside, they are still easily influenced children. Teens are desperate to fit in with their peers at school and will go to extremes to do so. This can be good and bad. see more:speech on peer pressure Positive peer influence can â€Å"encourage such desirable qualities as truthfulness, fairness, cooperation, and abstinence form drugs and alcohol.† (Ormrod). On the other hand, negative peer influence can â€Å"encourage aggression, criminal activity, and other antisocial behaviors† (Ormrod). Illegal drug and alcohol use, promiscuity, bullying, and loss of identity can all result from negative peer pressure. Teachers need to be educated about these things. They need to know what occuring outside of their classrooms is in order to make a difference inside their classrooms. Cliques play a key role in both positive and negative peer influence. Depending on which clique a child belongs to, he could become an honor student who never tries drugs or alcohol or he could become an alcohol or drug abuser, a bully, or he could become promiscuous which could lead to STD’s or teen parenting. There is a hierarchy when it comes to cliques. The popular kids are at the very top. These students are usually nice-looking, well-dressed, and involved with athletics and clubs. Those things are all well and good, but sometimes, the popular kids are also into partying with drugs and alcohol. â€Å"A child who reaches age 21 without smoking, abusing alcohol or using drugs is virtually certain never to do so† (Lebelle, 1999). Unfortunately, that  rarely happens. Most girls have tried alcohol by age thirteen and most boys have tried it by age eleven. The average American begins drinking regularly at age fifteen. That means that the majority of middle school children have already experimented with alcohol. Many cases of adolescent drinking are linked to pressure from peers. That is why it is important for parents and teachers to encourage their children and students to disassociate themselves from peers who drink. Young adolescents will be less likely to begin drinking or smoking if they steer clear from cliques that do not drink or smoke and if they are taught by their parents to stay away from alcohol, tobacco, and drugs. Even if a child is encouraged from the start to resist drugs and alcohol, he can still become involved with these deadly toxins. Sometimes, the desire to conform to a certain image is just too strong. Trying drugs and alcohol may make a middle school child feel like he fits in with his classmates. If the ‘cool kids’ are doing it, then a child who is unpopular may think that drinking or smoking will make him cool. Some young adolescents are able to do drugs and alcohol a few times and then quit whenever they want, but there are many who just try it once and then they are hooked. â€Å"It is difficult to know which teens will experiment and stop and which will develop serious problems† (Lebelle, 1999). Pressure from certain cliques cannot only influence drinking and drug use, but also bullying. Most cliques have a leader and the members of the clique want to be pleasing to the leader. If the leader makes fun of fellow students who do not wear name brand clothing, then it is only natural for the other clique members to think that it is cool to do the same thing. Also, those kids who want to belong to a certain clique will closely watch how their coveted clique behaves. Then, they will try to mimic those actions. There are also times when children who are more athletic will bully classmates who are smaller and not as gifted at athletics. This has even been said to be the cause of school violence. The two killers in the Columbine tragedy, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, were supposedly tormented constantly by the ‘Jocks’. â€Å"When the two boys entered high school, they  found it difficult to fit into any of the cliques. As is too common in high school, the boys found themselves frequently picked on by athletes and other students† (Rosenberg). Bullying is a deeply hurtful act that can torment and traumatize a child for life. Promiscuity is something that used to be frowned upon. Now it is cool to be sexually active as a young child. Popular Culture is teaching are middle school children that the less clothing you have on, the more cool you are. Children are seeing sexual images everywhere and it is creating muddled thinking in their minds. Young adolescents have the incorrect notion that they are adults, but the truth is that they are nowhere near mature enough to handle sexual relationships. However, the pressure to have sex is abundant and hard for middle school kids to resist. â€Å"Teens also have cultural beliefs about what is normal sexual behavior. Although most teenage girls believe that sex equals love, other teens — especially boys — believe that sex is not the ultimate expression of the ultimate commitment, but a casual activity with minimal risks or serious consequences† (Lebelle, 1999). The reality is that sex has many risks and carries serious consequences. Sexually Transmitted Diseases and pregnancy are not carefully considered enough by young adolescents who want to have sex. The pressure to conform is overwhelming for teens today. Cliques influence the actions of kids in everything from academics and athletics to drugs and sex. Our world has a misconsqued conception of what makes an individual ‘cool’ and unfortunately our young people are being taught these messed up ideas everyday through the media and from classmates. Teachers can help by providing positive examples and encouragement for their young students. Everyone knows about the negative affects of peer pressure. However, peer pressure can be positive; it is also not as scary as some may believe. â€Å"Studies show that, almost always, peer influence is weaker than adults believe† (Black, 2002). Adults tend to underestimate middle school children  and their ability to make decisions on their own. When a child commits a wrongdoing, parents automatically want to blame peer influence. Yet research has shown that young adolescents are not necessarily drawn into certain behaviors by peer pressure, rather they decide to be more like their peers on their own. It is no secret that middle school children strive to blend in with their peers. The need to belong is an important aspect in a child’s life. Peer pressure is real, but it is not always crippling. Positive peer pressure can be overwhelmingly rewarding. In contrast, negative peer influence can be catastrophic. Contrary to popular belief, middle school children do respect the thoughts of adults and desire to be like them. Parents and teachers need to remember that when they are battling negative peer pressure. â€Å"Although parents may be relegated to a lesser role in the influence they hold over their young adolescent children, these same children will listen to and emulate other adults. Whether it be teachers, parents of their friends, or community members, adults have the opportunity to influence and lead the young adolescent in positive directions† (Knowles & Brown, 2000). Bibliography: Black, S (2002, April). Rethinking peer pressure. American School, 189, Retrieved June 2, 2006, from http://www.asbj.com/2002/04/0402research.html (January 23, 2001). Study: Peers sway a child’s interest in smoking, drinking as early as 6th grade. CNN.com, Retrieved June 1, 2006, from http://archives.cnn.com/2001/HEALTH/01/23/teen.drinking/index.html Knowles, T & Brown, D.F. (2000). What every middle school teacher should know. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann. Lebelle, N (1999). Peer influence and peer relationships. Retrieved June 2, 2006, from Focus Adolescent Services Web site: http://www.focusas.com/PeerInfluence.html Ormrod, J.E. (2006). Educational psychology: Developing learners.Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall Rosenberg, J (2006). Columbine massacre. Retrieved July 2, 2006, from About Web site: http://history1900s.about.com/od/famouscrimesscandals/a/columbine.htm Williams, M (2001-2006). Teen sex and pregnancy. Retrieved June 1, 2006, from Westside Pregnancy Resource Center Web site: http://www.wprc.org/9.28.0.0.1.0.phtml

