Primo Levi essays

Primo Levi essays Primo Levi's memoir of his 10 months in Auschwitz is a masterpiece of Holocaust literaturenot simply a recounting of personal tragedies and historical atrocities, but a remarkably clear-eyed and rigorous meditation on the fragile nature of human personality and identity in the face of systematic oppression. A 25-year-old chemist when he was arrested in his native Turin by the Italian fascists and deported to Poland's most notorious rail terminus, Levi used his observational skills and considerable literary gifts to paint a detailed portrait of the death camp. Yet, throughout this 1961 book, he scrupulously reminds the reader that no amount of writerly eloquence will ever do justice to the experience of those who suffered there. (This review was written under the original title of the book: If This is a Man followed by The Truce) Reading this book filled me with sorrow and horror. I was prepared for the horror but did not expect the crawling sadness of this impassive tale of improbable survival, of days and months of fear, hunger and torment that I devoured in astonishment but digested with a lot more difficulty. That there were millions of human beings that went through such systematic torture and annihilation and that this whole torment was inflicted by man. That others (all of us) should quickly declare it an aberration and fail to relate to it. Primo Levi talks of a nightmare common among concentration camp prisoners: they are telling their story to people from home, people outside the camps and no one is listening. Reading Levis tale of survival and lengthy repatriation, we come to understand the need for telling this extraordinaty experience. It is said that those survivors who chose not to talk were those who could not reconcile the shame and misery of the camp experience with their condition as huma n beings. They tried in vain to suppress a memory they could not assimilate. Others, like Levi, maitained the belief in his h...

The Ideal Government through the View of Political Essays

The Ideal Government through the View of Political Essays The Ideal Government through the View of Political Philosophers Taylor McCauslin Jonathon Kreger November 25, 2015 Columbus State Community College Abstract The objective herein is to examine the ideal government through the view of three political philosophers, namely James Harrington, John Stuart Mill, and Thomas Aquinas. In their analysis of the most important elements for an ideal government, all three philosophers agree that issues related to the economy, tax, demographic representatives, the use of formalized rules, bureaucracy, and hierarchical authority are crucial in attaining their goal. While there are some similarities between the descriptions of an ideal government by the three philosophers, there are also glaring differences. While James Harrington argues that an ideal government is a small democracy, for example, Thomas Aquinas champions for a just monarchy. John Stuart Mill however, asserts that an ideal government is that which successfully attains two major goals: the enhancement of mental qualities and qualities of the personality within a nation's citizens. Key Words: Economy, Tax, Demographic Representatives, Formalized Rules, Bureaucracy, Hierarchical Authority James Harrington (1611-1677) James Harrington, in Oceana, a republican utopia, described what he thought was the ideal government (Harrington, 1656). In his descriptions, Harrington suggested that an ideal government is a small scale democracy which undertakes property owning. Harrington (1656) argued that such a government would not only be stable but also just. In such a government no person would be allowed to own or possess information worth more than 2,000 (Hopfl, 2004). Moreover, in regards to economy, referring to all processes of trade and consumption of products by the inhabitants of a distinct locality, Harrington's ideal government ascertained that only individuals who own property would be allowed to participate in government issues. In a similar manner to Aristotle, Harrington was convinced that the ideal government must be characterized by agricultural democracy (Hopfl, 2004). Harrington's views on tax and taxation were that the Agrarian law should be used to ensure that no person or group becomes too wealthy such that it interferes with the political balance of a state (Hopfl, 2004). Tax refers to the levies or tolls that are imposed by government on its citizens. Harrington was of the view that political issues such as tyranny and the oppression of one group by another arise when a single group possess all property. Wealth in such a state is determined by land ownership (Hopfl, 2004). In regards to demographic representation and bureaucracy, Harrington argued that an ideal government should be typified with religious tolerance, rotation of office and the use of secret ballot to select representatives (Harrington, 1656). While demographic representation is the tendency by selected individuals to stand for the interests and wishes of a larger group in a government, bureaucracy is a form of government where almost all decisions are made by government officers rather than elected representatives. This would eliminate too much variation in decision as we so often see today. However, there may not be as much interest in relation to the people in this form of government. John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) Mill describes an ideal government as that which successfully attains two major goals: enhancing the virtue and intelligence of citizens and the promotion of good qualities for the attainment of common interests in the long run (Lipkes, 1999). Mill was of the view that government is not only aimed at enhancing and producing the highest level of pleasure for its citizens but also to ensure that citizens are continuously educated in order for them to pursue higher level mental pleasures rather than lower ones. In order to achieve this objective, Mill argued that government should be guided by formalized rules. Formalized rules are legal regulations or decrees that govern the behavior of all individuals under their authority. Mill also argued that a good government is that which encourages and supports active participation by all voters. Mill described the worst type of government as that which compels its electorates to remain passively obedient and conform to the wishes of the ruling elite. Though this was probably because he was affiliated with Utilitarianism, Mill argued that an ideal government is that which could bring about maximal aggregate utility (Letwin, 1965). This clearly represents his wishes to attain contentedness within the people. Mill however agreed that the process of development by humans occurs in different phases and that different forms of government are suitable for different peoples and diverse stages of advancement which ultimately meant that he felt as though people should be put into different environments based on which their personality and skills would thrive the best in. While savages are

Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Lab Report Example Invention of polymerase chain reaction and thermo stable DNA polymerase has revolutionized this concept. Many techniques like Variable tandem repeat (VNTRs) and Short Tandem Repeat(STRs) based Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism(AFLP) or DNA fingerprinting, Gender ID (Amelogenin), Mitochondrial D-Loop DNA for Maternal identification etc. have been developed for forensic investigations. PM&DQA1 is the first PCR based typing system, developed by the scientist at Cetus Corporation and commercialized by Applied Biosystems. Inc. PM& DQA1 is simple and rapid technique mainly employed in case of limited DNA sample or in case of highly degraded DNA. The test is performed on 6 different loci to investigate pleomorphism using hybridization based Reverse DOT-BLOT methodology. The major limitation of this technique is its differentiating power due to limited diversity found among 6 loci among different human population. Crime investigation obtained new direction after invention of DNA based techniques for identification of criminals. The biggest advantage of DNA based techniques is the requirement of very small amount of biological samples which includes blood, hair, semen etc. Invention of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and thermo stable DNA polymerase has revolutionized these DNA based techniques due to its immense power of DNA multiplication. There are many DNA based techniques that are employed for detection of crime and criminals including Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP), Variable tandem repeat (VNTRs) and Short Tandem Repeat(STRs) based Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism(AFLP) or DNA fingerprinting, Gender ID (Amelogenin), Mitochondrial D-Loop DNA for Matrilineal identification. Criminal identification based on human body parts or component has been used since last century as part of forensic investigations. The classical example being Human finger prints which was recogn ized by British physician Sir Francis Galton (1). In the beginning of 20th century many physiologists and doctors realized that blood cell has distinct antigens and they are different from individual to individuals. Initially blood cell antigens were taken into consideration only in case of blood transfusion and surgery but later on its forensic utilities were realized and it was employed to solve problem of paternity dispute, child mix-up etc. Those days blood samples saliva and semen samples were produced in court as evidence against criminals but it was not taken as conclusive evidence due to its limited distinguished power. In 1970, the things started to change after discovery of DNA structure and the increases in the understanding of its variability between individual to individual. Once DNA was established as target molecule for forensic investigation, many researchers came forward with different methodology and different locus having higher variability like micro and mini sat ellites. Initially there were many questions that were raised over methodologies and interpretation of DNA based identification systems. But thorough investigation and population genetics based