The Nanking Massacre of 1937

The Nanking Massacre of 1937 In late December  1937 and early January  1938, the Imperial Japanese Army perpetrated one of the most horrific war crimes of the World War II era. In what is known as the Nanking Massacre or the Rape of Nanking, Japanese soldiers systematically raped thousands of Chinese women and girls of all ages - even infants. They also murdered hundreds of thousands of civilians and prisoners of war in what was then the Chinese capital city of Nanking (now called Nanjing).   These atrocities continue to color Sino-Japanese relations to this day. Indeed, some Japanese public officials have denied that the Nanking Massacre ever happened, or significantly downplay its scope and severity.  History textbooks in Japan mention the incident only in a single footnote, if at all. It is crucial, however, for the nations of East Asia to confront and move past the gruesome events of the mid-20th century  if they are going to face the challenges of the 21st century together. So what really happened to the people of Nanking in 1937-38? Japans Imperial Army invaded civil-war-torn China in July of 1937 from Manchuria  to the north.  It drove southward, quickly taking the Chinese capital city of Beijing. In response, the Chinese Nationalist Party moved the capital to the city of Nanking, about 1,000 km (621 miles) to the south. The Chinese Nationalist Army or Kuomintang (KMT) lost the key city of Shanghai to the advancing Japanese in November of 1937.  KMT leader Chiang Kai-shek realized that the new Chinese capital of Nanking, just 305 km (190 miles) up the Yangtze River from Shanghai, could not hold out much longer. Rather than wasting his soldiers in a futile attempt to hold Nanking, Chiang decided to withdraw most of them inland about 500 kilometers (310 miles) west to Wuhan, where the rugged interior mountains offered a more defensible position. KMT General Tang Shengzhi was left to defend the city, with an untrained force of 100,000 poorly-armed fighters.   The approaching Japanese forces were under the temporary command of Prince Yasuhiko Asaka, a right-wing militarist and the uncle by marriage of Emperor Hirohito.  He was standing in for the elderly General Iwane Matsui, who was ill. Early in December, division commanders informed Prince Asaka that the Japanese had encircled almost 300,000 Chinese troops around Nanking and inside the city. They told him that the Chinese were willing to negotiate a surrender; Prince Asaka responded with an order to kill all captives. Many scholars view this order as an invitation to the Japanese soldiers to go on a rampage in Nanking. On December 10, the Japanese mounted a five-pronged attack on Nanking.  By December 12, the besieged Chinese commander, General Tang, ordered a retreat from the city. Many of the untrained Chinese conscripts broke ranks and ran, and Japanese soldiers hunted them down and captured or slaughtered them. Being captured was no protection  because the Japanese government had declared that international laws on treatment of POWs did not apply to the Chinese. An estimated 60,000 Chinese fighters who surrendered were massacred by the Japanese. On December 18, for example, thousands of young Chinese men had their hands tied behind them, then were tied into long lines and marched to the Yangtze River. There, the Japanese opened fire on them en masse. The screams of the injured went on for hours, as the Japanese soldiers made their leisurely way down the lines to bayonet those who were still alive, and dump the bodies into the river. Chinese civilians also faced horrific deaths as the Japanese occupied the city.   Some were blown up with mines, mowed down in their hundreds with machine guns, or sprayed with gasoline and set on fire.  F. Tillman Durdin, a reporter for the New York Times who witnessed the massacre, reported: In taking over Nanking the Japanese indulged in slaughters, looting and rapine exceeding in barbarity any atrocities committed up to that time in the course of the Sino-Japanese hostilities... Helpless Chinese troops, disarmed for the most part and ready to surrender, were systematically rounded up and executed... Civilians of both sexes and all ages were also shot by the Japanese. Bodies piled up in streets and alleyways, too many for any accurate count. Perhaps equally horrifying, the Japanese soldiers made their way through entire neighborhoods systematically raping every female they found.  