The 1944 Education Act Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The 1944 Education Act - Essay Example Education was seen as a means of enlightening the people and solving problems associated with industrialization which was taking place in Europe. Before then, individuals were engaged in artisan trades where they possessed particular skills and controlled their working schedules but industrialization brought about the need for educated people to handle various tasks in industries (Bates et al. 2011). Many education Acts were legislated to change the nature of education but the education Act of 1944 formed the basis for the present education system in Britain. The Education Act of 1944 was very crucial as it replaced all previous education legislations and set the framework for post-war education system in England and Wales aimed at promoting equality of opportunity for all pupils. It established the Ministry of Education and made education free and compulsory for pupils up to age 15. The Act also aimed at helping Britain to reconstruct its education system after it was disrupted by W orld War II. According to Lowe (2012) the war destroyed school buildings through bombing and millions of children were evacuated. Furthermore, there was need for an education system that would solve social and economic problems through state control. The paper will thus discuss the Education Act and its impact on education and the society after the Second World War. To understand the education policy, it is important to look at the education background in Britain before the war. During the pre-war period, education in Britain was dominated by independent and church schools belonging to the Roman Catholic and the Church of England. Britain being a liberal state did not interfere with education but left it in the hands of local boards and authorities which were democratic in nature (McNaughton & Burgess, 2003). The schools provided elementary education from age 5-14. Secondary education was restricted to a minority children hence formal education was usually over by the age of 12 lead ing to child labour. Since pupils paid school fees in independent schools, education divided people along social class; the wealthy people could afford to enter grammar schools and get employment thereafter while the working-class only managed to get basic skills from elementary education (Gates, 2005). Teachers were recruited for training based on their religious affiliation and the Catholic schools only admitted students from catholic families who were taught catholic faith. Another aspect of early education was the provision of meals and school milk for nutrition purposes. During the war, most children were evacuated from bomb prone areas and resettled in bomb free zones away from their parents. As a result, there was a mixture of races and differences which resulted in racial prejudice. There was a decline in cultural values and morality as parents could not monitor their children’s progress since the schools of choice where religious values were taught were far away (Low e, 2012). The buildings were in a deplorable state due to bombing hence education was offered at home in selected premises. Due to the prevailing circumstances and the need to impart patriotism in citizens, there was need for an education system that would serve this purpose. Education was seen as a tool of transmitting cultural values and morality and also as a tool of social and economic policy since the society was becoming more complex requiring wide range of knowledge and skills. Bartlett and Burton (2007) argue that education was also to be used as a vehicle for equality of opportunity especially by ensuring implementation of the Beveridge report of 1942 which advocated for formation of a welfare state. To ensure everyone

Characters In Havisham, Hitcher, and The Laboratory Essay Example for Free

Characters In Havisham, Hitcher, and The Laboratory Essay What similarities or differences are there in the way disturbed or disturbing characters are presented in Havisham, Hitcher, and The Laboratory? Necrophilic fantasies in Duffys Havisham, the impulsive murderer in Armitages Hitcher, the smarter premeditated plot in the Lab, and finally the darkened anger of Inversnaid. All of these poems contain elements of disturbed characters or disturbed fantasies, some flaunt an erratic display of anger love and hate, and some are more contained and scheming. In all of these poems the disturbed and the disturbing is explored in new ways and helps us to better understand our own minds and evils. Inversnaid is immediately begun with dark and disturbing imagery darksome burn this conjures up gory and gothic thoughts before the poem has properly begun. In contrast Hitcher starts in a completely opposite way Id been tired, under the weather the enjambment on the first line creates suspense, also the spelling of answer phone as ansaphone shows the narrators simplicity, also the erratic punctuation gets across his disturbed state of being. The fact that he has a hired car could also mean that he is a dangerous driver and has caused a road accident. A part in the poem that also suggests that the narrator is crazy is round the next bend this indicates that he is round the bend showing he is crazy. Inversnaid also gives this impression through the use of enjambment. This gives the poem a rambling feel as though he is just spouting random words. A disturbing feeling is also created by: broth Of a pool sp pitch-black, this phrase sounds almost apocalyptic, this combined with the rambling could almost be seen as though he is speaking in tongues; prophesising some terrible end to the world. In Duffys Havisham, the psychotic issues of the narrator can be seen from the start, as is the case in inversnaid. Green pebbles for eyes this shows the audience that she has lost all emotion and individuality she ever had. We know this Havisham is defiantly crazy when Duffy describes her cawing Nooooo at the wall; it shows her loss of self-respect and dignity. In contrast, the woman in the Laboratory chooses to hid her self tying thy glass mask tightly she does this in order to hide herself so as to save her self-respect and also to ensure she does not get caught in planning a murder. However, despite the narrators dignity there is a disturbing element about her for example: keep them one half minuet fixed she would fall the fact that she believes that she can stare her victim to death, but most of all because she does not care that the man will still not love her after she has killed Pauline, this proves that she is just doing it out of jealousy as she cannot have him. Carol Ann Duffys Havisham is defiantly the most disturbing poem of all as it addresses all the usually psychotic issues that the narrators in each of the poems talk about and goes beyond that by describing Havisham necrophilic fantasies. However it is evident that all of these poems are describing a hate that we have all felt at some point, we are not all necessarily necrophilias but we have all hated someone in this way. As for hitcher I believe that this is the same and that Armitage is merely presenting to us a part of ourselves but exemplified in an amplified and literal state.

Agony And The Ecstacy :: essays research papers

The Agony and the Ecstacy depicts Michelangelo’s struggle to become the embodiment of Renaissance humanism. In the course of the novel Michelangelo must overcome the interference of his family, religious dogma, political intrigue, papal patronage, military campaigns, and artistic jealousy to realize his artistic ambition. Despite his father’s opposition, twelve-year-old Michelangelo becomes an apprentice, first to painter Ghirlandaio and then to Bertoldo, a sculptor, who directs a school financed by Lorenzo de’ Medici, patron of Florentine art. Michelangelo quickly wins Lorenzo’s esteem, meets his children (among Them two future popes, Giulio and Giovanni, and Contessina, his first love), suffers the first of several attacks by jealous colleagues (his nose is broken by Trrigiani, whose later appearances always threaten Michelangelo), and through forbidden dissection learns the anatomy and physiology he needs. Eventually Savonarola, a reform priest, comes to power, and his crusading zeal threatens Lorenzo de’ Medici’s family and the Florentine art world. When Savonarola gains political, as well as religious control, Michelangelo flees Florence and travels to Bologna, where he meets the sensuous Clarissa Saffi and carves the Bambino that attracts the attention of Leo Baglioni. In Rome for the first time, Michelangelo meets Jacopo Galli, a banker, who commissions a sculpture; Giuliano Sangallo, an architect; and Bramante, another architect and an adversary. In Rome, Michelangelo carves the Pieta, learns about the whims of religious patrons, and becomes interested in St. Peter’s – the building of the new St. Peter’s will embroil him in controversy and ultimately consume his last years. Michelangelo return to Florence, where he carves â€Å"the Giant,† a sculpture of David which becomes the symbol of Florence. There he meets Leonardo da Vinci, his principal rival, and Raphael, the painter – the three become the triumvirate of Renaissance Italian art. Jealous of Leonardo Michelangelo competes with him as the two artists paint frescoes for the rulers of Florence. Word of Michelangelo’s work reaches Pope Julius, who forces Michelangelo to work in bronze, rather than his beloved marble, and to paint the Sistine Chapel ceiling. It is Julius who resolves to build a new St. Peter’s. Julius is followed by two Medici popes who only add to Michelangelo’s problems: Giovanni, by forcing him to work with marble from Pietrasanta, an almost inaccessible region, thereby making Michelangelo an engineer, and Giulio, against whose forces Michelangelo must use his engineering talents to fortify the city of Florence. The Medici popes are followed by Pope Paul III, who commissions Michelangelo to paint the Last Judgment and who, after bitter disputes about the ongoing building of St.

The Nervous System

Chapter 35 Nervous System MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. The basic types of tissue in the human body are a. |cell, organ, and organ system. | b. |sight, smell, and hearing. | c. |thyroid, trachea, adenoid, and bronchus. | d. |muscle, nervous, connective, and epithelial. | ANS:DDIF:AREF:p. 894OBJ:35. 1. 1 2. Which system regulates and controls growth, development, and metabolism? a. |endocrine system|c. |integumentary system| b. |lymphatic system|d. |skeletal system| ANS:ADIF:EREF:p. 893OBJ:35. 1. 1 STO:12. A. 4. b 3. The levels of organization in the body include a. |endocrine, respiratory, digestive, and nervous. b. |cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems. | c. |cells, tissues, and functions. | d. |lymphatic, respiratory, and circulatory. | ANS:BDIF:AREF:p. 891OBJ:35. 1. 1 4. How many organ systems make up the human body? a. |4|c. |8| b. |5|d. |11| ANS:DDIF:BREF:p. 891OBJ:35. 1. 1 5. A group of similar cells that perform a single function is called a(an) a. |nerve. |c. |tissue. | b. |organ. |d. |organ system. | ANS:CDIF:BREF:p. 891OBJ:35. 1. 1 6. Which type of tissue lines your internal organs? a. |epithelial|c. |nerve| b. |connective|d. |muscle| ANS:ADIF:BREF:p. 894OBJ:35. 1. 1 7.Which type of tissue enables a person’s fingers to move as he or she plays the piano? a. |epithelial|c. |nerve| b. |connective|d. |muscle| ANS:DDIF:EREF:p. 894OBJ:35. 1. 1 8. Which type of tissue provides support for the body? a. |epithelial|c. |nerve| b. |connective|d. |muscle| ANS:BDIF:BREF:p. 894OBJ:35. 1. 1 9. The process by which organ systems maintain relatively constant internal conditions is called a. |circulation. |c. |homeostasis. | b. |organization. |d. |teamwork. | ANS:CDIF:BREF:p. 895OBJ:35. 1. 2 10. Which process enables the body to maintain a stable temperature? a. |heating|c. |feedback inhibition| b. |circulation|d. cellular activity| ANS:CDIF:AREF:p. 895OBJ:35. 1. 2 11. The level of chemicals in the body that speed up cellular activity is regulated by a. |action potent ial. |c. |the sympathetic nervous system. | b. |feedback inhibition. |d. |the parasympathetic nervous system. | ANS:BDIF:EREF:p. 895OBJ:35. 1. 2 12. Which system coordinates the body’s response to changes in its internal and external environment? a. |lymphatic system|c. |excretory system| b. |nervous system|d. |reproductive system| ANS:BDIF:BREF:p. 892, p. 897 OBJ:35. 2. 1STO:12. A. 4. b 13. Neurons are classified by the a. |direction in which they carry impulses. b. |amount of metabolic activity that takes place. | c. |number of dendrites that branch out. | d. |number of impulses that they carry. | ANS:ADIF:EREF:p. 897OBJ:35. 2. 1 14. What is the smallest structural and functional unit of the nervous system? a. |nerve|c. |organ| b. |neuron|d. |tissue| ANS:BDIF:AREF:p. 897OBJ:35. 2. 1 15. What begins when a neuron is stimulated by another neuron or by the environment? a. |a threshold|c. |an impulse| b. |an action potential|d. |a dendrite| ANS:CDIF:BREF:p. 899OBJ:35. 2. 2 16. What is the function of neurotransmitters? a. |to transmit nerve impulses through dendrites| b. to stimulate the production of epinephrine| c. |to transmit nerve impulses across synapses| d. |none of the above| ANS:CDIF:AREF:p. 900OBJ:35. 2. 2 17. For a neuron to reach an action potential, it must a. |release electrons. | b. |absorb calcium. | c. |reverse the electrical charge across the cell membrane. | d. |take in sodium ions. | ANS:CDIF:EREF:p. 899OBJ:35. 2. 2 Figure 35–1 18. Refer to Figure 35–1. The cell body of a neuron collects information from which structure? a. |A|c. |C| b. |B|d. |E| ANS:ADIF:EREF:p. 897, p. 898 OBJ:35. 2. 2 19. When an impulse reaches the end of a neuron, it triggers the release of a. neurotransmitters. |c. |dendrites. | b. |sodium ions. |d. |receptors. | ANS:ADIF:AREF:p. 900OBJ:35. 2. 2 20. What is the function of the central nervous system? a. |to relay messages|c. |to analyze information| b. |to process information|d. |all of the above| A NS:DDIF:BREF:p. 901OBJ:35. 3. 1 21. Which of the following is a function of the cerebrum? a. |controls conscious activities of the body| b. |controls heart rate| c. |controls blood pressure| d. |controls breathing| ANS:ADIF:AREF:p. 902OBJ:35. 3. 1 22. The region of the brain that recognizes hunger is the a. |brain stem. |c. |hypothalamus. | b. |medulla oblongata. |d. |thalamus. ANS:CDIF:AREF:p. 903OBJ:35. 3. 1 23. The ability to move your right hand is controlled by the a. |left hemisphere of the cerebrum. | b. |right hemisphere of the cerebrum. | c. |both the left and right hemispheres of the cerebrum. | d. |neither hemisphere of the cerebrum. | ANS:ADIF:EREF:p. 902OBJ:35. 3. 1 24. A student’s ability to think about a question and answer it correctly is directly controlled by the a. |brain stem. |c. |medulla. | b. |cerebellum. |d. |cerebrum. | ANS:DDIF:EREF:p. 902OBJ:35. 3. 1 25. Which division(s) of the peripheral nervous system transmit(s) impulses from sense organs to the central nervous system? . |sensory division|c. |sensory and motor divisions| b. |motor division|d. |spinal cord division| ANS:ADIF:BREF:p. 903OBJ:35. 3. 2 26. Which division of the nervous system controls the ability to dance? a. |somatic|c. |central| b. |autonomic|d. |brain| ANS:ADIF:EREF:p. 903OBJ:35. 3. 2 27. The division of the nervous system that helps the body react to pain is the a. |somatic nervous system. |c. |autonomic nervous system. | b. |sensory nervous system. |d. |sympathetic nervous system. | ANS:ADIF:AREF:p. 904OBJ:35. 3. 2 28. Sense organs are part of the a. |peripheral nervous system. |c. |autonomic nervous system. | . |central nervous system. |d. |parasympathetic nervous system. | ANS:ADIF:AREF:p. 903OBJ:35. 3. 2 29. What are the two divisions of the peripheral nervous system? a. |brain and spinal cord|c. |somatic and autonomic| b. |thalamus and hypothalamus|d. |sensory and motor| ANS:DDIF:BREF:p. 903OBJ:35. 3. 2 30. Which of the following general categories of sensory receptors are located everywhere in the body except the brain? a. |thermoreceptors|c. |photoreceptors| b. |mechanoreceptors|d. |pain receptors| ANS:DDIF:AREF:p. 906OBJ:35. 4. 1 31. Which general category of sensory receptors detects variations in temperature? . |thermoreceptors|c. |photoreceptors| b. |mechanoreceptors|d. |pain receptors| ANS:ADIF:BREF:p. 906OBJ:35. 4. 1 32. Sensory receptors that are sensitive to chemicals are found in the a. |skin, body core, and hypothalamus. |c. |eyes. | b. |skin, skeletal muscles, and inner ears. |d. |nose and taste buds. | ANS:DDIF:EREF:p. 906OBJ:35. 4. 1 33. Which of the five senses contains two types of photoreceptors called rods and cones? a. |vision|c. |smell| b. |hearing|d. |taste| ANS:ADIF:BREF:p. 907OBJ:35. 4. 2 34. In which of the following structures might an infection cause dizziness? a. |semicircular canals|c. |eardrum| . |oval window|d. |cochlea| ANS:ADIF:EREF:p. 908OBJ:35. 4. 2 Figure 35–2 35. Which labeled structure in Figure 35–2 creates pressure waves in the cochlea? a. |structure A|c. |structure C| b. |structure B|d. |structure D| ANS:ADIF:EREF:p. 908OBJ:35. 4. 2 36. In Figure 35–2, which labeled structure sends impulses to the brain that enable it to determine body motion and position? a. |structure A|c. |structure C| b. |structure B|d. |structure D| ANS:BDIF:AREF:p. 908, p. 909 OBJ:35. 4. 2 37. Which sense relies on the largest sense organ in the body? a. |touch|c. |smell| b. |hearing|d. |taste| ANS:ADIF:AREF:p. 09OBJ:35. 4. 2 38. If you did not like the flavor of a certain oral liquid medicine, you could hide much of its taste by a. |closing your eyes. |c. |holding your nose. | b. |covering your ears. |d. |folding your hands together. | ANS:CDIF:EREF:p. 909OBJ:35. 4. 2 39. Drugs that increase heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate are called a. |stimulants. |c. |opiates. | b. |depressants. |d. |alcohol. | ANS:ADIF:BREF:p. 910OBJ:35. 5. 1 40. What types of drugs slow down the activity of the central nervous system? a. |stimulants|c. |opiates| b. |depressants|d. |cocaine| ANS:BDIF:AREF:p. 911OBJ:35. 5. 1 41.Uncontrollable pain and sickness occur because the body cannot produce enough endorphins when a drug user attempts to stop using a. |opiates. |c. |crack. | b. |cocaine. |d. |marijuana. | ANS:ADIF:EREF:p. 911OBJ:35. 5. 1 42. The most widely abused legal drug is a. |marijuana. |c. |amphetamines. | b. |tranquilizers. |d. |alcohol. | ANS:DDIF:BREF:p. 912OBJ:35. 5. 2 43. What system does alcohol immediately affect? a. |digestive|c. |nervous| b. |circulatory|d. |endocrine| ANS:CDIF:BREF:p. 912OBJ:35. 5. 2 44. Alcohol does each of the following EXCEPT a. |slow reflexes. |c. |impair judgment. | b. |stimulate heart rate. |d. disrupt coordination. | ANS:BDIF:AREF:p. 912OBJ:35. 5. 2 45. One third of all homicides can be attributed to the effects of a. |alcohol. |c. |crack. | b. |cocaine. |d. |opiates. | ANS:ADIF:EREF:p. 912OBJ:35. 5. 2 MODIFIED TRUE/FAL SE 1. There are four levels of organization in the human body: cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems. _________________________ ANS:TDIF:AREF:p. 891 OBJ:35. 1. 1 2. A group of similar cells that perform a single function is called a(an) organ. _________________________ ANS:F, tissue DIF:BREF:p. 891OBJ:35. 