Infant girls had their genitals sliced open with swords to make it easier to rape them. Elderly women were gang-raped and then killed. Young women might be raped and then taken away to the soldiers camps for weeks of further abuse. Some sadistic soldiers forced celibate Buddhist monks and nuns to perform sex acts for their amusement, or forced family members into incestuous acts. At least 20,000 women were raped, according to most estimates. Between December 13, when Nanking fell to the Japanese, and the end of February  1938, the orgy of violence by the Japanese Imperial Army claimed the lives of an estimated 200,000 to 300,000 Chinese civilians and prisoners of war.  The Nanking Massacre stands as one of the worst atrocities of the bloody twentieth century. General Iwane Matsui, who had recovered from his illness somewhat by the time Nanking fell, issued several orders between December 20, 1937 and February of 1938 demanding that his soldiers and officers behave properly.  However, he was not able to bring them under control. On February 7, 1938, he stood with tears in his eyes and upbraided his subordinate officers for the massacre, which he believed had done irreparable damage to the Imperial Armys reputation. He and Prince Asaka were both recalled to Japan later in 1938; Matsui retired, while Prince Asaka remained a member of the Emperors War Council. In 1948, General Matsui was found guilty of war crimes by the Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal  and was hanged at the age of 70.  Prince Asaka escaped punishment  because the American authorities decided to exempt members of the imperial family. Six other officers and former Japanese Foreign Minister Koki Hirota were also hanged for their roles in the Nanking Massacre, and eighteen more were convicted but got lighter sentences.

Asias Growth Essay

Asias Growth Essay Asias Growth Essay The history of the great continent of Asia is rich and full of culture. Asia makes up 30% of the worlds land area and has about 60% of its people, according to World Book Encyclopedia. As a direct result of the size of this continent, it is also the most diverse continent in the world. All of the major religions were also established right in Asia according to The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology, including Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity to name a few. Asia also has the world’s highest and lowest points located on its continent and its economy ranks amongst the top in the world. With all of this in mind the question, what makes Asia such a thriving continent; is pertinent. Asia has been the most populated continent since the 1960’s and has produced more capital than any other region to date. Asia was the first continent to establish cities, enforce laws and also the first to begin a farmer merchant relationship. Nearly 50% of the people of Asia make their living off of farming, yet and still with the overflow of people there still isn’t enough food in some Asian countries to accommodate everyone. This great continent has consistently been ahead of the rest of the world in many different areas; only to leave everyone else left guessing, how do they do it? Asia’s economy varies from very rich to very poor, with the best economic development coming from Japan and the worse from countries like Afghanistan, Cambodia and Nepal. According to Britannica, based on region Southwest Asia is predominately made up of middle class income, North, Central and South Asia is made up of a lower income population and Eastern Asia is the most prosperous with an upper class income. In the East, South and Southeast parts of Asia, industry is growing quickly; as the industry expands, these countries continue to flourish. Japan, China and India rank among the largest economies in the world! On the other hand most of the other Asian nations have very little manufacturing and depend a great deal on agriculture. Exporting has brought huge profit to Asia; among these included are vegetables, oil, zinc, iron ore, granite, nickel and even gold to name a few. Some countries trade things such as tea, rubber and tin also as a way to boost their economy. Other countries became contractors for foreign firms manufacturing things such as electronics, toys, clothes and shoes. Ultimately the different countries