1. 1 3. The hypothalamus is to your body as the thermostat is to the internal environment of a house. ________________________ ANS:TDIF:EREF:p. 896 OBJ:35. 1. 2 4. Spreading out from the cell body of a neuron are short, branched extensions called axons. _________________________ ANS:F, dendrites DIF:BREF:p. 898OBJ:35. 2. 1 5. The propagation of an action potential is slower in myelinated axons than in axons that lack a myelin sheath. _________________________ ANS:F, faster DIF:EREF:p. 898OBJ:35. 2. 2 6. The largest and most prominent region of the human brain that is responsible for the voluntary, or conscious, activities of the body is the cerebellum. _________________________ ANS:F, cerebrumDIF:BREF:p. 902OBJ:35. 3. 1 7. The brain and spinal cord can withstand considerable trauma due to the meninges acting as a shock absorber. ______________________________ ANS:F, cerebrospinal fluid DIF:AREF:p. 901OBJ:35. 3. 1 8. If you accidentally step on a tack with your bare foot, the pathway that the nerve impulse takes from your foot to your leg is called a reflex arc. _________________________ ANS:TDIF:BREF:p. 904 OBJ:35. 3. 2 9. The autonomic nervous system is part of the motor division of the peripheral nervous system. _________________________ ANS:TDIF:AREF:p. 904 OBJ:35. 3. 2 10.Chemoreceptors are associated with the sense of smell and touch. _________________________ ANS:F, taste DIF:AREF:p. 909OBJ:35. 4. 1 11. Rods respond to light of different colors, producing color vision. ____________________ ANS:F, Cones DIF:EREF:p. 907OBJ:35. 4. 2 12. A person with a relatively small number of cones in the retinas may have trouble distinguishing colors. _____________ ____________ ANS:TDIF:EREF:p. 907 OBJ:35. 4. 2 13. The cochlea and the two tiny sacs located behind it help the body maintain its equilibrium. ______________________________ ANS:F, semicircular canals DIF:EREF:p. 908OBJ:35. 4. 2 14.Addiction can be defined as intentional misuse of any drug for nonmedical purposes. _________________________ ANS:F, Drug abuse DIF:AREF:p. 914OBJ:35. 5. 1 15. About 40 percent of the fatal accidents that occur on Americans highways involve the drug alcohol. _________________________ ANS:TDIF:BREF:p. 912 OBJ:35. 5. 2 COMPLETION 1. Your skin, hair, nails, and sweat and oil glands make up your _________________________ system. ANS:integumentary DIF:EREF:p. 892OBJ:35. 1. 1STO:12. A. 4. b 2. Neurons are classified into three types according to the ____________________ the impulse travels. ANS:direction DIF:AREF:p. 97OBJ:35. 2. 1 3. The process by which a stimulus produces a response that opposes the original stimulus is called ____________________ inhibition. ANS:feedback DIF:BREF:p. 895OBJ:35. 1. 2 4. ____________________ is the process by which organisms maintain a relatively stable internal environment. ANS:Homeostasis DIF:AREF:p. 895OBJ:35. 1. 2 5. In most animals, axons and dendrites are clustered into bundles of fibers called ____________________. ANS:nerves DIF:AREF:p. 898OBJ:35. 2. 1 6. Sensory neurons and motor neurons are connected by ____________________, which carry impulses between them. ANS:interneuronsDIF:BREF:p. 897OBJ:35. 2. 1 7. The myelin sheath that surrounds a single long axon leaves many gaps, called ____________________, where the axon membrane is exposed. ANS:nodes DIF:AREF:p. 898OBJ:35. 2. 1 8. The difference in electrical charge across the cell membrane of a resting neuron is its resting ____________________. ANS:potential DIF:AREF:p. 898OBJ:35. 2. 2 9. The two major divisions of the human nervous system are the central and the ____________________ nervous systems. ANS:peripheral DIF:BREF:p. 901OBJ:35. 3. 1 Fig ure 35–3 10. The process illustrated in Figure 35–3 is called a(an) ____________________.ANS:reflex arc DIF:EREF:p. 904OBJ:35. 3. 2 11. The turning of your head is controlled by the ____________________ nervous system, which is part of the peripheral nervous system’s motor division. ANS:somatic DIF:EREF:p. 903OBJ:35. 3. 2 12. Sensory receptors called _________________________ are found in the skin, skeletal muscles, and inner ears and are sensitive to touch, pressure, stretching of muscles, sound, and motion. ANS:mechanoreceptors DIF:BREF:p. 906OBJ:35. 4. 1 13. Small muscles attached to the ____________________ of your eye change its shape to help you focus on near or distant objects.ANS:lens DIF:EREF:p. 907OBJ:35. 4. 2 14. The class of drugs called ____________________ mimic natural chemicals in the brain known as endorphins, which normally help to overcome sensations of pain. ANS:opiates DIF:EREF:p. 911OBJ:35. 5. 1 15. Cirrhosis of the liver is a possible resu lt of the long-term use of ____________________. ANS:alcohol DIF:BREF:p. 913OBJ:35. 5. 2STO:11. A. 4. c, 13. A. 4. b SHORT ANSWER 1. Compare and contrast tissues and organs. ANS: A tissue is a group of similar cells that perform a single function. An organ is a group of tissues that work together to perform a complex function.DIF:AREF:p. 891OBJ:35. 1. 1 2. What is homeostasis? ANS: Homeostasis is the process by which organisms keep internal conditions relatively constant despite changes in external environments. DIF:BREF:p. 895OBJ:35. 1. 2 3. How can the nervous system help a person run without falling? Explain. ANS: Balance is necessary for running. Portions of the nervous system, along with the sense organs, can interpret a person’s balance and make minor corrections to make sure the person will not fall. DIF:EREF:p. 908OBJ:35. 4. 1 4. Distinguish between the functions of dendrites and axons.ANS: Dendrites and axons are parts of a neuron. Dendrites carry impulses from the e nvironment or from other neurons toward the cell body. Axons carry impulses away from the cell body. DIF:BREF:p. 898OBJ:35. 2. 2 5. At what location does a neuron transfer an impulse to another cell? ANS: the synapse DIF:AREF:p. 900OBJ:35. 2. 2 Figure 35–1 6. Identify the structure and its labeled parts illustrated in Figure 35–1. ANS: neuron; (A) dendrite; (B) cell body; (C) axon; (D) myelin sheath; (E) nucleus DIF:EREF:p. 897OBJ:35. 2. 2 7. What are the major regions of the brain? ANS:The major regions of the brain are the cerebrum, the cerebellum, the brain stem, the thalamus, and the hypothalamus. DIF:BREF:p. 901, p. 902, p. 903OBJ:35. 3. 1 8. How is the spinal cord like a major telephone line? ANS: The spinal cord is the main communications link between the brain and the rest of the body, transmitting information, just as a telephone line carries many calls at once. DIF:AREF:p. 903OBJ:35. 3. 1 9. Why is a severe injury to the brain stem usually fatal? ANS: The bra in stem controls some of the body’s most important functions, including breathing, heartbeat, blood pressure, and swallowing.These involuntary processes are essential to life, so the disruption of any of these processes can cause death. DIF:EREF:p. 902OBJ:35. 3. 1 10. What is a motor neuron? ANS: A motor neuron carries impulses from the brain and the spinal cord to muscles and glands. DIF:EREF:p. 897OBJ:35. 2. 1 11. How is a pain in your toe perceived by sensory receptors? Why is it important for your body to sense this pain? ANS: Pain receptors respond to chemicals released by the damaged cells in your toes, which may indicate danger, injury, or disease. DIF:EREF:p. 906OBJ:35. 4. 1 12. Identify the five main senses. ANS:The five main senses are vision, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. DIF:BREF:p. 906OBJ:35. 4. 2 13. Compare and contrast the functions of rods and cones. ANS: Both rods and cones are photoreceptors in the retina. Rods are sensitive to light but do not distingu ish colors. Cones are less sensitive to light than rods, but cones respond to light of different colors. DIF:AREF:p. 907OBJ:35. 4. 2 14. How do opiates help people overcome sensations of pain? ANS: Opiates mimic natural chemicals in the brain known as endorphins, which normally help to overcome sensations of pain. DIF:BREF:p. 911OBJ:35. 5. 1 15.What are the cause and effect of fetal alcohol syndrome? ANS: Fetal alcohol syndrome is caused by consuming alcohol while pregnant. The effect of this syndrome is a range of birth defects in the baby, such as heart defect, malformed face, delayed growth, and poor motor development. DIF:AREF:p. 913OBJ:35. 5. 2STO:11. A. 4. c, 13. A. 4. b OTHER USING SCIENCE SKILLS This diagram shows the structure of a synapse between the axon of one neuron and the dendrite of a neighboring neuron. Figure 35–4 1. Applying Concepts In Figure 35–4, which structures release neurotransmitters? ANS: vesicles DIF:AREF:p. 900OBJ:35. 2. 2. Interpreting Gr aphics In Figure 35–4, into what area do the neurotransmitters diffuse? ANS: synaptic cleft DIF:AREF:p. 900OBJ:35. 2. 2 3. Predicting Referring to Figure 35–4, predict the direction of the impulse. ANS: The impulse will travel from the axon to the dendrite of the adjacent neuron. DIF:AREF:p. 900OBJ:35. 2. 2 4. Applying Concepts Referring to Figure 35–4, after the neurotransmitters are released from the cell surface, what happens to the neurotransmitters? ANS: The neurotransmitters may be broken down by enzymes, or taken up and recycled by the axon terminal. DIF:AREF:p. 900OBJ:35. 2. 