The Public Needs to Know Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Public Needs to Know - Essay Example More essentially, health and nutrition is a remarkable topic for children because of their growth. Recently, the school made changes to the breakfast and lunch programs to improve nutrition and health mainly because of its importance to the children`s growth, economic situation, special needs of the children, process and the benefits of the program. The recent economic trends all over the world have not been friendly or up to people`s expectations. The economic recession and downfall has seen many people struggling to provide basic needs for their families while at the same time affording other secondary needs that include leisure activities. Despite the negative economic changes, people must continue living and catering for the basic needs of which education, health and nutrition are included (Marotz, 2011). This means that whatever the case, people must be healthy and take proper nutrition to survive. Despite the economic situation, the school has endeavored to provide a balanced d iet for children so that learning can take place effectively the same way their growth and development can. In this manner therefore, the school decided to change the breakfast and lunch program for the schoolchildren to fit the economic hardship while maintain the health of the children in the best way possible. The expensive foodstuff was reduced by substituting them with foods with the same nutrients but at a lower cost. For example for breakfast, the school substituted manufactured cereals with a muffin and a glass of milk for every child (Dalton, 2005). This was also added with fruits. For lunch, the school substituted processed juices with fruits while maintain the normal diet (Marotz, 2011). Schoolchildren eating a healthy meal In the change of the breakfast and lunch programs, the school took into account the special needs of the children. As it is clear, not all persons take the same type of diet because of bodily issues and medicinal concerns. This program is meant for chi ldren roughly between four years and twelve years. The school put this into consideration and took care of all special needs of the children (Marotz, 2011). The children are at a very delicate but essential part of their lives. This is a special need because their bodies are at growing and development stage. Any interference or inadequate feeding means that their growth and development will be impaired and stunted. Children naturally prefer foods that they enjoy most. Therefore, it is essential to make healthy food choices appealing. Children also imitate their caregivers. Therefore, they require caregivers who act as role models by eating healthy. Children with medical problems were also catered for in the change. This means that the school introduced a wide variety of diet for children because of their special nutritional and developmental needs, which include medicinal and health related issues. This was aimed at helping children grow and develop and at the same time enjoy learni ng (Marotz, 2011). A child eating an excessive fatty food Another most important area that was featured in the recent changes in breakfast and lunch program changes to improve nutrition and health is process (Shilstone, 2009). Process in this case all the considerations that were looked into before the changes were made. For example, the school had to take a survey of the children`s needs, age, health and medicinal requirements before the change was made. For example,

American significant playwrights Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

American significant playwrights - Research Paper Example He started his job in a San Francisco theatre doing a range of routine posts such as script copier and callboy (Belasco 1). Throughout his extensive career, which stretched from 1884 to 1930, he wrote over 100 Broadway plays including The Heart of Maryland, Hearts of Oak, and Du Barry. This put him out as the most influential celebrity in the New York City drama scene. In his influential part, he liked the existing theatre technology and wanted expand on it. Belascos New York theatres were set on advanced technology. When he took control of the Republic Theatre, he created a fresh basement stage to contain his equipment. The Stuyvesant Theatre was set up with vast amounts of hydraulics systems, lighting rigs and fly space (Belasco 56). The basement of the theater had an operational machine shop where he experimented with significant effects such as lighting among others. Many of the modernisms adopted in the Belasco shop were sold to other theater owners. Howells was born on 1 March 1837. He was an American literary critic and a realist. He was born in Ohio. His parents were Mary Dean and William Cooper Howells. His father was an editor and a printer of a local newspaper and travelled regularly around Ohio. Howells began to assist William Copper with printing and typesetting work in their early days. In 1852, his father organized to have one of Howells poetry put in the Ohio State Weekly without Howells’ knowledge. The poem was treated with considerable reception by analysts, and this was the breaking point for Howells as a playwright (Belier 135). He put into writing his first book, Their Wedding Journey, in 1872. His literary repute started with the pragmatist book, A Modern Instance. Its publication was in 1882, and it explained the recent crumble of marriages in the society. His writings were gathered in 1873 and 1886, and a series of the writings printed in 1895 under the heading Stops of Various Quills. He was the originator of the