2 5.Applying Concepts If the axon in Figure 35–4 is part of a motor neuron, to what cells are the impulses being passed? ANS: muscle cells and glands DIF:AREF:p. 897OBJ:35. 2. 2 USING SCIENCE SKILLS Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is a measure of the amount of alcohol in the bloodstream. The following graphs illustrate how many alcoholic drinks consumed in one hour result in different levels of BAC in individuals of different masses. In some states, an adult driving with a BAC of 0. 08% or higher is considered to be legally drunk. Figure 35–5 6. Using Tables and Graphs You have a mass of 45 kg and have had one drink.According to Figure 35–5, how long would it take for your BAC to drop to 0. 04% or lower? ANS: one hour DIF:EREF:p. 912, p. 913OBJ:35. 5. 2 STO:11. A. 4. c, 13. A. 4. b 7. Using Tables and Graphs You are a 48-kg adult and have had four drinks in an hour. According to Figure 35–5, could you drive legally after three hours? ANS: no DIF:EREF:p. 912OBJ:35. 5. 2 8. Interpreting Graphics Based on Figure 35–5, how is the mass of an individual related to BAC levels? ANS: Individuals with more mass can consume more alcoholic drinks in the same period of time and have a lower BAC than individuals with less mass.DIF:EREF:p. 912OBJ:35. 5. 2 9. Interpreting Graphics A 40-kg person and a 50-kg person each drink 4 drinks in 4 h ours. Do they have the same BAC? ANS: No. The 40-kg person has a BAC of 0. 10% or higher, whereas the 50-kg person has a BAC of 0. 05% to 0. 09%. DIF:EREF:p. 912OBJ:35. 5. 2 10. Applying Concepts A 58-kg person has two cocktails just before dinner and a glass of wine with dinner 30 minutes later. According to Figure 35–5, how long would the individual be in the â€Å"Definitely illegal† category? ANS: one hour DIF:EREF:p. 912OBJ:35. 5. 2 USING SCIENCE SKILLS Figure 35–6 11.Interpreting Graphics What is the name of structure C in Figure 35–6? ANS: spinal cord DIF:BREF:p. 901, p. 903OBJ:35. 3. 1 12. Applying Concepts Referring to Figure 35–6, which structure is responsible for the voluntary, or conscious, activities of the body? ANS: structure A, the cerebrum DIF:BREF:p. 902OBJ:35. 3. 1 13. Applying Concepts Referring to Figure 35–6, which structure is the control center for recognition and analysis of hunger, thirst, fatigue, anger, and body temperature? ANS: hypothalamus DIF:BREF:p. 903OBJ:35. 3. 1 14. Interpreting Graphics In Figure 35–6, which structure is the cerebellum?ANS: structure B DIF:BREF:p. 901, p. 902OBJ:35. 3. 1 15. Applying Concepts Referring to Figure 35–6, what two regions of the brain stem act as neural â€Å"switchboards,† regulating the flow of information between the brain and the rest of the body? ANS: medulla oblongata and pons DIF:BREF:p. 902OBJ:35. 3. 1 ESSAY 1. How are the cells of the human body similar to individuals in a society that work in groups to accomplish shared goals? ANS: Every cell in the human body is both an independent unit and an interdependent part of a larger community—the entire organism.Similarly, each individual in a society can survive independently, but it is also necessary to form interdependent groups to accomplish certain goals. DIF:EREF:p. 891OBJ:35. 1. 1 2. Name six of the body’s systems and describe their functions. ANS: Answer sh ould include six of the following systems. The nervous system coordinates the body’s response to changes in its internal and external environment. The integumentary system serves as a barrier against infection and injury, helps to regulate body temperature, and provides protection against ultraviolet radiation from the sun.The skeletal system supports the body, protects internal organs, allows movement, stores mineral reserves, and provides a site for blood cell formation. The muscular system works with the skeletal system to provide voluntary movement and helps to circulate blood and move food through the digestive system. The circulatory system brings oxygen, nutrients, and hormones to cells; fights infection; removes cell wastes; and helps regulate body temperature. The respiratory system provides oxygen needed for cellular respiration and removes excess carbon dioxide from the body.The digestive system converts foods into simpler molecules that can be used by the cells of the body. The excretory system eliminates waste products from the body. The endocrine system controls growth, development, and metabolism. The reproductive system produces reproductive cells and, in the female, nurtures and protects the developing embryo. The lymphatic system helps protect the body from disease, collects fluid lost from blood vessels, and returns the fluid to the circulatory system. DIF:EREF:p. 892, p. 893OBJ:35. 1. 1 STO:12. A. 4. b 3.Based on the process of feedback inhibition, explain how your body maintains a relatively constant temperature. ANS: The hypothalamus contains nerve cells that monitor both the temperature of your skin at the surface of the body and the temperature of organs in the body’s core. When these nerve cells sense that the body’s temperature is lower than normal, the hypothalamus produces chemicals that signal cells throughout the body to speed up their activities. Heat produced by this increase in cellular activity causes a gr adual rise in body temperature, which is detected by the nerve cells in the hypothalamus.This feedback inhibits the production of chemicals that speed up cellular activity and keeps body temperature from rising to a dangerous level. If your body temperature rises too far above normal, the hypothalamus slows down cellular activities, minimizing the production of heat. DIF:EREF:p. 895OBJ:35. 1. 2 4. Compare resting potential and action potential in a neuron. ANS: The difference in electrical charge across the cell membrane of a resting neuron is the resting potential. Once an impulse begins, positive ions rush across the cell membrane, reversing the charge difference.The inside of the membrane gains a positive charge, and the outside of the membrane gains a negative charge. This rapid reversal of charges is called the action potential. As the impulse passes, the positively charged ions flow out of the cell, and the resting potential of the membrane is reestablished. DIF:AREF:p. 898, p . 899OBJ:35. 2. 2 5. What is the function of each of the main regions of the brain? ANS: The cerebrum controls voluntary activities, intelligence, learning, and judgment. The cerebellum controls coordination and balance.The brain stem controls blood pressure, heart rate, breathing, and swallowing. The thalamus receives messages from the sense organs. The hypothalamus recognizes sensations of hunger, thirst, fatigue, anger, and body temperature. DIF:AREF:p. 902, p. 903OBJ:35. 3. 1 6. Compare the effects of the sympathetic and the parasympathetic divisions of the autonomic nervous system. ANS: The sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system each release different neurotransmitters that have opposite effects on the same organ system, which helps the body maintain homeostasis.When the sympathetic system speeds up an activity, the parasympathetic system slows down the same activity. For example, heart rate is increased by the sympathetic nervous system, but decrease d by the parasympathetic nervous system. DIF:AREF:p. 904OBJ:35. 3. 2 7. What are the five general categories of sensory receptors? Where are they located in the body? ANS: The five general categories are pain receptors, thermoreceptors, mechanoreceptors, chemoreceptors, and photoreceptors. Pain receptors are throughout the body except in the brain.Thermoreceptors are located in the skin, body core, and hypothalamus. Mechanoreceptors are found in skin, skeletal muscles, and inner ears. Chemoreceptors are found in the nose and taste buds. Photoreceptors are found in the eyes. DIF:AREF:p. 906OBJ:35. 4. 1 8. How would you design an experiment to show that much of what people actually taste in food depends on their sense of smell? ANS: Students’ experiments may include having someone taste different types of foods that have specific tastes and smells, and then having the person taste them with his or her eyes shut and nose held closed.Students should determine if the person can id entify the food that he or she tasted without the use of sight and smell, and record observations and draw conclusions. DIF:EREF:p. 909OBJ:35. 4. 2 9. People who have to drive long distances sometimes take stimulants. How might this practice be dangerous? ANS: Stimulants increase the release of neurotransmitters at some synapses in the brain, which then leads to a feeling of energy and well-being. However, when the effects of the stimulants wear off, the brain’s supply of neurotransmitters has been depleted.The user quickly falls into fatigue and depression, which can impair the person’s ability to drive and could lead to accidents. DIF:AREF:p. 910OBJ:35. 5. 1 10. In the Designated Driver Program, one person in a group agrees to be the driver and not to drink any alcohol. Why is this program important? ANS: By decreasing the number of drunk drivers on the road, you decrease your chances of being involved in such an accident. If more people were involved in the Designat ed Driver Program, fewer people would be in danger of being involved in a fatal accident. DIF:EREF:p. 912OBJ:35. 5. 2

Critically Evaluate the Debates Surrounding the Continuity

| 3. Critically evaluate the debates surrounding the continuity of Bretton Woods’s institutions. Which of these institutions would you recommend to be discontinued? Justify your choice. While preparing to rebuild the international economic system after WWII, 730 delegates of the 44 allied nations met in New Hampshire, United States, to form the Bretton Woods agreement. The aim was to set up rules and regulations to stabilize the global monetary system and ensure the free movement of capital goods through a global market.The agreement established two regulatory institutions, firstly the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to control the exchange rates and bridge temporary imbalances of payment. Secondly, the International Bank of Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), later known as the World Bank, which was founded to finance the reconstruction of post war Europe. In 1947 the Havana Charter proposed a third regulatory institution, the International Trade Organization (ITO) that transformed into the World Trade Organization (WTO).This essay will critically evaluate the performance of the three Bretton Wood? s institutions, giving recommendations to operational changes for the IMF and the WTO, and argue to discontinue the WB as it operates currently. The IMF was one of the key institutions that stabilized the world economy after WWII. Its initial goal was to regulate and stabilize exchange rates and assists the reconstruction of the world’s international payment system. One of the key objectives of the IMF was to prevent the devaluation cycle.Through joining the IMF in the post War period, countries surrendered their economic rights, especially on setting its exchange rate, in return they were guarantied â€Å"exchange stability, avoidance of competitive exchange depreciation and a liberal regime of international repayments† (deVries, 1986). Essentially the original conception behind the IMF, was to control the behaviour of countries that joine d the IMF, â€Å"spelled out in a code that was administered by an international institution†. The 1970s oil crisis was a turning point for the role that the IMF played.Third world countries were most affected by the oil crisis, since their economies became dependent on oil and the increasing prices accumulated large amounts of debt. The IMF agreed to lend money, and rose to †new prominence, with new functions and greater powers of control over even more dependent countries† (Peet, 2009). The main change in the IMFs mission, is the shift of lending to first world countries, in order to reconstruct the world payment system using expansionary policies, to lending to third world countries, accompanied by â€Å"conditionality’s†, which restrict countries fiscal and monetary policies.Anne Kruger, managing director of the IMF, said; â€Å"Much of what we do is very different from the way the Fund operated in those early years. It has to be. The world econ omy has changed beyond recognition. But we still apply those same core principles, international financial stability and the prevention of crises† (Kruger 2004) The IMF became subject to severe criticism, one of the main critics is Joseph Stiglitz. He argued that the IMF has failed its mission to sustain global economic stability.The main point of his argument is that the IMF has diverged its initial mission â€Å"based on the assumption that markets did not always work perfectly, that is, there were times when intervention might be needed to secure a stable global economic order â€Å"(Stiglitz, 2002) Now, he argues, the IMF operates largely on the untenable ideology that markets should be left to operate on their own, with no need of intervention. The Washington Consensus largely influenced the change in economic policies of the IMF. The Consensus was based on Latin American countries, were growth was not sustained.The belief of the Washington Consensus was that this had h appened as a result of excessive government intervention in the economy. The Consensus therefore recommended policies such as capital market liberalization, fiscal austerity and the privatisation of public companies. Furthermore, critics say; â€Å"the IMF frequently argues for the same economic policies regardless of the situation. † (Pettinger, 2008) The IMF blindly imposed the same â€Å"conditionality’s† to all its loans. What policies might have worked for one country might make matters even worse in others.The Argentinean financial crisis (1999-2002), underlines that the policies imposed by the IMF can lead a country into a severe recession. The IMF convinced the Argentinean government to maintain its fixed rate of exchange: one peso for one U. S. dollar. This made imports artificially cheap but exports too expensive. Consequently, Argentina had a severe trade deficit. Secondly, in order to maintain the overvalued currency, a country needs large reserve of dollars. The IMF lent $40 billion to support the Argentina peso, enhancing the debt of the country.On top the IMF made its loans conditional to a „zero deficitâ€Å" policy. „Argentina's implosion has the IMF's fingerprints all over it. â€Å" (Weisbrot, 2001) However the IMF has also been the last opportunity for many countries to avoid a default. Most currently, the IMF has given Greece a 1. 6 billion euro loan, to keep the Greek economy floating, and stabilize the euro zone. Another criticism of the IMF is that decisions made on which countries have the right to borrow money are made by a handful of nations who have the main rights.Out of the 24 board members in the IMF, only 10 are occupied by developing countries, holding only 26% of the shares. America in comparison has nearly 18% of the shares in the IMF. This inequality in the board of the IMF shows that decisions are mainly focused in developed countries. Stiglitz argues that the IMFs decisions were driven by the collective will of the G7. Wealthy, industrialized nations, and the commercial and financial interests within those countries dominate the IMF. The IMF was not falsely criticized, however the existence of the IMF is still important and inevitable.The current financial crisis has shown that supranational organizations such as the IMF still play a key role in stabilizing countries economies. However in order for the IMF to prosper in future and efficiently operate in economically developed and less developed countries, several changes will have to be adopted. Firstly the board members will have to split up more evenly. It is understandable that larger countries with more economic output have slightly more voting power than smaller ones. However developed countries, holding 74% of voting power, solely make decisions.Since the IMF largely gives loans to less developed countries, they should have enough members on the board to able to make decisions, on loan agreements. Secondly the IMF has to make detailed analyses of each country they borrow too, and based on that give consultancy on economic policies. History has shown that countries can prosper with different economic policies. While the western economy has largely grown on a liberalized free market, the Asian Tigers have managed to grow, ignoring the neoliberal economic policies the IMF imposed on them.Therefore the IMF must acknowledge that not every country can develop successfully under the same economic policy. The World Bank is the second institution founded at the Breton Woods conference. It was formally named the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD). The initial role was to help in the reconstruction of post-war Europe, hardly mentioning the issues of global poverty reduction. Now, however the World Bank operates as a development agency, providing loans to developing countries, in order to reduce poverty and increase living standards.In its mission statement the bank says, à ¢â‚¬Å"Our dream is a world without poverty†. The size of the World Bank has also changed dramatically, starting with 38 members in 1946, to 187 members currently. The World Bank comprises two main institutions, the IBRD and the International Development Agency (IDA). The IBRD provides loans to creditworthy middle-income countries, charging an interest rate of around 1%. It raises money through bond sales in the international capital market.These bonds have a triple A rating, since they are backed by member states share capital. The IDA, on the other handy, focuses on providing long-term, interest-free loans â€Å"to the world's 78 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa†, (World Bank official website, 2011) addressing issues such as primary education, basic health services clean water supply and many others. â€Å"Resources to fund IDA loans are raised through subscriptions from wealthy members such as United States, Japan and Germany† (Hill, 2002)The IBRD f inanced several successful projects in various areas in the developing world and was able to improve the living conditions and reduce the poverty rate in some areas. The IBRD, for example, largely funded the education system in Mexico. The WB funded over 18,000 schools under the â€Å"Quality Schools Programâ€Å" in rural areas of the country. Recently the WB has granted a 300 million US dollar loan, to further support Mexico’s School Education System (Educacion y Cultura, 2012). The IDA has also successfully reduced poverty and improved infrastructure in some areas of the world.A notable example is the „Highway Programâ€Å" in Azerbaijan, which focuses on â€Å"improving international and domestic road networks for stimulating economic growthâ€Å" (World Bank Official Website, 2011) The highway project reduces travel time by 33%, stimulates trade and business along the rural area and created over 20,000 jobs. However the World Bank has faced some severe critici sm as well. One of the strongest criticisms has been the negative environmental impact of some the World Bank projects. For instance, the construction of the Yacyreta dam in the 1990s in Argentina, which was largely funded by the World Bank.As a result of the dam, over 40,000 people have been displaced, and the majority of them were not compensated for their losses (The Whirled Bank Group, 2002). Furthermore, because of the dam construction several children failed to reach their school. The dam also had negative impacts on biodiversity, and due to the calm waters, diseases such as malaria and the dengue fever started to spread. Another controversial aspect of the World Bank has been its undemocratic governance structure, which is dominated by the main developed nations. These countries choose the leadership and senior management of the World Bank, and so their interests dominate the bankâ€Å" (Cornell University Press, 2006) Similarly to the IMF, the US holds the most voting power with 15. 8%, additionally all World Bank presidents have come from the US. Japan and China follow with only 7% and 6% voting power correspondingly. This large voting power inequality shows how voiceless most of the developing countries are, although nearly all loans affect their economies. The last, and arguably the most important criticism of the World Bank, are the neoliberal policies that World Bank imposed on lending nations.The ideas that were created in the Washington Consensus, including the deregulation and liberalization of markets, privatization and the downscaling of government, were seen as they key policies to promote development. However, what might have worked for the western economies might not be the best solution for developing nations. Usually the World Bank imposes structural adjustments to countries to which they lend money. These adjustments include reduced state support, and the liberalization of markets. Studies have shown that these policies have led to int ensified poverty and a slowdown in the economy, especially in African nations.Richard Peet claims that the austerity policies attached to the World Bank have â€Å" declined the per Capita income by 25% in sub-Saharan Africa, and the removal of food and agricultural subsidies caused prizes to rise and created food insecurity† (Peet, 2003). The policies have not only exacerbated poverty, but due to the imposed decline of health expenditures of governments, HIV and other diseases spread rapidly, causing the life expectancy of Africans to drop by fifteen years during the last two decades.In the Millennium Development Goal 6, the World Bank states, â€Å"to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS, through prevention, care, treatment, and mitigation services for those affected by HIV/AIDSâ€Å". Although the WB has been successfully fighting AIDS in some African nations, spending over 3,000 million USD in the construction of HIV testing and teaching sites, it has worsened the situation i n other areas through imposing neoliberal economic policies on countries. Overall the â€Å"World Bank is an institution out of time and place† (Rich, 1994).The IBRD claims to be a development agency, however the institution is funded through issuing bonds on the capital market, creating a conflict of interest. Due to the fact that numerous shareholders own the IBRD, they will always have the pressure to create shareholder value, and cannot focus their attention solemnly on poverty reduction. Furthermore, the World Bank has largely overlapping interest with the IMF, especially the IBRD. They both focus on the same core neoliberal policies, and impose these on the countries they lend money to.These policies have mostly ended in poverty and economic failure in developing countries. Consequently, the IBRD should be discontinued, and the capital that the IBRD holds could be transferred to the IDA. The IDA could then be reorganised as a subgroup of the IMF. This would not only giv e the IMF a better image, but also infuse new ideas into the organisation. The IMF can still give similar loans as the IBRD did, since they have the capital and the power to credit those loans. There is no doubt that the IDA is an important institution with the correct core values, ut there is simply no need for two supranational institutions focusing on the same broad goals. On top, over the last decades, there have been increasing inflows of FDI into developing countries and private microfinance, which can boost development and GDP growth. The main role of the IDA should therefore be consultancy, to ensure the private loans are used effectively. An increased cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN should ensure sustainable poverty reduction. The third supranational institution, originating from the Breton Woods agreement is the World Trade Organization.Initially named the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), it aimed to govern internat ional trade relations, since countries would use tariffs to protect their own economies at the expense of their neighbours. This was seen as a threat to push the economy into a further recession; hence an institution was needed to encourage the free flow of goods and services. The GATT was transformed into the WTO in 1994, under the Marrakech Agreement. Currently, the WTO has 154 members, and embraces 95% of the global market.Its mission still is, to supervise and liberalize international trade. It has two main functions, firstly to provide a forum for negotiations and for settling disputes. If there is a dispute the WTO may direct the „loosingâ€Å" member to take action to bring its laws, regulations or policies into conformity with the WTO Agreements, however there is no punishment enforced. Secondly, it „oversees the implementation, administration and operation of the covered agreementsâ€Å" (WTO official website, 2012). The WTO claims that the introduced trading system has produced several benefits. Listed in the 10 benefits of the WTO) The main benefits are, firstly, that free trade generally cuts the cost of living and gives the consumer more choice. The reduced trade barriers through negotiations results in reduced costs for producers, reducing the price of finished goods and services, ultimately resulting in a lower cost of living. The increased global competition also forces producers to cut costs, again resulting in a benefit for the consumer. Secondly, lowering trade barriers adds to personal income. The WTO claims since the Uruguay Round trade deal between $109 and 510 billion dollars were added to the world income. In Europe, the EU Commission calculates that over 1989–93 EU incomes increased by 1. 1–1. 5% more than they would have done without the Single Market. Thirdly, trade stimulates economic growth, which could lead to increased jobs, if countries have the correct adjustment policies. Lastly, the least criticize d benefit of the WTO, is that the system is based on the rules rather than power. Meaning that voting power is equal for every member, and decisions are largely made by consensus.Rich and poor countries alike have an equal right to challenge each other in the WTO’s dispute settlement procedures. Although the WTO claims that free trade is essentially positive for all nations, critics have targeted the 10 benefits of WTO harshly. Richard Peet argues, that the WTO clearly does not adopt a neutral stance on trade policy. He further says; the WTO â€Å" is passionately against protectionism and just profoundly for trade liberalization† (Peet, 2003). The WTO therefore generally favours some interests while harming others. Furthermore, Peet targets the effect of free trade on workers and unemployment.The fact that the WTO shows no evidence for the increase in employment, stating reliable estimates become impossible, shows that there is little behind this benefit. Quite on the contrary, several workers have lost their job as result of free trade, due to increased competition and the cost reduction of manufacturers. Furthermore, free trade often resulted in developing countries trading more but actually earning less. The reason being, many countries were unable to shift their production from primary commodities to manufacturing. The increased competition between developing countries and dropping commodity prizes meant lower profit margins.Another point of criticism deals with the TRIPs agreement, which sets down minimum standards for many forms of intellectual property. Critics argue that the TRIPS agreement has a detrimental effect on the access of medicine in developing countries. The most controversial issue involves the use of drugs to cure AIDS. For example, Thailand suspended the patents of drugs treating HIV and heart conditions, to make the medicine affordable for poor patients. The EU and the US protested formally and the US even threatened retal iatory actions. The WTOs operations have also been criticised for being biased towards developed nations.While the EU has largely enforced trade protectionist measures, subsidizing the textile and agricultural industry, developing nations have been forced to open their markets. European and US lobbyism plays a great role in the WTO, and explains why the US and the EU were allowed to use these protectionist measures. In general, the WTO has proved to be an extremely useful institution for freer trade, and in some cases successfully enhanced the growth of nations. However several developing countries have felt the downside of free trade, with some of their economies shrinking due to increased competition combined with higher unemployment rates.Nevertheless, according to Ingo Walter an international trade professor at NYU â€Å"the world as a whole is certainly materially better off under free trade than with no trade at all and so is the individual nationâ€Å" (Walter, 2011). The W TO will face several challenges in the future, including trade negotiation between BRIC countries and the EU and US. â€Å"If export-oriented interests mobilize in countries, including the BRICs, they will push for reciprocal market openings† (Schaffer, 2009) The WTO must ensure negotiations are fair, and to ensure that they cannot allow US and EU multinationals to interfere with the WTOs decision making.In conclusion, the critics towards the Bretton Woods institutions have several core similarities. These critics argue that the institutions do not effectively alleviate poverty, they are generally poorly governed and developing countries remain marginal and without influence in decision-making. Those institutions have profoundly affected the developing world and it is time for a reform of these organizations. This essay has outlined the possibility of a united World Bank and IMF, in order to pool the capital towards a common goal.For this merger to succeed the IMF will have t o undergo serious restructuring and embrace a goal towards the sustainable development of the world economy. Word Count: 3228 References: Bretton Woods Project. What are the main concerns and criticism about the World Bank and IMF? Available: http://www. brettonwoodsproject. org/item. shtml? x=320869 (Accessed: 15 March. 2012) de Vries,M. G. (1986) The International Monetary Fund 1966-1971. Washington D. C: International Monetary Fund Education y Cultura. (2012, March 14) World Bank lends Mexico 300 million dollars for high school. (Education y Cultura) Available: http://www. ducacionyculturaaz. com/noticias/bm-presta-a-mexico-300-mdd-para-educacion-media/? lang=en (Accessed: 20 March. 2012) Goddard. C. R, Conklin. J, ; Passe-SMmith. T. (1996) Open World: International Political Economy. Boulder: Lynne Rienner Pub Griesgraber,J. M. Gunter B. G. (1996) The World’s Monetary System: towards stability and Sustainability in the Twenty-first Century. London: Pluto Press Hill C. W. L. (2002) International Business: Competing in the Global Marketplace 3rd ed. London: McGraw-Hill Irwin Irwin,A. I. (1999) Do we need the WTO? Available: http://www. cato. org/pubs/journal/cj19n3/cj19n3-2. df (Accessed: 17 March. 2012) Kruger,A. (June 2004) The IMF at 60: Equipped for Today's Challenges? Available: http://www. imf. org/external/np/speeches/2004/062304. htm (Accessed: 17 March. 2012) Legrain,P. (2007) Open World: The Truth about Globalisation. Chicago: Ivan R. Dee Peet,R. (2007) The Geography of Power: the making of global economic policy. Oxford: University Press Peet,R. (2003) Unholy Trinity, The IMF, World Bank and WTO 2nd ed. London: Zed Books Pettinger,T. (2008, 10 November) Criticism of IMF. Available: http://econ. economicshelp. org/2008/11/criticism-of-imf. tml (Accessed: 17 March. 2012) Schaffer,G. (2009, February 24) Future of the WTO- Liberal Ideas and Domestic Politics. Available: http://uchicagolaw. typepad. com/faculty/2009/02/future-of-the-wto-liberal- ideas-and-domestic-politics-gregory-shaffer. html (Accessed 20 March. 2012) Sinha,A. (2012) What are the important advantages of Free Trade ? http://www. preservearticles. com/201012291889/important-advantages-free-trade. html (Accessed: 20 March. 2012) Stiglitz,J. (2002) Globalization and its Discontents. London: Penguin Books Stiglitz,J. (2007) Making Globalization Work: The Next Steps to Global Justice.London: Penguin Weisbrot,M. (2001, December 25) Argentina's Crisis, IMF's Fingerprints. (Washington Post) Available: http://www. washingtonpost. com/ac2/wp-dyn? pagename=article&node=&contentId=A22623-2001Dec24 (Accessed: 20 March. 2012) World Bank Group. (2011) Azerbaijan Highway Program. Available: http://web. worldbank. org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/NEWS/0,,print:Y~isCURL:Y~contentMDK:22739570~menuPK:64256345~pagePK:34370~piPK:34424~theSitePK:4607,00. html (Accessed 20 March. 2012) WTO. (2012) Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization. Available:

Puritans

During the seventeenth century, the Puritans landed in New England to form the Massachusetts Bay colony. John Winthrop, the first Governor of the colony, saw the place as a political and religious refuge. He described it as a city upon a hill. In England, the Puritans were not free to practice their faith and were persecuted by the Anglican Church. The Puritans wanted to create an ideal society where they could practice religion at will. These people risked everything just so they could freely practice their faith. Their sole purpose in settling in America was to sustain and practice their religion. The Massachusetts Bay colony was very different from their counterpart, Jamestown. Jamestown colonists consisted of mainly single men who came to the New World to merely make money. These money-hungry profiteers were interested in milking the land for cash crops and other sources of revenue. The Puritans, on the other hand, formed communities where they could closely practice their faith together. They had a big focus on families and community worship. The Puritans also created a government, which was based on the idea of the rule of the majority. The Jamestown colony was not interested in making communities. The Puritans priorities were centered on their religion and the teaching of it. This is clearly shown in their focus of education. The purpose of education to them was to teach the children religious and moral values. This would prove to be a very good way to. Every community of 50 families had a teacher and every community of 100 families had a school. The Puritans emphasis on religious education supports the fact that they had moralistic plans for the New World. The Jamestown colonists, however, were not as concerned with education. Although the Puritans came to the New World for religious freedom, they did not accept people whose religious beliefs differed from those of the P

Social Profile Reports Highlight Metrics That Matter [Live Demo] - CoSchedule Blog

Social Profile Reports Highlight Metrics That Matter [Live Demo] Blog Knowledge is power and without data, there’s no way to make critical updates to your overall marketing strategy.. especially when it comes to social media strategy. Which is why we’re excited to announce ’s newest addition to analytics –  Social Profile Reports! Watch this: Social Profile Reports Highlight Metrics That MatterIn this demo, learn how to: Access top social profile reports from one dashboard.  Stop downloading reports from individual platforms (or multiple third-party tools). Quickly view important social KPIs for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest right inside . Refine your social strategy with actionable insight.  Track your social performance so you know what’s working (and what isn’t). Use real-time data to make updates to your social strategy, so you can continue to drive results. Connect with your audience + create posts that stand out.  Track engagement stats and stop guessing at what will (or will not) resonate with your followers. Utilize your social profile reports to identify top content AND start creating posts you know your audience will love. Get social profile reports delivered right to your inbox  with scheduled reports. Create and schedule easy-to-understand reports to your team + stakeholders on a weekly or monthly basis. Giving everyone a pulse on your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest performance. Want more information? Check out Social Profile Reports.

UK, USA and UAE Cybercrime Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

UK, USA and UAE Cybercrime Law - Essay Example To this effect, communication, business and financial transactions, international trading, storage and distribution of private and public records and even the dispensation of employment duties are exacted online, in these states. Nevertheless, given the high financial and security stakes that have come to stalk the Internet, cybercrime has become increasingly common and complex. To this effect, high-tech cyber based crimes such as terrorism, computer intrusions, espionage, identity theft, child pornography and fraud have become a major concern to the US and the UK. For this reason, the US and the UK have made legislation to counter and extirpate cybercrime, albeit these laws have their strong and weak points. This study aims to spot the light uponthe major cyber attacks, and associated threats in the UAE, US and UK and makes SWOT (strengths, weakness, opportunities, and threats) analysis of the current cyber crime laws and suggests approaches and mechanisms needed to improve the effe ctiveness of the cyber act. INTRODUCTION The phrase Cybercrime refers to any legally proscribed action that is performed over the Internet, a local network or the computer or any other device that can support the Internet, a local network or function of a computer. ... Because of this, it becomes clear that the concept of cybercrime and laws on cybercrime are state-specific. The leaps in the communication and information technology have promoted new technological trends like the internet spread, social networks, cloud computing, and VOIP like never happened before. The introduction of information technology solutions including e-commerce solutions, social networks, and on-line banking solutions has opened the door widely to the growing number of cyber terrorism threats and cyber attacks. Despite the rise of the cyber crime rates in UAE, the shortcomings in development of cyber crime laws and legislative provisions that regulate the up-mentioned technologies usage are huge.According to recent survey conducted by Norton, Bulent Teksoz, Chief Security Strategist, Norton outlines the total cost of cyber crime in the UAE - found to be $626m per year(Teksoz, 2010).Hence, the need to initiate a nation-wide act to counter the cyber crime, either on the nat ional and cross-border levels,arises. The state-specific nature of cybercrime in turn brings about an aspect of variance and makes it possible to identify the pros and cons and strengths and weaknesses of these cybercrime laws, as shall be seen forthwith, in the cases of the US and the UK. Meanwhile, Trend Micro published a study in 2009, which reported the number of computer system crashesin the UAE as a result of cyber attacks reached 248,000, accounting for 20 percent of the total cases in the GCC countries(Ajbaili, 2009).Few countries in the region, such as; UAE, and Saudi Arabia, have drawn up cyber laws in an attempt to fight the cyber crimes (Bednarski, Chen, Chen,

An ethical review of four articles Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

An ethical review of four articles - Article Example The ability of the Americans to repay loan has been decreasing especially after the 2008 economic crisis. Unemployment rate is ever rising and the income level is ever declining. As such, the default rates have gone up to the ceiling. The rising inflation, skyrocketing cost of education and living is expected to make things worse in the near future. As indicated in this article, this phenomenon has far-reaching negative effect on the entire economy of the country. It is ethical for people to honor their financial obligations hence students who take loans are not exceptional. In this article, the increasing rate of loan defaulters is the main ethical concern that is likely to pose a threat to the entire economy unless something is done immediately. Even though economic conditions are getting harsher, students are expected to be cautious when taking these loans and should plan on how to repay them, otherwise it will cause economic damage to the general populace. What I feel or think af ter reading the article The article reveals a phenomenon that ought to be taken seriously by the state. It is a crisis that is likely to cause serious economic problems in the near future. The revelations by the article provide useful insights about the precautions that ought to be taken by students before they borrow loan. ... In my view, I feel that most students do not take full responsibility for the loans. This is because of the fact that some students are repaying the loans despite earning very low income. For instance, Macaluso has been paying for the loans even though it has affected his savings. I also think that students should not be allowed to take these loans if they are financially stable as this would help reduce the number of the defaulters (Reynolds 1). My opinion In 2012, National Student Clearinghouse Research Center did a research which showed that more than 50% of college graduates are unemployed and are employed in unskilled jobs that are below their academic credentials. A report by the National Center for Education Statistics shows that more than 70% of American students fail to graduate within 3 years. Despite this trend, most of these students still carry student debt. This issue is also happening in other developed countries particularly Canada and Australia. In my opinion, there is immorality that has been spared in the student-loan world. In 2012, the student debt in the United States had surpassed the trillion-dollar level. It is now a major economic burden on graduates and the larger society. This burden cannot be easily offset by increased incomes among the graduates (Reynolds 1). Article Two Ethical Issue The whole world is facing the reality of depleting natural resources such as oil and gas. Middle East is considered to be the hub of energy resources and reserves hence the region has attracted the attention of powerful countries around the world. In this article, Dowd (1), suggests that the supply demand for energy has drastically increased while the supply is ever dropping. In this article, Arctic region is believed to hold approximately 30 per